Astra Electric Aerial Mast Replacement Problem

Hello,
I would be really grateful if someone could help me. I have bought a
replacement mast for my factory fitted electric aerial on my 1995
Astra CDX as it only goes half way down. I have undone the collar that
holds the mast in place but it doesn't then pull out as the haynes
manual says it should. I have tried getting some WD40 into the bit
around the bottom of the aerial but still no joy.
Any suggestions? I really don't want to have to remove the whole unit
just to change the aerial as it involves removing loads of trim and
the rear light cluster.
Can I rip it out with pliers or is that going to damage the mounting?
Thanks,
John

 

Are you giving it a firm "helping hand" as soon as the radio is switched on,
and thus it's trying to extend? I've never had any problem doing this
(though getting the replacement in can take a few tries). I wouldn't expect
it to come out unless you use the motor at the same time.

 

That was a good question and when you asked I wasn't sure so have been
out and given it a try. Sadly, no luck. I just have to undo the screwy
thing (technical term..) with two flat bits on opposite sides don't I?

Am almost resigned to taking the car apart just because the aerial
won't go all the way up and down. It's very annoying though.

I also have to change a bulb thats gone behind the air temperature
dial in the centre console, that isn't going to be fun either.

Thanks for the reply though,

JP

 

Hi
I had a similar problem on an old Cav.
It can be done with one person, but when it's a problem try two people!
Undo the aerial nut (the 2 flat sided "thingy") then ask your helper to pull
hard on it as you turn the radio / ignition on to activate the electric
aerial. If your helper pulls quite hard the antenna insert should come
away. If you then feed in the new one as far as it will go (carefully) by
hand and giving it adequate support and guidance, feed it into the aperture
as you switch off the ignition / radio to retract the antenna. As it nears
closing you should be able to start the nut tightening.
Good luck. - I hope this helps a little.
RobO

 

Before you take it all to bits, can I make a couple of suggestions? First,
you'll see from the new part that the long plastic thing has notches. These
will (eventually) engage in a cogged wheel driven by the motor. So when you
switch on radio and your old aerial starts to extend, clearly this "notched"
plastic thingy is gradually being unwound. What you need to try to do is
"help" it to completely unwind - and some - before the motor times out and
stops. So (as Robert Offer points out) it's best to have someone switch
radio on / off as req'd. As soon as it's switched on, start pulling the
aerial up fairly firmly - even at the risk of it tending to skid over the
cogs. Best to pull on top (thinnest) section of aerial - otherwise bottom
bit could come up while top bit retracts into it, and then the plastic
notchy thing doesn't come out fully. But don't snap the thing off
completely. (please excuse all the hi-tec jargon - this is proving hard to
write! Maybe Haynes is quite clever after all...

Second suggestion - if you still can't extract it, chat up your local
dealer. It's a 60 second job - and they just might do it for a pint (or the
Euro equivalent.)

HTH.

.... and PS - if you succeed, take great care fitting the new one - very
bendable, not very unbendable.

 

They can get really tight. Get a good grip with some vice grips and hit it
up with a hammer - mind your bodywork.
Turn your radio on and wait for the motor to stop running before you fit the
new one, keep pushing the white plastic cable into the motor while someone
turns the radio off. When it grabs it just feed it in, may take a few
attempts.

To replace your info display bulb just lift out the rubber mat below it and
undo the screws. It will now pull forward and out. Two second job,replace
both bulbs in it.