Automatic Arial

[MikeTC]

Hi
My 911 SC is fitted an automatic car radio ariel. It unusualy works well, but yesterday it went up and now won't come down! Any ideas on fault finding would be appreciated.

Thanks

[tr7v8]

Some of them have an external relay, if so it may have died. On others the relay is internal, to ease the wiring pain. If it's not moving at all then it's more likely to be no power than seized. Have a dig at the base & tell me how many wires it has.

[EL Gordo]

mine makes the radio make an awul noise as it goes up !

[MikeTC]

Hi

Thare are two + the coax

Thanks

[tr7v8]

Hi

Thare are two + the coax

Thanks

OK if that's the case then ignoring the coax. One wire will be live from the ign switch or battery & the other will come from the radio & only be on when the on/off button is on. Therefore the relay is internal. Does it make any noise or attempt to come down? even with gentle assistance. It sounds like it'll need stripping out & dismantling, some decent car audio shops will do it. It maybe easier to replace it with a new 'un TBH.

[Sean Smallman]

mine makes the radio make an awul noise as it goes up !

Surprised you haven't swopped it for a coat hanger.

[TJ930]

Can anybody tell me how much one of these auto aerials will cost? (And what's required in fitting?)

When my car was left outside in the rain by Zentrum for what seemed like 6 months (awaiting a gearbox repair) - came back with the manual aerial rusted down.. A spot of WD40 and Mole Grips later and.. The thing's knackered.. Top rung comes off in your hand!

Might as well get an automatic one fitted.

[tr7v8]

I used to work for a car radio shop. Decent aerials (note spelling ) are around the 30-50 quid mark, try & get a decent one with a replaceable mast if possible. If your head unit isn't wired for an auto aerial then it'll need modifying which is about 20 minutes with a soldering iron. Then laying in the wiring, no idea what current labour rates are but go to someone decent. Auto electricians could also do it.
When (if) you get it done, when you wash the car, get a rag or wipe, spray some WD40 onto it & wipe the full length of the mast then cycle it up& down & give another wipe. DON'T use any oil like substance it'll pick up muck & clog the mast.

Edited to say if you bring it to Kent I'll do it for you.

[TJ930]

Yeah, no Sans Serif Fonts here

That's a very kind offer, but I'm in Nottingham so it'd be a bit of drive down the motorway.. And one mustn't exceed the speed limit

Compared to the old car, it's a fairly new unit (bought it about 3 or 4 years ago) and so I hope it should be up to the task.

Thanks again.