can you repair a power antenna?

[Pastor Larry Roques]

The Power antenna on my 96 bird is not going up and down. It went up and now the motor just sits there and spins for thirty seconds or so an then stops, but does not move the antenna mast up or down. Is there some kind of cable inside there that came loose? Or, does anyone out there have any idea about how to or if you can fix these darn things.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Blessings

[hockeyman]

The gears inside of the motor probably stripped. I guess you can replace the gears, but finding the gears alone will be like looking for a needle in a haystack unlkess you find a used one somewhere. You would probably be better off buying a new power antenna setup. It may be cheaper to go with a new setup too.

[pontiac nino]

new antenna from autozone will run you about 50 bux easy install

[BLLDOGG]

is the power intenna from auto zone for f-bodies or is it a universal one?

[nda0602v6]

Ones at Autozone are universal. Someone had installed a universal on my car but they used the wrong mounts (where it comes through the sheet metal) and put a tiny crease in the fender.

[nda0602v6]

Originally posted by Pastor Larry Roques:
The Power antenna on my 96 bird is not going up and down. It went up and now the motor just sits there and spins for thirty seconds or so an then stops, but does not move the antenna mast up or down. Is there some kind of cable inside there that came loose? Or, does anyone out there have any idea about how to or if you can fix these darn things.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Blessings

Hockeyman is right in saying its probably stripped but it may not be the gears in the motor. There is flexible nylon cable with teeth that moves the antenna mast (the actual piece that goes up and down) and usually that's the first thing to strip out or break. You may want to check with GM to see if they sell just the mast instead of the entire antenna assembly. When you unscrew the fancy nut on top of the sheet metal, you should be able to pull the old mast all the way out and inspect the teeth on that nylon cable. If it's shot, you would then just stick the new mast back in, have someone turn your radio off, and the motor should turn on and grab the nylon cable and suck it right back in.

buttt, knowing GM they made it so you have to buy the entire thing.

[pontiac nino]

When I took off my antenna I was thinking of just replacing the mast and the teeth that make it go up and down but I figured my car is almost going to be 10 years old so i just replaced the whole thing. The mast is even easier and cheaper I think like 15 bux around that price

Originally posted by nda0602v6:
Ones at Autozone are universal. Someone had installed a universal on my car but they used the wrong mounts (where it comes through the sheet metal) and put a tiny crease in the fender.

Why didn't you do it? It's simple and it comes with a bunch of mounts you can use all you have to do is splice into the wiring since you're harness won't work

[nda0602v6]

Originally posted by pontiac nino:
Why didn't you do it? It's simple and it comes with a bunch of mounts you can use all you have to do is splice into the wiring since you're harness won't work

The car came with the universal ant when I bought it. The dealership had to fix a bunch of cut wires I found on the factory stereo system so while they were at it they just replaced the antenna with a new factory power one. I didn't complain since it was all free. Whoever installed the universal antenna didn't know what they were doing cause like you say, universals come with a different assortment mounts but they used the wrong ones and creased my fender. :mad: Someday I'll call the Dent Wizards to see if they can make it smooth again

[3495 Blackbird]

Geta stock replacement from GMpartsdirect for $67.41 plus S&H. Part#10269280