Hello,
Been awhile since my antenna mast stopped moving.
I still hear the motor running though.

Was wondering on your opinion of the following:

1. Buy a new mast and attempt to replace the original one (is that hard?)
2. But a Tacoma Whip antenna as suggested by many on this board
3. Buy a generic Autozone rubber antenna
4. Buy an ebay motorized antenna replacement
such as http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=33639

Any comments?
(wasnt' sure if it would be worth replacing -- b/c of the time involved, vs. trying to get a new mast in place and operating correctly)

Thanks

 

2. all the way.

 

2. hands down.

 

Either use the toyota replacement mast or the Tacoma whip.
I've replaced the mast twice.
Picked it up at dealership (I think about $15-20) and had it fixed an hour later.
If the plastic whip will raise up and out the end of the power antenna, all you do is turn on your radio and grab the plastic whip pull it out when it stops rising but the motor is still turning. Of course, you need to remove the locking nut first.
Note which direction the teeth are facing.
To Install:
Leave radio on.
Thread in the new mast as far as it will go.
Have an assistant turn off the radio while you holding the mast in as far as it will go.
The motor will catch it and pull it down.
Done

If the mast is broken inside the power antenna you will need to take it apart.
I've done that once and it isn't hard, allow and hour maybe two.

 

Mine just F**cked up 2 days ago!

 

Mine does what it wants when it wants...dont use the radio though so I really stopped paying attention. Number 2 sounds like the best solution

 

#2

The auto antenna on my old Camry broke once. My dad and I fixed it and a month later we broke it while driving under rose bush :pat:

 

Had mine replaced twice due to mast-us eject-us....

The second time they had to reweld the motor mount (WTF?).

#2 all the way, avoid the pain of a second low orbit antenna launch!

(I haven't done it yet, but i will definitely do so if this thing so much as looks at me funny)

 

you can get the mast at the stealer for about 30-40 bucks or you can goto pepboys and pick one up for around 15.

 

I just replaced mine with the whip method. It was a pain but well worth it. However the part the guy suggested from Autozone does NOT fit. I had to split the wire manually and reused the old cable from the old motor.

 

I got a retractable replacment from the dealer and like Astralplane it was simple to install. But it cost me about 45 bucks from the dealer.
don't go with the plastic those things are ugly and bend like a limp, you know what.

 

I did find this:
http://www.carstereohelp.com/stereor...unr2PwrAnt.htm
But, it will break again and again and again.

 

This is what happened to mine each time too.
I also had the mount bracket come detached and had to remove the kickpanel and ECU so I could drill for a through bolt.
Works fine now with no vibration and I use silicone spray for lube to keep it from sticking.

 

i say go with the stock antenna, reception cant be beat, and its really not hard to reinstall anyway. just make sure u get the plastic guides out of the motor before you feed the new one in.

-Casey

 

I say stay with it too. I've only replaced mine once and it's 7 years old.