hi guys

i have a 03 TL wagon. my issue is the electric antenna is rooted. Pretty much goes up and does not retract. I've pulled out the module, and pulled it apart to see what's it doing inside. Besides there was about 6inches of nylon rope from the previous antenna. The dang thing won't retract.

I checked the service manual which basically states that there is 3 pin connector... mine has 8 pins. So after searching on this forum. It's in the TJ and TH manual. I found it, and would like to diagnose it. To determine if it's a wiring or a module fault. (don't want to replace things which isn't broken).

After reading the service manual, it states that i can replace the antenna modules ECU. Which could be the problem with mine as the motor works fine. Mitsubishi said they only sell the whole antenna. No module. Which is $370au.

Aeropro has a direct replacement for $150. Which is affordable and down right a smart choice. But they state that their replacement suits TE-TW. Is the replacement AP179 from Aeropro a 3 pin or 8 pin.

or am i barking up the wrong tree??? is it something else that's the problem??

any help is appreciated

Not sure where you are in NSW, but possibly consult a wrecker? If you are near a self-serve wrecker (eg Pick-n-Payless at Blacktown, Pick-n-Pull at Seven Hills) you may be able to get a spare antenna or at least the motor to play with. My TJ (II) had a much more compact antenna motor (probably the 3-pin version) than my KJ - KJ has the larger unit (had half-height function in KH I think) and mast is replaceable. However, my only experience is with KJ sedans, maybe the wagons kept the larger antenna motor in to the TL series?

Is the stainless-steel mast section OK in what you have? I'm thinking that the 6-inches of rope may be broken off your mast, in which case a new mast from Aerpro is cheaper again. Do you have a co-worker who can turn key or radio and ond off for you while trying to see what motor is doing? At one stage I didn't think a motor was retracting to feed a new mast onto, but was simply that it ran so quietly and smoothly and was stopping before I could get the rope engaged.

Cannot advise about the Aepro replacement unit, as I have only ever bought the replacement mast/rope. The mast/rope gets listed on EBay frequently, too - maybe check for bargains there?

EDIT: Re-reading your post (and guessing a bit) I am more and more tempted to assume that you have broken the 6 inches of rope off your antenna, and that removing that piece of rope and replacing with a new mast/rope will do the job.

As long as you remove the broken piece of rope (plastic toothed stuff, for the other readers) and can confirm that the motor tries to reverse on key-off or radio-off -then a new mast will get you out of trouble for more like $60- or $70- The Aerpro replacement mast looks identical to the genuine part (which is priced more like $90- last time I checked).

Don't bother trying to re-mount the existing mast with its too-short rope onto the motor - it will just wind the mast up, wind the short rope off the motor, and you will be back at square one - an almost fully extended mast which won't retract cos the rope is no longer engaged on the motor.

i pulled apart the module and removed about 6 inches of rope. With the module apart, i reconnected it to the harness, to see whether if the motor winds backwards. The motor only winds forwards (winding antenna out).

I have bought a replacement antenna with rope but it's no use if it's only winding up/out/forward.

Aeropro replacement is only a 3 pin. i guess the only way is to hard wire it. Unless i buy a 2nd hand one.

Surely someone has had this issue. i'd like to know what they did to fix it.

Hi Garry
I had this problem earlier in the year on my KL wagon and also on my wifes TJ II wagon both did exactly same thing no return trigger to motor.
Ended up buying a couple from from a wrecker from an earlier model (not sure which one) about $85 ea had the 3 pin connectons on it
It was easy enough to splice them into the 8 pin connector
From memory i think the colours were even similar I.E. red to red /white blue to blue/white black to black/white
It may be the same with the aerpro
Its interesting to see that someone else has same issue with these smaller type antennas.
Good Luck

thanks Daggwood

I bought one off a Mitsfix (ebay store) for about $100au. It was from a sedan, the aerial is shorter but does the job, i had to change the top of the assembly as it was different to the wagon. Which simply cliips off, and change the mounting bracket. If this one dies i will replace it with a brand new one.