240sx power antenna repair

by C-kwik

Overview:

If you want to fix your power antenna, it is quite easy. Nissan power antennas are built so that you only have to replace the mast itself. They can be purchased for around $20 on eBay.

Difficulty: **

Time: 1-2 hours

Cost: $20

Tools:

– screwdriver
– pliers
– vice grips

Materials:

– antenna mast

Procedure:

All you need to do is to remove the retaining nut on the top of the base of the antenna. I’m sure there is a tool for this, but Ijust used a pair of pliers. Then you should be able to remove the mast. The mast should have a long, thin piece of plastichanging off of it, unless it broke. You can pull this out with a little bit of force. If it has broken, try making sure the radiois on, so the antenna would be in the up position. Hopefully you can get a hold of the piece of plastic. If not, you may be out of luck. I never had to take the motor out yet.

**If you are able to remove this long piece of plastic, all you do to install the new mast is slide the plastic piece from the new mast down the antenna shaft. When it gets to the bottom, have someone turn off theradio. It should begin pulling the plastic down. It may not go all the way in. Turn on the radio again, but then turn it backoff right away. It will pull the rest down…hopefully. Screw the retaining nut back on, and you are set.

Remove the motor assembly

1) Remove retaining nut from mast assembly (to free the mast from the car)

2) Open hatch/trumk/whatever you have and remove the jack (mine was mounted with 3 silver-colored bolts. To access to bolts you need to pull back the interior trim to right of the jack access door.

3) Remove the two darker bolts (all bolts in this procedure are 10mm) to the right of the jack bolts. There should be a hole between the bolts with a metal prong sticking through (use this hole and prong to align the bolt holes when you put the car back together).

4) Put on your contortionist’s hat and get the motor assembly out by wriggling it out through the jack access hole.

5) Remove the metal column that the mast rests in by unscrewing the single screw holding it to the motor assembly. See the cable? Pull it out if you can. If not, read on.

6) Remove the rubber hose and metal cage from the black plastic assembly (DO NOT REMOVE THE copper-colored MOTOR). You should now be able to see the copper-colored hex nut on the back of the black plastic assembly. Remove it carefully, not losing any parts on the inside. As you pull it apart the antenna cable should spring out.Remove it.

7)Go back to ** at the very top of these instructions and follow that step to install the new mast.It may take a few “on-off” cycles for the motor to take up all the slack in the mast and adjust itself correctly – Be patient.Cycle it 10-15 times.

8) If it all works THEN put the jack back. I strongly suggest re-mounting the jack because if you don’t it just kinda floats around back there and gets annoying REALLY quickly

8) Happy listening!