How many bananas to replace the Antenne??
- Thread starter pismo62
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Thank you to all who contributed to this thread. After searching this site and finding this thread, learning that the dealer wanted $180.00 for labor and $52.00 for the antenna, I decided to do it myself. I bought the mast from antenna masterus for $37.50 delivered. I had to get to the motor because the strip broke inside of it. Here are a couple of things I learned.
There are 7 push pins holding the wheel well lining. I broke all of them. They cost 86 cents each at the dealer. Buy them in advance because you probably will break them too.
Have the teeth facing forward when inserting the mast.
It took me less than an hour and it saved me $200.00.
Thank you all again.
There are 7 push pins holding the wheel well lining. I broke all of them. They cost 86 cents each at the dealer. Buy them in advance because you probably will break them too.
Have the teeth facing forward when inserting the mast.
It took me less than an hour and it saved me $200.00.
Thank you all again.
I still need to change mine. It's still "working", but it is bent to hell...sounds like an easy job. Instead of bananas, I think I'll take a couple beers into the garage... 
Warning:
I just noticed that my antenna replacement (from 5 months ago) is already rusting - and I'm in sunny S California! Obviously, it is not stainless. I bought it off an ebay dealer - shame on me - saved $20 but now need to buy one from the dealer and replace it before the thing breaks and I have to take the motor/drive apart again.
- Gil
Ventura, CA
I just noticed that my antenna replacement (from 5 months ago) is already rusting - and I'm in sunny S California! Obviously, it is not stainless. I bought it off an ebay dealer - shame on me - saved $20 but now need to buy one from the dealer and replace it before the thing breaks and I have to take the motor/drive apart again.
- Gil
Ventura, CA
- Thread starter
- #25
Well, I finally had time to change out the antenna. Started with the LC, which took 1 1/2 hrs. due to the antenna being broken inside the tube and the plastic whip being broken inside the wind-up motor. I followed the instructions from mo2vation and uz2uzj100 along with the written inst. from antennaRus(spelling). I had to take the whole thing apart. After putting it back together, and putting the atenna in, I couldn't get it to go all the way up and down. (I know sounds like a personal problem) but then it centered itself. Now it works like a charm.
The antenna on the 4runner went much faster. BTW the 4runner is very similar but not the same unit.
1 1/2 banana job. Since I had to take it apart and reassemble it twice, I like to do everything twice.
Thanks to all that contributed. Cheers
The antenna on the 4runner went much faster. BTW the 4runner is very similar but not the same unit.
1 1/2 banana job. Since I had to take it apart and reassemble it twice, I like to do everything twice.
Thanks to all that contributed. Cheers
Trunk Monkey
Moderator
My antenna crapped out today, so I replaced the mast. The plastic cable broke, so I had to open up the motor and get the remaining piece out, which was a chore. The plastic body clips that hold the fender apron on are impossible to get off without breaking them. Then, one of them also holds the first piece of body cladding on the side of the truck in front of the door, so, that has to come off too (breaking the two clips that hold it on).
I was able to maneuver the motor out of the fender and leave the antenna cable connected so I wouldn't have to chase that through. I got the broken piece out and reinstalled the antenna, leaving the power disconnected. The motor runs for 20-30 seconds when you shut the truck off as it's trying to wind the antenna in and not meeting any resistance to turn off. I definitely did not want to burn that motor out.
My dealer had the antenna in stock, so I reconnected power and following the FSM, jammed the plastic cable in the hole, gear teeth towards the rear, waiting for it to grab. Well, it wouldn't. Then I noticed in the FSM "Hint - if this isn't working, turn the gears toward the front." So, I did and the motor grabbed instantly and quickly sucked up the cable and antenna. Now I just have to wait a couple days for the dealer to get the fender clips and molding clips in and I'll be done.
I was able to maneuver the motor out of the fender and leave the antenna cable connected so I wouldn't have to chase that through. I got the broken piece out and reinstalled the antenna, leaving the power disconnected. The motor runs for 20-30 seconds when you shut the truck off as it's trying to wind the antenna in and not meeting any resistance to turn off. I definitely did not want to burn that motor out.
My dealer had the antenna in stock, so I reconnected power and following the FSM, jammed the plastic cable in the hole, gear teeth towards the rear, waiting for it to grab. Well, it wouldn't. Then I noticed in the FSM "Hint - if this isn't working, turn the gears toward the front." So, I did and the motor grabbed instantly and quickly sucked up the cable and antenna. Now I just have to wait a couple days for the dealer to get the fender clips and molding clips in and I'll be done.
This was my first repair to my new (to me) 2001 LX470.
I had to open up the motor and pull out the remaining cable that was stuck. Took me a couple hours in total with some distractions. I did not break any of the clips when I removed the fender apron, and while those were the hardest part of the antenna replacement I found that using a couple of small flat head screw drivers to get the clips partially pulled out and then using a set of long needle nose pliers to finish them up was the best route. If I had a small prybar that would have been good too.
That is the first repair work of any kind on an automobile I've owned in a long time. Thanks to this forum for inspiring me to do this myself and save some coin. Now on to tackle the 3rd brake light that is leaking and replace the subwoofer.
I had to open up the motor and pull out the remaining cable that was stuck. Took me a couple hours in total with some distractions. I did not break any of the clips when I removed the fender apron, and while those were the hardest part of the antenna replacement I found that using a couple of small flat head screw drivers to get the clips partially pulled out and then using a set of long needle nose pliers to finish them up was the best route. If I had a small prybar that would have been good too.
That is the first repair work of any kind on an automobile I've owned in a long time. Thanks to this forum for inspiring me to do this myself and save some coin. Now on to tackle the 3rd brake light that is leaking and replace the subwoofer.
Thanks for resurrecting this thread!
I need to fix mine, as well. The motor makes a ton of noise, no movement on the mast though. So hope I just need a new Mast.
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