Antenna Fix: Converting stock to fixed
Purpose of thread: If your antenna does no go up or is making a annoying sound, then I have a fix for you that will only cost you 20 min of your time. It will make your stock retractable antenna into a fixed antenna at no cost.
Story: So, my 88 325 had an annoying problem of making a ridiculously obnoxious sound every time the antenna would go up or down. And for the past three months I had disconnected the antena from the trunk as I listen to only my ipod. Today I figure id give it a try to fix it this sound. So I took apart the antenna housing, cleaned all the plastic pieces, re-greased the antenna and the little motor. Put everything back, put the radio on and the same sound. So here is my free fix for you..
1. Remove the antenna housing from the trunk, this is located on the left side of the trunk, you have to pull out the interior covering to get to it.
2. Unplug the wire and the silver looking like connection that goes on the side of the antenna, undo the one bolt that holds the grounds to the body.
3. When you have the housing out, open the cover, it is held in place by little tabs, just use a flat head to help yourself open the cover, I started from the sides.
4.Once the cover is off, you will see the motor with a little black belt, if you try to turn the belt by hand it will in turn move the large white plastic piece in the middle. Make sure you are able to move the antenna up and down using this method. If the Antenna moves then proceed to step 5.
5. The motor is the round silver thing that the belt is attached to. This motor has two wires, green and red. Follow the red wire from the motor to the chip located above the motor.
6. Unplug the red cable, this will stop the motor from functioning and therefore stop the antenna from going up or down.
7. With the antenna all the way in and the housing cover still off, put everything back
8. Put your hand and spin the little belt so the antenna starts to go up.
9. Keep on doing it until you reach to your desired hight. (Mine is done to the second level of retraction and have perfect signal on the radio), I think there are five or six levels that this antenna retracts to.
10. Put the housing cover back on, it might be a little tricky, but you will get it on.
11. Connect everything back, dont forget the two ground cables.
12. Viola the antena no longer needs to function and you dont need to buy any fixed antennas.
I did a quick search and did not see this being addressed. Enjoy
Story: So, my 88 325 had an annoying problem of making a ridiculously obnoxious sound every time the antenna would go up or down. And for the past three months I had disconnected the antena from the trunk as I listen to only my ipod. Today I figure id give it a try to fix it this sound. So I took apart the antenna housing, cleaned all the plastic pieces, re-greased the antenna and the little motor. Put everything back, put the radio on and the same sound. So here is my free fix for you..
1. Remove the antenna housing from the trunk, this is located on the left side of the trunk, you have to pull out the interior covering to get to it.
2. Unplug the wire and the silver looking like connection that goes on the side of the antenna, undo the one bolt that holds the grounds to the body.
3. When you have the housing out, open the cover, it is held in place by little tabs, just use a flat head to help yourself open the cover, I started from the sides.
4.Once the cover is off, you will see the motor with a little black belt, if you try to turn the belt by hand it will in turn move the large white plastic piece in the middle. Make sure you are able to move the antenna up and down using this method. If the Antenna moves then proceed to step 5.
5. The motor is the round silver thing that the belt is attached to. This motor has two wires, green and red. Follow the red wire from the motor to the chip located above the motor.
6. Unplug the red cable, this will stop the motor from functioning and therefore stop the antenna from going up or down.
7. With the antenna all the way in and the housing cover still off, put everything back
8. Put your hand and spin the little belt so the antenna starts to go up.
9. Keep on doing it until you reach to your desired hight. (Mine is done to the second level of retraction and have perfect signal on the radio), I think there are five or six levels that this antenna retracts to.
10. Put the housing cover back on, it might be a little tricky, but you will get it on.
11. Connect everything back, dont forget the two ground cables.
12. Viola the antena no longer needs to function and you dont need to buy any fixed antennas.
I did a quick search and did not see this being addressed. Enjoy