Well, the asshat I bought the car from never replaced the antenna, so now I've got this pretty hole in my fender. I'd like to replace it with a power antenna as I've got the switch and everything that came with it stock. The problem is finding a power antenna. All of the antenna kits I have found don't allow the use of the switch. They go up when power is applied and go down when it's absent. Has anyone found a way around this?
Who makes direct replacement power antennas for our vehicles?
just wire it into the switch...power is power weather its passed through a switch or the 12v switched behind the radio? right?
i find it hard too belive you cant find somebody thats got one for sale somewhere or in a yard?
Except that the stock switch is up-middle-down, how in the hell would you get the antenna to stay when it either goes up(power) or down(no power). And the ones I have taken a look at the yard are either bent, rusted, or the motor is stuck. So I'm looking for a solution where someone knows how to retrofit new ones, or someone knows of direct replacements available.
I think the term your looking for is momentary. And yes your right. It would go up with you holding the button but as soon as you let off it would go back down.
what could cause the switch to not put the antanna back up. mine goes down with the switch but not back up.
1) The power antenna motor gets both +bat and ground from the switch. Reversing the polarity (the + and - leads) makes the motor go the other way. If it goes one direction and not the other its probably the switch. Can you hear the motor at all?
2) The antenna has one lead which is hot all the time supplying the power to go down when you stop the car or turn off the radio.
If you cut that wire and put in an extra switch it will stop whenever you cut the power.
3) I bought a replacement antenna from optionracing2000@yahoo.com
which was supposed to fit. It didn't!
Ford made a huge hole in our fenders with a very special chrome head bushing which nobody else has done. I managed to hybrid the two and use the new motor and mast with the old head and supports. All kinds of problems so I wouldn't advise it but I was desperate.
I know all about using a normal On/Off switch with a universal antenna, went that route for a month or so. I'd like to find a factory replacement though so I can retain the function of maybe going half up or stopped in the middle. Maybe I'd like to leave it down with the car off for some reason. Is there any possible way I could do that without using a new switch and relays and to go with it. After all this I may go the way of deleting the antenna totally, and using one of those that roll up into the headliner. If that gets horrible reception I'll just buy an antenna amplifier.
I know all about using a normal On/Off switch with a universal antenna, went that route for a month or so. I'd like to find a factory replacement though so I can retain the function of maybe going half up or stopped in the middle. Maybe I'd like to leave it down with the car off for some reason. Is there any possible way I could do that without using a new switch and relays and to go with it. After all this I may go the way of deleting the antenna totally, and using one of those that roll up into the headliner. If that gets horrible reception I'll just buy an antenna amplifier.
I'd like to find a factory replacement to.
Don't think they excist.
Amplifying a lousy signal will get you a strong lousy signal.
The antenna is placed as far away from electrical noise as they could get and still have a bit of aesthetic design to the body.
Best place would be in the middle of the roof.
A mast about a yard long with a nice big brown insulator.
Great reception, looks like sh--.
If you have the $$$, fordpartsnetwork.com has the power antenna parts.