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I purchased a truck that is missing the antenna mast. So my question is, how do you know if the truck has a power or non-powered antenna?
I have been slowly trying to restore it back to its original condition but its hard to know sometimes what was original because there are a lot of parts missing. I do know the truck is an 85 SR5 4X4 xtracab with all of the factory options like sunroof, CC, A/C, power windows, and power steering.
With the inner fender removed, it will have a plastic bag (if the bag is still there) and a big gray motor at the bottom of the antenna. If it is just a regular antenna, it will just have a 1/2 inch PVC pipe material.
Just in case you have a regular antenna, alot of the times the PVC pipe is broken causing the antenna to lay at an angle to the rear of the truck. I just cut the head off of a bolt and splice the PVC pipe back together. A common problem for the basic antenna.
Is there another way to know if its powered by wires that would run to the radio or even the up/down switch that I have seen in various trucks? If not, what is required to remove the fender?
You just need to remove the inner fender and the mud flap. There are just several course threaded screws that hold the inner fender on. There are two yellow tabs that are connected to the metal part of the body that just pops thru to get the inner fender completely out.
The power antenna is an option installed in the main harness. Your truck may or may not have it installed. A quick check behind the inner fender will be a pigtail connector for it to see if it is an option your truck came with. I dont know electric well enough to hard wire it in if it was not an option.
I am not an electrical guy myself but learning with this truck. When I opened the fender, I saw wires from the antenna motor going into the cab which I presumed was for the switch (you can see the motor in the pic but not the wires). Additionally, my truck is missing the actual switch which I am trying to buy now. In the second pic below, you can see the non existent radio with the wiring harness in its current state. I believe the antenna connector is the top left. I dont know what the other connector on the top right is for. I am guessing something for the original radio. I know some trucks came with the equalizer also so wondering if this originally had it. Lastly, the antenna mast is missing so I need to find one. Does anyone know if other Toyota years work? I see them on eBay but not listed for the 84 - 88 years.
[Update]I managed to test an old radio I have lying around and the top right connector is the power and ground. Even tough I dont have an antenna, I was able to get radio sound I am guessing from whatever remains of the antenna. Maybe I dont need the switch anymore.
Last edited by shisha1999; 09-11-2015 at 09:27 PM.
Just a quick update. I finally got a power antenna switch and surprisingly the motor still works. Hit the up button and a wire came out but wouldnt go back down. So need to find a replacement which seem non-existent right now. If anyone has experience with this, much appreciated.
08-17-2015, 09:20 PM
