I need to replace the radio antenna extension cable. What is the easiest way to do this?

Depends on the vehicle. If you are replacing it it will probably be easier to run the new cable by whatever rout is easiest for you to access.

REMOVAL

1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
2. Remove cup holder.
3. Remove trim panel above cupholder by pulling straight out.
4. Remove center instrument panel trim panel.
5. Remove screws holding radio to instrument panel.
6. Pull radio rearward to gain access to the back of radio (RADIO). CAUTION: Pulling the antenna cable straight out of the radio without pulling on the locking antenna connector could damage the cable or radio.
   
7. Disconnect the antenna cable by pulling the locking antenna connector away from the radio (ANTENNA TO RADIO).
8. Disconnect bolt holding ground strap to the radio (if equipped).
9. Disconnect the wire connectors from the back of the radio.

the cable that plugs in for the aerial could be a extension piece and puilling the old radio out could have unplugged this extension?

Hi,

If your antenna is of the electric type, mounted into the vehicle's body, then it is more common to replace the MAST only.

This is done by:

- loosen & remove the upper locking ring (between antenna & vehicle body),
- turn radio to ON. This will unwind the antenna & cable fully (if cable has teeth, note direction which cable is facing).
- feed replacement mast cable into cavity (ensure cable is facing same way as when it was removed) until cable stops feeding, and hold in position.
- turn radio power off. Cable should grab & begin to retract. Guide the new mast into position. As cable feeds in, the mast will follow and retract to its closed position.
- secure upper ring

Cheers,


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This will require dash removal, the factory routing for the cable is behind and above the airbox. The easiest way to do it if you have not already pulled the old one out is to attach a piece of 16 guage wire to one end of the factory cable before you pull it out, and then when you pull out the old cable it will in turn pull the 16 guage wire through in its place. At this point attach the new cable to the 16 guage wire and pull the 16 guage wire through which will in turn pull your new cable through. If you have already pulled the old cable out and want to install the new through the same route then you will have to remove the airbox, or you can just reroute the new cable.

Remove old Antenna

1. Activate the antenna switch to the up position.
2. Using the wrench or needle-nose pliers, loosen and remove the original retaining nut on the base of the antenna mast.
   
3. Gain access to the underside of the area of the trunk where the antenna is located.
   
4. Remove the bracket or brace that is below the hole and holding the antenna in place.
   
5. Remove the mast.
   
6. Find the motor that controls the antenna mast. Generally, power antennas will have a constant 12-volt lead and a ground lead. The ground lead will be grounded to the panel next to the motor.
   
7. Remove the ground lead from the panel.
   
8. Pull out the antenna coaxial cable.
   
9. Unplug the coaxial from the extension coaxial cable.
   
10. Remove the original antenna coaxial cable. Note the route the cable follows.
    

Install new Antenna

1. Inspect the fender area where the antenna mast will be mounted for rust.
   
2. Clean the area before installing the new antenna.
   
3. Plug the new antenna coaxial cable to the extension coaxial cable.
   
4. Plug the new antenna's coaxial cable into the radio's chassis antenna jack if there is no extension coaxial cable. Tie or tape the string you put on the extension cable to the new antenna coaxial cable. This assures that the 2 cables stay together as you route them to the antenna mount in the fender.
   
5. Connect the power lead of the antenna to the power antenna lead on the radio.
   
6. Connect the 12-volt constant lead to the antenna to a 12-volt source or to the ignition switch.
   
7. Direct the new antenna cable via the same route followed by the original antenna cable on up to the hole in the fender in which the mast will be mounted.
   
8. Ground the ground lead from the motor to a clean metal surface on the metal panel near the mount.
   
9. Insert the mast into the hole. Face the serrated side of the plastic cable on the bottom of the mast toward the motor side. The plastic cable can be inserted freely to about 12 inches and will stop.
   
10. Turn on antenna switch to down position until the plastic cable goes down and catches into the gear mechanism of the drum housing. If the plastic cable does not gear into the mechanism, twist the cable slightly until the cable contacts into the gear mechanism while the motor is in operation.
    
