I have a 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser with a power antenna issue. This of course is not a major problem, and I’m not losing sleep if I can’t reestablish the factory antenna function. My first reaction in fact was to just replace with a fixed antenna and be done with it. However, after spending some time diagnosing this unsuccessfully – thinking it should be a simple fix – I’m more curious now than anything just to understand the problem.
The relay/antenna motor engages as it should to raise and lower the antenna (both with the ignition on or in accessory and with the head unit switched to/from radio or with the manual raise/lower button on the dash used). However, the travel is only for a couple of inches in either direction. The first time this happened I assumed that the cable mast had broken and ordered a replacement before digging much further. So the replacement arrives, I pull and open the antenna motor, and found the mast to be fully intact with no other internal parts visibly worn or broken. I put everything back together and inserted the new mast just to try it, and the limited travel was the same as before.
Next, I traced through the electrical diagnosis that is outlined in the FSM. The motor functions fine in both directions when direct wired to 12v. Connections to the dash switch and relay all have voltage, continuity, etc. where they should. So I’m starting to think that I have a bad relay, order a replacement (albeit used) from eBay, and swap out upon arrival. Limited travel persists.
Just to be thorough I checked all fuses in the driver and passenger side boxes of the vehicle. All were good. Undoubtedly a longer shot but just covering all bases.
There are no aftermarket audio, electrical, etc. components installed in the vehicle. All are factory.
At this point I’m back to square one having only ruled out the more common issues. I have again pulled and disassembled the antenna motor and am looking to better understand how the limit switch/sensor functions as this is possibly giving a premature signal to the relay to stop the motor. Below are some pictures for reference of the switch/sensor location on the housing as well as the main drive gear:
Exterior of the housing with sensor/switch. Red/green/black are to/from the relay.
Wiring diagram.
Interior of the housing. The boxed area is opposite the sensor.
Main drive gear assembled. Bottom portion of the gear accepts power from the motor and the top portion reels the antenna mast. The magnet at top nests in the interior/eccentric circle area from the prior picture.
Main gear disassembled. The two parts turn together, but there is a spring internally that goes under tension when the mast is at the end of travel.
I’ve tried simulating the gear movement with a multimeter for continuity on the circuit but have not been able to open it. I would be very surprised if the sensor/switch has failed but perhaps that’s the problem. I’m hopeful that someone here with more expertise than I have could weigh in on a possible next step, as intuitively I still feel like there is something simple that I am missing. Appreciate any thoughts.
The relay/antenna motor engages as it should to raise and lower the antenna (both with the ignition on or in accessory and with the head unit switched to/from radio or with the manual raise/lower button on the dash used). However, the travel is only for a couple of inches in either direction. The first time this happened I assumed that the cable mast had broken and ordered a replacement before digging much further. So the replacement arrives, I pull and open the antenna motor, and found the mast to be fully intact with no other internal parts visibly worn or broken. I put everything back together and inserted the new mast just to try it, and the limited travel was the same as before.
Next, I traced through the electrical diagnosis that is outlined in the FSM. The motor functions fine in both directions when direct wired to 12v. Connections to the dash switch and relay all have voltage, continuity, etc. where they should. So I’m starting to think that I have a bad relay, order a replacement (albeit used) from eBay, and swap out upon arrival. Limited travel persists.
Just to be thorough I checked all fuses in the driver and passenger side boxes of the vehicle. All were good. Undoubtedly a longer shot but just covering all bases.
There are no aftermarket audio, electrical, etc. components installed in the vehicle. All are factory.
At this point I’m back to square one having only ruled out the more common issues. I have again pulled and disassembled the antenna motor and am looking to better understand how the limit switch/sensor functions as this is possibly giving a premature signal to the relay to stop the motor. Below are some pictures for reference of the switch/sensor location on the housing as well as the main drive gear:
Exterior of the housing with sensor/switch. Red/green/black are to/from the relay.
Wiring diagram.
Interior of the housing. The boxed area is opposite the sensor.
Main drive gear assembled. Bottom portion of the gear accepts power from the motor and the top portion reels the antenna mast. The magnet at top nests in the interior/eccentric circle area from the prior picture.
Main gear disassembled. The two parts turn together, but there is a spring internally that goes under tension when the mast is at the end of travel.
I’ve tried simulating the gear movement with a multimeter for continuity on the circuit but have not been able to open it. I would be very surprised if the sensor/switch has failed but perhaps that’s the problem. I’m hopeful that someone here with more expertise than I have could weigh in on a possible next step, as intuitively I still feel like there is something simple that I am missing. Appreciate any thoughts.
