Whitey13

Curiousity question. Has anyone here been able to feed a new OEM antenna into the factory antenna motor after the original one gets trashed?
I'm guessing when those original plastic teeth break they have to go somewhere, but just wondering.
Please no "taco whip" preaching...

Stick_Figure

never done it on a 4runner, but i have on other vehicles, usually pretty easy to do.

Tofer

yep.. done it twice to my 4runner before installing a switch to bring my antenna down when listening to the ipod or when i'm wheelin

Whitey13

It doesn't go down on it's own when you switch to an auxilary input?

EDIT: are you running your ipod through the FM radio?

Tofer

no, its an older HU that has aux in but i had to get a special adaptor to plug in where a cd changer would go.. then i can use standard RCA input... and the antenna doesnt go down if it on aux... so i make it go down with a switch

Whitey13

Nice. Was there a factory cd changer option on the 2nd gens?

Tofer

its not a stock hU... just an older one. its a pioneer

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

Its very easy to do, depending on the initial problem. If the cable is broken part of the way down, you can't just feed a new one in there. You have to take the assy out, and remove the broken piece before feeding a new mast into the motor assembly.

Elton

i gave up on the power antenna and went with a tacoma whip

Tofer

did you not read the frist post?!?!

DeathCougar

iTrader: (23)

Elton

lol i did it seems the radio reception is like 2x better anyone wanna by a motor ?

pendrag

Here's my post from a similar thread, if you haven't done it yet.


Thanks for the website suggestion!

I ordered one from these guys the other day and it came this morning (took only 2-3 days, including shipping). My wife's new-to-her 1999 SR5 4runner came with a DOA antenna mast. It wasn't going up or down, but I could hear the motor running both ways and the signal was coming in okay.

I first pulled just the antenna mast per the instructions, but as I expected the mast had broken the plastic belt near the top (mast) end (nothing's ever easy). Next, I pulled the fender liner out. That was a PITA because of the notorious fender liner clips. I broke all but one removing them with pliars and a screwdriver (towards the end, I just started cutting them off and pushing them through). Finally, I removed the liner and chrome fender accent band.

The antenna motor assembly is mounted with one bolt, which I removed easily enough. I disconnected the power, but left the assembly attached to the truck by the antenna lead (I'm guessing that's what it was) and the power cable, which was clipped to the truck. No real need to disconnect it.

The assembly was in a heavy plastic bag, electrical-taped shut. I pulled it out, cut the tape, and removed the screws to open the housing. Out came the coiled-up broken cable. I resealed it without greasing it because it seemed plenty greasy already. Reassembly was the reverse of disassembly. I had to make a stop by the stealership to pick up 6 new fender liner clips, which were overpriced (I paid $10 for 6; they had 3 for my 4runner, but found another 3 for another vehicle which were identical). O'Rilley Autoparts didn't have any, and I was racing a thunderstorm so I just caved and went to the dealership - Autozone might have had them cheaper.

The new antenna mast went in smoothly on the third try. It just required a little fiddling. The radio now doesn't play back that screeching noise when the antenna goes up like my regular 1999 4runner's does. I wonder if I'll be replacing another mast soon. Oh well, second time will be easier.

Why Toyota couldn't just have everything bolted into the fender instead of into plastic clips is beyond me. I thought the clips were very easy to strip out. If it hadn't been for that part of the process, this would have been a 30 minute job. As it was, more like 2 hours, including the drive to the dealership.

Overall cost:
$20.50 (antenna mast from above link)
$ 6.00 (shipping)
$10.00 (overpriced fender liner clips from dealership)
-------
$36.50

VR23

I've decided to just live with the mast on my 97 4runner. The plastic teeth have broken (again). I would like to just remove the power from the antenna assembly, but not sure what it looks like. I've pulled the plastic liner back in the wheelwell and traced a wire back which is clipped to the middle of the inside fender (behind the plastic). It has a blue and black wire going into this clip. I've disconnected that. I checked the radio and there is no power going into the antenna mast (thankfully no more grinding noise). I want to make sure this was the correct clip to disconnect and that nothing else will be affected by this. I've manually pulled up the antenna and radio reception is fine. Am I good to go now?

VR23

I've taken a few pics of the large black wire coming out from the antenna motor. And also of the clip this couples with on the wheel well fender. This is the one I've disconnected as shown in the picture.

logsurfer

or you can just put a switch for the antenna so it doesn't go up when you switch your radio on.

see that blue wire on the second pic? splice it and put a switch and you're good to go!