Rickalodeon

I've seen a few Max's running around with the same problem, so I'm hoping that someone has a cure. For a while, it only happened when outside temperatures were extremely cold. But even then, I was able to give it an assist while the antenna was detracting. Now, however, it seems that it's locked at the last segment. i.e. The antenna will extend all the way, but will only go down to the last section and stop - hard.....I can't push it down at all.

Any thoughts? I don't have a problem with replacing it if necessary, but I'm very curious as to why it locks hard at that last section.

Thanks.

pjalst

do you lubricate it? with real oil, not WD40

budha56

Yeah I just had someone turn the acc on and off. While the antenna moved up and down I lubed it, and pretty soon it worked fine. I've had to do this every year or 2.

Rickalodeon

I usually lubed it with WD40 every couple months...Mostly to get the junk off of it, and to keep it smooth. While I understand that it might not extend and detract smoothly if not lubed, and since the radio is on (with antenna extended) every day, I still don't understand how it could get locked up.

pjalst

WD40 is good to get the gunk of and keep it smooth, BUT WD 40 IS NOT A GOOD LUBE. use something else after you wipe the WD40 off and It should work after you work the lube in.

Rickalodeon

Will follow the lub tips. However, I believe I've found the problem. I'm still perplexed at how this can happen, but here's what I did. On a hunch (no cost), I took a hair dryer to the antenna base. Several minutes later, I was able to get the antenna down with a little assist (i.e. pushed down a little while it was detracting). It's working fine now. But I'll tell you, assuming it was an ice problem, it was frozen pretty well...Until the dryer, I'll bet I could have broken it trying to push it down.

Thanks to all for the feedback.

pjalst

did you heat it from inside the trunk or from outside the car? Heating it from outside will probably take a while. Heating it from the trunk gets you right to where all the water settles.

xsnowpig

iTrader: (1)

It's not just the potential for ice, but the road crap that coats the whole car in winter. i second what was said above- clean with wd40, wipe the crap off, and lube with oil.