I have fixed the antenna grinding noise problem that I had followed up with a few members via their posts. Thanks to them for taking the trouble to reply.
However, I could not resolve the issue myself, so recruited the services of a cousin who had a business that serviced electronic devices (Tv's etc), and thought of problem solving in that vein. He also had the test equipment to identify and locate the problem.
In my case the fault was found to be that the antenna was not receiving the correct electrical supply cut off signal at the correct time, hence the motor was over running and creating that grinding noise. This signal is read and "pulsed" to the power circuit via the pickup encased within the epoxy filled block mounted on the outside of the antenna body, the wires feeding into that are red, black and green. This is not a repairable part, effectively condemning the antenna to the scrap heap.
So, as Toyota wanted $204 for a new one, he convinced me to fit an after market antenna.
This proved not to be at all daunting, the time consuming bit being making a mounting template to carry the new antenna. I used the old Toyota alloy sleeve over the antenna shaft because that confirmed perfectly with shape of the inner guard, and also used the Toyota rubber grommet on the guard outer again because it fitted inside that alloy sleeve and matched the outer guard shape. The new antenna kit came with a selection of adapter sleeves and antenna tips, I cut the alloy sleeve down twice as I crept in on getting a perfect fit at the outer guard. Once that was done and I could see that the new antenna lent a little backwards and inwards, I then set about making the mounting template to carry the antenna base, using the original mounting hole at the side of the firewall as the antenna bracket mounting point again. I used thin gauged metal for this, then when happy went to a heavier piece of 2mm scrap I found. This was too heavy and difficult to work but it is all I had.
Once that was done, the running of the wiring was a breeze. I made a variation of the suggested wiring though, I discarded the Toyota antenna switch and replaced it with a simple on/off rocker switch in the dash. One wire now runs via that switch to the radio, rather than direct. That allows me to lock the antenna down, it will not raise at all if switched, but all functions on the radio still prevail.
There. Problem solved.
I hope this is of some help to others out there who have antenna issues.
However, I could not resolve the issue myself, so recruited the services of a cousin who had a business that serviced electronic devices (Tv's etc), and thought of problem solving in that vein. He also had the test equipment to identify and locate the problem.
In my case the fault was found to be that the antenna was not receiving the correct electrical supply cut off signal at the correct time, hence the motor was over running and creating that grinding noise. This signal is read and "pulsed" to the power circuit via the pickup encased within the epoxy filled block mounted on the outside of the antenna body, the wires feeding into that are red, black and green. This is not a repairable part, effectively condemning the antenna to the scrap heap.
So, as Toyota wanted $204 for a new one, he convinced me to fit an after market antenna.
This proved not to be at all daunting, the time consuming bit being making a mounting template to carry the new antenna. I used the old Toyota alloy sleeve over the antenna shaft because that confirmed perfectly with shape of the inner guard, and also used the Toyota rubber grommet on the guard outer again because it fitted inside that alloy sleeve and matched the outer guard shape. The new antenna kit came with a selection of adapter sleeves and antenna tips, I cut the alloy sleeve down twice as I crept in on getting a perfect fit at the outer guard. Once that was done and I could see that the new antenna lent a little backwards and inwards, I then set about making the mounting template to carry the antenna base, using the original mounting hole at the side of the firewall as the antenna bracket mounting point again. I used thin gauged metal for this, then when happy went to a heavier piece of 2mm scrap I found. This was too heavy and difficult to work but it is all I had.
Once that was done, the running of the wiring was a breeze. I made a variation of the suggested wiring though, I discarded the Toyota antenna switch and replaced it with a simple on/off rocker switch in the dash. One wire now runs via that switch to the radio, rather than direct. That allows me to lock the antenna down, it will not raise at all if switched, but all functions on the radio still prevail.
There. Problem solved.
I hope this is of some help to others out there who have antenna issues.
