Help: Antenna Assembly/Mast

[Maxgrapene]

I replaced my broken antenna mast. Elongation worked fine but on retraction there is a grinding noise for a good 5seconds before it quiets down( works fine otherwise). I opened up the motor, cleaned, lubricated and re-assembled it but sounds the same. To boot I dropped the chrome "cap" and can't find it!
Two requests 1. What is the solution to the grinding noise; note mast is after market bit it matched up in length to the broken original. 2. How do I get a new "chrome cap" ?

 

[SteveH]

I think those antennas have an overriding clutch mechanism and you're hearing normal operation. Mine is noisy and clatters upon retraction, and I don't care.

I presume you mean the chrome crown/cap that sits atop the fender as part of the antenna shaft? I would find a junkyard version from an LC or any other Toyota. I snag those from trucks I'm parting, as they aren't sold separately by the dealer (AFAIK).

 

[Maxgrapene]

I think those antennas have an overriding clutch mechanism and you're hearing normal operation. Mine is noisy and clatters upon retraction, and I don't care.

I presume you mean the chrome crown/cap that sits atop the fender as part of the antenna shaft? I would find a junkyard version from an LC or any other Toyota. I snag those from trucks I'm parting, as they aren't sold separately by the dealer (AFAIK).

The thing I should have clarified was that it did not make such a racket when the old bent mast retracted partially. Thanks for the pointer to find the cap from other Toyotas. Boston area does not seem to have many junk yards so I will have to drive out to one that has a stock of junk Toyotas to find a replacement chrome crown.

 

[SteveH]

@Maxgrapene - I lived in Mass. for 2 years. Lowell (and similar working class places) had some, back in the '90s. Likely gone now. You might put a 'wanted' posting in Mud classifieds for the antenna piece. I will check my stash, too -

My antenna motor doesn't run for 5 seconds, but it makes a particular disturbing clatter for a second. I'll admit that 5 seconds is a long time!

These bits are from a 2000 4Runner. Same as yours?

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Did you leave some of the plastic geared cable inside the motor from the old antenna that maybe snapped off? You could find the chrome cap maybe from someone parting out their truck here in the classifieds.

 

[Maxgrapene]

I have opened the assembly up twice to check that there is nothing residual from the previous shaft/cable and fed the new one in twice from scratch. Everything seems to work fine until it retracts and then the grinding starts and lasts a good 5 seconds or more. If it wasn't loud it wouldn't bother me but its loud enough that people turn around and stare!

I am thinking of getting a used assembly or worst case a new assembly. Has anyone wired one to the radio? It seems like I would need to take out the console to get to that antenna Coax? Or can the replacement assembly coax be spliced with the old one before it enters the hole from fender to firewall?

 

[ScotyDosentKnow]

It sounds like there is something going on in the motor itself. My truck has 250K miles and you cannot really hear the motor working, no rattles or grinding. I replaced my mast due to my wife having a carwash.......incident.......several months back and still works smooth.

 

[Maxgrapene]

It sounds like there is something going on in the motor itself. My truck has 250K miles and you cannot really hear the motor working, no rattles or grinding. I replaced my mast due to my wife having a carwash.......incident.......several months back and still works smooth.

Motor maybe OK but I now suspect the plastic gears may be just worn enough (even though I can't see the wear visually) that they are not "grabbing" the plastic antenna cable teeth at full retraction and keeps trying to retract "thinking" that it hasn't finished the job.

@Maxgrapene - I lived in Mass. for 2 years. Lowell (and similar working class places) had some, back in the '90s. Likely gone now. You might put a 'wanted' posting in Mud classifieds for the antenna piece. I will check my stash, too -

My antenna motor doesn't run for 5 seconds, but it makes a particular disturbing clatter for a second. I'll admit that 5 seconds is a long time!

These bits are from a 2000 4Runner. Same as yours?

View attachment 4240330

View attachment 4240331

Sorry for not replying earlier. I could not confirm as I don't have the chrome crown nut to confirm the measurements. I found a place to order the nut on line! Waiting for it to arrive. Thanks!