Please ask if anything is unclear
Time required to replace mast: Less than 15 minutes.
Antenna Nut Wrench p/n 07JAA-001000C
Or something to fit in those little slots on both sides of the chrome antenna nut.
I used snap-ring pliers and a 4" square piece of cardboard with a hole cut in the middle the size of the antenna spacer. This way, when the snap ring pliers slip, the fender isn't scarred. Place a shop towel between the cardboard and fender as well.
NOTE the orientation of the black plastic antenna spacer on the fender
NOTE the orientation of the slots in the chrome antenna mast nut. They
should be in line with the fender.
The antenna nut is the chrome ring around the mast. The O-ring is the small rubber ring around the antenna nut. You may or may not have this O-ring, depending on model year. The spacer is the angled black plastic thingy (technically speaking), the bushing is black and under the spacer, on the fender.
1) Lower antenna by turning radio OFF
2) Remove antenna nut, O-ring (N/A on pre-94 cars I think), spacer, and bushing.
***STOP HERE IF REMOVING MOTOR****
***See further down for motor removal
3) Before completely removing the antenna mast, note the orientation of the drive cable teeth. They should be pointing towards the left rear corner of the car. Maybe even a little more left than that.
Carefully withdraw the antenna mast while extending it by turning the radio ON. The mast lifts straight up and out.
Installation:
1) Hold the antenna mast drive cable (the plastic cable with teeth) so its teeth point the same way the old mast came out. Insert the drive cable into the antenna housing.
2) Check for engagement by gently moving the cable up and down. It should engage the gears inside the motor. Try to get as much cable engaged as you can, to where the metal base of the antenna mast can install into the antenna housing
3) Turn the radio OFF and let the motor pull the mast in. If the mast does not fully retract, turn the radio ON and try holding the mast in place for a few clicks of the motor. It sounds like its jumping teeth, and
it is. Perfectly normal.
4) Install the bushing, spacer, Oring and antenna nut. Torque the nut to 1.7lb-ft (2.3N-m). This is a fairly light torque, and if you overtorque, you will deform the fender. SO DO NOT OVERTORQUE. Go slow once the antenna nut becomes too hard to turn by hand. If you can see the fender flex a little, BACK OFF. THATS MORE THAN ENOUGH. The slots in the nut should be in line with the fender.
5) Turn radio ON and let the antenna raise fully, then OFF again and lower fully. A few clicks may be heard while the control cable is seating. Check for full retraction and extension with repeated ON and OFF of
the radio switch.
**Done with mast replacement
****CONTINUE HERE IF REMOVING MOTOR****
3) Remove the three or four push pins inside truck which hold the left side carpet panel in place. A dandelion digger or any forked tool works great on the push pins. Also lift up on the rubber trunk seal off the trunk body lip to allow the carpet panel to be folded inward towards center of trunk. Unplug the trunk light connector.
4) Unplug antenna motor electical, unplug antenna cable.
5) Unbolt and remove the motor from the car, I think there are 3 12mm bolts on the motor bracket.
Done!