My antenna broke, looking for suggestions - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Heat · 01-04-2008, 03:10 PM

'95 LE sedan

My antenna mast froze during the latest freeze and then the nylon cord snapped. At this point the motor works but the antenna won’t raise – I can lift it up by hand, it lifts up very easily since the nylon cord is no longer there but of course it won’t stay up.

At this point I see my options as:

a. using one of a number of glues to just glue the mast into an upright position all the time and snipping the power antenna wire off of the radio (so the motor doesn’t run anymore, the main antenna wire would remain of course);

b. replacing the antenna mast with either OEM ($70) or a good aftermarket one; or

c. going for the Honda S2000 antenna that I’ve seen referenced in other antenna related posts.

$70 is way too much for this antenna so I won’t be paying that, when I replaced the antenna on my now-sold Volvo a few years ago I only paid $25 for the part. There has to be good sources of Toyota parts online, can anybody point me to some sites? Preferably ones with reasonably priced (say, under $40 shipped) power antennas? And what’s up with the S2000 antenna, how much would that cost and what would it look like? Would a Honda Accord power antenna work? (from Accord's fifth generation, '95 through '98, after '98 the antenna is built into the rear window).

Thanks!

Venom_5 · 01-04-2008, 03:27 PM

Option C!

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t65507.html

eilros · 01-04-2008, 04:14 PM

I'd go with option B. I just replaced my antenna with one I got on eBay for around $15 and it works great.

Heat · 01-04-2008, 04:23 PM

Option d: Order a replacement retracting antenna from Crutchfield, with motor, for about $80 after shipping (includes all the hardware needed) – better than the $70 for just the antenna from the dealer.

And thanks for the link to the S2000 information – it looks like that would be right at $80 or $85 complete. How is the reception with the S2000 antenna, compared to the Toyota OEM antenna? I’m not exactly in a big town and I need to pick up distant stations on occasion.

And I'll take a look at ebay tonight. With regard to my motor, I need to check it out closer this weekend when it warms up outside, I'm not sure if it's working well or not. It didn't make the usual sound today but it was making a noise, just weaker.

islandboy57 · 01-04-2008, 04:35 PM

I think the power antenna was classy back in its day, but what a pain in the butt these days. I replaced the mast on my mom's gen 3.5 with a cheap $20 aftermarket one from eBay. Works great.. Installation took maybe 15 minutes. Make sure you have someone to help you - you'll need someone to turn the radio on and off to get the new teeth to grab.

I don't care for the stubby antenna look and I don't want the antenna to stay up all the time. I'm fine paying $20 every few years to have one of the few working power antennas on the gen 3/3.5 around town

360glitch · 01-04-2008, 04:58 PM

Aftermarket replacement gets my vote.

tevolo · 01-04-2008, 05:01 PM

The S2000 conversion is pretty clean looking. The last guy that owned my Supra did it and it looks pretty clean.

***eyeball96*** · 01-04-2008, 07:19 PM

Option C for sure! Reception is the same as OEM for me! Just no PIA antenna mast breaking or getting jammed all the time! The mast on Ebay are crappy IMO, and the S2000 looks better!

BaByBoiGsxR · 01-04-2008, 07:44 PM

Option C =====> S2000 Antenna!

by the way... how much do they cost? i have one similar to an S2000 antenna. the only difference is that it's about 2 to 3 inches longer. someone send me a link of the actual items please.

mtmx46 · 01-04-2008, 07:49 PM

Well on my 96, the same thing happened. I just bought an aftermarket generic non-powered antenna from one of the parts stores, but I should have tried ebay instead. The one I have sticks out about 25 cm even when it's fully pushed down.

The worst part? It makes a hell of a racket from wind whistle at any speed above 80 km/hr. I'd rather have a power antenna or a slick stubby like the s2000 conversion, but I'm not going to dish out $80 for that.

So if anyone has experience with the ebay power antenna kits they're selling let me know.

Matt

***eyeball96*** · 01-04-2008, 08:37 PM

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/t65507.html

Everything u need to know is at the above link for a S2000 conversion!

Heat · 01-05-2008, 02:40 AM

Read the thread posted above for S2000 information - the antenna itself is about $22 from the Honda dealer, but you also need about $58 worth of other parts for the inside of the car (from a Toyota Celica) - so $80 total. Keep in mind that it doesn't extend, what you see in the pictures is what it is.

When I had my Volvo there were several good aftermarket parts places on the web: www.ipdusa.com , www.fcpgroton.com , and www.vlvworld.com . I picked up a replacement mast for my Volvo from IPD for about $25 (mast only, the motor was fine, kind of like how my current motor is fine) - surely there are good websites for buying parts for Toyotas. What are they? While the S2000 antenna is tempting, I'd still like to at least see a $25 or $30 good quality replacement mast for the sake of comparison.

uibalnme · 01-05-2008, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by islandboy57

I don't care for the stubby antenna look and I don't want the antenna to stay up all the time. I'm fine paying $20 every few years to have one of the few working power antennas on the gen 3/3.5 around town

+1

I replaced my mast with an ebay part, but it was a real, brand new, Toyota mast. Two years later, it still works like new. $20 well spent IMO. Not all ebay parts are crap. You just have to look carefully at what you buy, and who you buy from.

I was even considering shaving the factory antenna and get a hidden, glass mounted antenna like this one..
http://www.thehoffmangroup.com/autol...sso?itemid=hab
but then I figured in the cost of the body work in, and decided the replacement mast was just faster, and cheaper. It's a great alternative to all other options though...at least I think it is.