On both the 00 & 01 Bolt my antenna's have tilted to the left (looking from the front of the truck)...noticed many L's on the dealer lots (00,01's) that many have this "tilted" factory antenna...I can't stand this anymore...it's driving me nuts...was at my local ford dealer and saw 3 new Bolts with STRAIGHT antennas...the dealer gave me a new antenna mount (no charge)
to try out......so do any of you'll with 99 to 03 Bolts have straight or tilted antennas??? The body shop told me nothing they could do to straighten it since this was as is from the
factory. I dont think its "manly" to have a tilted antenna.

 

The antenna on my 2000 was tilted as well. Now the base has loosened. I need to figure out how to tighten it

 

Silver_2000_!

While at the dealer this past monday noticed that on 2 new 03
bolts that the bottom attenna gasket was thicker than on my
01...so the parts department ordered a new mount...same part number BUT the gasket looks thicker...the parts guy acknowledged that the parts look different...parts mgr said that
sometimes Ford will issue a revised or "improved" part to the same old part number......will let you know if it makes any difference.

 

Both of mine were straight when I purchased, but I believe that it gets out of shape while driving at any speed. I do quite a bit of driving on the freeway, and it's constantly bent out the side. No good way to fix it as it's in a weakl part of the fender.

 

I'm thinking about taking mine off. I like this one better.

 

;


Georgia_Moon;

Do you go through car washes with the back and forth motion
brushes that go over the cab? That will bend antenna to the right
side for sure! To tighten up the base there a two screws under
and inside of fender. If you remove inner wheel well or battery
you can see the screws. I tightened mine up (base) , but it still
gets bent from car wash brushes almost every wash.

 

You shouldn't go through those type car washes, but if you do then you should unscrew your antenna first.

 

I'm with spankdog. And don't get lazy like I did.

Mine's bent out, and the base is loose, but that is because the bending out of the antenna in the carwash caused the base to dent the fender right where it mounts.

I know a dent wizard so removing that dent won't really be an issue for me, but some of you guys should take note before it bends

 

;

Spankdog;

Yea your right. But never enough time, ya know! My " L " is a daily driver driven hard! Could need a paint job this year maybe. Then never go into one again

 

plain freeway driving will cause this. my trucks have never been through a car wash, and are still bent... it comes from driving 70 mph down the freeway over time. They will all do this.

 

dont you have "touchless" car washes? they do an ok job

 

Well...you guys pointed out something I had not even considered...YES i go to a pro car wash ever since we had water restrictions here a 1 1/2 years ago...like most of you, would never ever let anyone touch my vehicle to wash it but these water restrictions forced me into it...and they have done a great job (no
scratches etc)...AND I did not have the antenna removed when it goes in the "machine"...I see where the highway driving may cause this too...especially going to Atlanta. If the antenna gets bent from just driving, its odd why it bends to the outside or away from the vehicle......I probably contributed to my own problem by not taking it off prior to the wash....really appreciate you guys commenting on this.

 

I have had my antenna off my truck for monthes now, XM is going to be sweet, just need a new HU so I dont need one of those stupid modulators to tune it with

 

;

SpankDog;

Those don't clean well in my book! Sometimes there are so many bug splats it needs the scrub and they usually spray a desolver on it to loosen the guts! I hope to redo paint this year
then change habits I have!!!

 

Mine is bent out. Will make a note of it next time it goes in for service.