The 4runner limited has a power antenna. This is not a good idea for offroading because power antennas are very flimsy. So what I decided to do is install a regular whip antenna from the 4runner base model of the same year.

I called camelback Toyota and they shipped me regular antenna assembly without the whip. I already have a Toyota whip antenna here at the house.



Part number:



Antenna assembly:



Next thing to do is find a way to access the existing power antenna assembly. I do this by removing bolts and clips that hold down the plastic splash guard in the fender well, the amount of bolts and clips removed depends on how comfortable you want to get to fold back the splash guard and fit your hands and tools:





Again, ^^^ the amount of clips and screws removed will be determined by the user. I removed about four bolts and four clips.

Clips:



Pulling the splash guard back:



Once I take a peek back there, well see the power antenna assembly being held by ONE bolt, remove it:



Next, the silver crown nut must be removed:



This can be done one of two ways.

Break it out or turn on the 4runner so the power antenna can rise up. Then have a helper hold the antenna firmly, turn off the 4runner and prevent the antenna from coiling back in. This removes the antenna from the power antenna assembly. Since my power antenna had started failing, I went with the option of breaking it out.

Once the previous step has been taken care of, look in the engine bay. Passenger side to the corner:



That there is the retainer clip to the harness of the power antenna. Push it out or break it out.

This allows complete removal of the assembly.



We are not done yet. Now we need to trace back the antenna cable to the back of the radio:

Pop open the glove compartment and remove it:



This is done by squeezing the ends.





Remove three bolts that are holding the upper trim of the glove compartment (only two are shown):





If we take a peek towards the back right, well see the antenna cable. it has gray tape on it:



Now to remove the radio, the center console and radio trim need to removed. The center console needs to be pulled out firmly:



shifter trim:



Radio trim:

Carefully unplug power outlet, hazard light switch, clock, etc.





This allows radio to be removed:



Remove the four radio bracket bolts:



Two antenna cables are behind the radio. The smaller one is for the rear antenna, which I ignored. The thicker one is the one we are replacing:



This is very important! Tie a string at the end of the antenna cable, so when you pull it out at the fender outside, you can tie the string to the new antenna and easily guide and pull it behind the dash towards the back of the radio! Picture of new antenna plug:



Install the new antenna assembly, attach the bolt and run the antenna cable by carefully pulling the string to guide it to the back of the radio and plug in!



Put everything together and screw in the new whip antenna and boom! no more worrying about breaking the power antenna mast!

Nice tutorials,
another option is install switch on power antenna wire. (if antenna still works ok)

Great write up. I will be using it in a couple of weeks.

This is a great write up. Have you browsed the Tutorials & Documentation v2 thread much?

3rd Gen FAQ, Tutorials, & Documentation Reference v2

That plus the search (linked below) should give good guidance on which mod write ups could use a refreshing.

I haven't looked into that thread, ill take a peek soon.

If there is anything specific that needs refreshing, send me a PM and ill let you know if I can somehow contribute.

Did you see my write up for the valve cover gaskets? over 50 pictures and plenty of info

Did the part number you purchased (86300-35090) come with the antenna whip?

My power antenna fell apart yesterday, it looks like the motor loss traction of the teeth and the weight of the antenna pulled it out. It's still partly attached but the top part is looped out and down 180*

Is mine able to be fixed? I'd prefer to put it back together and put a switch on it to keep it factory

Probably, mine also broke. If you order just a normal antenna with the teeth you can open up the motor, pull out and remaining debris, then feed the new one in and you'll be back up and running again.

Thanks for the info... I tightly pulled on the teeth and it completely removed itself from the motor. Now I have no antenna for the time being, and need to plug the hole where the top part of the antenna shaft used to live

Yup. What Im doing to mine since the aftermarket radio just keeps it up all the time. I think that having it lowered would be be way better than a whip antenna. No antenna is better.

Hi how much is the assembly from Toyota?

Hey this was a great tutorial! Thank you so much, I just got the parts from a local wrecker and will be installing it soon using this guide!

My antenna is bent so in the perm up position. I want to change to the whip. Is this the only part number I will need or are there more parts that I need to do this? Sorry I am ignorant on this. If I can get part numbers I'm pretty decent at fixing stuff. Just don't want to start without all the stuff needed. Thanks much.

Well done. Thanks for the write up.