QuestionHi, I have a '97 4Runner with an antenna mast that WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. However, I do hear the motor attempting to make it move. I believe that part of the cable with the teeth may be broken off inside the motor because when I took off the top nut and removed the antenna mast by hand, the plastic cable was no longer attached to the bottom of the antenna mast. What do I do? Thanks.
AnswerThe broken piece of the antenna mast has to be removed from the motor, to do this, partially remove the inner fender panel, peel it back enough to get to the motor, there is a 10mm bolt holding it in, the antenna lead does not seperate from the motor, disconnect the elrctrical connectors and pull the motor out as far as possible, remove the phillips screws and the small screw and nut in the center, the top part of the plastic motor housing will pull off, remove the drive spool and then remove the broken cable.
Put the motor back together without installing the cable, mount it back into the fender without installing the top nut. Turn the ign key on and the radio on, wait until the motor stops, turn the radio off and feed the new mast with the teeth facing to the back, the motor should grab the cable and pull it in, if it doesn't turn the teeth the other way but I'm pretty sure they face to the rear, if for some reason the natenna doesn't fully retract, put the top nut on and turn the radio on and let the ant go all the way up and then turn it off again, the mast should now go all the way back in.
