I have a 97' 4runner SR5 and I'm new to the forums; you all seem to know your stuff, so here's the problem...

The power antenna has been acting strangely for about a week now, the motor seems fine, it makes noise when trying to retract and raise. BUT, the mast does not cooperate without a little help from me.

It seems to raise ok on its own, but the motor continues to make noise after fully raised. The problem is when trying to retract after the radio turns off, the motor makes noise like it is trying to lower it but the mast stays up, and the only way it seems to go down is if I jiggle it a bit to give it a start; once I give it a start it goes down ok on its own.

Any ideas on what it could be?

 

Here is a thread here that will at least give you a few options in terms of replacing it if need be.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/4runner-power-antenna-questions-48341/

 

its possibly bent slightly so its not retracting right,

thats what mine did before it broke off.
wade

 

Have you, erm, umm, lubed your mast?

 

Sounds like the teeth on the mast at the beginning are stripped out and thats why once you help it starts to go down and then when it comes all the way up it can't figure out its stopped since there are no teeth left to give it ressitance. So if you want to keep it replace just the mast can be gotten at your local dealer or ordered online too, as someone has posted a link to your other options. Thinks its 20-50 bucks by the way and 10mins to replace
Oh Welcome !

 

dealer it's like $50, online dealer it's about $40, goto pepboys or somewhere and you can get one for about $15.

 

If you do decide to replace the power mast, it is very easy. See my post a few months ago for the cost from the dealer, links that helped me, and a gotcha that had me stumped for a while.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/show...eferrerid=7811

 

that's a great write-up you linked in there too, when I did it I pulled the whole assembly out of the wheelwell and worked on it. next time I won't haha.

http://www.carstereohelp.com/stereor...unr2PwrAnt.htm