'94 Camry - Broken powered radio antenna

[iToaster]

So here's the deal... my Aunt owns a '94 Camry, just recently the powered antenna on the back of the car was mortally wounded by some low hanging branches. Guess who she wants to fix it? Me. I don't have a lot of experience with Camrys, so I'll need the Camry owners help with this one. What do I need to replace the completely obliterated antenna and rod that pushes it up? Also, is it fairly straightforward to install (as in a plug or two and a few screws)? If not, what will I need to do?

[toyomoho]

This is a common problem and an easy fix.

Obtain a new antenna from an auto parts store, Toyota dealer, ebay, etc.

The antenna is pushed up and pulled down by a long plastic rod similar to a weed eater but thicker and having teeth on side of the rod. The antenna motor has a reel to reel to reel in/out the rod.

To unreel the antenna remove the nut at the base of the antenna. Press the AM or FM button while turning the ign key to ACC.

The rod should extend out as much as it can before going off the reel, once done pull it out with the antenna.

Leave the key in the ACC position. Install the rod of the new antenna with the teeth facing the rear of the car until it bottoms out (about 16 inches). Turn the ign key to Lock and the cable should wind up and antenna retract.

If you need to take out the antenna first go through all of the steps through where you would pull out the antenna then install the rod and turn key to Lock.

Reinstall the nut.

[BMR]

Toyomoho's got it covered.

One thing I can add. If you purchase a non-OEM antenna, compare the length of the plastic cord/rod of old Vs new. I purchased an antenna off of eBay that had a cord a good 6 to 8 inches longer than the original. The antenna mast wouldn't fully retract. Had me going for a while until I figured that out. If it's much longer, just snip off the extra with a wire cutter.

[Mike Gerber]

Just an FYI. Pep Boys sells a replacement mast for around $20, less than half of what the dealer usually sells it for. Looks identical to me.

Mike

[dz63]

The powered antenna on my 96 Camry no longer goes all the way up or down. I took it out and bench tested it and it seems like the motor is really weak.

The casing where the cord is stored is full of black crud (old grease), so I pulled it apart to clean it it out. I also tried to pull the mast out like toyomoho described above. No way that thing is coming out! I broke the plastic cord in the process.

When I pull on the antenna, it seems like brass piece on the bottom of the bottom of the mast (red arrow) is getting stuck inside the housing . Is there a trick to pulling the mast out. You guys make it sound so simple.

[new echo owner]

The mast/cable part comes out from the top end not the bottom end you are pointing to.

N.E.O.

[iratoyota]

After the install of the new antennae what is the best product to keep the mast properly lubed as it extneds and retracts ? I live near Boston.

Originally Posted by iToaster

So here's the deal... my Aunt owns a '94 Camry, just recently the powered antenna on the back of the car was mortally wounded by some low hanging branches. Guess who she wants to fix it? Me. I don't have a lot of experience with Camrys, so I'll need the Camry owners help with this one. What do I need to replace the completely obliterated antenna and rod that pushes it up? Also, is it fairly straightforward to install (as in a plug or two and a few screws)? If not, what will I need to do?

[donbryce]

If I was the OP, I'd get a new mast/cable, remove the entire antenna from the car, open it up and examine everything for broken/bent parts, old grease, etc., clean it all up with spray degreaser, relube all the moving parts, insert the new mast and cable on the bench, and test for everything working properly before returning it to the car. Go here and you'll find a nice color wiring diagram so you can understand what pins to apply 12V to get it working out of the car http://www.**********s.com/camry/. You could also attach a ground wire and plug it in in the trunk, holding it in your hands to test.

For lubrication, I use spray electrical parts cleaner on the extended mast, then spray silicone for lubrication. I'd avoid anything that leaves residue, which attracts dirt and defeats the exercise, like WD40.

[dz63]

Guys - I already took the whole unit out and bench tested it with a 12VDC power supply. The antenna goes up and down only part way. OK - no big deal I thought. I will just take it all apart and clean it out , lube it up and re-assemble, yes? Big mistake!

I took it apart to clean it but my first big mistake was to remove the screws that hold the DC motor in place, in order to clean out the pinion area - never, never, never do that! When you remove the motor, the end of the armature shaft inevitably slips out of the bushing and then it is impossible to guide motor armature shaft back into the end bushing against the forces of the permanent magnents which pull the armature shaft to either one side or the other.

To top it off, the stupid plastic cable attached to the mast broke while I was trying to pull the mast out. Note that I am pulling it out the top, not out the bottom. The funny thing is that the antenna mast is loose inside the outer tube until I try to pull it out, then it somehow gets wedged inside the outer tube and I guarantee that no amount of pulling will get that sucker out.

I have resigned to re-installing the antenna with the motor disconnected or buying a universal power antenna unit from antennamastsrus.com and fitting it into the vehicle. The funny thing is I get perfect reception on the FM station that we always listen to with no antenna at all! Go figure...I guess the station is pretty strong. So, at present, there is not much incentive to fork out $50 for a whole new antenna unit.

[LUVLEXUS101]

Well my antenna is really weird, I think part of that plastic piece broke or something inside the motor area. It would go up like 7/8 of the way and then start make funny noises as if it were trying to push it up but ran out of that plastic rod so I could pull it up the rest of the way myself. When it came to coming down it wouldnt come down at all until I pushed the top part down a bit first then it seems the rod would catch on the motor and it would go all the way down. Any ideas? I took the outer nut off and the mast and plastic rod part came right out easily, is that a sign of something broken?

[new echo owner]

Originally Posted by LUVLEXUS101

Well my antenna is really weird, I think part of that plastic piece broke or something inside the motor area. It would go up like 7/8 of the way and then start make funny noises as if it were trying to push it up but ran out of that plastic rod so I could pull it up the rest of the way myself. When it came to coming down it wouldnt come down at all until I pushed the top part down a bit first then it seems the rod would catch on the motor and it would go all the way down. Any ideas? I took the outer nut off and the mast and plastic rod part came right out easily, is that a sign of something broken?

Broken drive cable, but you will have to pull the motor off to take out the broken part, otherwise, the new cable may not retract all the way.

N.E.O.

[dz63]

NEO doesn't really mean take the motor off - you will never get it back on! What he means to say is undo the nut to open the black plastic housing, then remove the plastic storage reel in order to try to fish out any broken drive cable. Take it real slow and if necessary take photos, so you know how everything goes back together and you should be OK. Whatever you do, don't undo the two screws securing the motor!

[iratoyota]

Is white lithium grease a good option ?

[donbryce]

Originally Posted by iratoyota

Is white lithium grease a good option ?

No

[iratoyota]

what do you suggest ?

Originally Posted by donbryce

No