Aerial not going down

[runrabbit]

Hi all,

Did a search but came up empty handed.

The aerial on my rex which use to work fine, now refuses to retract all the way when the car is off, or HD changed to CD. There doesn't seem to be any damage/bends in it that would stop it going down.

It's just the last section of the aerial - but its those little things that just get annoying.

Any ideas?

[ODB]

factory stereo has a thing that automatically puts the aerial up/down.

When i installed a new head unit in my rex i just installed a wee switch in the aerial wire and linked it up to a spare spot light switch.

The non factory head units are only up when on, rather than up when radio in use only and all other times down.

[subieboy]

 runrabbit said:

Hi all,

Did a search but came up empty handed.

The aerial on my rex which use to work fine, now refuses to retract all the way when the car is off, or HD changed to CD. There doesn't seem to be any damage/bends in it that would stop it going down.

It's just the last section of the aerial - but its those little things that just get annoying.

Any ideas?

at a guess from having this happened to me on several cars:

The winding motor mechanism has failed

The winding mechanism joint with the wire inside the aerial has slipped

Cheapest and easiest fix: From Supercheap / Repco buy a new mechanism.

20 min job to replace.

[newsuba]

Or maybe just replace the mast.

If you can hear the motor it's probably OK.

The masts have a toothed plastic belt inside that usually gets stripped with use.

Easy fix but IME non-Subaru units don't always retract properly.

[Divine]

Sorry, yes I am bumping this topic.

My aerial worked fine, but now it wont retract at all, it still makes the noise it makes when it goes up or down, but it stays fully up.

Is there a easy fix? I would rather it stay all the way down then all the way up because I can't drive into my garage it's that high.

[subieboy]

 Divine said:

Sorry, yes I am bumping this topic.

My aerial worked fine, but now it wont retract at all, it still makes the noise it makes when it goes up or down, but it stays fully up.

Is there a easy fix? I would rather it stay all the way down then all the way up because I can't drive into my garage it's that high.

Supercheap/Repco/BNT/et al sell replacement items...

Easy to swap over.

[Joker]

I hear its about a 20 min job to replace

you can get them from Supercheap / Repco buy a new mechanism.

[Divine]

Ok thanks

[spark_38]

Or a car wrecker, pick-a-part type place? But with s/hand units it can be hit and miss. Luckily the $15 one for my BF5 was in serviceable condition.

Alternatively if you manage to get it down, disconnect the plug from near the aerial to stop it going back up - the signal is generally still ok in prime areas

[kiwisurf]

Have you tried cleaning it with some solvent then spraying with silicone spray??? They can get a bit "gunky" which can slow them down!

[spark_38]

 kiwisurf said:

Have you tried cleaning it with some solvent then spraying with silicone spray??? They can get a bit "gunky" which can slow them down!

that is true, in the past mine were sticky, cleaned them with WD-40 or CRC 5.56 when fully extended - they work better when all the sticky black stuff is removed

[Divine]

I've even tried pushing it down when its meant to be going down

[runrabbit]

after almost 2yrs of my aerial not going down and getting stuck on the last telescopic extension - it now has decided to go down perfectly ;D aweeesome!

(apologises mods for resurrecting and old post)

[Joker]

lol sweet as " always like hearing results!