The power antenna mast on my Toyota stopped going up and down, can that be fixed?
NOTE: This is somewhat universal to all vehicles with power antennas, although some power antennas have a mast that is integrated into the motor and requires the motor and antenna to be replaced. Check the factory service manual for more accurate information regarding vehicles other than Toyotas.
What vehicle is it? 1994 Toyota 4Runner. (See above NOTE:)
Do you hear the antenna motor running (humming sound) when you turn on the radio, or turn on the vehicle? Yes, but the antenna doesn’t move.
Diagnosis by phone: Since it sounds like the motor is still running I would say that in this case it is probably just a broken mast gear. If the motor doesn’t run then it could be a couple of other issues.
Final diagnosis: I pulled the mast out and the motor out of the fender (you can leave the power connection and the antenna wire connected) and opened up the motor. Sure enough, there was the mast gear broken off in pieces.
Solution: Remove all of the pieces of the mast gear out of the cup and the motor mechanism. Put the motor all back together and install it back in the vehicle, but don’t put the antenna mast nut on yet and don’t button up the fender liner. Turn on the radio. After the antenna motor stops running drop the new antenna mast gear into the top of the motor and then turn off the radio. It should start pulling the antenna mast in. If it doesn’t, rotate the gear until it engages. The teeth on the mast gear should either be pointing forward or backward. Make sure that you guide the base of the antenna mast into the hole. Once it is done pulling the mast into the motor install the antenna mast nut and snug it down. Now tighten the bolt on the motor and re-install the fender liner.