Q45 Power Antenna (won't fully retract)

[tangalora]

My 1990 Q45 power and audio antenna won't fully retract.

The same malady affected my 300Z power antenna in years past.

The local dealership lectured long ago inadequate lubrication as the primary culprit, saying it was a 'common fault' of Nissan owners, in general.

The 1990 Q45 factory shop manual "Chassis & Body Maintenance" section, has no mention of periodic lubrication of the power & audio antenna mast. Nor is there a lubrication icon in the FSM section on "Audio and Power Antenna" (EL-97 & EL-98).

Q: What's the main cause of the audio & power antenna failing to retract fully?

Q: If it's lubrication that's missing, what should be the long-term lubricant of choice?

Q: Does replacing the 'guts' of the Q45 power antenna typically resolve the problem; or does one really need to replace the whole unit?

[maxnix]

With apologies to Heath and his Q45s.

Q1: Worn gear teeth on the motor and/or antenna tail.

Q2: I clean an extended antenna with a paper towel saturated in a small area with WD40. Then I wipe the clean antenna down with another rag or paper towel with a little very light machine oil and run it up and down a couple of times.

Q3: Depends on what is worn. I have disassembled and cleaned and lubricated the motor assembly on another car when a new antenna would only work once or twice before failing to retract completely. The only solution was to get a new motor with new gearteeth, even though the old gearteeth did not look very worn at all. All gear teeth on antenna tail and motor look like nylon in this case.

[Aus94Q45]

Tangalora:

Mine was doing the exact same thing. It would occastionally go down, but usually stop somewhere during retraction, leaving a few inches sticking up. Buy a replacement mast from Joe (about $26). Get a friend to sit in the car with the key on. Turn the radio off. Carefully unscrew the top cover of the antenna base. I used pliars covered with a soft rag as to not scratch the chrome. Turn the radio on, and up and out comes the old mast.

Note the direction the teeth face when the old one comes up. Take the new mast and insert the nylon tail, with teeth facing the same direction as the old one came out, and gently push it down into the hole until it stops. Turn off the radio -- you will feed the tail in while it retracts. If it stops part way, turn the radio on, and then before it comes all the way out turn, the radio back off. I had to repeat the on off/feed three times before the new antenna would seat. Replace the top cover.

I inspected the old tail -- no teeth missing. The mast was not bent. Generally dirty grease and an old stiff nylon tail. Age alone may have made it stop working. New one works great.

Now while you should keep the mast clean, placing oil on the exposed mast does not lube the motor or tail. The dealer is full of crap. You have to take the mast out and expose the tail to lube it. Even then, after ten years, the tail I pulled out was nice and greasy!

On the new tail I applied a fresh coat of white lithium grease. Maybe if the car makes it ten more years I will have to repeat this "ten-minute ordeal". That is a joke! It was a cake walk.

In contrast, on my LX450, the tail broke off in the housing. Thus, before I could put the replacement past in, I had to remove the motor and remove the old tail. Fairly simple, but cautiously proceeding, it took about an hour -- mainly to remove the unit out of the inner fender area, and re-install. Just be careful if you must open the unit as parts may fall out.

[tangalora]

Quote »Buy a replacement mast from Joe (about $26)[/quote]I just asked for this replacement mast and Joe kindly sold it to me at a price even better than you quoted which lists for 32 dollars for part number "ROD-ANT #28215-60U06" (Joe sure knows how to build up a loyal following from far and wide!).

In the photo below, taken onsite today at Infiniti of Scottsdale, one can see firsthand the nylon tail and teeth Brian mentioned above (normally these things are hidden below the waistline).

I thank Aus94Q45 of Austin Texas for the excellent writeup on how to repair the reluctant Q45 power audio antenna. I'll test it out and let folks know the results so that the next person with the same problem may stand on our shoulders.

If you know, beforehand, of any other gotchas, please let us know in this thread for others to benefit.

[Q451990]

I replaced the mast a couple of times on "Q1" and then eventually had to replace the motor. I disassembled it, couldn't find anything wrong with it (like Brian mentioned) but the d@*$ thing just wouldn't go all the way back down. I'd say the mast will cure it most of the time, but the motor may have to be replaced as a last resort.

Nice pic. of Scottsdale! If I ever have a chance to go out to AZ that's definately on my short list of things to do!

Heath

[Chally]

When fitting new mast, after you turn the radio off the 1st time, you should then put the locking nut in place. When you turn the radio on again, the mast will automatically adjust to the correct position & go fully down the next time.If this doesn't happen, get someone to turn the radio on while you hold the mast down, for about 1 or 2 secs, & this should rectify any other seating problems.

[fredj4]

I just asked for this replacement mast and Joe kindly sold it to me at a price even better than you quoted which lists for 32 dollars for part number "ROD-ANT #28215-60U06" (Joe sure knows how to build up a loyal following from far and wide!).

I need to get a replacement antenna. So how does one reach Joe, to get one???

[Q451990]

http://www.everythinginfiniti.com or 1-888-216-5328

Nice job searching and finduing this old thread. Welcome to NICO!

