So my antenna broke off. New OEM antenna goes all the way up but only retracts about 3/4 of the way. What am I missing?
02’ Sport


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Probably not in the home position when you replaced the mast.

You either want it all the way up or all the way down. When replacing the mast. I always put them all the way down. Replace the mast, then verify all is well before putting the plastic fender liner back in.



That's my guess.

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Tried it all the way up and all the way down. Starting to think there is junk in the gears and may have to tear of down and clean out.


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Could be. I always tear them apart to replace the antennas. You could even have stripped gears..

I foresee this as an opportunity to do the Taco whip mod. But I don't know what exactly needs replaced in order to do it.

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It is possible that part of the toothed plastic of the antenna mast that engages with and coils around the gear inside the power antenna motor broke off in there, preventing the new mast from retracting fully. If you get behind the passenger side fender liner you will see the motor wrapped in plastic attached to a bracket with one 10mm bolt. It is possible (although annoying) to pull the motor out far enough without disconnecting any electrical connections to be able to remove the plastic wrapped around the motor and the screws that hold the gear mechanism in place. Once removed from the motor housing the gear splits into two pieces and you should be able to clean out any broken plastic remaining in there and hit it with some fresh grease. Reattach the motor to the bracket, and then with the car radio on feed the new antenna mast back into the motor by pushing the toothed plastic down through the antenna hole in the hood and into the tube of the antenna motor with the plastic teeth facing toward the opposite side of the hood. Have someone turn the radio off, and after a couple seconds the motor will engage, pulling the new antenna mast down, then replace the black plastic ring and chrome locknut thing and you should be good to go.

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You either have a piece of the old nylon belt still stuck in the gear. It's fairly easy to open up the coiling section of an original antenna.