91 Trans Am GTA w/ bad power antenna - motor keeps running, had to pull accessories fuse. Where to buy replacement antenna? I checked Ebay, (the last place I got one for my Camry), no luck. I haven't opened up the cover in the wheel well to investigate yet. Thought I'd look for the part first.

After posting this in the wrong thread, I went to this Car Audio thread, and found one possible source - Modern Day Muscle. Went to their site, and they have a repair kit I may try, since my motor runs, but the mast doesn't move. Also did a search on the Vendor Review for them, and they seem well liked. Has anyone tried their antenna repair kit? Will this be a hard job? Thanks.

 

I'm not sure if they have been discontinued yet, but a "mast repair kit" is available from the GM dealer. You get a replacement antenna mast and the plastic snake that moves it up and down.

I have a friend that bought the repair kits for his '84 T/A and '79 10th Aniversary T/A a couple years ago and they were fairly easy to install.

 

Thanks, but I just called my local Pontiac dealership (KS), who said GM doesn't have that antenna repair kit anymore - only the entire power antenna - at $224 (plus tax)! How come GM's prices are always sky high for parts, when they built the car, sold it, and repair them? They're missing the opportunity to make a lot of money with these tactics, don't you think? I wonder if they don't gradually raise the price of a part, as their supply lowers, so that they maximize profit, but aren't left with a bunch of parts nobody wants.

So, maybe I'll go with the power antenna repair kit from Modern Day Muscle. Anybody use theirs? Thanks in advance!

 

The other factor in the replacement antenna GM sells now is it's a universal kit.it doesn't fit exactly the way the original does.from what I understand the repair kits Modern Day sells are GM kits.I was lucky to find a replacement antenna from another member when the motor in the one on my '83 gave up.

 

OK. Before I order a power antenna repair kit from Modern Day Muscle, I thought I'd try to remove the antenna. I removed the passenger side wheel, then the plastic inner fender skirt. On the outside, I removed the big nut at the bottom of the mast, before it enters the fender. Finally, I removed a bolt that attaches the antenna bracket to the inside fender, leaving the bracket bolted to the antenna with 2 bolts. Problems:

1. I can't see where to unplug the power antenna's electrical wires, (or for that matter, the antenna cable itself), however I haven't yet removed the passenger side kick panel inside the car, where the factory manual seems to state it is done. (Chilton's manual doesn't specify - just says unplug!)

2. My (old) antenna motor runs non stop when the radio and ignition are on, but the mast doesn't go down. So, I assume my mast and antenna motor are fine, just needs cleaned, lubed, and a new cable from a repair kit. Both manuals say to remove and install the antenna when the mast is down, or to cut it off, if replacing the whole thing. I tried to retarct the mast by pushing down on it, (w/ the power off), but it won't go. Anyone know if the whole antenna assembly can be removed w/ the mast up? If not, can I remove the motor from the mast and put in the repair kits parts w/out removing the mast?

I can't buy the repair kit, until I know, because it won't be sufficient to fix the problem, if I have to cut the old mast, in which case, I could try to find one at the junkyard that already works. (Please note, the junkyard is 120 miles roundtrip, so I can't drop by there easily). Thanks!

 

There is a relay inside the car behind the plastic trim panel below the dash map pocket that the antenna power wires plug into. The antenna signal wire runs all the way over to the radio. You'll have to do some partial disassembly of the dash and gauge pod to get all the wires free so they will pull through the grommet hole in the metal cowl. There are no separate connectors behind the kick panel for "easy" power antenna motor removal.

 

I was having the same problem as you. Except i didn't know that my antenna ever went up or down. When i bought my car i had a power draw making the battery die. I went through 4 batteries before i found that the previous owner didn't want to deal with buying a new antenna motor so he just cut the wires. The Bone head didn't cover the wires the correct way and they were grounding out. ahh anyway MORAL OF STORY if you decide to cut the wires make sure you cover them up good.

