Another one on electric aerials (for 80 series this time)

Mate,

When I replaced my aerial for my '91 Series 80, I had my brother in law do (he is an auto sparky) and I ably assisted him (watched). Essentially you have to remove all of the dash boards and surrounds. There are a couple of screws, including one behind the ciggerrete lighter. Then it is just a matter of gentle tugs. A bit of a pain if you haven't done it before. Might pay to add an extention lead from the radio to behind the dash/glove box, so that if you have to replace it again it is just a matter of removing the glove box.

Hope this helps.

Karl

What i did was to give the electric antenna the flick & replaced it with a flexable rubber one that wont brake out bush.

You have to remove the bolts from the fender & kind of flex it open a bit enough to slide your hand in to remove/replace. Then just run the lead through the firewall (rubber gromets) under the dash (remove g/box) & on to the stereo.

Give this a go. I did it quite a while ago so abit vague of exact process.
I turned the radio on and extended the antenna fully. I then disconnected all the plugs going into the aerial from in the engine bay. If you then turn off the radio and ignition. Wait for 30 seconds, reconnect the harness' and turn on the ignition and radio. the antenna should then think it is fully collapsed when it is actually extended. When you turn the radio back on it should try to 'continue' to raise the antenna until the cord is completely driven out. The above is for removal of old unit. To fit a new unit, with the radio on, I pushed the cord into the aerial housing. While pushing it in I had someone push the antenna down button for a few secs and then turn the radio off. It should pull the cord in all the way.

Well I think this is how I done it. Was quite a while ago now. Stuffed if I was going to pull the dash out.

A mate of mine came up with the idea of hooking up a relay to retract the aerial when the diff lock is engaged. Is fine as long as you have the diff lock on when travelling under low scrub etc. Stuff you come up with when you are sick of replacing aerials!

Got mine fixed today, really easy. But firstly, my thoughts were like most of yours. I've got a GU Patrol but there's not all that much difference in the antennas. I phoned Nissan, yes you can buy an auto retractable post. Price $77.oo just for the post with the insert tail. I checked local auto spares shops, price generally half above price but they havn't got one to fit mine. Bugger.
Dropped into local Auto Radio specialist, yep he's got one for $45. While I stand there and wait he whips out the old one - NOTE: from the seat in the mudguard, fits a couple of bits together, reinserts it into the hole at the mud guard, does up a couple of clip inserts and it works.Time 30 mins - Price $77.oo - a bargain, and I don't know how he did it.
I was going to remove the front wheel, inner linings and drop out the electric motor, a good half days work for me.
My 77c worth - see your local radio specialist.Carpe Diem

Charlie,

We used to have a NH Pajero with an auto antenna. Soon as we had the steroe on whether radio or CD player, up it came. Figured it would get broken whilst 4WDriving one day so we fitted an overide switch in the dash so we could have the CD on without the antenna being up. Idea was good but the very next time out se forgot to hit the switch and lower the antenna and as predicted, it got broken.

Anyway, long story short. Genuine antenna was big $ but after shopping arou d the auto shops we got one for about $30. Replacing the retractable stalk was simply a matter of turning the base of the antenna to unscrew the whole thing. Pulled it up through the hole and then quite easy to replace it with the new one. Save having to change over the lead and everything we simply cut and soldered to old lead onto the new antenna.

:o) MelissaPetrol 4.5L GU Patrol &
Camprite TL8 offroad camper