Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
#1
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Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
My power antenna crapped out about 6 months ago. Anyone know of a reputable rebuilder or aftermarket choice, or should I just do the smart thing and get a manual telescoping antenna and be done with it? I only listen to MP3 and MP4 so IDC, but I am selling the car. Not paying $550 for a NOS unit. Even if it's gold plated. LOL
Thanks
Thanks
#2
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Car: '91 GTA, '92 T/A Convertible
Engine: GTA: 350 w/Vortec heads, T/A: 305
Transmission: Pro-built 700R4
Axle/Gears: GTA: 3.27, T/A: 2.73
Re: Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
Do a search. There is a tutorial on how to fix/upgrade the unit you have for a fraction of the cost.
#3
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Re: Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
I just replaced the mast in my '99 jaguar and it took like ten minutes and cost $15. My motor was good but the mast was all gummed up.
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Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: L03
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 2.73 Open
Re: Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
I pulled mine and sent it off for repair. The common failure with these is the nylon ribbon that drives from a drum on the motor and pushes the mast up, or pulls it down when reversed. That nylon gets old, brittle, and breaks. This fellow replaces the nylon with a plastic coated steel cable. The DIY instructions are here on the forum somewhere, but I figured his experience at doing these was worth the modest cost.
Note his ad pictured below is from 2011. I have no idea if he is still with us, or if he still works on these.
This is where I started doing mine...and a few other projects along the way.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...ml#post5898351
Note his ad pictured below is from 2011. I have no idea if he is still with us, or if he still works on these.
This is where I started doing mine...and a few other projects along the way.
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/memb...ml#post5898351
#6
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Re: Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
Replacement antenna was installed about an hour after posting this morning. That frign' Power Antenna relay is a major PITA to access ( in a Camaro) and I just didn't want to deal with that thing this morning ! I'd normally do a "full service" replacement on this, but after thinking about it over morning coffee I decided to play "Johnny Shortcut" and cut/spliced the factory wires inside the fender-well then unscrewed the antenna cable from the antenna motor so I could re-use the original Cable & Wiring and didn't have to touch anything INSIDE the car.
Then Metallica,........ lot's of Metallica !
Then Metallica,........ lot's of Metallica !
#7
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Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: L03
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 10 Bolt 2.73 Open
Re: Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
That's when mine died. Got home from the last drive of the fall, pulled in the garage, shut it off, and it broke. Pulled the fuse and dealt with it in the spring!
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#10
Re: Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
Hamburger, Your car would have better resale value if you sell the car as it was originally purchased new. In the back of the car there is a small storage compartment and pasted to the inside of the lid is a record showing all of the options on the car as delivered. I just purchased from Classic Industries, they are located In Huntington Beach, CA, a Original Equipment Reproduction power antenna. It comes as a kit, but installation instructions are lacking. I paid less than $74.00 for the kit and it was on sale when I ordered my kit. There are several posts on line explaining how to replace the complete power antenna. Basically you may need to remove the inner fender and possibly the outer fender. I have a similar problem with my 1992 Firebird Special Edition so I'm waiting for it to get a bit cooler here in Southern California before I tackle the remove and replace. I'm hoping to locate a GM OEM replacement mast so I won't need to remove the inner fender.
#11
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Re: Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
Thanks for the update.
I will first replace the relay. Then if the antenna is bad, I found a reputable rebuilder of power antennas in GA.
The RPO codes on my car are glued on the inside of the console.
I had no luck on Ebay. I will try Hemmings. There are not many people in the US tht can buy this and store it in a garage without a nagging wife.
I need to get at least 10k out of the car. Otherwise I will just drive it.
Cheers
Mark
I will first replace the relay. Then if the antenna is bad, I found a reputable rebuilder of power antennas in GA.
The RPO codes on my car are glued on the inside of the console.
I had no luck on Ebay. I will try Hemmings. There are not many people in the US tht can buy this and store it in a garage without a nagging wife.
I need to get at least 10k out of the car. Otherwise I will just drive it.
Cheers
Mark
#13
On Probation
Re: Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
Is that amazon unit plug n play for a 3rd gen or is it a universal mod to fit unit?
#15
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Car: 1988 GTA Black on Black Hardtop
Engine: 383 miniram/ Ebl
Transmission: 700r4/Performabuilt/3000 Stall
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt / 3.27
Re: Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
Ive purchased several of replacements. had one last three years, this one posted i just bought. It was plug n play except the wiring harness to the relay was to short, had to splice wiring to reach relay. This was in a 88 gta. it also broke the second time i started the car. it pulled out of the retainer.
#17
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Re: Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
I haven't had any problem with the Crown unit - I've had one installed in my daily driver for about a year and a half, and the reviews are good. It is 100% exactly like the original GM unit. As with most thing - success depends on proper installation.
GD
GD
#18
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Car: 1988 GTA Black on Black Hardtop
Engine: 383 miniram/ Ebl
Transmission: 700r4/Performabuilt/3000 Stall
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt / 3.27
Re: Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
Wont argue that you had success general,just posting my findings. wiring to short and it broke the second time it was used. Install was professionally done by myself. installation had nothing to do with wiring being to short or the cable pulling out of the retainer. I disassembled the unit and found the cable pulled out of the steel retainer because the compressed tangs in the steel retainer were barely compressed. Not a big deal i fixed it and put it back together. Once again this is just my findings, others im sure had better results than I. Facts are your friend.
Tim
Tim
#19
Re: Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
I bought one of these from Rock Auto for a little less than Amazon - Rock Auto doesn’t carry them anymore, but it’s the same. It went in with no issues and most importantly, it now works. Going on two years, no problems.
#20
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Re: Power antenna replacement 1991 TA
Wont argue that you had success general,just posting my findings. wiring to short and it broke the second time it was used. Install was professionally done by myself. installation had nothing to do with wiring being to short or the cable pulling out of the retainer. I disassembled the unit and found the cable pulled out of the steel retainer because the compressed tangs in the steel retainer were barely compressed. Not a big deal i fixed it and put it back together. Once again this is just my findings, others im sure had better results than I. Facts are your friend.
GD
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