ryu_haneda
07-15-2007, 12:25 AM
Hey all...
I had bought a power antenna assembly from Welsh Subaru of Limerick PA back in February or March, but it had been too cold, and then too hot, and then I'd been too busy to replace the antenna. This weekend I got the chance to take a crack at it.
Unfortunately the Haynes manual I bought for my bd chassis model years only gave a few steps: (1) unscrew the retaining bolt from the power antenna, (2) disconnect the drain hose, and the power cord and the antenna lead, and (3) detach the power antenna. That was a major problem because
1. I am a COMPLETE green nooB at parts replacement/auto repair
2. I had NO IDEA what I was in for
If you want the short version, I replaced my antenna because I saw that the teeth for the power assembly broke in the original one, and it still does not work properly (I have subsequently left it fully extended and disconnected the power cord so it stays up). If you want the full version, read on.
FIRST, after disconnecting the power antenna (and figuring out that the top silver part actually helped hold it up as well), I actually got to pull it off the car. If you think of the complete power antenna assembly as similar-looking to a fishing rod, then you've got a mental picture in your head for the bd (sedan).
It is my fault really for not using a factory service manual, because I stumbled through everything after that...
I yanked the remaining teeth for the old set through the hole where the power antenna hooks up. The power antenna feeds the cable when the radio gets turned off, so I used my dad to help me out. We actually got the cable to feed in about 97 percent of the way, then we heard this fast sounding CLACKCLACKCLACKCLACK noise. It sounded that way when the cable was almost fully extended and when the cable was almost fully retracted.
Me being the really-have-to-get-it-done-just-right person I am, I was not content to leave that alone and started working further on the problem. Long story short, the metal housing that keeps the power antenna behaving is now messed up because I got it all bent up at the base (but fortunately I was able to recoupe some of the damage.) The cap to the bottom seal is now embedded in a part of the power antenna assembly (which feeds the antenna).
The antenna still goes up and down, but my wife and I are concerned that the CLACKing sounds we hear at extension and failure could be a sign that the motor is not working (or burning out). The antenna does not retract or extend fully.
It also does not fit back in very well (had to PUSH and ply the metal hook properly).
Lesson of the day: appreciate you local mechanic. :grin:
Later!
Ryu_Haneda
I had bought a power antenna assembly from Welsh Subaru of Limerick PA back in February or March, but it had been too cold, and then too hot, and then I'd been too busy to replace the antenna. This weekend I got the chance to take a crack at it.
Unfortunately the Haynes manual I bought for my bd chassis model years only gave a few steps: (1) unscrew the retaining bolt from the power antenna, (2) disconnect the drain hose, and the power cord and the antenna lead, and (3) detach the power antenna. That was a major problem because
1. I am a COMPLETE green nooB at parts replacement/auto repair
2. I had NO IDEA what I was in for
If you want the short version, I replaced my antenna because I saw that the teeth for the power assembly broke in the original one, and it still does not work properly (I have subsequently left it fully extended and disconnected the power cord so it stays up). If you want the full version, read on.
FIRST, after disconnecting the power antenna (and figuring out that the top silver part actually helped hold it up as well), I actually got to pull it off the car. If you think of the complete power antenna assembly as similar-looking to a fishing rod, then you've got a mental picture in your head for the bd (sedan).
It is my fault really for not using a factory service manual, because I stumbled through everything after that...
I yanked the remaining teeth for the old set through the hole where the power antenna hooks up. The power antenna feeds the cable when the radio gets turned off, so I used my dad to help me out. We actually got the cable to feed in about 97 percent of the way, then we heard this fast sounding CLACKCLACKCLACKCLACK noise. It sounded that way when the cable was almost fully extended and when the cable was almost fully retracted.
Me being the really-have-to-get-it-done-just-right person I am, I was not content to leave that alone and started working further on the problem. Long story short, the metal housing that keeps the power antenna behaving is now messed up because I got it all bent up at the base (but fortunately I was able to recoupe some of the damage.) The cap to the bottom seal is now embedded in a part of the power antenna assembly (which feeds the antenna).
The antenna still goes up and down, but my wife and I are concerned that the CLACKing sounds we hear at extension and failure could be a sign that the motor is not working (or burning out). The antenna does not retract or extend fully.
It also does not fit back in very well (had to PUSH and ply the metal hook properly).
Lesson of the day: appreciate you local mechanic. :grin:
Later!
Ryu_Haneda