Replacing Antenna Mount: HELP!
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Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 749
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From: NW Louisiana
Replacing Antenna Mount: HELP!
OK, so I replaced my OEM antenna with a stubby that broke off inside the mount! %^%$#! 
My plan was to simply replace the mount. Apparently I misread another thread here that I THOUGHT suggested I could merely unscew the mount from the fender and plug the antenna lead into the new mast from underneath.
NOT QUITE.
The antenna lead, where it connects to the bottom of the mount, is not removeable. There's about 3 feet of antenna lead that has to be threaded thru the inner fender, thru the firewall and behind the passenger side kick panel - THEN it makes a connection there.
The stealership was $150+ for this job - plus the $25 I already paid for the part.
Sooooo - is there any trick to doing this easily? One guy at the dealership suggested cutting the old lead at the mount, taping the new lead to it and trying to thread it thru without removing the inner fender. I'm worried though that there is a rubber gromment about halfway down the lead that obviously plugs a hole of some sort. With my luck I know it will happen, I'll get half the lead pulled thru, the grommet gets stuck and then I'm screwed!
Any way to just remove the broken piece of threaded adapter that's stuck inside the mount?
I don't even listen to the radio that much - mostly my iPod and sat radio, but I like to keep the truck clean and complete.... so any help, advise, suggestons are welcomed. Thanks!
My plan was to simply replace the mount. Apparently I misread another thread here that I THOUGHT suggested I could merely unscew the mount from the fender and plug the antenna lead into the new mast from underneath.
NOT QUITE.
The antenna lead, where it connects to the bottom of the mount, is not removeable. There's about 3 feet of antenna lead that has to be threaded thru the inner fender, thru the firewall and behind the passenger side kick panel - THEN it makes a connection there.
The stealership was $150+ for this job - plus the $25 I already paid for the part.
Sooooo - is there any trick to doing this easily? One guy at the dealership suggested cutting the old lead at the mount, taping the new lead to it and trying to thread it thru without removing the inner fender. I'm worried though that there is a rubber gromment about halfway down the lead that obviously plugs a hole of some sort. With my luck I know it will happen, I'll get half the lead pulled thru, the grommet gets stuck and then I'm screwed!
Any way to just remove the broken piece of threaded adapter that's stuck inside the mount?
I don't even listen to the radio that much - mostly my iPod and sat radio, but I like to keep the truck clean and complete.... so any help, advise, suggestons are welcomed. Thanks!
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 749
Likes: 0
From: NW Louisiana
Funny how this old world works....
Following my post above I developed two plans...
Plan A - use an easy out (reverse drill bit/screw extractor)... didn't work - broke 3 bits trying to drill a pilot hole.
Plan B - the dealership wanted $150 for this job - pull the tire and wheel, remove the inner fender, snake in the new mount and lead to where it connects behind the glove box. NOT!
But a mechanic there suggested cut the existing lead at the mount atop the fender. Tape the new lead to it, pull it thru, screw on the mount. OK, I'll try that...
Problem is the lead is just long enough so to cut it from under the mount, I needed to pull slack. I pulled the passenger kick panel and dropped the glove box. Right there in front of me is the bright orange lead where it connects. A simple tug and it's loose.
Back to the top of the fender. I give a good tug to the mount - trying to pull some slack forward so I can reach under the mount and cut the old lead... and pow! The old lead comes unplugged right from the bottom of the existing mount. Of course the mount flies out of my hand in all the excitement....
That's the way I was told it could be done but everyone said NOOOOO! Simple, easy.
So the way this should work is:
1) Pop the plastic cover off the antenna mount.
2) Unscrew 3 phillips screws that fasten the mount to the fender.
3) unplug the wire lead from the bottom of the mount. (Caution here - be certain to pre tape a string or some other way of grasping the lead because it is so tight, that when loosened from the mount, it will pop down inside between the outer and inner fenders and you'll have to fish for it.) My next adventure.
4) plug the lead into the bottom of your new mount, reaffix the 3 screws, pop plastic cover back on and screw in the antenna mast. Your done!
Should take all of five minutes - and NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS THIS?! WORSE, FORD DOES NOT SELL JUST THE MOUNT - WHEN YOU BUY THE $20 PART (MORE ON THAT IN A MOMENT) IT COMES WITH THE NEW LEAD WIRE ATTACHED AND THEY'LL TELL YOU IT DOESN'T COME LOOSE! WTF!
One other caution - be sure you get the right replacement part!
After all of this, I went to install the new mount I bought from the dealership and it won't fit! Doesn't even align properly - they sold me a PN#
4L3T-18A984-A
It is too long on the bottom side and the screw holes don't line up. My part, for my 06 Lariat is a 6L3T-18A984-A
So for anyone else who has or will break off an antenna inside the mount - it's an easy fix, but you gotta move heaven and earth to find out how!
Leaving now to go to the dealership to return 1 wrong part and order the new one.
Following my post above I developed two plans...
Plan A - use an easy out (reverse drill bit/screw extractor)... didn't work - broke 3 bits trying to drill a pilot hole.
Plan B - the dealership wanted $150 for this job - pull the tire and wheel, remove the inner fender, snake in the new mount and lead to where it connects behind the glove box. NOT!
But a mechanic there suggested cut the existing lead at the mount atop the fender. Tape the new lead to it, pull it thru, screw on the mount. OK, I'll try that...
Problem is the lead is just long enough so to cut it from under the mount, I needed to pull slack. I pulled the passenger kick panel and dropped the glove box. Right there in front of me is the bright orange lead where it connects. A simple tug and it's loose.
Back to the top of the fender. I give a good tug to the mount - trying to pull some slack forward so I can reach under the mount and cut the old lead... and pow! The old lead comes unplugged right from the bottom of the existing mount. Of course the mount flies out of my hand in all the excitement....
That's the way I was told it could be done but everyone said NOOOOO! Simple, easy.
So the way this should work is:
1) Pop the plastic cover off the antenna mount.
2) Unscrew 3 phillips screws that fasten the mount to the fender.
3) unplug the wire lead from the bottom of the mount. (Caution here - be certain to pre tape a string or some other way of grasping the lead because it is so tight, that when loosened from the mount, it will pop down inside between the outer and inner fenders and you'll have to fish for it.) My next adventure.
4) plug the lead into the bottom of your new mount, reaffix the 3 screws, pop plastic cover back on and screw in the antenna mast. Your done!
Should take all of five minutes - and NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS THIS?! WORSE, FORD DOES NOT SELL JUST THE MOUNT - WHEN YOU BUY THE $20 PART (MORE ON THAT IN A MOMENT) IT COMES WITH THE NEW LEAD WIRE ATTACHED AND THEY'LL TELL YOU IT DOESN'T COME LOOSE! WTF!
One other caution - be sure you get the right replacement part!
After all of this, I went to install the new mount I bought from the dealership and it won't fit! Doesn't even align properly - they sold me a PN#
4L3T-18A984-A
It is too long on the bottom side and the screw holes don't line up. My part, for my 06 Lariat is a 6L3T-18A984-A
So for anyone else who has or will break off an antenna inside the mount - it's an easy fix, but you gotta move heaven and earth to find out how!
Leaving now to go to the dealership to return 1 wrong part and order the new one.