Heath

[gniknave]

Wow, rare to find someone else on Nico in Pittsburg, Ca. welcome to Nico man! Email me sometime [email protected] or AIM Gniknave51k

[Rex]

http://www.everythinginfiniti.com or 1-888-216-5328

Nice job searching and finduing this old thread. Welcome to NICO!

Heath

Let me second Heath's words. It so refreshing seeing someone search and find waht they're looking for before asking.

Welcome to NICO. Make sure you tell "Joe" you're on NICO.

[fredj4]

Heath, Thanks for the Link and phone number. I will definitely give Joe a call. As far as how I found this old thread, it was actually pretty easy once I found the site: http://www.q45.org. They have a TECH HELP Section that is very nicely laid out. Almost anything you want to know is referenced. I clicked on the link for power antenna problems and it brought me righ to this thread.

- Fred

[fredj4]

Evan,I have visited NICO before but just never took the time to register or post anything. After seeing how quickly everyone replies, I am kind of sorry I didn't take the time, especially with what I have spent over the past few months trying to salvage my '92 Q45. (started with replacing the oil pan--cracked courtesy of my17 yr old son, then new engine, then drive shaft, now antenna). I was going to scrap it, but my son begged me to keep it. It actually didn't take much convincing as I love the way this car drives.

I just checked out your cardomain page. Nice Q.I checked your Myspace page also and I have seen you around Pittsburg several times. You worked at Infiniti of Concord I believe. I will definitely be contacting you as there are a few more annoyances I need to resolve if I am going to keep this car. Any tips on good local Q45 shops are welcome.

[maxnix]

Nice job on searching also. Good luck restoring your Q45.

Wonder if there is a speed limiter or road obstacle height detector for your son?

[Magnum PI]

Thanks for pointing the way to this thread. I will try taking out the motor so I can pull out the tail thats still in the motor. It keeps the new tail from pulling the new antenna all the way down. You guys are a great help!

[Falkdesigns]

So considering the FSM directions are no more insightful than the ones that came with my new antenna, how the heck do I get the broken part of the old one out? The new one is in, but it won't go all the way down now! Do I have to remove the entire motor, as it's not conveniently located to take the cover off of it, unlike my friends Lexus where you take the carpet panel off, and the motor is right there?

[DrewQ45]

So considering the FSM directions are no more insightful than the ones that came with my new antenna, how the heck do I get the broken part of the old one out? The new one is in, but it won't go all the way down now! Do I have to remove the entire motor, as it's not conveniently located to take the cover off of it, unlike my friends Lexus where you take the carpet panel off, and the motor is right there?

This was the first job I performed on the Q at time of purchase back in 98'. I assume Y33 will be the same. You have no choice but to remove it and fish out the broken piece/s. I squeezed generous amounts of white lithium grease into the gears before closing it back up. It's worked ever since.

BTW, the infiniti dealer in NY charged me 70 bucks for just the mast with stem back then. It was instant hatred (of the dealer) and full realization how costly this car would be.

...Drew...

[Falkdesigns]

11.99 on eBay!!

Thanks Drew, that's what I was afraid of, I'll finish it up this weekend.

[MarkIII]

I had a similar problem with my 94 Q45 and I took the antenna assembly apart and found that about the last 5 inches of the plastic gear had broken off. I thoroughly cleaned all the old grease out and replaced it with new white lithium grease and installed a new mast. So far it works perfectly with no problems at all.

[Q451990]

Wow... somebody found the search button! I tried the same thing, but never got it to work... replaced the whole assembly.

Heath

[maxnix]

Same for me on my other car. No visible signs of wear on gears or antenna tail teeth, but it would not work reliably even with a new antenna until I replaced the assembly.

[qsiguy]

Unless the antenna just got bent over, almost all of the power antenna masts I've replaced need the left over pieces of the cable removed from the motor before it would work.. When you pull out the old one you can usually see if it's broken or not. It's not that difficult to remove the motor and get the broken stuff out. The new mast is a simple install.

[drftard]

by any chance is there a different antenna like the bmw's which go on top of the car & have rumored better reception to radio & all that good stuff???

[pabs324]

can someone show me a picture of the antenna nut that needs to be unscrewed

[maxnix]

Look at picture in first post.

[pabs324]

is the black piece the one u unscrew or the top metal piece

[maxnix]

is the black piece the one u unscrew or the top metal piece

The one with the slots. there is a special tool made for it if you don't want to risk messing things with screw driver and pliers.

[pabs324]

ok thats what i figured. do they sell that somewhere or should i just use needle nose pliers and put the ends in the slots?

[maxnix]

Needle nose pliers and screw drivers are very easy to Fubar the chrome and chip your paint when you slip. I am dumb so I prefer to use the correct tool.

Harbor freight will have cheap Chinese ones or any automotive store should have a selection of them.

[pabs324]

what's the name of the tool so I can go pick some up ?

[pabs324]

I took it apart with a pair of pliers but i couldnt get the antenna off. the mast was not bent and looked in good shape. i then proceeded to look at the motor to see if that was working. i unscrewed the inside panel of the trunk. the motor was working but would stop after about 2 seconds. I then decided to try to push the antenna down with someone shutting off the radio. it went down a good amount and since then it has been going up and down on its own.