Antenna Removal

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fluid15

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Has anyone done an Antenna disconnection and/or replacement? I didn't find anything in the Search. Mine quit working after it was bent from hitting a bird. The motor makes a nasty sound while trying to open/close it.

I already planned to replace it, so I took it through a car wash just to see if it would break and it bent, but didn't break. I'd prefer to just remove it and replace it with one of those short, rubber antennas if they're available for the 3rd Gen models. No opening or closing required is more simple for me.
 
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to acces the antena motor you remove the front right wheel well, just enough to be able to remove the motor. then remove the glove box and radio. are you sure you don't want to just replace the broken mast. seem like alot of trouble for a simple solution.
 
Toyoboy - you're right, that sounds like more work than I care to do at this point. Too many higher priorities right now. The motor previously made some nasty sounds, if it was because of stripped gears on the attena then a new attena is a simple, inexpensive solution. If the motor has a problem, I don't care to replace it so I may look for a manual solution (so I can lower when putting through an auto car wash) or fixed, hard rubber attena. I really don't care what kind of attena I have (auto/manual/etc), I just want to spend the least money to get fix this issue.
 
I have the same problem with my antenna. The motor tries to 'raise/lower' itself unless if i give it a boost by pushing it down while the antenna motor is humming away. It's really annoying, everyone who rides with me always asks what noise is it, cause it sounds like my ride is broken.

I'm personally tired of the power antenna. I want to look for a substitute like a short stubby rubber antenna too. If not, how can i access to it, it sounds difficult removing my wheel, then gettin through the wheel well, i'm not that great with mechanics either. I don't want to break anything else. I certainly don't want to bring it to the dealership and overcharge me.

Any other solutions?
 
PioneerMeta4 said:
It's really annoying, everyone who rides with me always asks what noise is it, cause it sounds like my ride is broken.
Click to expand...

That's funny, I get the same question. My friends will typically give a strange look toward the dash and ask me "What the hell is that?"

Right now I don't have the antenna. I took it through an automatic carwash for the 2nd time and it was bent enough that the crease in the metal antenna allowed me to snap it off easily and pull the rest of it out. I don't use the radio too much anyway. I have the Alpine setup that connects to my iPod and lets me control it (playlists, etc) through the head unit. I'm still interested in a stubby rubber antenna as my first option. That would remove the reliability of a motor.
 
you could always get the steel one from performance products. i think it was a "billet" stainless stubby antenna. just a thought.
 
I don't know why I didn't think about Performance Products ... I guess that's the purpose of this forum. Thanks for reminding me.
 
no problem. i just looked at the book on the floor this morning. i will thumb through it tonight and try to find the exact part i was thinking of, and get back to you with a price if you need it.
 
I looked them up and they're about $18-24. They have a few different sizes & colors.

Link to web page.
 

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It's certainly better than the standard antenna. Ideally, if I could find something sturdy enough to withstand a contact-carwash that would be best. At roughly $20, I'm not opposed to trying this one out but I'll do a little more searching to see if I can find a shorter thick rubber type.
 
that manual ant. is a great solution, but ( hate to say this) some of you guys may still have a noise ant. motor that needs to be unplug. the reason why alot of you guy have a noise ant. motor is because a piece of cord that is attach to the ant. mast has broken of. this broken cord is binding inside your motor... so if you guys remove the old mast by unscrewing the ant. mast holder. (this is the chrome donut round the ant. mast with four slots, just use a long needle nose pliyer to unscrew that donut and turn on the radio and the ant. mast should go up and fall out. now see a white cord with teeth marks. fully extend the ant. mast. that cord should be sticking out a few inches. if not a broken piece is still inside the motor. now turn your radio on and listen for a noise in your ant. motor. turn it off and listen again. if you do not hear a noise go ahead and install your manual mast. if you do hear a noise, you have to disconnect the power to the ant. motor. .......tell me what you guys find.
 
Thanks for the advice. I probably won't get around to for a few days since I'll be landscaping the backyard (high priority!). I'll be sure to post what I find.
 
I'm also looking for a stubby rubber manual replacement. Thanks to mikes guide I've disabled the motor, however i'd like to get a manually antenna on there. I saw one on the road yesterday that was perfect, about 12 inches tall and flexible. Where the hell do you get them?

One thing to add is that the plugs on the newer (mine is a 2002) runners that hold the wheel well cover are IMPOSSIBLE to get out without ripping the circular head off and removing the rest from behind. They aren't meant to be removed and put back on. You'll have to get some new ones to put back in. I'm headed to the dealer later today to pick some up, they should be real cheap.
 
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for 2001 4runner, after i take off the 10mm bolt, how do i take off the plastic thing hte 10mm bolts to? cuz it seems like if i pull it off, the "washer" is gonna rip out. one of them is kinda ripped out already from me pulling it cuz it wont come off.
 
Snofrandy,

I just had a 15 round bout with those plastic clips in the wheel well. A couple of them I could "unclip" from the engine side, but the others I just ripped out.

Tried a few techniques, but the best luck I had was using a flat head screw driver (filed sharp) as a chisel to separate the washer part from the clip. Carefully, so as not to tear the plastic cover of the wheel well. Then push the clip out of the hole and retrieve it from the other side, or as they fell out to the floor.

Went to the dealer to get new ones to reistall the cover, and the tech there said they basically do the same thing ... just rip them out. It's a lot of friggin work, but the clips are pretty inexpensive.

Good luck!
 
o ok thanks! cuz i went ot toyota dealer to try to get replacement clips before n htey couldn't locate it in the parts sheet. but imma try again once i take it out and i'll show it to them. htanks again!
 
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