I am sure this has been posted many times in the past, but I am new and could not find it. I have a 1988 IROC that I need to replace the power antennae on. Not sure if it is the motor or cable. In any event, I am just after some quick info on how a person gets to that thing so I know where to start.

many thanks!

 

If the motor for it just keeps running and the antenna doesn't move, you just need the mast repair kit ($20 from GM).
To get at it just remove the fender liner, remove the nut on top of the fender. Look inside the fender and there will be a bolt head facing you (10mm), remove that and the antenna will fall down inside the fender. Next, rotate the antenna inside the fender until you see where the antenna wire goes on the antenna, there will be 2 phillips screws holding it there (#2 phillips), they are very short, remove them. The next part is a shame bur the antenna is hard wired in the car, cut the wires but leave 3" on the antenna side. When you reinstall it, go get a 5 wire trailer light connector from an auto parts store or even WalMart has them. Splice them to the wires you cut by solidering them and using heat shrink on the connections.

To disassemble the antenna you need to drill out the hollow rivets and remove the metal spring clips from the plastic case. CAREFULLY pull the halves apart and look carefully at how it all is assembled in there. Take the little "ball" off of the very top of the mast, in the bottom of the mast is a plastic plug that the plastic "wire" that drives the antenna goes through. Using a small blade screwdriver remove the plug and pull on the drive wire sticking out of the mast bottom so that the top piece of the mast comes out. Remove any drive wire still on the reel and install your mast repair kit. Besure to lube the wire, reel and worm gear with plenty of white lithium grease. Re assemble the whole antenna using screws and nuts where the rivets were and reinstall the metal spring clips.
Now, if you have a battery charger, rig up some jumpers to the antenna leads and test it, make sure it goes all the way up and down smoothly, then reinstall the antenna.

 

Morley, I truly appreciate this detailed explanation. I will print it out and get to work.

There are some companies on ebay that sell the motors for relatively cheap. I suppose these are just the motors, and you still have to do follow the directions as you have posted them? I was sort of hoping that a person could buy the entire get up. Just cut out the old system, stick in an new one. Guess not.

 

The last time I checked GM wanted around $100 for a replacement antenna, so the $20 mast replacement is the way to go.
In all of the years I've owned a GM car with a power antenna ( 4 cars spanning 25 years) I've never had one break, other than the drive wire.

 

Yeah, removing the right front wheel and fender liner and then working thru from there is much easier than trying to remove the fender like the service manual says! I picked up a used unit off eBay for $25 a year ago, still running fine (knock on wood)!

 

Been there, done that. Fender liner is the only way to go.

JamesC

 

I sell on ebay for a living, so I automatically go there when I need parts. I found a seller, antennax*com, who sells the motor and mast for $30 + $12.00 shipping. Their feedback is not that great, but it appears as though it might be worth the risk. They sell the Camaro replacement under their Corvette auctions.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...939794962&rd=1