re: 1989 Camry V6 Wagon Antenna

[sfjen]

Aloha Folks,
Wanted to ask you if the antennas for the sedan and wagon are the same? Mine will not go up all the way when the power for the radio is turned on.

I was not sure if I should find a good used one or buy one off of ebay but I am worried that it might not match up-line up well as they say.

I also think that I have to take off this big body molding piece in the rear to access the old antenna. Are there any tricks to taking off this trim piece?

Thank for any and all advice.
Mahalo

[sfjen]

Aloha Folks,
Maybe I should have first asked the question is the Wagon and Sedan power antenna the same?

If they are different, would someone here have a picture of what it looks like? I ask because I went to a junk yard today and found some antennas but not sure if they are original Toyota ones.

There were some that I know were replacements made in China. But I am sure the Toyota one would be made in Japan.

Also, some of the antennas I found were of different lengths, so again, wanting to know if the wagon and sedan are the same or not.
Thanks again.
Mahalo

[atobe]

they are not the same... may be the interior parts are the same... motor etc but the mountings are not

[sfjen]

Aloha Atobe-
Thanks for the heads up. I have been going to a few junk yards trying to find parts for the wagon and been looking at the antennas, if they are still usable. Hope to find one soon.
Mahalo!

Originally Posted by atobe

they are not the same... may be the interior parts are the same... motor etc but the mountings are not

[sfjen]

Aloha Atobe-
Wanted to thank you again about the antenna's. Today I was at a junk yard in my area and I was able to take out an antenna from both a sedan and a wagon and you are right! The parts maybe the same but arranged differently but there was a main difference and that is the shaft that the antenna mast goes inside is of different lengths. The sedan shaft is actually longer than the wagon's. Also, the outside trim pieces, the black rubber one, is different too.
So, I now know that I need specifically to get the wagon one, or to order a new antenna mast and try to rebuild mine. Thanks again!
Mahalo,
Glen

PS: Grego, if I thought the antenna I pulled from the sedan was a good one I would have let you know. I did not want to take a chance as they charge close to 40.00 for the used ones. A lot of these antennas I am finding have some to a lot of rust on the bottom of the cast that holds the mast winding in it. So, if I see a good one I will let you know.

Originally Posted by atobe

they are not the same... may be the interior parts are the same... motor etc but the mountings are not

[Grego 92]

Originally Posted by sfjen

...

PS: Grego, if I thought the antenna I pulled from the sedan was a good one I would have let you know. I did not want to take a chance as they charge close to 40.00 for the used ones. A lot of these antennas I am finding have some to a lot of rust on the bottom of the cast that holds the mast winding in it. So, if I see a good one I will let you know.

No worry beef curry!....Tatohead is sending me one from that super clean camry that he found at the yard, we're hoping it works since neither of us know how to test it outside the car. Thanks for remembering my posts though!

[sfjen]

Aloha Grego-
Wow, when you said beef curry, I was saying to myself, hot "gohan" rice, beef curry and mac salad sure sounds, "Oishii!" Good!

I hope someone here can locate a "super clean camry le wagon!" With blue interior that is! Yes, I need some interior plastic trim pieces from the back and these hacks in my area just smash everything up to get their one piece! Ok, time to calm down.

mahalo,
glen

Originally Posted by Grego 92

No worry beef curry!....Tatohead is sending me one from that super clean camry that he found at the yard, we're hoping it works since neither of us know how to test it outside the car. Thanks for remembering my posts though!

[505sailor]

Glen,

How did you get at the old antenna? I have the same '89 wagon (in blue!) and my antenna has crapped out. I just can't figure out how to get it out. Some of the plastic is now so brittle I'm afraid to pry too hard on anything. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Rob

[sfjen]

Aloha 505-
I tell you, there were quite a few pieces I took out at the junk yard to get at the antenna. Even though it was not my car I always try to treat it as mine, because I will have to eventually work on my car.

Having said that unfortunately there are many pieces I found that had to come off, all on the driver's side: The plastic trim piece above the strut tower that holds the wagon cover; once this is off, then it exposes some screws that need to come out. The plastic piece that goes around the upper portion, boarders the drivers side window, that needs to come put too and I used a flat bar or two with a towel wrapped around the end and gently lifted up but remember you also have to take out the seat belt connection that attaches to the roof to get at this upper piece. Next, there is the side "cushion" off to the left side of the passenger seat: need to take out a bolt towards the bottom then lift up in order to get this cushion out. You should remove the plastic trim piece over the strut tower first then remove this cushion. The cushion reveals a screw for the bottom molding that needs to come out. When you have taken off the larger plastic trim piece around the rear window, that should also reveal a screw or two for that lower large molding. Finally in the back by the lift gate I also took out some plastic trim and screws. Basically I had to have everything off in order to get access to the darn antenna! It is a lot harder then to swap one out in the sedan.

Remember to keep all your screws and bolts where you took them off and just reverse the order to get everything back together. Patience is a big part of this so you do not damage the plastic trim pieces. I hope what littler I have done can help you out and I am sure someone more knowledgeable than I will chime in and give some great pointers as well. Take care and good luck!
Mahalo

Originally Posted by 505sailor

Glen,

How did you get at the old antenna? I have the same '89 wagon (in blue!) and my antenna has crapped out. I just can't figure out how to get it out. Some of the plastic is now so brittle I'm afraid to pry too hard on anything. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Rob

[505sailor]

Wow!

Thanks for replying and all the great info. I will give it a careful try when I have some time. I'll report back!

Cheers,

Rob