Replacing the Antenna Mast

 

Disclaimer: Please note that I am not a mechanic nor a car specialist.  This page is not for instructional use.  Rather it is an accounting of a personal experience and/or process.  Any information used from this page is solely at your discretion and I can not be held liable for any resulting action and/or damage.

Symptoms: The antenna will not go up or down but the antenna motor can still be heard churning.

Cause:  The antenna mast cable (with the teeth) has snapped or broken thus the motor is unable to push or pull the antenna up or down.

Tools Needed: (I did this a while back so I'm going off of my memory for the exact tools) 

  1. Phillips screwdriver 

  2. ?mm Socket (for the motor bracket mount)

  3. Adjustable pliers

  4. Flash light

  5. A towel

Difficulty Scale:  On a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being very difficult) this is a 1.

Replacement: (note - these instructions are from pages 23-216 and 23-217 of the factory Honda Accord Service Manual amended with my comments.)

Although the Factory Service Manual says you can remove the antenna mast without removing the entire power antenna motor, the main cause of the antenna mast failure is the cable breaking.  Thus you have to removed the pieces that have snapped off from with the motor.

  1. Removed the left rear quarter panel trim from with the trunk.  Look for the various screws holding it in place.  I found I could move the back end of the trim out far enough to access the power antenna motor without completely removing the trim.

  1. Ensure the antenna down.

  1. Disconnect the 3-P or 6-P connector, the antenna lead and the drain hose from the motor.

  1. The factory service manual calls for a special antenna nut wrench in this next step, I found that a pair of adjustable pliers worked almost as well.  Keep a steady hand as you loosen the nut per the following as you could slip and scratch your paint.

Use the pliers to loosen the "special nut."  Once it is loose enough, unthread by hand.  Then slide the spaced and bushing off as well.

  1. Remove the nut holding the motor bracket (see picture in step 3) and slide the entire motor assemble out.

  1. Reconnect the 3-P or 6-P connector and the antenna lead and extend the antenna by hand if you have to and also turn on your radio (not just a CD or tape but the AM/FM radio) so the power antenna motor pushes any antenna mast drive cable out as far as it can.

  1. Disconnect the 3-P or 6-P connector first then the antenna lead (keep the radio on).  You should not hear the motor retract.  If so, try every thing to ensure the motor is in the extended position.

  1. "Carefully take out the antenna mast" is how the service manual says to perform this next step.  My antenna was so stuck I had to pull VERY had and wound up sliding the tubular metal sheath around the white antenna mast cable and then cutting the cable.

  1. I had to open up the power antenna motor unit and remove additional pieces of the antenna mast drive cable.  When performing this task, do it over a towel or on a workbench so as to not lose any of the little screws.  Also, try to clean up your hands.  There is quite a bit of this white plastic lubricant that you do not want to get dirty.  

  1. Now reinstall the power antenna unit and reconnect the antenna lead, drain hose and 3-P or 6-P connector.

  1. Carefully install the teeth of the new mast antenna drive cable into the antenna housing.  Make sure the teeth point towards the rear of the car!!!  Thread the cable until the teeth engage the drive gear (see picture in step 8).  Check for engagement by carefully moving the cable up and down; DO NOT FORCE ANYTHING. 

  1. Turn the radio off and let the motor pull the drive cable inside the antenna housing/power antenna motor unit.  You may have to turn the radio on and off several times allowing the motor to fully extend and retract each time.  The antenna mast will find it's correct setting only after a few cycles of going up and down..

  1. Install the new bushing, spacer and thread the new 'special nut.'  

  1. Check that the mast extends and retracts fully when the radio is turned on and off.  Be careful not to over-tighten.  If you over-tighten, the antenna will stick.  If sticking occurs, back off the nut a little, then raise and lower the again.  Repeat until the antenna moves freely.

  1. Every time you turn on the radio, use the rear-view mirrors to check it out and feel proud you fixed it!

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Last updated 20 Oct 2008 05:40:49 PM