what is a power antenna?

[vancouverbc]

i know my antenna has a motor on my 91 240sx but the whip antenna does not extend/retract by itself. what exactly does power antenna mean? what is a mast? my fm is fine but i only get one am station and rarely. the antenna motor works because i hear it when i turn ignition off.

[IvoryJ30t]

the mast is the metal part that extends [the actual antenna]

at the base of the metal mast, there is a white plastic cogged cord that get ravled and unravled from a spool at the base of the power antenna unit [the circular part at the bottom]. when you turn the antenna [radio] on, the motor feed the plastic cord off the spool, and this raises the antenna.

your plastic cord is broken. it requires removal of the unit, opening it, removing the antenna and broken cord, and installing a new unit.

replacement of the mast is cheap and difficult [if you havent done it before]

replacement of the entire power antenna unit is easier and more expensive.

[vancouverbc]

Thanks for the good answer. I will clean the antenna and disable the motor so it does not burn out. Thanks.

[IvoryJ30t]

yeah, if you dont want to replace it, just extend the antenna with the radio on, and remove the trim from the trunk to get to the unit. there is a little harness with three [or two] wires. just disconnect it.

there is probably a fuse for it also in the fuse box [the real easy way]

[vancouverbc]

I took the whip antenna(exterior) off and the plastic chord is broken. I also took the antenna motor/ bottom antenna out. How do you get the amputated plastic chord out of the whip antenna? I might try to reattach with a double sided screw or melt it back together. Can you buy these chords? there were two sets of wires going to the power antenna which i disconnected.

pictures:

http://ca.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.c...iew=t

The nut has two holes in it so i'm guessing there is a special tool with two points you use to get nut off. I scratched paint off nut with pliers. Chilton guide inadequate.The chord is only a few feet long.

[vancouverbc]

i think the link works now

http://ca.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.c...iew=t

[NISTECH]

you can purchase the mast seperately. with the motor assenmbly removed from the car and on a work bench (kitchen table if your like some people i know) remove the phillips screws holding the cover on. remove the white wagon wheel inside. use care not to loose the small metal washer between the wheel and the cover that acts as a bearing for the wheel. once you have the wheel out flip it over and look in its groove. you will see what is left of the broken plastic peices. remove these peices and discard them,toss your old mast and put it all back in the car. take your new mast and feed the cord down the well of the antenna motor. your radio should have already been turned on at this point. shut the radio off(helps to have a second person to do this) poke the plastic cable in and out gently till the motor grabs it. you may need to rotate it while poking it to line the teeth up with the motor cog.once it grabs it start guiding it in till the mast is in the hole. the timer may run out before it gets pulled all the way in. that is ok though just cycle the radio on then back off and it will draw it all the way back in. secure the mast nut and you have a fully functional antenna again.

[vancouverbc]

Ok, thanks for the complete answer. If I have this right, the cord comes with the mast? You can't buy the cord separate? I guess antenna's are cheap, anyway.

[NISTECH]

yes they are a one peice unit and are reasonably priced.

[vancouverbc]

good news:)

[vancouverbc]

Most of this stuff was covered in the FAQ.

[vancouverbc]

btw, power antenna refers to the electronic amplification not the physical operation of the mast.