'00 4RUNNER pwr antenna stuck??

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John - 27 Jul 2006 20:12 GMT

I have a 2000 4 Runner limited with the power antenna stuck in the up
position. Every time I turn the car on or off or turn the radio on or off I
hear the motor for the antenna turning until the relay clicks off. Obviously
the antenna is not moving.
Does this mean the whole mechanism needs to be replaced? if so, can I do it
myself? Where do I access this from? I'm not really sure what to touch in
the wheel well to get to it. In the mean time is there a simple way to
disconnect the motor or relay so my battery wont drain every time I turn off
the car? I already looked for a separate fuse for this but can't find one.

HELP???

Thanks in advance.
John

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Ray O - 27 Jul 2006 20:28 GMT

>I have a 2000 4 Runner limited with the power antenna stuck in the up
> position. Every time I turn the car on or off or turn the radio on or off
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> the antenna is not moving.
> Does this mean the whole mechanism needs to be replaced?

Proobably not. Most likely, just the mast and nylon drive tape need to be
replaced.

if so, can I do it

> myself?

It depends on your understanding of mechanical things.

Where do I access this from?

The top of the fender.

I'm not really sure what to touch in

> the wheel well to get to it.

You do not neet to touch anything in the wheel well.

In the mean time is there a simple way to

> disconnect the motor or relay so my battery wont drain every time I turn
> off
> the car? I already looked for a separate fuse for this but can't find one.

The antenna has a timer to prevent draining the battery.

> HELP???
>
> Thanks in advance.
> John

You asked a bunch of questions, but asking how to replace the antenna mast
was not among them. Assuming that you will ask that next...

Go to your Toyota dealer to get a replacement mast for your vehicle. Some
aftermarket auto parts stores may carry one.

Wrap a rag around the chrome ring at the base of the antenna mast. The ring
will have notches in it. Use a pair of slip-joint pliers to loosen the
ring, using the rag to make sure you don't scratch the chrome. Have someone
turn on the radio while you pull up on the mast. Hopefully, the tape on the
replacement antenna is the same length as the old one. If the old one is
shorter, then the tape broke somewhere inside and you have to take it apart.
If that is the case, you have to access the antenna assembly from inside the
wheel well by removing the screws that hold the fender liner in place.
After you get the old mast and tape out, feed the tape back into the hole
and have someone turn the radio off while you feed the tape in. It may take
a few tries, but everything should eventually line up so you can replace the
ring.

Signature

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

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John - 27 Jul 2006 23:18 GMT

I didn't know that the mast can be replaced separate from the unit itself. I
just assumed it all goes together.

Does the nylon drive tape come with a new mast?

Does the tape feed automatically once I feed it into the hole? or does it
need to be secured by hand from within the unit assembly?

Thanks
John

> >I have a 2000 4 Runner limited with the power antenna stuck in the up
> > position. Every time I turn the car on or off or turn the radio on or off
[quoted text clipped - 51 lines]
> a few tries, but everything should eventually line up so you can replace the
> ring.

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Ray O - 28 Jul 2006 06:12 GMT

>I didn't know that the mast can be replaced separate from the unit itself.
>I
> just assumed it all goes together.
>
> Does the nylon drive tape come with a new mast?

Yes. The nylon drive tape is about the diameter of your computer's network
cable, with drive teeth that engage a drum. The drum rotates and as it
feeds the tape out, the tape pushes the mast up.

> Does the tape feed automatically once I feed it into the hole? or does it
> need to be secured by hand from within the unit assembly?

It might take a few tries to get the teeth on the tape to engage the drum.
When you pull out the old one, note the orientation of the teeth on the tape
so that you can orient the replacement one the same way.

Good luck!

Signature

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

> Thanks
> John
[quoted text clipped - 67 lines]
> the
>> ring.

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John - 28 Jul 2006 16:55 GMT

Okay. I found a picture on line of what a replacement antenna with the drive
tape should look like. I removed the mast from the top of the fender by
loosening the ring as you said. It looks as if the nylon drive belt broke
because it appears much shorter than the new one in the photo.
Now- How do I get the remaining piece out??? If I need to do it from the
wheel well, I've noticed aside from screws holding the liner in place there
seems to be some type of push pin along the edge of the liner. It feels as
if I'm going to rip the liner if I tug on that. Should I be pulling at those
too? Is there an easier way to get the drive tape out (from the top
perhaps????)

Thanks for all the replys. You've been a big help.

John

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Ray O - 28 Jul 2006 20:12 GMT

> Okay. I found a picture on line of what a replacement antenna with the
> drive
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> John

Unfortunately, to get the remaining piece out, you have to disassemble the
drum on the antenna assembly.

As far as removing the wheel well liner, if the clips have a flat head, they
pull straight out. If there is a center "button" on the clip, then push the
button inwards to release the clip.

I believe that the drum cover has only 1 screw holding it on. You can
remove the cover and get the rest of the tape out.

Signature

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

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John - 30 Jul 2006 03:01 GMT

OK I'll give it a try. Thanks for all the info.
John

> > Okay. I found a picture on line of what a replacement antenna with the
> > drive
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> I believe that the drum cover has only 1 screw holding it on. You can
> remove the cover and get the rest of the tape out.

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