My radio antenna is stuck with approx 30cm sticking up.
What's the fix?
How much does a new antenna cost, or rather who sells them for the least, and how easy is it to fix?
Thanks for any advice
Stewart

My radio antenna is stuck with approx 30cm sticking up.
What's the fix?
How much does a new antenna cost, or rather who sells them for the least, and how easy is it to fix?
Thanks for any advice
Stewart


I believe OEM part is MB953709, and AERPRO OEM replacement is AP253 which appears to sell from $30-50.

http://www.ryda.com.au/Aerpro-AP253-Mitsubishi-Replacement-Mast-p/ap253.htm
http://www.eziautoparts.com.au/antenna-ap253-replacement-mast.html
http://www.npsonline.com.au/shop/item/aerpro-ap253
http://www.frankiesautoelectrics.com.au/vmchk/Car-Audio-Accessories/Aerpro-AP253-Mitsubishi-Magna-Pajero-Replacement-Mast
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Antenna-Mast-Rope-Mitsubishi-Magna-TE-TF-TH-TJ-TL-TW-/130456755163?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e5fd41bdb
http://www.mitsubishipartscentral.com/ then search MB953709. comes up about $35USD and post should be cheap enough as they weigh very little but would take some time getting here due to XMAS/NEW YEAR.

Try a dealer, you never know it might actually be reasonably priced but I know I was quoted about $100 for my Galant which has a similar sized mast. Most major car parts should have them or can order it in.

I am assuming it's just the antenna rope inside the mast which has broken and the motor is still working. My Magna one snapped at 3years old.

Aerpro manual one $41, electric one about $150 - was looking at them in the shop the other day. Electric one has the mast bit available separately. Didn't see price.

Did one on a TJ sedan recently. (manual type)

Either way, you need to take the boot lining out on that side if you are replacing the whole thing and undo the plate which holds in the electric release motor for the boot lid. Fiddly job but not too hard. New one will have a tool to undo the nut on top. Try not to buckle the body work in the process. A few connections, aerial to radio, earthing, water drain for rain that gets in, power connector if yours is electric.

Assuming that its an electric aerial, and if it is the type that has replaceable mast/rope, you only need undo the "nut" on the outside of the panel, then switch radio on - hopefully the motor will wind the rope out until the end disengages from the spool. (If the rope has broken too short to exit the body panels, then you will need to remove trims as Max has stated and also pull the motor/spool apart to extract the broken end of the plastic rope - its a springy stiff plastic "rod" which is toothed on one side).

New rope is fed down with "rack teeth" facing sideways (into the boot)..... when you hit the bottom - the end of the new rope hits the spool in the motor - try to twist the rope so that the teeth face the back of the car, all while continuing to feed/push the rope down the hole. Then, have a accomplice turn the radio off and HOPE that the rope teeth will engage on the spool as the motor begins its "retract" phase. This may take several attempts until the rope engages.

If, by now, you have the new rope being retracted; then you need about 3 arms and quick reflexes to organise the mast so that it will feed down the hole while you still have some stiff/springy plastic rope to manouvre with. If this has suceeded, then you replace the nut and black plastic spacer on outside of panel. Simple really. (allow ages and lots of stress-relief breaks, it is finicky in my experience).

Checked the fuses? lol

Of course, if its a manual type, try pulling it up or pushing it down by hand. lol

If its electric leave it as it is, 30 cm will be sufficient for good reception anyway.