HELP! since I have had the car (2002 TJ Advance) 3 years the antenna has the nasty habit of popping.
What I mean is when going up or down, it does not do so smoothly, instaead once it is fully extended or fully retracted, it moves in or out about 1 or 2 inches and bounces quite noisly before settling.
Has anyone else had this problem? anyone know how to fix it. BTW is finally retracting/extending fully.
In all other regards it works fine. Only the noise is irritating (sometimes I think I have hit something. I am also concerned that this popping might damage/wear something.

Hi, it sounds like that the drive cog may have stripped or broken a tooth off.
It could be the mast rope but generally it would do it in the same spot each time not at each end.
A new one cost me $150 from mitsu brand new (complete aerial).

Someone is selling manual aerials on Ebay to suit TE to TW models for $45 delivered.....not electric but most people use CD's nowdays.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Manual-Guard-Mount-Antenna-Mitsubishi-Magna-1996-05-/400132412615?cmd=ViewItem&pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d29c014c7

Put it right up and polish the sections with steel wool, will smooth out the operation if there are no dents in the sections.

+1 for drive cog missing tooth.. Mine used to do the same thing when I had my TJ