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Electric aerials (antennae) can malfunction from:
- mechanical wear and failure from a lack of lubricant, collected bio-matter, moisture, and other damage (failure of aerial mast position sensor method).
- Faulty electrical (+12 VDC & -0 VDC to motor, connection with radio antennae control out, faulty or failed relay on electrical antennae).
That is if some retail store parking lot miscreant bent it while you were getting a refreshing beverage.
A plastic (nylon?) toothed strip is wound inside the aerial mast at the black round base. The toothed strip is connected inside the aerial at the aerial mast end (tip). Crap buildup and no recurring power antennae lubrication deteriorates operation and expedites wear.
If you can pull gently on the tip, pull up the mast and give a good douse with a simple lubricant like (i know) WD-40 at each aerial mast seam section draining down the mast interior and finally stop when a little bit drips out at the black tube drain. You may want to give a squirt of WD-40 up the drain hole to loosen the geared plastic strip and dislodge any collect material.
If you are able grasp the aerial tip yet it moves freely without turning the motor at the base, the geared plastic strip may be disconnected at the tip or the mast has been pulled beyond the length of the geared strip inside the mast.
If you are able to slow and smoothly move the aerial up and down (it take some force) and you feel and hear the motor turning smoothly (no gears strip), your power antennae may be salvageable.
Don't allow the WD-40 or any lubricant to collect in the spare tire well on the paint. Clean up any oil so you do not incur spare tire damage.
If you have regained some functionality so the mast moves smoothly, energize the aerial from your radio (or manually induce it to operate). If, at this point, it works okay, apply a heavier, more durable lubricant to the aerial mast like spray lithium grease. Apply some spray lithium grease up the drain hole. Give some time for the lithium grease to outgas. It will drip for awhile. Wipe away excess.
Test and repeat every so often. Usually, you can hear the little power antennae motor straining to move the aerial mast when it is time to clean the aerial mast with lithium grease or the like.
It's also possible, if you are adequate electromechanical literacy, to open or remove the cover wear the plastic gear strip spools up to clean that space out. You choice.
Hope that helps.
V. "B." MacDuff.
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I love kitties! Fuzzy wuzzy kitties!
Fuzzy wuzzy was a fuzzy!
Fuzzy wuzzy had no hair!
RWD Volvos are cool.
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