like an idiot, i drove my '94 roadmaster thru a automatic car wash today and forgot to put down the antenna. since i use a satellite radio played thru the cassette, i didn't even notice it until I got home when I shut the car off and could hear the antenna motor trying to wind down. It was dark already, so I just disconnected the battery to stop the motor from running. Maybe the way the mast broke, it smeared the top so it can no longer retract. Anyway, I guess I'll have to pull the wires or fuse until I can figure out what to do. I'd really like to make it work again - it was one of the things that make the RM so cool. Any suggestions? The worst of it is that i usually wash it by hand but today I was short on time and decided to go thru the automatic. Big mistake.
You must be sick over that, you just want to kick yourself don't yah? I you need help let me know? Hopefully someone will be along to help you.
Napa sells a complete new power assembly for $48.49 Part no. 730-7003, but looking at the pic of the assembly some masts you can get a replacement that comes with the mast and the toothed vynil portion at the bottom and can simply be fed back into the motor, those usually have to come from a stereo shop, but for the price it may be worth not having to mess with it.
Usually the mast comes off the vynil gear portion so the toothed part just goes around and around the motor is built to stop when the toothed portion comes to a stop as the mast is all the way down. When they seperate the motor will run continously. usually you have to unplug the harness from the motor.
The electric antenna I put on the 55 Chevy goes click click click about six times after it is down. Always has and probably always will. Like the ribbon is not adjusted right.
Usually yes, it is normally not combined with the radio either, should be marked on your panel all by itself. In fact I think all power masts are fused seperately because they run after the car is shut off, they have a continous power supply.
I don't think you're being hard enough on yourself about this. Take that broken antenna mast and whack yourself on your bare back 50 times while shouting "I'm sorry wagon, I didn't mean to hurt you!". Then, get that once-pristine shiny chrome mast heated up red hot and brand yourself across the knuckles. That seems like the proper punishment for this heinous crime you've committed against wagonkind. Pictures to prove your penance will be enough to satisfy this audience.
Just be glad you live somewhere warm! Up here, there is hardly any car with an automatic antenna more than 2 years old with the antenna still working. They freeze and burn out the motors. I always tell anyone I know with one to put in a switch. At least changing the mast is easy. Changing the motor means removing the fender.
Just a WARNING about auto car washes: Our sister dealership has one and what happens is sometimes the antenna hangs up in the brushes and then beats your car with it or the next car that goes thru it...happened this week to a brand new camry, $4,000 worth of damage to this new car so everyone may want to think twice before driving thru one!
I don't believe I've been thru an automatic car wash in 40 years or more. Closest I've gotten was using those wands and a brush and that was long ago. Now my automatic car wash consists of a hose, a long handled car washing brush, some sponges, and towels. And the occasional thunder storm right after I've washed it! The only automatic antenna I have is on the 55 Wagon and it's rarely up. See it's down!
If I ever use an automatic car wash I only go to the touchless ones. Much less chance of damage. Some of those things can be downright harsh. Especially the type with the oversize, rotating nylon toilet brushes.
The Colony Park has one with a switch, and I'm happy to have it that way for that very reason. My buddy had a '94 Regal and the antenna wouldn't move, but you could hear the motor struggling. I always use the touchless ones, if I go through a car wash. I typically just wash it by hand.
the OFF is switched by the antenna mechanism.. or you can disconnect it from the radio itself...usually its a BLUE wire that controls the antenna motor
