Power antenna doesn't go up or down.

[E30_Narek]

Hey everyone. Ever since I bought my car, the antenna never worked. I thought today would be a good day to open it up and see what's what since I'm on summer break. I opened up the black box where the motor is in and using the little wheel, I manually raised the antenna up. It had no problems going up or down so I'm thinking maybe it's an electrical problem. I have an aftermarket head unit but the antenna didn't work even when I had the original radio. Any suggestions on what I should try?

[AndrewBird]

Power the antenna directly with a battery and see if it goes up and down. There is a ground, a power and then a signal wire that needs +12 volts to make it go up. If it works at the antenna, then something is wrong with the wiring between the radio and there.

[jeffnhiscars]

If the motor doesn't work when you hot wire the antenna like Andrew said,mits most likely the pcb in the antenna. If the motor does work, most common problem besides a physically damaged mast is stripped teeth. After that, there is a tongue that locks the 2 white plastic helical drive gears and that's broken on 1/2-2/3 of the non working antennae I look at. The other thing to check is the splined roller that sits under the white plastic semi circle retainer. I've seen the teeth go which allows the antenna to slip.

Don't lose the rubber bumpers as they have a way of disappearing.

[E30_Narek]

Power the antenna directly with a battery and see if it goes up and down. There is a ground, a power and then a signal wire that needs +12 volts to make it go up. If it works at the antenna, then something is wrong with the wiring between the radio and there.

Yeah, I'll try that, shouldn't be too hard. Thanks.

If the motor doesn't work when you hot wire the antenna like Andrew said,mits most likely the pcb in the antenna. If the motor does work, most common problem besides a physically damaged mast is stripped teeth. After that, there is a tongue that locks the 2 white plastic helical drive gears and that's broken on 1/2-2/3 of the non working antennae I look at. The other thing to check is the splined roller that sits under the white plastic semi circle retainer. I've seen the teeth go which allows the antenna to slip.

Don't lose the rubber bumpers as they have a way of disappearing.

Haha as soon as I opened up the motor case the bumpers fell out. It took me a while to figure out where they went :/. Anyways, I don't think the teeth are messed up since the antenna goes up and down very easily by just me spinning the motor wheel. I think the motor's just not getting power.

[jeffnhiscars]

If the motor simply doesn't spin it's almost certainly the pcb board. Let me know as I have a stash or parts and maybe a complete refurb as well

[E30_Narek]

If the motor simply doesn't spin it's almost certainly the pcb board. Let me know as I have a stash or parts and maybe a complete refurb as well

I'll let you know after I try and rig it up to the battery to see if it spins. The pcb board is the board right above the motor, right?

[jeffnhiscars]

I'll let you know after I try and rig it up to the battery to see if it spins. The pcb board is the board right above the motor, right?

Correct