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ryu_haneda
12-29-2006, 03:52 PM
Hey all,

The antenna on my 98 LGT does not retract anymore. Fortunately enough, it's extended so I can hear radio stations, but it will not retract.

I hear the motor when I turn the radio on and when I turn the radio off, but the antenna "stalk" remains motionless. Is the interior device not "grabbing" the antenna stalk anymore, or is the motor busted? (I would figure the motor's not shot since it still runs.)

Let me know. Also, worst case scenario... anyone got spare antenna they can part with? (I saw the place just under the trunk where you can disconnect it)

Thanks for all your help.
-slippers2k
-waiting for the snow

Huffer
12-29-2006, 04:02 PM
Most likely the internal mechanism has broken off and isn't pulling the antenna down.

Cheap solution - buy a universal stubby aerial and wire it in. gil_ong81 had one on his Legacy.

Tougher one, order a replacement and install it. pretty easy to do.

Better - run the radio aerial along the back windscreen, and have a bodyshop shave the motorized aerial.

Sarra
12-29-2006, 04:05 PM
Yeah, wire on a whip antenna where the original went.

I had my antenna extended on my 98 GT, then it got foggy and super cold, and it woudln't retract because it had ice all over it. So, I just use the CD player and forget about the radio, don't want it to stop working.

ryu_haneda
12-29-2006, 04:37 PM
I talked to some people at work, they said that I could also buy a motorized antenna from places like Pep Boys and Autozone. Will any power antenna work, or should I really be sticking to a Subaru-only policy here?

Bdubs
12-29-2006, 11:01 PM
I talked to some people at work, they said that I could also buy a motorized antenna from places like Pep Boys and Autozone. Will any power antenna work, or should I really be sticking to a Subaru-only policy here?

If you say you can still hear the motor working on the antenna, all you need is the Rod and Nut assembly, which is basically a new antenna with a very thin plastic piece with teeth. There is a writeup somewhere about how to install it. Here's a picture of what it looks like, about $39, it isn't cheap, but doesn't look cheesy like a universal antenna either.

Here is where you can get it the cheapest online, http://www.subaruparts.com/cart/?pn=86323AC070
http://www.subarupartsforyou.com/images/products/CORD.jpg

ryu_haneda
01-11-2007, 12:25 PM
Bdubs, thanks for the lead on the part. I saw that the part is about 40 bucks on Subaruparts.com, but with ground shipping it comes out to be 50 bucks total. I *did* speak with a local Subaru dealer (Welsh Subaru in Limerick PA), and they placed an order for the part for me last week.

I'm going to go get it today. How long should it take to assemble?

-slippers2k

Bdubs
01-12-2007, 06:37 PM
Well it isn't difficult to get the motor out, but getting the motor apart is a little tricky, you may need a vise or gorilla like strength. This guy helped me out, he even wrote a step by step, and it was very helpful. These were for the wagon, but I'm sure once you get the motor out, its similar.
Also, be sure you wear some crappy clothes, the grease that is inside of the assembly is almost impossible to get off of fabric.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthr ... light=mast (http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=727441&highlight=mast)