nsfour

I've read a lot of threads in this site and some other sites before I try do this myself. However I'm running into problems as soon as I began.

I took the special nut, spacer and bushing (above the fender) off before i asked my wife to turn the radio on. After she turned the radio on, I was ready to grab the antenna mast, but it didn't come out.

I tried to apply some force to pull it out, and it didn't work. Anyone knows why?

Thanks,

habanero

Any sound of the antenna motor running or is everything silent?
Was it working, then quit during your ownership or did you get it with a non-working antenna?

If all is silent and it's been like that since you've had it check to see if the antenna motor's been unplugged.

nsfour

The motor is working, the antenna actually goes up everytime I turned the radio on, but it only goes to a certain point before it quits. And when I turn the radio off, I will apply some force from the tip until a certain point and it will go down by itself for the rest of the trip.

I just read another thread that the pulling action needs to apply some muscle, so I will try again after supper.

Anyone can shed some light would be good in the mean while.

moneyshot

If the antenna motor is running and you cant get it out the gears in the motor are most likely destroyed. If the motor and gears are good the mast should come out with ease.

habanero

I had to remove broken bits of mast gearing out of the antenna motor when I replaced mine....same symptoms though my mast came out without a problem. It wasn't very hard to remove the motor, to take a peek inside.

nsfour

but somehow the gears still grab the teeth of the existing mast at a certain point since it does go up/down to/from a certain point??!?! I don't know.

nsfour

I'm going to follow the following procedure once I have the mast pulled out, too bad I never thought about that the first part is already so difficult.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/95-gen-toyot...placement.html

habanero

If the antenna mast gearing is broken off such as mine was it can only go so high......perhaps it's partially broken and you can't get it the rest of the way out because of a bent spot?

I am only speculating, of course...

habanero

Ah, nice write up.

nsfour

I'm hoping that it is not the motor...anyone knows how much a new motor is? I'm in Canada, so it will be another 40 to 50% in addition to the US price

habanero

Unplug antenna motor so it doesn't do anything?
See what you've got, then panic if need be?
Start looking up Tacoma whip mod???

I eventually put a switch on mine so it only goes up when I tell it to but living here means it's rarely needed for the radio and I listen to cds more anyway.

nsfour

A switch was what I initially planned ask a shop to do for me, but the mast didn't cost me much money and I thought it will be an easy fix and I can just do it myself whenever it breaks. Do you have write up for the switch?

habanero

Not on hand....I did it awhile ago with a switch out of a junkyard 4runner that fit nicely in my console. A search on Yotatech gave me the info.....I wish I'd written stuff down. The only thing I can remember is blue/white wire- BUT- I can't remember WHY. I think that was the one I wired the switch to. Let me know if you don't find what you're looking for when you decide to do it and I'll do a little digging.

And if you think about it- a few extra bolts and contorting positions more than you were expecting and your repair won't be too bad and should last awhile.

brian2sun

I'll bet the motor is probably fine. Mine has gone through lots of phases from working perfectly to only going up 1/2 way, back to working perfectly to not working at all. It's done it intermittently for years. Now the antenna is bent over so it doesn't move at all anymore, but the motor still comes on. I believe it's a plastic belt with teeth that drives the antenna up/down and I remember the teeth on mine looked like hell when I was poking around in there. I need to do this too, but I'm going for the Taco whip. Junkyard style.

nsfour

I have to confess, i'm giving up after 3 hours of bending my old fat body over working in a very limited space under the wheel well. Thanks everyone who has helped out tho! You guys are the reason why the Yotatech community rocks! Good night.

dirtymotoman

you have to replace the motor as well. the whole assembly must be removed.

Ron Helmuth

nsfour-several of us have simply found it easier to leave the factory power antenna within the fender.You might choose for example to simply disconnect the power altogether to the unit.

The use of the rear window antenna-within the cargo area glass- is quite fine for most FM listening. If you are a stock radio unit-that antenna is likely still plugged in-if you went to aftermarket head unit you likely want to follow along with Rock Slide's most excellent writeup. Special antenna adapters are needed and so on-but nothing particularly difficult...

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/g...stereo-193751/

Like Habanero I now have my power antenna with a toggle switch-for those rare occasions I need it to come up I leave the switch on.

If you choose to actually replace the motor or mast or both-I would highly recommend protecting your investment by use of said toggle switch. I always got highly annoyed with the up/down over and over for short drives, running errands etc. You may choose to leave it up most all the time instead... the options are incredible.

Lastly you may just find it easier and cheaper to go ahead and pull the power unit completely and go with the base 4Runner mast antenna-also called the Tacoma mast mod.

jrock24

So my wife's 97 4runner antenna motor just crapped out. You can hear it but its not moving past half way.

Can I just pull the fuse, if so which one? Or can I unplug the power to the motor, where is the pig tail?

arthurpwiggle

I;ve replaced antennas on two 93 4runners before with no problem. I took wheel well cover off without a hitch on those. However, I have a 98 now and I can't get the wheel well cover off. How do those clips release? You know, the ones that the wheel well trim screw through.