Need to take out antenna motor...working on right now...PLEASE HELP ASAP!!!

[Stallion]

Right now I am trying to take antenna motor out of the back of the Vette (78). So far I dropped the driver side muffler to get at it. Took out what was holding the motor and deal to the Vette, but one thing that we can't get out is the wiring. There was one connector that we got out, but we can't figure out how to detach the white wires to take out the antenna motor.

We don't see a connector to disconnect and it's still suspending the antenna and motor in the Vette. We need to disconnect these wires, but can't find a way. Any ideas??

Posted is a picture of what I'm talking about. The white wires are what we want to disconnect from the motor. We just can't figure it out how to do so.

Please help!! Any ideas? How would I do this?

Thanks!!
TR

 

[JonM]

What I did with mine was cut the wires and put in a trailer hitch connector in...does the trick if you ever need to remove it in the future.

 

[Stallion]

Hmm...so there is no stock connector in it already? Is the only option to cut the wires?

Thanks for the reply!

TR

 

[JonM]

...you C-3...me C-4

 

[Stallion]

Anybody with a C3 know how to disconnect these wires so I can get the motor out? Thanks!!

TR

Please help. She's unable to drive until I guess this motor out because I have the muffler laying down waiting to remove this. Thanks!

 

[JohnZ]

If there's an in-line connector between the antenna motor and the harness that feeds it (and there must be, if it's original), it'll show in your A.I.M.; you do have one, don't you?

 

[Stallion]

No, I don't have an Assembly Manual.

Nobody knows off the top of their mind how this would come out? Hmm...maybe I should order the Assembly Manual. Nobody's ever had to change the antenna motor out?

TR

 

[Stallion]

If there's an in-line connector between the antenna motor and the harness that feeds it (and there must be, if it's original), it'll show in your A.I.M.; you do have one, don't you?

Hmm...well thats what I was looking for. The connector. But I just couldn't find it.

 

[JonM]

I looked at other posts...I see two answers so far...

1 Unplug the connector behind the rear speaker (driver side) if you got one.

2 If your 78 is like my 80, then the wires go through a grommet into the rear cabin. The connector is hidden away under the carpet on the antenna side. Just unplug and remove.

 

[MaineShark]

I checked the wiring diagram for my '79... it doesn't show a connector in the wire. Now, it might just not show it, or it might be different between '78 and '79, but I think it's looking like you're just going to need to cut it.

Are you replacing the antenna assembly? If so, get the replacement motor, and see how it is wired. If it has a connector on the end of the wire, then keep looking. If it has loose wires, then get the wire cutters, I think.

Joe

 

[Stallion]

"If your 78 is like my 80, then the wires go through a grommet into the rear cabin. The connector is hidden away under the carpet on the antenna side. Just unplug and remove."

This seems to be the only thing I have a lead to. I saw what you are talking about. Now I just need to get all that out. How much would I need to rip out to get at this connector?

This is sounding like it might just be easiest to cut the wires and put on a connector just by myself instead of looking for this "mystery" stock connector. But hopefully it's through that grommet.

What would I need to do to get at the other side of the grommet to see if the connector is there?

Thanks for the help, guys.

TR

 

[Stallion]

Any ideas? Like I said, I don't really want to tear up the carpet and cabin to get at it. Maybe the best thing would just be to cut the wires and make my own connector?

 

[84Vette]

the carpet should just simply pull away from the fender wells atleast it did for me. And expose all the wires running to the antenna motor.

BJ

 

[Stallion]

Hmmm...so there's only carpet there on the side of the back cabin? No other "flooring" of any sort or siding? And how would carpet come away? I don't want to mess with the interior. If I'm going to ruin carpet and stuff, then I might just cut the wires and hitch up a home made connector.

 

[84Vette]

where the rear glass come to the bottom part there should be a small ledge up under there is the end of the carpet. Put your hand under there and see it you can get it behind the carpet if you can see how far you can pull it away you should also have to take your rear speakers out if you have them i would do that first and see if the wires show the i am betting that the do.

 

[Stallion]

where the rear glass come to the bottom part there should be a small ledge up under there is the end of the carpet. Put your hand under there and see it you can get it behind the carpet if you can see how far you can pull it away you should also have to take your rear speakers out if you have them i would do that first and see if the wires show the i am betting that the do.

About the rear speaker...

I unscrewed the screws to take it out, but there is a snug fit of the wires on the actual speakers holding it still in place. How would I disconnect those wires to totally take out the speaker?

Thanks!!

TR

 

[Stallion]

Okay, this is what happened. I took the driver side speaker out and I still couldn't see the connector. It must be right where the wheel well is. And I pulled the rug back, but the insultation is hard and I didn't want to break it. So I just clipped the wires.

I have the exaust back up right now until I fix the antenna motor. I think it's just the cable in the motor, the teeth are worn down. That's not a bad replacement.

But the motor and antenna are out now, so I have the exaust back up and she's back to driving. I just have to replace the cable and everything'll be good.

Thanks!!

TR

 

[Vette/Berlina-coupe]

-not a complicated procedure...

Hello Friend: -on my '80-C3 there is a grommet viewable from the wheel-well where the antenna-conduit is routed-through and probably a separate grommet there with the two control-wires are routed; so then just go topside and as they are urging you, just lift-up the carpet portion immediately aft of driver's-seat (you are not ripping anything apart, just inspecting), -where you should indeed find the inside continuations of the noted outside wiring members...NO? You will find advisories elsewhere herein about how to repair the probably broken antenna-rod drive-cable... ~Bob vH
:bash

 

[ironmoo]

I've replaced mine 3 times on my '82. But never had to remove the muffler though, just worked around it. There is a connecter in the wiring somewhere between the interior and through the floor plug to the antenna. Just trace the wiring and should be a easy find. Other way is just cut the wiring and wire up the new one.

BTW, the massive heat off the left muffler is the #1 reason I've gone though the power antennas and a good idea is to make a heat shield. Easy to do with some alumium foil and ceiling insulation. Just wrap the insulation snuggly around the antenna, cover in place with the foil and strap with a inexpensise metal bracing available at any hardware store.

Once done, beats having to replace the annenna again.

Good luck!

 

[Stallion]

Like I said, I did just cut the wires. I did want to follow then through, and I did peel away the rug, but there was hard shell insulation and I didn't want to break that or crack it, and it didn't seem to want to budge.

So I figured the best and less destructive way was to just clip the wires.

Thanks!

TR