11. Stop the motor after the cable goes into the housing 12 to 25 inches.
    
12. Secure the bracket or strap to the bottom of the antenna mast and to the metal fender.
    
13. Replace the retainer nut to the base of the antenna mast and secure tightly.
    
14. Replace the panel that covers the antenna mount area.
    

Buy replacement antenna mast. Remove old one by unscrewing the retaining cap nut. Turn on the radio & let the antenna cable run all the way up while you pull on it to remove it.
Install the new antenna mast by turning the radio 'off' so the spool inside goes back to its beginning while you feed the cable of the new antenna down into the antenna mast hole.
Once the cable is all the way down, reinstall the retaining nut/cap and turn on the radio to allow the spool to run the antenna 'UP.'... cycle the radio ON and then OFF several times allowing the antenna to move all the way up and all the way down.
That's it!

Have the antenna motor tested re place it if not working if antenna motor is working you will need a new antenna mast and antenna cable to remove this unscrew the washer nut at the base of the antenna and turn radio on antenna should push up and play out he cable to replace insert new cable and turn radio off it will draw cable in and antenna tighten washer nut and your dne

Give these instructions a shot. Might be too generic but might be enough to get you going. Removing Original Antenna
1. Step 1 Activate the antenna switch to the up position.
   
2. Step 2 Using the wrench or needle-nose pliers, loosen and remove the original retaining nut on the base of the antenna mast.
   
3. Step 3 Gain access to the underside of the area where the antenna is located.
   
4. Step 4 Remove the bracket or brace that is below the hole and holding the antenna in place.
   
5. Step 5 Remove the mast.
   
6. Step 6 Find the motor that controls the antenna mast. Generally, power antennas will have a constant 12-volt lead and a ground lead. The ground lead will be grounded to the panel next to the motor.
   
7. Step 7 Remove the ground lead from the panel.
   
8. Step 8 Pull out the antenna coaxial cable.
   
9. Step 9 Unplug the coaxial from the extension coaxial cable.
   
10. Step 10 Remove the original antenna coaxial cable. Note the route the cable follows.
    Installing the New Power Antenna
11. Step 1 Inspect the fender area where the antenna mast will be mounted for rust.
    
12. Step 2 Clean the area before installing the new antenna.
    
13. Step 3 Plug the new antenna coaxial cable to the extension coaxial cable. (On some General Motors and Ford cars you may need an adapter to mate the 2 cables together. Car audio retail stores sell such an adapter.)
    
14. Step 4 Plug the new antenna's coaxial cable into the radio's chassis antenna jack if there is no extension coaxial cable. Tie or tape the string you put on the extension cable to the new antenna coaxial cable. This assures that the 2 cables stay together as you route them to the antenna mount in the fender.
    
15. Step 5 Connect the power lead of the antenna to the power antenna lead on the radio.
    
16. Step 6 Connect the 12-volt constant lead to the antenna to a 12-volt source or to the ignition switch.
    
17. Step 7 Direct the new antenna cable via the same route followed by the original antenna cable on up to the hole in the fender in which the mast will be mounted.
    
18. Step 8 Ground the ground lead from the motor to a clean metal surface on the metal panel near the mount.
    
19. Step 9 Insert the mast into the hole. Face the serrated side of the plastic cable on the bottom of the mast toward the motor side. The plastic cable can be inserted freely to about 12 inches and will stop.
    
20. Step 10 Turn on antenna switch to down position until the plastic cable goes down and catches into the gear mechanism of the drum housing. If the plastic cable does not gear into the mechanism, twist the cable slightly until the cable contacts into the gear mechanism while the motor is in operation.
    
21. Step 11 Stop the motor after the cable goes into the housing 12 to 25 inches.
    
22. Step 12 Secure the bracket or strap to the bottom of the antenna mast and to the metal fender.
    
23. Step 13 Replace the retainer nut to the base of the antenna mast and secure tightly.
    
24. Step 14 Replace the panel that covers the antenna mount area.
    

If the radio still does this with the alternator unhooked, I would try changing the plug wires.