How to Replace a Standard Car Radio Antenna

When that old antenna has given up the ghost, a car audio retailer can sell and install a new one. If you're game, however, follow the steps below to do it yourself.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Car Door Poppers
• Car Radio Antenna
• Tape
• Tape
• String
• Crescent Wrenches
• Needle-nose Pliers
• Screwdriver Sets
• Needle-nose Pliers
• Tape

Removing the Original Antenna

1. Determine where you will gain access to the antenna (see the Tips).

2. Using a wrench or needle-nose pliers, loosen and remove the original retaining nut on the base of the antenna mast, which houses the antenna.

3. Remove the mast.

4. Gain access to the underside of the area where the antenna is located.

5. Pull out the antenna coaxial cable, the thick wire that connects the antenna to the interior of the car.

6. Unplug the coaxial cable from the extension coaxial cable, a second cable that completes the connection from the antenna to the radio. If the distance from the antenna mount to the radio is short, there may be no extension coaxial. In that case, unplug the coaxial from the antenna lead in the back of the radio.

7. Remove the original antenna coaxial cable, noting the route the cable follows.

Installing the New Antenna

8. Read the instructions that come with the new antenna.

9. Inspect the fender area, where the antenna mast will be mounted, for rust.

10. Clean the area before installing the new antenna.

11. Plug the new antenna coaxial cable into the extension coaxial cable. (On some General Motors and Ford cars, you may need an adapter to mate the two cables. Car audio retail stores sell such adapters.)

12. Plug the new antenna's coaxial cable into the antenna lead of the radio, 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 step assures that the two cables will stay together as you route them to the antenna mount in the fender.

13. Direct the new antenna cable through the route of the original antenna cable, on up to the hole in the fender in which the mast will be mounted.

14. Insert the mast into the hole from above and screw it into the coaxial cable.

15. Replace the retainer nut at the base of the antenna mast and tighten securely.

16. Replace the panel that covers the antenna mount area.

Tips & Warnings

• If the antenna is located on a front side fender, gain access to the inner fender panel from the engine compartment or through the inner door jamb.
• If the antenna is located on the driver's side pillar, the extension coaxial cable will probably be located in the kick panel, an interior panel in front of the door, to the left of the driver's feet.
• If the antenna is located in the rear of the car, gain access through the trunk. The extension coaxial cable will probably run close to the rear mount and on to the radio.
• After unplugging the coaxial extension cable from the original antenna cable, tie or tape a 6- to 8-inch string to the top of the extension cable.

[jmoores]

on 4/26/2008 Thanks for posting... I do have one question - What do I need "Car Door Poppers" for? You reference them in the "Things You Need" list but not in the tasks/steps?

on 8/8/2006 This procedure won't work on the 2006 Cobalt. The Cobalt has a bracket, common among GM cars, that the coaxial plugs into, the bracket contains everything including what the mast screws on to. It can not be replaced with simple kits. It has to be replaced with a new bracket + trimmings from GM, that costs a grand total of $11.00.