4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999) Visit the 4th Generation forum to ask specific questions or find out more about the 4th Generation Maxima.

leaving my antenna on causes my battery dead

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-02-2008, 04:48 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
maximaisokay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 247
leaving my antenna on causes my battery dead

my antenna can't go down when i turn my car off. so i thought it was not a big deal, but the battery drains out already and i can't start my car. how can my antenna go down when i turn my car off? btw, i have optima battery. =(
maximaisokay is offline  
Old 10-02-2008, 08:27 PM
  #2  
No more Maximas...
iTrader: (26)
 
pmohr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Oak Ridge, TN
Posts: 14,331
The antenna sticking up won't cause a battery drain.

Have you tried pushing it down? Do you have an aftermarket headunit?

Have you done any testing for parasitic drains? Had the battery load tested?
pmohr is offline  
Old 10-02-2008, 09:13 PM
  #3  
wants an I35
iTrader: (23)
 
ROCKART's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Delray Beach, FL
Posts: 3,284
i had this problem on both 4th gens ive owned.

the solution was a brief spray of silicone/white lithium onto the joints and giving the antennae a small twist to let it into the openings.

thing goes up and down now without a hitch.
ROCKART is offline  
Old 10-03-2008, 06:33 AM
  #4  
Senior Member
iTrader: (35)
 
Snypa's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: I-75 4th_Laud
Posts: 7,396
but even then, would a hitch or more kill the battery.?^^
Snypa is offline  
Old 10-03-2008, 11:13 AM
  #5  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
maximaisokay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 247
i just realized there is a tube that attaches to the bottom of the antenna. it uses air pressure to push antenna up. i believe the air pressure causes to drain the battery. how can i fix it?

i tried to use silicone spray but the antenna doesn't go up or down when i turn on and off my radio.
maximaisokay is offline  
Old 10-03-2008, 11:53 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
Nopike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,265
The power antenna does not work off of air pressure it has a small motor that moves a flexible plastic coil up and down. Just remove the power connector that runs to the antenna motor. It has four or five wires runing to it. If your battery still dies it's not caused by the power antenna.
Nopike is offline  
Old 10-03-2008, 01:17 PM
  #7  
Member
 
BobXX's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Apex, NC
Posts: 54
Originally Posted by maximaisokay
i just realized there is a tube that attaches to the bottom of the antenna. it uses air pressure to push antenna up. i believe the air pressure causes to drain the battery. how can i fix it?

i tried to use silicone spray but the antenna doesn't go up or down when i turn on and off my radio.
The tube drains the water that gets in around the antenna.
BobXX is offline  
Old 10-03-2008, 01:21 PM
  #8  
No more Maximas...
iTrader: (26)
 
pmohr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Oak Ridge, TN
Posts: 14,331
The antenna won't drain your battery, if anything the head unit would be keeping the antenna up and it would be draining the battery.

So I ask again:
Originally Posted by pmohr
Have you done any testing for parasitic drains? Had the battery load tested?
pmohr is offline  
Old 10-03-2008, 01:55 PM
  #9  
I'm nutty for Nissans
iTrader: (46)
 
JSutter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Maine
Posts: 10,348
Originally Posted by maximaisokay
i just realized there is a tube that attaches to the bottom of the antenna. it uses air pressure to push antenna up. i believe the air pressure causes to drain the battery. how can i fix it?

i tried to use silicone spray but the antenna doesn't go up or down when i turn on and off my radio.
epic fail

Does the antenna motor make any sort of noise when you shut off the radio?
If it does the cable is most likely broken. If it doesn't the motor is bad. Id tell you to take it apart but you don't seem very mechanically inclined.
JSutter is offline  
Old 10-03-2008, 02:01 PM
  #10  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
maximaisokay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 247
Originally Posted by pmohr
The antenna won't drain your battery, if anything the head unit would be keeping the antenna up and it would be draining the battery.

So I ask again:
no i haven't tried it. is there kind of equipment i need?
maximaisokay is offline  
Old 10-03-2008, 02:05 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
maximaisokay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2000
Posts: 247
Originally Posted by JSutter
epic fail

Does the antenna motor make any sort of noise when you shut off the radio?
If it does the cable is most likely broken. If it doesn't the motor is bad. Id tell you to take it apart but you don't seem very mechanically inclined.
i will check it. i have unplugged the wire from the motor. i m unable to see everything in the side of the trunk.
maximaisokay is offline  
Old 10-03-2008, 02:08 PM
  #12  
No more Maximas...
iTrader: (26)
 
pmohr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Oak Ridge, TN
Posts: 14,331
Originally Posted by maximaisokay
no i haven't tried it. is there kind of equipment i need?
Not really. You need a multimeter to test for the parasitic drain, and you need gas to drive to an auto parts store to have them load test your battery.
pmohr is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
chisam14
6th Generation Maxima (2004-2008)
1
11-06-2018 08:56 PM
My Coffee
New Member Introductions
15
06-06-2017 02:01 PM
REDinLV
7th Generation Maxima (2009-2015)
4
10-18-2015 05:31 AM
bigfrank
4th Generation Maxima (1995-1999)
2
10-01-2015 12:51 PM



Quick Reply: leaving my antenna on causes my battery dead



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:26 AM.