How to install a new power antenna mast

Tired of seeing your power antenna not work? Don't want to cut and splice your wiring to install an aftermarket one? As long as you still hear the motor operate when you turn your radio on, get a new mast from eBay or wherever and follow these steps. First, open the hatch and remove your rear trim - this would be the tail light panel, the spare tire panel, and the opposite side with the small storage box. Once all 3 are removed you'll be able to access the power antenna unit. Before you undo the two bolts holding it to the body, you'll need a small pair of needle nose pliers that will fit in the grooves of the chrome nut that goes over the antenna mast itself. Put the plier ends in the grooves and slowly turn this nut counter clockwise. Eventually it will come out and attached to it is a metal sleeve that centers the mast in the antenna unit. You should have this when the antenna is removed: IMG_1676.JPG



Take off the metal bracket with an 8mm nut and set the timer unit aside. Next turn the antenna unit over until you see a black cover with a nut in the middle. This is an 7mm nut IIRC. Remove it and slowly pull off the black cover. Nothing will spring out at you, but your cover may be brittle. You should see a part that looks like a black wheel. This is what winds the mast up. it has gear teeth on the inside of it that pull the antenna up & down:

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Next, pull this wheel off and remove all the broken mast pieces you have. Mine was broken in 3 places.
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Next, clean all the surfaces you can and reapply bearing grease or equivalent lithium grease to the surface under the gear wheel and the inside and outside of the wheel itself. Don't be too liberal with the grease here.

Now, reassemble the black cover and the antenna unit. Install back in the car and plug in the connector. There is also a black Drain Hose that you need to secure back to the bottom of the antenna unit. It is kind of tricky because there are 2 metal tabs that pinch the hose. Take your time to bend them back and clamp down on the hose. We all know Z31's have enough issues with water down in this area…

Now stick your new antenna mast into the antenna hole and turn the radio on. If you don't have a helper here get something long that can push the volume button (i used a piece of quarter round). As you turn the radio off, it will grab the mast and pull it down. The mast teeth only go in 1 way. Once the mast catches it will not pull in all the way. This is normal. Reinstall the chrome nut/aligning sleeve combo and then turn the radio on & off a couple more times.

The mast should now pull down all the way. Congrats, you just added a little resale value!