Okay, I have an 2001 Xterra SE tape/CD in my GXE but I could'nt get the antenna to go down when the radio is turned off so I had to hot wire to where it goes up and down when the ignition is on. Well, like a dumbass, I took it to get washed and the antenna was up when it went through so it broke. The antenna motor still works and so I see on ebay where I can just buy the antenna mast for $20.00. Is this a good idea? Or should I just replace the whole thing for $40.00? Can you just replace the mast? I looked at mine and cannot see how it's possible so I thought I'd ask. I just don't want to get scammed. The guy selling the antenna masts says there is no need to replace the whole thing. Thanks.

See this link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=1876413875

 

replace the whole thing.. dont' even bother ghetto rigging it... spend the extra and get the whole thing

 

I just replaced my mast 2 days ago, someone broke it off when I was eating in burger king and the antenna was frozen sticking up. They say you can just slide out the old mast and stick in the new one, but the people who say that have better luck than me. I had to remove the motor, remove what was left of the line still in the motor. Getting the rest of the old mast out was a pain. It took all day, and I ended up having to just cut and pry the old mast out. But to answer your question, yes. The $20 mast on e-bay will work fine.

While I had the motor apart I cleaned all the nasty old grease out. That motor isn't something that should have much grease because everything is plastic.

My 2¢


Search and you'll find some pretty helpful info.

 

Just get the mast. I replaced mine a few months ago with a mast from Pep Boys for $15 and everything worked out fine.

 

Pep boys mast was just fine at $14.99. I took the motor out, separated the assembly and wiped out the dirty grease and put it all back together in 1/2 hour. You just need someone to turn the radio off to pull in the cable. I tried to do a friends the easy way, without taking the whole thing out, and it wouldn't pull the new cable in properly so it, too, took 1/2 hour. On this one I was able to push the cable in all the way by hand.

 

Nissan sells the antenna mast kit, for $25. It is easy to replace. Unscrew the antenna lock nut with a pair of needle nose pliers. Then turn on the radio and pull the antenna out while the motor is extending the antenna. Then insert the new antenna's white toothed "windup" section (for my 4th gen, have the teeth facing away from the back of the car - like the way the exhaust pipe faces) and turn off the radio. The motor will pull the new antenna in. And viola...antenna replacement in 5 minutes.