I've been trying to replace the antenna mast on my '97 Maxima, and I can't seem to get the old mast out. According to the instructions that I received with my OEM replacement antenna, I'm supposed to turn on the radio, so the old one is fully extended, unscrew the cap holding it in, and then just pull it out. However, I cannot seem to pull it out. Am I missing something? Is there something that I have to detach before pulling it out?

thanks for your help.

 

Ya the instructions are right - except for the part about pulling the old one out - it took me a good amount of force to pull it out.. your best bet is to use pliers (with some sharp teeth),, i.e. turn on the radio so the antenna extends, once fully extended, grip the old mast with the pliers (make sure you get a good bite into the mast) and then rotate the old mast with the pliers - it will break free and then slide out.

 

Try this link. Mine was easy to do.

http://www.carstereohelp.org/DoItYou...ssanPwrAnt.htm

 

The carstereohelp.org link is excellent - and you have to follow that procedure if any part of the antenna mast plastic piece (with teeth on it) is broken and gets left behind in the antenna housing. If you are able remove the old mast and plastic piece from outside the car, you do not have to remove the housing from the vehicle - you can just follow the step outlined in the first post.

If the new mast will not "catch" as you try to wind the plastic teeth back into the assembly, you may have a broken piece in the assembly, which you will have to remove via the procedure outlined at that carstereohelp website.

 

Thanks for all your help. I don't think I should need to take apart the assembly, since I have an OEM replacement mast.
Does anyone have any other idea how I might remove the old antenna mast. I've pulled on it for about an hour - to no avail. But it did break, and now I only have the stub left to pull on.

Help, please ...

 

As I stated in a previous post, you have to muscle it out of there with some pliers - just make sure you get a good bite on the old mast and then try to twist it to break it free... I don't think "pulling" it away from the assembly is going to be as effective as twisting it.

 

Yep, you gotta twist it to get the teeth to disengage from the drive gear.

 

Good link for the mast removal, mine doesnt extend up completely any more so link might come in handy in the near future.

 

If the stub is too short for you to pull on now, then follow the instructions in the link above. It shows you have to remove the whole motor and antenna and take it apart to remove pieces that might be stuck in there.

 

Just remove the motor. Its like an extra 10 minute job. Very very easy. The hardest part was puting it back in cause of limited space. Also it make take a few times to get the new antena to feed back in. Just be patient. Try to remember which way the teeth were facing when they came out.