Radio Antenna Replacement

AustinTXMk1 · 06-26-2009, 08:38 PM

Hello, new to this board and have need of guidance replacing a broken radio antenna on my 85 Mk1. I have a replacement antenna and want to seek knowledgeable assistance in replacing the damaged one. Can anyone provide any guidance or is it an LOL type of task? What should one keep in mind when attemping to make such a replacement?

Thanks in advance for any useful assistance on said subject!

Kerry Phillips · 06-26-2009, 09:36 PM

Okay, I never replaced the antenna, but I removed one (along with everything else) from my 86. I am also a former satellite tech and have a lot of experience running wires.

So this is how I would do that job.

BTW I am assuming this in the antenna above the driver's side door and not the power antenna near the rear trunk...

Tie a string around the motorola plug-the connector that plugs into the back of the radio. Remove old antenna and the cable-and U will pull out the string as well.

Remove string from the connector from the old antenna and re-connect/tie/tape/ string to connector on the new antenna.

Install antenna, pull string from inside the car/radio console area until U can reach the cable connected to new antenna, then reconnect the plug into the radio.

Best wishes,
kerry

Jackstand Queen · 06-26-2009, 10:43 PM

I found a german made automatic antenna made by Hertzberger, or something like that. Its lighter than OEM considerably. There is a full-time power lead (on 24/7) from the oem connector. Find it with a test lamp. Then there is the blue triggering wire coming from the stereo. Even aftermarket stereos have this wire. And a ground wire completes the installation.

The Hirschberger antenna costs about $60 when I bought mine. Its almost ten years old, and still works fine.

AustinTXMk1 · 06-27-2009, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry Phillips

Okay, I never replaced the antenna, but I removed one (along with everything else) from my 86. I am also a former satellite tech and have a lot of experience running wires.

So this is how I would do that job.

BTW I am assuming this in the antenna above the driver's side door and not the power antenna near the rear trunk...

Tie a string around the motorola plug-the connector that plugs into the back of the radio. Remove old antenna and the cable-and U will pull out the string as well.

Remove string from the connector from the old antenna and re-connect/tie/tape/ string to connector on the new antenna.

Install antenna, pull string from inside the car/radio console area until U can reach the cable connected to new antenna, then reconnect the plug into the radio.

Best wishes,
kerry

Just to update those that responded, I was successful at replacing the antenna. the trace string was an excellent idea as the antenna wire actually came out of a different spot than the placstic sleeve that the arreal is housed in. So it all worked out quite well. Thanks for the tip!!

traintech86 · 06-28-2009, 08:36 AM

i like the string chase trick. i been usin that in computer networking for running cat5 and it usualy yields great results.

06-26-2009, 08:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
AustinTXMk1 Intermediate/ Adv Skills Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 22 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Radio Antenna Replacement Hello, new to this board and have need of guidance replacing a broken radio antenna on my 85 Mk1. I have a replacement antenna and want to seek knowledgeable assistance in replacing the damaged one. Can anyone provide any guidance or is it an LOL type of task? What should one keep in mind when attemping to make such a replacement? Thanks in advance for any useful assistance on said subject!

06-26-2009, 09:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kerry Phillips Some Skills Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 88 Thanks: 0 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Antenna Okay, I never replaced the antenna, but I removed one (along with everything else) from my 86. I am also a former satellite tech and have a lot of experience running wires. So this is how I would do that job. BTW I am assuming this in the antenna above the driver's side door and not the power antenna near the rear trunk... Tie a string around the motorola plug-the connector that plugs into the back of the radio. Remove old antenna and the cable-and U will pull out the string as well. Remove string from the connector from the old antenna and re-connect/tie/tape/ string to connector on the new antenna. Install antenna, pull string from inside the car/radio console area until U can reach the cable connected to new antenna, then reconnect the plug into the radio. Best wishes, kerry

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

06-26-2009, 10:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 677 Thanks: 52 Thanked 56 Times in 53 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I found a german made automatic antenna made by Hertzberger, or something like that. Its lighter than OEM considerably. There is a full-time power lead (on 24/7) from the oem connector. Find it with a test lamp. Then there is the blue triggering wire coming from the stereo. Even aftermarket stereos have this wire. And a ground wire completes the installation. The Hirschberger antenna costs about $60 when I bought mine. Its almost ten years old, and still works fine.

06-28-2009, 08:36 AM	#5 (permalink)
traintech86 Traintech86 on all im's Join Date: May 2009 Location: Norfolk VA Posts: 881 Thanks: 13 Thanked 24 Times in 23 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	i like the string chase trick. i been usin that in computer networking for running cat5 and it usualy yields great results.