Replacement for '95 Q Power Antenna?

[MinnyQ]

If there's one piece of my '95 Q (274K) i should have ripped out years ago it is the shiny chrome power antenna. Up here on the tundra where no winter day is complete without another 50,000 tons of salt and grit being hurled over the highways, these fancy little numbers are constantly grinding to a halt. This would be my fourth mast ... except now the dealership says I need the entire antenna assembly ... $550. Riiiight.

I gather the multi-plug Bose harness makes swapping this out for a simple rubbery whip antenna tricky to impossible. But I'm assuming one of you guys has done it.

The dealer parts guy had no clue, but wondered if you could some how leave the main assembly (minus mast) in the car, plugged into the harness AND then somehow attach the straight plug from a new whip antenna? (Sounds funky to me.)

As is I can get the thing to slide up and down, but AM reception is crap. (I gotta wonder about the gallons of various lubricants I've used on the chrome mast over the years seeping down below).

Anyway ... any thoughts on where to look for a preferably short (10") rubber antenna that'll pull in AM ... for far less than $550?

[maxnix]

I'd say call Joe. Masts are only $40 or so.

[CINNALOCKS]

Yeah it is a cheap part and a very easy install, takes all of 5 minutes, mine came from Joe also.

[MinnyQ]

Guys ... I know all about the cheap and easy mast. I've burned through three -- or is it four? -- of them. The issue now is stopping the power antenna madness and converting to something that doesn't have to be replaced every year. More to the point, the antenna has lost AM reception and the dealership ... says the entire mechanism is dead. Finito. Toast.

I'll call Joe tomorrow. But what I want is a nearly indestructible rubber whip antenna ... that will interact with the Bose system.

[goody90q45]

I'll call Joe tomorrow. But what I want is a nearly indestructible rubber whip antenna ... that will interact with the Bose system.

Any aftermarket antenna you buy will plug into the female antenna connection accessed through the trunk. You'll see it when you remove the old antenna and motor. The problem may be in mounting (and sealing) the new antenna- it's on an angle on the fender.

I live in NorCal and have lost a couple of power antennae over the years when they get iced up. Living in MN I'm surprised you've only gone through four masts. They are available on ebay cheaper than through the stealership.

[MinnyQ]

This tangle gets twistier. I called Scottsdale and the guy there -- not Joe -- didn't know anything about this multi-prong connector buried down deep at the base of the antenna power unit -- alongside the ordinary female plug.

In fact his diagnosis of the "bad AM reception" problem was ... a bad radio. Huh? (Ridiculous cost for new Bose radio. But then the Cd/tape/FM works fine and I get AM OK in the middle of the city. But it evaporates 20 miles out of town. That sounds like an antenna issue to me.)

Anyway, I've gone nowhere fast on this one. Replacing the mast doesn't seem to be the solution.

Even better, I chatted up the kids at the Best Buy car audio garage.

"Dude, just bring it in. We'll dig it out and see if any of our stuff fits."

Riiiiight.

[maxnix]

I know all about the cheap and easy mast. I've burned through three -- or is it four? -- of them. The issue now is stopping the power antenna madness and converting to something that doesn't have to be replaced every year.

Well, my 13 year old maintained ones have never malfunctioned.

So my advice would be to replace your whole unit and keep it well maintined by cleaning and lubricating the mast every week.

Whips are so ..... well, to each their own.