Stereo & Electronics - Antone know what's wrong with my antenna?




Speedmonster185
01-13-2006, 06:00 PM
Hey everyone, I'm brand new here so hello to everyone, I hope to be around here for a while :).

Anyway, on to my question. I have a 2000 Trans AM WS6 that I got this last August. Everything was completely perfect on it, the guy I got it from was a real car lover. He bought an old Cougar and didnt have enough garage spaces for this too and couldnt stand keeping outside, so he sold it :). I got it with 15,000 miles on it.

Everything was just fine until about a month ago I turned my radio off. When the power antenna went down it didn't go all the way, it stayed up about 6 inches, just slightly higher than the spoiler. Since then I've done some experimenting to see whats going on(it's been really bugging me, I'm surprised how much the looks of the car feel messed up to me when something little like this isn't right). So far these are the things I've found out about it.

It can still go all the way down, if you put your thumb on top and push it down it's pretty easy to push it the rest of the way down.

I also found out something kind of strange. If the car has the ignition in the On position, but without the engine actually running, the antenna will still go all the way down, but if the engine is on, it doesn't go down all the way.

Does anyone know what's wrong with it? It seems kinda weird. If so, do you know how I fix it? Thanks!


Speedmonster185
01-15-2006, 10:26 AM
Anyone have any ideas?

WhiteBird00
01-15-2006, 11:49 AM
It just needs to be cleaned. When it's fully extended wipe it carefully with some WD40 on a clean rag to remove all grime, wax, etc. and to help lubricate it a bit. It should work fine after that.


JEB99TA
01-16-2006, 09:03 AM
Mine went down only about 2 inches ... the antenna motor kinda' growls when I turn the radio off and on ... can't push it down. It's just stuck ... ever had that happen? Does it mean the motor's shot? Any idea about the cost of a new one?

HiTechGent
01-16-2006, 05:25 PM
Mine went down only about 2 inches ... the antenna motor kinda' growls when I turn the radio off and on ... can't push it down. It's just stuck ... ever had that happen? Does it mean the motor's shot? Any idea about the cost of a new one?

Sounds like the antenna is binding. Or you have a broken gear in there. Not sure if it's repairable. But it sounds as though it's mechanical, not electrical.

JEB99TA
01-17-2006, 05:54 AM
DEfinitely mechanical. It tries to work when the car is turned off or on, but, it just grinds ... will disassamble and check ... probably just buy a new one.