I need to remove my fender panel so I can get access to rust forming between panel gaps, and to replace my antenna motor that has completely stopped working.

How hard is it to remove this panel?

Is it difficult to realign this panel without making the panel gaps inconsistent?

Here's a relevant thread for you: Removing front fender
If you need more here's some more: https://www.google.com/search?q=site...4dUDCA4&uact=5

Try using this 3rd gen specific google search to find what you need: https://www.google.com/search?q=site...4dUDCA4&uact=5

just an fyi - you don't need to remove it if all you want to do is replace the antenna motor. And that may not be the problem. The first thing is just replace the plastic drive cable. Replacing the motor is last choice. I have done both and neither is that hard and never touched the fender. The only issue with the motor is the poor engineering of the antenna cable. It is fixed into the motor. You have to thread the new cable bakc to the radio. I tried to use the original path and gave up. It was put in during assembly before the ventwork so I just ran it thru the footwell under the carpet. I know you said fixing rust and removing it for hat is needed but you could do the motor in about an hour and do the rust later

I know that often the antenna mast is the issue because the plastic gears sheer off and the motor has nothing to grab onto. In my case I cant even hear the motor when it should be working which is why I believe it is the issue. I'll try changing the plastic gears because they likely need to anyway, but I feel pretty sure that the motor is also inoperable.

You can go into the fender through the wheel well to get to the motor, but I might as well take the opportunity to remove the fender and make rust repairs while I have more than one reason to.

If the antenna cable is too difficult to feed back in I can just slice the end of the old one onto the new one and save myself the headache of feeding it back to the radio.

If the antenna never worked while you owned it, somebody may have unplugged it to avoid the noise every time the truck starts/stops...

When you do get a new motor/mast in there, lube it up with some graphite dry lube. That will help keep the plastic bits from breaking in the future. (a good clean and lube brought my antenna back from nearly not working to 100% perfect)

-Charlie

Pics are long gone but here are some write-ups:

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/948525-post4.html
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/1034740-post34.html

Oh, no realignment issues

one issue I ran into in the past, was the platic track thing had broken. It had left a piece in the motor housing so the motor could not grab the new one. I had to remove the motor, open the housing and get the broken bits out.
my new to me 4runner, this one is also broken, but im gonna do the taco whip.

I feel like no one ever mentions using a tacoma antenna anymore, kinda weird
In regards to the fender technically it should just be a handful of bolts holding it on (much easier to work in there with the OEM bumper off, FYI). However I tried taking off my passenger fender last year to hammer some dents out, and I couldn't get it off for the life of me. I think my issue at the time was the air intake elbow that runs up inside the fender (never tried again after it was removed) so it might benefit you to remove those first. Take out the airbox, directly to the left of where it was sitting and you'll see what I mean - assuming you have the V6

Nope, I have the I4. If I'm remembering correctly the air intake elbow still runs into the fender on the 3rz

Just broke my antenna in the car wash and I cut the white line before I shut off the engine thinking it would put strain on the motor trying to retract the broken antenna. What I should’ve done was removed the nut, shut off the engine and quickly turned the key back on so I could pull the white line out entirely as it came back up. Instead I was stuck pulling the motor to remove the leftover piece. 10 minutes in and out but still…. Maybe this will save someone else those ten minutes in the future.


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1996 4Runner SR5 | Auto | Unlifted | 248K miles

Exactly how I did it. Tried about ten minutes to get it behind all the ventwork and quit

Are you talking about lubing the motor, antenna or both? The one on my 99 is the rare one that’s working great and I want to keep it that way if possible :-)

Before removing the antenna cable, tie a string to it and then pull the antenna motor assembly out.
When your ready to snake the cable back, just pull the string.
Just remember to tape up the string/cable connection good so that it doesnt get hung up when your pulling on the string.

Take a look at this video, starting at 2:45 time. At 3:15 he shows the two tricky bolts. If you can't get to those bolts, no point in proceeding, unless you remove the bumper first.

Removing fender of Toyota 4runner 98-02 3rd generation. - YouTube

I'm in the same boat currently, wanting to completely remove my antenna wire. Almost there. The antenna wire is taped *really well* with green tape, to plastic tabs embedded in the steel dash reinforcement bar. I broke one tab off before I learned this. Cut the tape on the 2nd, but having trouble reaching the 3rd. Been removing the glove box components for access, but am stumped on how to, specifically, remove this one clip (pic). If anyone can describe in detail, I'd sure appreciate it. I don't want to break it by guessing which way to push or pull or slide etc.

That clip is on the #2 lower panel airbag assy thingy.

Answered my own question, new pics showing the clip...

Attached Images