Antenna removal question

[cahill]

Ok guys, I know this is a little bit of a dumb question but I searched and couldn't find what I was looking for. Didn't find it in the FSM either. I am trying to replace the antenna since the plastic retractor broke. I have a new one from Cdan and can't get the old antenna off. There was a lot of corrosion at the base of the antenna. Anyone have pictures or explanation or reference in FSM or anything so I can figure this out? I've been following the antenna replacement in the FAQ but this step isn't very clear.

You can see how much corrosion there is. I took off the plactic/rubber pieces that I could, but the one still showing in the first picture at the base of the antenna is stuck on pretty good to the corrosion. I'm afraid that if I take it off it will destroy what's left of whatever the corroded metal piece is supposed to be.

Is there something in the antenna motor housing holding the antenna mast in that I have to unscrew?

Thanks.

 

[Ebag333]

Been a while since I did mine, but I think that black plastic piece just pulls straight up and out. Once it does that, the motor (and tube that holds the antenna) will fall free. Basically the gold piece that unscrews is the only thing that holds it on.

 

[sco68fj40]

On my 95, that black piece just pulled straight up like ebag333 said. Looking at your picture though, that black plastic piece looks different than mine. Once I unscrewed that gold piece, it was easy to pull out. The mast is a separate piece and can be pulled straight up as well. I do not have pictures, sorry.

 

[CruiseOrlando]

I just did mine - literally 15 minutes ago.

While I didn't have any trouble extracting mine (the black grommet came right out, exposing the motor assembly), I still had the white flexible "cable" attached to the bottom of the antenna. I put the antenna up a bit from the button in the dash to give myself some working room.

I found that the threaded part of the antenna that attaches to the cable was not cooperative in separating itself, however. Mine came with a new nut at the base that helped lock into the threaded metal part at the top of the white cable. Since it didn't want to come apart, I took out my bolt cutters and chopped off the antenna about 6" from the base. The unit then fell apart, and I was able to get a much better grip on the old assembly and detach it.

New one screwed right back on, and the whole thing went right back together in reverse order. Probably took 10 minutes, 8 of which was spent trying to get the old one off

You might need to put your antenna up a bit in order to give yourself the working room you're looking for - maybe that's the whole thing keeping you from getting your old assembly out?

 

[iptman]

Worst hour I ever spent working on my truck.

 

[cahill]

It probably is the grommet at the base holding it in, but what is this "unscrew the gold top thing" that you guys are talking about? Mine just popped right up. Is it possible the threaded parts just disintigrated in with the corrosion?

 

[cahill]

I found that the threaded part of the antenna that attaches to the cable was not cooperative in separating itself, however. Mine came with a new nut at the base that helped lock into the threaded metal part at the top of the white cable. Since it didn't want to come apart, I took out my bolt cutters and chopped off the antenna about 6" from the base. The unit then fell apart, and I was able to get a much better grip on the old assembly and detach it.

New one screwed right back on, and the whole thing went right back together in reverse order. Probably took 10 minutes, 8 of which was spent trying to get the old one off

QUOTE]

What part of the antenna are you screwing in? My new antenna doesn't have any threads on it anywhere. Here's a picture of the new antenna base.

 

[CruiseOrlando]

I'll take a picture of mine later if someone else doesn't beat me to it.

 

[sco68fj40]

Not all fj80/fzj80 antennas are the same. Mine is a 95 fzj and this is the thread that I followed and worked well for me: https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/451410-going-attempt-camry-mod-replacement-antenna.html.

The gold piece that I mentioned was the finish piece that holds the black rubber grommet in place.

 

[cahill]

[QUOTE
The gold piece that I mentioned was the finish piece that holds the black rubber grommet in place.[/QUOTE]

I'm guessing that finish piece is almost dissolved with corrosion by now as you can see in the pictures above. I wonder if I am going to need to find a replacement for that as well.

 

[cahill]

I'll take a picture of mine later if someone else doesn't beat me to it.

That would be great! I can't tell what I am looking at with the corrosion.

 

[CruiseOrlando]

So here's mine. This is off of a '94.

Here's the antenna:

I unscrew the top chrome part, it lifts right up:

The black grommet comes right out after that (just lifts out, no effort):

I can then pull the antenna assembly out. This is what the base of mine looks like:

Another view:

Hope that helps.

 

[cahill]

Thanks CruiseOrlando for the pictures of your antenna, especially the base where it screws out. That is not at all what mine looks like, most likely because of how bad the corrosion is. It looks like I'll have to find some replacement parts for the screw component up above and the part it screws into down below before I can get mine fixed. Just out of curiosity, does your cable have teeth on it? It doesn't look like it in the photo. If not, I wonder if that means the base part might be different?

Thanks again for posting those.

 

[CruiseOrlando]

No, I think that's from a 95 and newer IIRC? Mine's a 94. It's just a 1/4" or so plastic tube, essentially. It winds around a drum w/the motor (on mine, that is).

 

[cahill]

Thanks CruiseOrlando. I had heard there were differences between the years. Hopefully that's the only big difference. Either way my hardware is shot and needs to be replaced.

 

[cruiserfj45]

Does anybody know when they went from the cable type with no teeth to the one with teeth like in post 7? My cable is broken and I am thinking about replacing the entire assembly with the newer one so it is easier to service later. Also does anybody know the part number of the camry cable with out teeth in the link on post 9?

 

[mountaincoolcruiser]

what year Camry rope did you use?

Not all fj80/fzj80 antennas are the same. Mine is a 95 fzj and this is the thread that I followed and worked well for me: https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/451410-going-attempt-camry-mod-replacement-antenna.html.

The gold piece that I mentioned was the finish piece that holds the black rubber grommet in place.

Went to the Camry Rope replacement thread. what year Camry rope can I use for my 96? didn't say anywhere in the thread?

Cheers

Opps just seen cruiserFj45 asked the same question. Im a dumbass but mabey I'll get an answer

 

[LCphil]

Hello - This is really helpful. I got my antenna brushed by tree branches. The motor works, the Up and Down buttons work. The motor automatically tries to retract and extend the antenna when the radio is turned on. The antenna won't retract or extend. What part needs to be replaced? Is the 3rd photo from cahill relevant to a 1997? A video would be great, if available. Thanks in advance.