I'm trying to replace the mast of my 94 accord automatic antenna. From a search I ran, it seems that most people have problems getting the lock nut off. That's no problem.

I've got the nut and black plastic spacer off. When I turn on the radio, I can extend the antenna to its max extension point, but the mast won't come out of the radio motor shaft. It gets stopped as if there's something else in the shaft preventing the mast from being pulled out. The resistance is sudden, just when the mast is ready to leave the shaft, and feels like metal meeting metal (I.E. kinda like a metal clip being in the way stopping the mast, instead of friction due to dirt or corrosion) I don't think that the cable is still stuck in the motor either.

Has anyone had a similar problem or can shed some light on why I can't remove the mast? What could still be down there? I just don't see anything else to unscrew or remove.

Any help would greatly be appreciated!

 

are you pulling up on antenna as it comes out?? try spraying a bit of wd40 and let it soak for a while see if that helps

 

yep.... pulling, yanking, cursing... during and after the motor runs when you turn it on.

Once the motor is on and antenna extended and the mast gets stuck, I can push the telescope back down most of the way then extend it again (by hand this time) to try again to pull it out...gets stuck every time at the same point....right before the whole assembly comes out.

 

sounds like the lower metal piece of the antenna is rusted in the motor ,,try lubing it and let sit for a while try pulling out later

 

Well, wd 40 didn't work, so I tried removing the whole assembly from inside the trunk. During that process, I think I may have damaged the antenna cable and plug that connects to the antenna shaft from the head end unit. The plug didn't want to disengage, so I pulled on it and the cable. Never got it off.

But now my radio reception is bad. Wiggling the first 6 inches of the antenna cable now affects the reception and can bring the radio in and out of good reception on any given station.... So, I think when pulling on the plug, I damaged the connection between the cable wiring and the plug itself so now the signal isn't sent clearly to the radio.

I don't care anymore about the mast that wont come out of the radio shaft...Anyone know how to jerry rig some better reception? Can I get a new plug fitting from somewhere to resplice the antenna cable onto?

 

FYI, for those with this problem in the future...
I had to remove the aluminum antenna tube from the motor that guides the mast between the motor and the exterior. (The tube actually broke off at the base due to corrision) Then, I was able to lube the metal sleeve fused to the aluminum tube near the threaded copper at the top that was preventing me from removing the mast. I then yanked the mast with sleeve out of the tube since I was able to get better leverage since the tube was detached from the motor and car. I duct taped the aluminum tube back in place on the motor and reinstalled the whole assembly in the car...then installed the new mast. Duct taping should work fine in the long run since there is an interior plastic tube as well that holds the aluminum tube in place. I'll tape around the base as well to help contain moisture and direct it to the drain tube.