Miata Mailing List: May 1998, Message #2636

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> 
> From: "Sean Purcell" <scp@n-space.com>
> Date: Wed, 20 May 1998 15:58:25 +0000
> 
> The power antenna on my '95 gets stuck about 2/3 of the way up, and doesn't
> retract all the way either.  Is there an easy way to fix this by adding
> grease
> somewhere?  If so, what kind and where.
> 
> Thanks for any pointers.
> 
> --Sean Purcell / scp@n-space.com
> '95 White PEP
> Team Voodoo
> Team KTW


The flex gear that runs up through the center of the metal antenna mast
is the likely problem.  It gets old and breaks, leaving the bottom end
inside of the power antenna's motor.  

Less likely is the metal antenna mast needs lubrication, or the metal is
bent or kinked.  

To lubricate just put some light weight lub. on the outside of the mast
and work it up and down electrically as you do.    

If you find a dent, bend, or kink, use pliers to try to get it properly
round again.

If it's the flex gear it can (maybe) be replaced with a new Mazda part
that comes complete with the metal whip antenna mast.  That's if it's
still available.  Someone mentioned that Mazda no longer offers the
repair piece, but I've not confirmed it.  Call Tommy at PBC (800
966-4016) tomorrow and have him check for you (I'd guess he'll know
right off w/o actually having to check).

Its a good bit of work to replace the flex gear/mast because the motor
has to be taken apart to remove the end of the flex gear that breaks off
inside of the motor unit.  But it can be done, just work slow to watch
where some of the little pieces inside of the motor unit fall out from. 

The older Mazda service manuals have some good pictures and replacement
procedure. If the replaced antenna mast won't go down, the first thing
you need to do is to remove the chrome fender nut and then just pull the
antenna mast straight up and out.  Then remove motor unit from the car
and take it slowly apart.  It's easy to install the new mast.  However,
if the new mast does not go all the way down, or up, at first, it will
the second time you try it -- it's self adjusting.  

I've seen two where the mast would not just pull out as it should -- for
those I put pliers sideways just under the ball at the top of the
antenna mast and then hit the pliers with a hammer to drive the mast
out.

Many will just buy a new power antenna -- it's easy to install a
complete new unit.  Some will replace the power antenna with a fixed
one, but if you do, make sure that it's a Miata one with the lower
attachment bracket.  If you put on an antenna that's not got the lower
attachment you'll eventually end up with a dented fender.  A fixed Miata
antenna provides a little better radio reception.

-- 
Jeff Anderson            @   @     @     @   @@@@@   @      
Arlington, VA           @ @ @ @    @    @ @    @    @ @
MCA, Capital Chapter   @   @   @   @   @ @ @   @   @ @ @ 
91B, Silver           @         @  @  @     @  @  @     @
92B, Blue
 VA Plates: 
 HIS MX-5/HER MX-5
                  1) I CURE THE MIATA'S BAD HEAD REST SOUND.
                 =========== re mid-96 and older =========== 
 2) Miata special high performance ANTENNA SPLITTER for CB use too. 
    Ends scratching your Miata with magnetically mounted CB antennas.
e-mail for info: janderso@erols.com
  See:  http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/5361/Jeff.html