Electric Antenna

[Packrat33]

Will I am a newbie to Corvette ownership as I have had this 1994 for only about 8 months. I have always done most of the work on all the vehicles I have owned through the years but this car is much deferent then any I have owned. So I am asking for a little advise here.

I have never owned a car with an electric antenna. The antenna on this car has from the day I bought it not completely retracted all the way in to the fender. I have done some reading on the problem and thought I had the problem solved when I replaced the mast with a new one, but the problem has returned.

After the new mast was installed it did fine for about 3 weeks and is now back to the same old stuff. Do I now have to replace the complete mechanism or is there something else I need to try

Thank you

Paul Beyer

 

[JonM]

You may have to remove the antenna and take it apart...this should help you a bit.

http://www.corvettemagazine.com/2002/february/antenna/ant1.asp

 

[SR94]

Paul,

my '94 had the exact same problem when I bought it in '02. Like you, I replaced the mast but that didn't fix the problem. People on the forum mentioned that the last couple of inches of the ribbon gear may have broken off and was still in the care so I removed the antenna, took it apart and found nothing. Ultimately, I found a good deal on a barely used antenna and that solved my problem.

Recently, the antenna on my '94 LHS started doing the same thing. I took this one completely apart but again found no obvious reason for the problem. While I had it apart I realized that when the antenna retracts the cable coils itself into the round part of the housing. I figured that if the cable was completely dry, friction might cause it to bind up. I sprayed the cable with white lithium grease and re-assembled the antenna. It works like brand new.

 

[Packrat33]

I replaced the whole think with new. That was a fun job!!!!!!!!!!!!