My antenna does not extend but I can hear the motor whirring whenever i turn the radio on/off. I found a nissan service thing that explain how to take the antenna out. It said I should loosen the top of the antenna base but I can't do it. The top is the round shiny stuff around the tip of the antenna (when its down) and I have no idea how to remove it - spent 15 mins outside today with no results. Whats the proper/most effective way of doing it?

I am also having problems with the tape player. When I turn my car on after a while the stereo starts making whir-like sounds and after a minute or so displays a "tape error" message. Im pretty sure that its happening because the stereo things that Im trying to eject the tape. The metal plate that I think is supposed to eject the tape is stuck in the eject position preventing me from even putting a tape in. I tried to hold it up and then pressing the eject button and it just whirs and says "tape error". Is there an easy/cheap way of fixing this? Thanks.

 

For the antennae removal, I posted a detailed thread on the org in response to a fellow member's question. I used a set of needle nose pliers that had the tips bent approx 45 degrees. If you don't have a set, you can pick them up at any hardware store. You can also use a pair of regular needle nose pliers if you are careful enough. Use a rag on the tips of the pliers so you don't scratch the hell out of the chrome, insert the tips in the slotted sections of the chrome bezel and push them down tight while you unscrew it. Then, you wil be able to remove the antennae mast.

Hopefully your mast isn't frozen inside the mast tube and you are able to get the metal sleeves and all of the plastic cable out. From your description, if the motor is running and the mast isn't moving at all, then the cable has most likely broken or you could even have a stripped gear. In either case, you will have to remove the entire antennae motor to get the remainder of the plastic cable out--

Remove the RH inner trunk liner and you will see the jack and two 10mm bolts nolding the motor in place. To give you more room, remove the jack and the jack mount plate (three 10mm nuts) and set them aside. Either take a photo of that plate or draw a diagram to make it easier to reinstall. Next, remove the 10mm bolts and tilt the motor down and out the hole where the jack came out. There is one plug on the inner part of the motor and the radio cable to unplug. Remember, there will be a plastic drain hose that exits the bottom of the quarter panel from the sunroof and bottom of the motor that may not come off, but you can get enough slack in the hose to at least get the motor inside your trunk once everything is unplugged.

Now, you can remove the nut that is on the center of the round black plastic housing and any phillips head secrews holding it in place. Don't loose the washer!! Remove that housing and you will see a white plastic gear will lots of grease on it -- that moves the plastic mast cable up and down. There should be a "c" clip which holds the plastic gear on. Carefully remove that with a plastic bag covering it so you can see and so the clip doesn't go flying across the room. Now, you should find the broken piece of plastic cable. Inspect the plastic gear for worn/broken teeth and then apply some new grease to the gear and reinstall the clip and black housing.

If you were able to completely remove the antennae mast, then all you have to do is buy a replacement mast and install it. However, if the mast is frozen like mine was ('98 SE) then, move the antennae motor assembly to the rear trunk edge and place the top flat part of the motor against the lip of the lower trunk opening. Place a rag over the lip to reduce damage to the plastic trim.

Then, spray some PB Blaster or WD-40 down the antennae mast opening and let it soak. Next, use a good pair of vice grips and extend the mast as far as it will go. Clamp onto the lowest part approx 3" from the base and use a slide hammer movement with the vice grips while the motor is held tightly against the trunk lip for support. After several hard pulls, it should pop out.

Good luck with that -- definitely not a fun project!!

Unfortunately, I don't know abot the BOSE head units and can't give any advice about the tape player.

Ted, Chicago

 

Thanks a lot! I'll give it a try.

 

Cassette mechanisms are diabolical pieces of garbage. They almost always fail long before anything else. I tried a tape in mine and had to use needle-nose pliers to remove it again. Frankly, if mine has that kind of problem you describe, I am going to rip it out and discard it.

 

If the tape player is indeed dead and your car is not bose, I have a spare one in my garage I'll sell for pretty cheap. If it is the bose, I see those pop up in the for sale section every once in a while. Good luck with it.

 

i used a needle head pliars to remove the top shining part... works pretty good

 

FYI, if your antenna is bad there is an original for sale on ebay almost rare to find orig. so far it looks cheap. Do a search you should find it.

 

What fuse does the power antennae run off of? Or does it have its own? I wanted to disconnect it so it doesnt go up and down cuz for some reason mine does when changing cds.....(shouldnt it only go up n down when using radio..) anyway the mast is broken now but the motor still runs and its ANNOYING i want it stopped.

 

Jmurda5:

Your antennae is supposed to go down when you turn the CD on and obviously when you turn the radio off.

If your mast is broken and you don't want to go through the hassle of my above removal instructions, then simply pull the motor out when the mast is fully down and pull the plug on the back of the motor.Then, reinstall.

 

Time for satellite radio and an ipod