Questions and Answers
Camry Power Antenna
Q. A couple of days ago a bird flew into my power antenna and bent the mast. It broke when I tried to straighten it. The nylon (?) control rod inside it appears to be fine, so the dealer told me I could just replace the mast. I spoke with a service manager at the dealership about the procedure for replacing it, but once I started taking it apart I found that it wasn't put together at all like he said.
My real question is, how do you remove the control rod from the old antenna mast and install it on the new one? Is it necessary to remove the entire antenna assembly from the car or can it be done from the topside as the service manager said? After starting to take it apart, it appears that it can done from outside the car, but I've not found a way to separate the rod and the mast. I figure there must be a trick to it, and I don't want to break the rod also.
1991 Toyota Camry
V-6 - Automatic
Power antenna on left rear fenderThanks for your help,
MikeA. Okay, hopefully it's not so broken that this won't work. To do this you'll need someone in the car to work the radio.
What you need to do is remove the big nut at the base of the antenna. Then have your helper turn the radio on and the old mast and nylon gear will spin right out of the motor assembly. Take note of which direction the gear teeth are pointing. To put the new one in, slide the new gear/mast into the hole until it stops. Then have your helper turn off the radio and the motor will draw the new gear/mast in.
It might take a couple of tries to get the gear to engage the motor, but it will. When it draws it in, replace the base nut and carefully tighten it. Don't go crazy, it won't take much to strip it. Now cycle the antenna up and down and you'll be done.
Btw... I hope you gave the bird a decent burial.
Additional Information provided courtesy of ALLDATA
