Ebay Power antenna
 

Hello all

In the search of fixing my power antenna I’ve found this on eBay.

Power Antenna Kit For Toyota 4 Runner 1996-2002 Stainless Steel Mast Radio FM/AM | eBay

Just wondering if anyone has tried it? Thank you

I have not personally used that antenna, but I tried another and it didn't work. I would not have too much confidence in that, especially considering it is an aftermarket motor and not just a mast. I personally plan to do this antenna mod at some point:
3rd Gen Stubby Antenna Mod

I know the tacoma antenna whip mod is also popular.

May I ask why it didn’t work?

Sure, I bought just the power antenna mast and the little plastic cable that feeds into the motor was a touch small. It would grab it and bring it up and down, but the resistance at the bottom wasn't enough to give the motor the 'shut-off' signal, so it would keep spinning and grinding on the cable.

The OEM antena mast was about 30 bucks by itself. Again - no experience with this aftermarket motor, but I think there are just better solutions unless you really like the antenna going up and down for some reason.

I have an '02 and have the same issue.. I might buy the Metra 44-PW22 universal replacement antenna from where I work. If I do I will let you know. Here is the link to the antenna from our work site...

Metra 44-PW22 Fully Automatic AM/FM Replacement Power Antenna | The Wires Zone

Sure, please let me know. The one on eBay is just as much, but I rather pay to the one that work. Thank you

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...b3d77e8bbe.jpg
Got this on eBay. Just the telescoping mast since my motor worked. Works flawlessly.


2001 SR5 4x4 Premium
2017 SR5 4x4 Premium

How do you mount a generic one. When I did mine I grabbed one of of a junkyard but the bracket is definitely a one off.

That’s good news. My motor still run, you can hear it, but no antenna movement. Do you think I can just replace with that?

You Absolutely can. Very easy swap also. Took 5 minutes.
1. Unscrew the silver/chrome ring at the antenna that has the 4 notches and take it off along with the black piece that sits between the vehicle and screw.
2. Turn your radio on, this will make the motor extend the antenna.
3. Pull the telescoping antenna out.
4. Extend your new telescoping antenna and face the cable teeth forward (towards the passenger headlight) and insert the cable into the motor until you feel resistance.
5. Have someone turn the radio off and the motor should grab on to the teeth of the cable and retract it into place.

Make sure you guide the antenna into the hole while the motor is pulling it down. They reattach the black piece and chrome screw and your all done.


2001 SR5 4x4 Premium
2017 SR5 4x4 Premium

Ebay Power antenna
 

Oh also put some lithium grease on the teeth of the new antenna before you install it.

This should work as long as your old antenna cable teeth didn’t break inside the motor.
If the cable did break inside the motor, you’ll know because the motor won’t retract the new antenna fully or at all. Worst case you’ll have to take the antenna motor out and take out the broken cable from it.

My 4runner had no antenna installed when I bought it. The previous owner must have taken it out.

I like Toyota OEM stuff which is why I kept the telescoping antenna and didn’t go with a stubby or a non telescoping antenna.


2001 SR5 4x4 Premium
2017 SR5 4x4 Premium

A couple of comments since I did both the mast replacement and two years later replaced the entire motor. When you remove the old mast just make sure you see which direction the teeth are pointing - helps get the new one in. If it breaks off inside (mine did also) you cannot just remove the motor. You have to disassemble it while it is still in fender well. Toyota saved a couple of pennies but making the antenna cable part of the motor instead of using a disconnect. Which brings up the last point - if you replace the motor you have to replace the cable. Don;t even try to run it where the original is. On mine it was put in place before all the cooling ducts etc. I just ran the new one under the footwell carpet.

As mentioned earlier, I tried replacing with an aftermarket ebay antena. I ran into issues due to the mismatch of the gauge of wire. Your results may vary.

The plastic finally broke on my mast and I got a well reviewed replacement on amazon (instead of the cheapest one). Didn’t have too much trouble replacing it. It worked just fine, but only lasted a year and a half before the plastic broke again. I ended up pulling it out and putting in a Metra 44-TY23 and it’s just like the Tacoma whip, only it’s $14. The mast for it is ugly, but you can thread almost any replacement on the Metra base, which looks completely oem. I currently have the black mast from my old VW Golf on there, but am looking at some other mid sized springy options. I certainly don’t miss the sound of that dumbass thing going up and down. I highly recommend the Metra!


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I replaced mine with an original equipment toyota one after reading about issues with aftermarket. I have had several winters of it being stuck down due to cold/snow/freezing and it has still been working no problem. It tries to go up...but cant when its minus 40 or so :) but is working fine now with temps above freezing
however i am switching to the taco whip ( have all the parts, just have not done it yet) as I dont want to bust the power antenna on low branches. I bought the mini rockers so I could turn the antenna off to avoid the issue as my antenna goes up even if just on cd or blue tooth...but never did that job either