 

Well, instead of an antenna repair kit, I bought a new in the box AC Delco power antenna on Ebay that was suppossed to work on my car (91 GTA), antenna part # 22109892 which (allegedly) supercedes to a 88891017. (My old antenna has part # 22110235 on a silver sticker). Problem is, the electrical connector on the new antenna is different. However, the 3 wires are the same color, so I spliced on my old connector, but it still doesn't work. Ebay Seller did some research, and says GM did a part design change, and that I need connector part # 22139030, but that it isn't available anymore. I just can't believe that the 3 wires would be the same color, (green white and gray, spliced in same order), but not work w/ my connector. New antenna won't go up, down or make any sound. Voltmeter confirms current at the relay. Radio works (about 2 stations w/out new antenna up). Connected old antenna - motor works, eliminating an electrical issue. I never unhooked the signal reception cable from the back of the radio. Though it's possible it came loose when I was yanking on the wires, I assume that has nothing to do with the antenna motor working. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks!!!

 

I'm the original poster and wanted to provide an update and more info. My old antenna mast wouldn't come down, and I tried turning the mast while pushing down, went some but not all the way. So, I got my old antenna out, by taking apart the plastic motor housing - drilling out the rivets and removing the metal clips, and prying it apart. (It's held by some sticky stuff too). Then I was able to grab the broken plastic "snake", and pull it partially out of the motor housing - which enabled me to lower the old mast within 1 inch of all the way down - which gave me the room to remove the rest of the old antenna from the wheelwell, without cutting the mast. (All w/ the wheel off).

But, I never got the new antenna to work, and will have to send it back for a refund, if I don't get this figured out soon. Here's the Ebay link to the exact one I bought (Ebay Seller has several):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ACDEL...QQcmdZViewItem
Of course, I suppose since my old antenna motor works, I could take apart the new antenna, and use just its mast and plastic "snake". But I hate to tear the new one apart, then find the old motor and new mast don't fit together. It's a brand new AC/Delco antenna! Same color and # of wires!

-CLUE? WHY ARE PEOPLE TAKING THE ANTENNA RADIO SIGNAL WIRE OFF FROM WHERE IT EVENTUALLY PLUGS INTO THE RADIO, WHEN IT CLEARLY COMES OFF FROM THE SIDE OF THE ANTENNA ASSEMBLY?

- I was also unable to fix my old antenna the way another member did - by replacing the broken plastic "snake" with weed wacker cord. Problem was that I could not get the very end plastic plug where the plastic "snake" originates, out of the metal antenna tube. I didn't try (yet) to heat the metal tube up, as they suggested. If I'm able to do that, I may try to use flexible steel wire instead of weed wacker material. BUT, even then, how would I know exactly how long it should be? Thanks everyone!

 

If this is what your antenna looks like check out this link for the correct repair kit.

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050F

 

Four things come to mind. I have fixed one of these before, and I KNOW what works.
1. You didn't need to get a whole new antenna assembly, and now you can't send it back.
2. You CAN'T fix the old mast, no matter how you try. You would still have to get the nylon snake thing that will hook into the large gear that raises and lowers the mast.
3. Go to AC/Delco.com and look up a replacement mast for your power antenna.
4. Go to a junkyard and look for a late-80's (NOT 90+, IIRC) either F-body or W-Body (Grand Prix, Cutlass Supreme, Regal, Beretta, Lumina) or anything with a power antenna. What you are looking for is the motor assembly that is held together with three brass-colored sheet metal screws instead of the rivets. You may need to adapt your current antenna to the older one (they reversed the connections on the motor end of the cable around '90) or get the antenna cable out of the car. This will allow you to have easier access to the guts of the antenna in case something is wrong.

Your antenna relay may be shot. There is also a contact disk inside the motor housing which switches contacts when the motor turns (similar to the switch for the hatch pulldown), this may be out of alignment as well. It's been a while since I have done mine, so I don't quite remember the alignment. Either way, the contacts have to be one on the insulating nylon and the other on the disk, no matter what position the antenna is in, either fully up or down, ONLY. If it doesn't work one way, find a way to turn the disk so that the other contact is touching. Only the outer contacts touch the disk, the center one is the common wire.

