Miata Mailing List: July 1994, Message #133
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   From: "Edward Hoffman" 
Subject: Re: Ups and downs.
   Date: Thu, 7 Jul 1994 11:23:27 -0400

>Next question:
>
>The power antenna on Trixie (92B) refuses to retract.  It started yesterday,
>and hasn't gone down (without my help) since.
>
>I can force it down, and it extends correctly on radio power-up, but it will
>not retract.
>
>It feels "loose".  Any thoughts?
>
>In a worse-case scenario, would it be better to attempt to rebuild it, or 
>would it be better to buy a new one?
>
>John
>
>
>
Don't know much about the Miata power antenna as I don't have one. But I
recently repaired the power antenna on my Prelude. On the Honda there is a
flexible plastic "wire" which pushes up and pulls down the antenna. These
have the tendancy to break after several years of use. The dealer wanted to
replace the whole system (including the motor)  for $150 + labor. I took it
apart and removed the mast. Called the parts department at Honda and found
the mast could be ordered seperately (including the plastic "wire") for
about $40. Now she works again.

The moral of the story. Don't trust the dealer (but you already knew that).
Try to rebuild it yourself. Its probably not that difficult a job. Does
anyone know if the power antenna mast is available seperately?

Ed H.
'92 A pkg
____________________________________________________________________________
Ed Hoffman, Dept 1561
Sandia National Laboratories
MS 0443
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-0443

e-mail: elhoffm@sandia.gov
phone: (505) 844-5756
fax: (505) 844-9297
____________________________________________________________________________