Power Antenna Motor Runs Too Long

[jreask]

I've fixed these a few times. Here's what I've found out. You have to buy OEM or the one from Amazon that costs about $27.00. The cheap $10 Ebay ones aren't very good because the teeth on the plastic line are not deep enough.
You MUST remove the pieces from inside the motor case. Otherwise the new one gets wrapped around the old piece and causes problems with the motor continuing to run because the resistance just isn't enough. With the new wrapped around the old the motor wants to keep turning as the old piece is not attached to anything.
Every one I've ever repaired goes in with the teeth forward. So you have to buy the better replacement and remove the old pieces. These are the keys to a successful repair.

 

[habanero]

I realize this is a really old thread, but . . .
I can't get my antenna to stay in. I've bought both a cheap Ebay one and a OEM part. I'm going with the OEM. It reels down just right and the motor stops, but when the radio is turned on, it runs the antenna up and out, and the motor runs for several seconds after. I applied a little resistance when it got to full height to see if that was the problem, but the motor just cranked it on out and kept turning for a few seconds. It seems in my case there either needs to be some real resistance stopping it (which isn't there) or the motor is just turning too long.
Has anyone experinced the same thing?
Better yet - Does anyone know the fix?
I want the power antenna to work. I'm not interested in the taco whip mod.

I'm prolly reading this wrong- but as in actually coming out of the antenna motor out? If that's the case, push up a little on the antenna motor as you thread the bezel nut in. You should feel it catch and tighten. Sometimes that little nut feels like it's on when it's not, and it needs to be screwed onto the antenna motor to do its job.

If I read this wrong then carry on.

 

[HARP]

You have to buy OEM...
You MUST remove the pieces from inside the motor case. Otherwise the new one gets wrapped around the old piece and causes problems with the motor continuing to run because the resistance just isn't enough...
Every one I've ever repaired goes in with the teeth forward.

I do have the OEM mast from Toyota. I have a '94, and it feeds in teeth-back. It goes in fine and stops perfectly, it just comes all the way back out again once I turn the radio on again. I did take out the motor and open it up - I took out a broken piece of the tooth strip that was inside.

So here are my questions: Does it sound like I may have overlooked something or possibly missed a piece? Would it retract and extend the antenna so smoothly if their were still a piece in there?

My only problem seems to be that it's just not stopping on the way up.

 

[HARP]

I'm prolly reading this wrong- but as in actually coming out of the antenna motor out? If that's the case, push up a little on the antenna motor as you thread the bezel nut in. You should feel it catch and tighten. Sometimes that little nut feels like it's on when it's not, and it needs to be screwed onto the antenna motor to do its job.

If I read this wrong then carry on.

To answer your question, the antenna is feeding in perfectly and stopping, and then feeding all the way out. The motor keeps turning and pushes the actual antenna back out, plus the extra several inches of tooth strip - all out of the bezel nut. Am I doing it wrong?

If I remember correctly, after I put the motor back together, I reattached it to the mount inside the fender, then put then bezel nut on and buttoned up the fender (I needed to drive it before I got the antenna).

Are you saying it would make a difference if I had secured the bezel nut before I bolted the motor back in place?

 

[TheDurk]

To answer your question, the antenna is feeding in perfectly and stopping, and then feeding all the way out. The motor keeps turning and pushes the actual antenna back out, plus the extra several inches of tooth strip - all out of the bezel nut. Am I doing it wrong?

If I remember correctly, after I put the motor back together, I reattached it to the mount inside the fender, then put then bezel nut on and buttoned up the fender (I needed to drive it before I got the antenna).

Are you saying it would make a difference if I had secured the bezel nut before I bolted the motor back in place?

No, but it sounds like you put the bezel nut on and THEN put the mast in. You have to install the mast FIRST, and THEN put the bezel nut on. The mast should have NO WAY to feed past the bezel nut--that's what holds it in.

 

[habanero]

To answer your question, the antenna is feeding in perfectly and stopping, and then feeding all the way out. The motor keeps turning and pushes the actual antenna back out, plus the extra several inches of tooth strip - all out of the bezel nut. Am I doing it wrong?

If I remember correctly, after I put the motor back together, I reattached it to the mount inside the fender, then put then bezel nut on and buttoned up the fender (I needed to drive it before I got the antenna).

Are you saying it would make a difference if I had secured the bezel nut before I bolted the motor back in place?

(Edit: Assuming a 2nd gen 4Runner antenna motor works like a 3rd gen, which is what I am used to, referring to, and where this is posted....)

The nut has to be attached after the antenna is in.

I'm saying to make sure the bezel nut is actually screwed onto the motor. I think you're doing most of it right or the antenna wouldn't go in like it is. Just the bezel nut isn't threading on so the antenna- and nut- come right out and off. Sometimes it feels like it's on the motor and down tight when it's not and I've found lightly pushing up on the motor while getting the nut started works for me.
Like The Durk basically says, it has to be on for the antenna to stay in.

Your end result would look like this, bezel and bezel nut on top of fender, motor underneath, whether the nut is threaded securely or isn't. Just make sure it is, is all.

 

[HARP]

No, but it sounds like you put the bezel nut on and THEN put the mast in. You have to install the mast FIRST, and THEN put the bezel nut on. The mast should have NO WAY to feed past the bezel nut--that's what holds it in.

I did exactly that according step #5 of this write-up. I remember thinking at the time it seemed odd, but forgot about it. Anyway, I did what you said and it works like new. Perfect!
Always the little things...
Many thanks!

 

[HARP]

(Edit: Assuming a 2nd gen 4Runner antenna motor works like a 3rd gen, which is what I am used to, referring to, and where this is posted....)

The nut has to be attached after the antenna is in.

I'm saying to make sure the bezel nut is actually screwed onto the motor. I think you're doing most of it right or the antenna wouldn't go in like it is. Just the bezel nut isn't threading on so the antenna- and nut- come right out and off. Sometimes it feels like it's on the motor and down tight when it's not and I've found lightly pushing up on the motor while getting the nut started works for me.
Like The Durk basically says, it has to be on for the antenna to stay in.

Your end result would look like this, bezel and bezel nut on top of fender, motor underneath, whether the nut is threaded securely or isn't. Just make sure it is, is all.

Thanks for the detailed instructions and especially the pic. I could see the difference there and what I was doing wrong. See my reply to TheDurk about the write-up I was using. I was just a little off base.
I appreciate you guys helping me out. The frustration is over (well, after I get the junk Ebay antenna returned to China)!