BTW, these things DO REQUIRE lubrication occasionally. When they stick, there goes the nylon cord that raises and lowers the mast.

 

-Maverick H1L - Thanks for your reply.
1. Yes, I can send back my new AC Delco antenna to the Ebay Seller. I just don't want to, unless I must, cause these new ones are hard to find.
2. My old antenna mast and motor are both OK, it's the plastic "snake" that's broken. But again, I can't figure out how to get the plastic "snake" completely out. If one buys an antenna repair kit, what does it come with? (Does it come with everything within the metal housing, everything but the motor? If not, how do you get the old mast and snake out?
3. I went to www.acdelco.com Searched for all the part #'s. Nothing.
4. The last thing I want to do, is to get a junkyard part, and have to go through this again, (unless absolutely necessary). I'd prefer a new snake, whether it's in a new antenna, or a repair kit. 2nd preference is to replace the snake myself with something stronger (like steel cable).

-My old antenna motor still works when hooked up to the 3 electrical wires. My new one does not. So, I think my antenna relay is OK (if it's the part under the dash that the antenna electrical leads plug into).

- Poster 884+3 - Yes, the pic you posted looks like my old antenna, except that the radio signal connection on the antenna mast body is different, and the top of the antenna mast body is slightly different. But the black plastic motor housing is the exact same. Where did you get that picture, and what is the part #?
I went to that site you listed, but,
1. It's for Corvettes (not Firebirds),
2. They have 2 different pics listed on this repair kit, and both look funny,
3. Their website doesn't contain the instructions for the part, and is confusing as it states, "Don't replace your power antenna if all you need is the mast! Most power antenna units are needlessly replaced when a less expensive remedy could cure them. If the motor on your power antenna is still functioning, but your antenna mast is bent or broken, simply install a new mast. Kit includes complete instructions. Please note: masts broken off inside the motor are not replaceable - entire antenna must be replaced.
Note: This repair kit is for original GM antennas, it may not work in the current replacement GM / Delco antennas."

-So, what do they mean by "mast broken off inside the motor"???

THANKS EVERYONE!!!

 

Pentiuman,
1-Thats the exact part i used to repair the antenna on my 88.
2-Did you completely disassemble your old antenna? Use two pair of pliers to remove the top ornament from the mast. Theyre screwed together. Then remove the remaining piece from inside the white gear thats covered in grease.Compare the pieces to the picture to make sure its the correct kit.
3-I think theyre trying to scare off the average DIYer. And sell more new antennas, If the antenna wasnt broken off inside the motor it wouldnt need fixing.
Do some poking around on that site for corvettes i posted the link to. They list lots of different antennas. Maybe one of the others are a closer match to what you have.

 

884+3 - Well, I finally got my old antenna apart, - not sure if I did it right. I did unscrew the very top tip - small metal peice from the mast, if that's what you're calling the "ornament", but that didn't help anything. Then I grabbed the white plastic "****" (where the white snake enters the tube. I twisted this "****" repeatedly, to try to seperate it from the brass tube, which broke off the "nipple" that the antenna radio signal wire goes onto! Then I pulled on the antenna mast, to remove it up (same direction the mast raises when you turn the radio on). It doesn't come out that way (on mine)! So I grabbed the white plastic ****, and pulled down, and almost everything came apart.

So, I guess I'm making progress, but, since I broke off the signal nipple, and that had to come off for the mast to be removed downwards, I'm not sure if I don't still have 2 peices, 1 within the brass tube, still screwed (and rusted) together.

It's so frustrating. To have an old antenna whose plastic "snake" cable broke. To buy a new antenna that is suppossed to be the right one, not work. To have GM discontinue their repair kit, to charge over $200 for a new antenna, for GM to change designs, and for part suppliers to fail to post part numbers, adequate info., or exact replacement parts.

I retested my old antenna motor - works. I rechecked my wires to the new antenna. Good and right. Guess I'm going to the junkyard 100+ miles to pull an old one. - I'm not buying a repair kit, only to find that it's the wrong one, or doesn't have all the parts. Thanks everyone. I'll post my findings if I learn another part of the puzzle.