How can I get the power antennae to lower ?

The power antennae on my 99 Riv is stuck, it extended and will not retract.
I have tried pushing it down but it wont go.
I have connected the power, the electrical motor runs when the switch is turned on and again when the switch is turned to the off position but the antennae does not move...

If I can lower it I have bought a universal amplified antennae I am going to hook up and just leave the power antennae unhooked.

Thanks

Bert

There's a cable of sorts inside the mast that pulls it down. If you hear the motor running but the mast doesn't move, the cable has had it's teeth stripped. Mine is starting to fail also, esp in cold weather. I'm planning on repairing mine instead of anything aftermarket.

Has yours been stuck in the up position since you bought the car? You should be able to force it down, unless it's been stuck up for a long time. I can push mine down, though it does take some force to do so.

1998 Riv wrote:

There's a cable of sorts inside the mast that pulls it down. If you hear the motor running but the mast doesn't move, the cable has had it's teeth stripped. Mine is starting to fail also, esp in cold weather. I'm planning on repairing mine instead of anything aftermarket.

Has yours been stuck in the up position since you bought the car? You should be able to force it down, unless it's been stuck up for a long time. I can push mine down, though it does take some force to do so.

Yes it stuck in the up position, I will get rough with it and see if it will go down.

I would like to repair mine.
Bert

sometimes just cleaning it real good can help. i used some pb blaster to do the kob and it worked good.

robotennis61 wrote:

sometimes just cleaning it real good can help. i used some pb blaster to do the kob and it worked good.

It will move about a 1/4" and then stops, it sounds/feels like the cable that is supposed to retract/extend it is binding on something and will not let it be lowered.

I hosed it down with PB BLaster though, just in case.
Thanks
Bert

I saw a repair kit today at the parts store.

It has the mast with a plastic cable attached that has teeth like on a gear.
That might work, anybody tried the repair kit.

Bert

Nope, but my plan is to buy the oem mast from my dealer. Does that repair kit give specific applications, or does it say "universal"? I'd be a little wary of a universal kit.

if the kit fits it should work great. the kit needs to have same mast as your antenna - same teeth on antenna plastic cable, same # of sections is preferable so it fits right in the shaft. Will be a little tricky install but OK once it engages.

Albertj

1998 Riv wrote:

Nope, but my plan is to buy the oem mast from my dealer. Does that repair kit give specific applications, or does it say "universal"? I'd be a little wary of a universal kit.

The parts dude at the dealership said the repair kit would not work on the Riviera.
He also said the replacement was a universal kit...
I was not very impressed, might have just been me misreading these guys but I got the impression they could have cared less about helping me.

I am going to try again this weekend to lower the antennae to the closed position...

Bert

Removed the rubber retainer nut on top of quarterpanel, pulled antennae out, cut off broken cable. Reinstalled. Problem solved.

Oh, and the universal repair kit would not work.
By the way, the GM parts dude claimed the only replacement power antennae they could get was a universal set up...


Bert

There is a listing in my parts pages for an antenna, and parts thereof. Maybe it is discontinued. I'll have to try to look it up later tonight and see if gmpartsdirect has it. You could always grab one from a salvage yard.

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/audio-electronics-f7/i-am-guessing-this-is-not-the-stock-antenna-t509.htm

I can reconfirm this once I've found the numbers I'd written down. From what I recall the antenna mast is a separate unit that's about $15.

racinfan wrote:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/audio-electronics-f7/i-am-guessing-this-is-not-the-stock-antenna-t509.htm

I can reconfirm this once I've found the numbers I'd written down. From what I recall the antenna mast is a separate unit that's about $15.

When I plug the wiring connectors up, the motor runs-when you turn the radio off/on.

If I could figure out how to change the mast that would be great.

Bert

ibmoses wrote:

racinfan wrote:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/audio-electronics-f7/i-am-guessing-this-is-not-the-stock-antenna-t509.htm

I can reconfirm this once I've found the numbers I'd written down. From what I recall the antenna mast is a separate unit that's about $15.

When I plug the wiring connectors up, the motor runs-when you turn the radio off/on.

If I could figure out how to change the mast that would be great.

Bert

The factory manual says you should be able to unscrew the very top of the mast and then be able to pull it out. It's likely something wrong with something in the assembly rather than a mast issue.

racinfan wrote:

ibmoses wrote:

racinfan wrote:

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/audio-electronics-f7/i-am-guessing-this-is-not-the-stock-antenna-t509.htm

I can reconfirm this once I've found the numbers I'd written down. From what I recall the antenna mast is a separate unit that's about $15.

When I plug the wiring connectors up, the motor runs-when you turn the radio off/on.

If I could figure out how to change the mast that would be great.

Bert

The factory manual says you should be able to unscrew the very top of the mast and then be able to pull it out. It's likely something wrong with something in the assembly rather than a mast issue.

I unscrewed the nut and removed the mast, the wire.cable that retracts/extends the mast is broken.
The motor still runs.

Thanks for any tips or advice.

Bert

Remove the motor and open it. You need to drill out the rivets holding it together. Then you can see the nylon cable wound up on the gear.