Miata Mailing List: October 1994, Message #32
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   From: "Ken Walker" 
Subject: Bent Antennae
   Date: Mon, 3 Oct 1994 17:15:31 -0400


     >>  Well (don't ask), I managed to bend/crimp my antenna mast ('93
     >>  power) so bad that it won't retract all of the way back (sticks up
     >>  5 inches or so).  According to Mazda I can't just buy the mast.
     >>  I'll start calling the junk yards for a wrecked Miata I guess. Can
     >>  I buy a replacement? If I can't find a junker and I have to go for
     >>  a new motor/antenna, I'd like one with a black mast.
     >>  Recommendations?

     Well Tom,

     I did the same thing to MY '93 power antennae.  Depending on your
     stereo, you may be out of luck.  If you have the MSSS (Mazda Super
     Surround Stereo) with the CD player etc... you would be better off
     biting the bullet and buying a new (or junk) part from the dealer.
     Turns out, the logic for when to go up/down is built into the wiring
     harness that lives with the motor.  I bought the black power job, and
     tried wiring it into the stereo so it would automatically go up when I
     turned it on.  no luck.  The wire harness in the trunk that leads to
     the antennae has so many leads on it that I returned the black one,
     broke down, and bought the stock motor.  If you don't mind a spare
     switch on your dashboard, then go ahead with the after-market one, but
     I didn't want to deal with manually raising/lowering with the switch
     every time.

     The extra logic Mazda used is to teach the antennae to be smart enough
     to only go up if you want to listen to the FM or AM stereo.  Using the
     tape or CD will not raise the antennae.

     By the way, if you want to try and do the wiring yourself, the fuse
     for the power antennae is in the TRUNK!!  (behind the battery).  Good
     luck, or just buy the motor and mast, and stop driving through the
     trees  :-)

     Ken Walker
     TIC-TAC  '93 White "C" package