The mast on my friends '99 no longer retracts. The motor sounds like it is running but it is laboring. I'm looking for advice on repair or replace.

Can the mast alone be replaced? How much labor is it? If the whole unit needs to be replaced, are there aftermarket replacements that actually fit?

Thanks for any info or experience,

you can do either one. Mine wasn't retracting so I oiled it a bit and as I would turn the radio on/off I would run out to the antenna and help it in/out until it started working on its own.
there are replacements on eBay for like $15.

I disconnected mine and jammed the antenna back into it's hole.
Never used it again.

exact same happened to me just unplug the power and shove it back down. top bottom. cant use 'seek'...or use search its cool :]

Mast can be replaced but you may fine the motor is having problems. Mine had water ingestion and rusted/corroded the circuits. I'd suggest going to a junk yard and finding a replacement. 95-99 model year should be interchangeable, or even the same year Infiniti I30. I think I paid $35.
Good luck.

I've changed the mast only on my '96. You can get on Ebay for about 10 bucks. It's not too hard, but be careful with the threaded fitting on the outside. It's helpful to to have a set of pliers designed for C-clips to remove this fitting.

I find mine doing the same thing, but only when its cold out. BobMax, is it a all time experience or only when its cold?

I just replaced my entire mast/motor assembly. I bought a universal unit off of ebay. FYI: the term "universal" is used loosely. I had to modify the mounting bracket for the motor assembly and get creative with the seal where the antenna exits the vehicle. Otherwise, it was pretty easy.

All the time. It only drops to about the 6" level. I assume the internal cable is broken.

Are there any instructions for mast replacement? On other cars I've done there's often issues with getting the broken internal cable out.

i actually have an antenna motor for sale PM me

I was able to take a can of PB Blaster with the little straw attachment. I just sprayed at all three retraction section. I kept helping the mast go down gentle the first couple of times. I did this for two days. Six months later it is still working fine. Maybe I just got lucky. I wouldn't have cared since I never listen to the radio, but mine would only retract to the last section. I didn't care for the looks of a six inch anntenna.

mine also can't retract, but I can hear the motor trying to pull the mast in.

Get a new mast. Theyre cheap. Even at the dealership theyre only like $40.

here is a video showing how to replace the mast in a honda. it doesn't seem difficult, so why not first replace the mast and see if you still have problem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEJtooskd9Y

U listen to the radio alot??? if not then forget it...if it stays up it stays up if it stays down it stays down...unless u want to get the antenna shaved off....u could do that to