It could seem simple and quick to maintain your automobile appearing clean and new by using an automatic car wash. However, if it sustains damage, it can look worse than when it first arrived.
Although an antenna can be used in a car wash, it is typically better to retract or remove it before entering to prevent damage. Your antenna could be damaged by the moving parts of a car wash, such as rotating brushes, mechanical arms, and blower housings.
This article will address how to avoid damage and what to do if your car receives any, in addition to detailing the potential harm automatic car washes can make to your vehicle’s antenna. I’ll also discuss the various car washes and let you know which one is the least damaging to your automobile.
In This Article...
Fixed mast
Use the corresponding base stud from the kit to replace the old one. The replacement mast is then screwed in.
Fixed-mast antenna replacement is more simpler. Purchase a universal kit from any car parts retailer (around $15). Installing the replacement mast only requires unscrewing the damaged mast with an adjustable wrench. To match the thread size, you might need to install an adaptor (part of the kit).
What is the price of a new automobile antenna?
Depending on the style, replacing an antenna should cost between $100 and $150. Think it’s too expensive? Instead, purchase a used antenna from a junkyard.
Installing the antenna yourself will save on labor costs. If you’re unsure of how to do it, expert installation will likely cost $50 to $100, adding up to a total of $200 or less.
However, you shouldn’t bother replacing your antenna if you seldom listen to the radio anyhow. (Awesome, Spotify!)
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What happens if the antenna on your car breaks?
Car antennas frequently break or sustain damage since they protrude from the surface of a car’s exterior and stand there.
If you don’t have an antenna, your radio may be off. With a damaged radio antenna, reception will be problematic.
I have a Toyota Tacoma; how do I take the antenna off?
It couldn’t be any simpler to take the antenna off the Tacoma. Use an open-end wrench to gradually loosen the antenna until the base’s threaded rod can be separated from it. The antenna should then be removed.
Antenna Installation
An aftermarket antenna can be set up just as easily. The antenna is simply threaded into position. I won’t lie; I don’t have much to say about each antenna because, aside from size and design, they aren’t all that different.
AntennaMastsRus6 3/4 Antenna
This antenna was the tallest, so I assumed it would perform the best. That wasn’t the situation.
Performance was comparable to that of the other antennas. All of the antennas tested here today in fact performed identically. Every antenna present had numerous instances of that “underwater sound,” while some antennas functioned better in haphazard locations on the road. It was annoying that not a single antenna worked perfectly from home to the office.
No antenna outperformed the others in terms of producing any mind-blowing outcomes. It was no clearer than any other antenna in areas where audio was actually coming in.
I spent a week driving around, switching between antennas, and using each one of these antennas to listen to AM and FM radio. Between these three antennas, I didn’t observe any performance differences.
I won’t argue that every antenna is bad; perhaps I should have purchased the Bullet and a few others to try out first. I’m now intrigued.
In regards to the aftermarket antennas I examined, appearance is the only factor that matters, so let’s avoid discussing performance.
CravenSpeed Stubby Jr Antenna
Short and chubby, the CravenSpeed Stubby Jr Antenna. Cool looks, ok performance. I do not like the stubby appearance. After using it for a week, I expected to like it the most but find that I loathe it the most.
KEYO1E 4.9 Short Antenna
My favorite antenna in terms of layout, dimension, and look is the KEYO1E 4.9 Short Antenna. No mention of “improved performance” was made once more. If anything, this one performed better, which may be why, after experiencing so much antenna annoyance, I was drawn to it. It all comes down to taste and appearance in the end.
Final thoughts
I’m not going to lie. Compared to the factory antenna, pretty much every antenna performs horribly. There are almost no dead spots in the original antenna that Toyota provides. The sound usually comes through clear and sharp when linked to AM and FM radio.
On the other side, the audio quality will unquestionably suffer if you install an aftermarket antenna. Since I don’t usually listen to AM or FM radio, it doesn’t matter to me, but if you regularly listen to the radio, getting an aftermarket antenna might not be the best choice for you.
Additionally, every aftermarket antenna we examined included built-in threaded rods. When threaded and unthreaded, each threaded rod would separate from the actual antenna. Although not a deal-breaker, repeatedly screwing and unscrewing the antenna is kind of bothersome.
Aftermarket antennas are only useful for the aesthetics and the practicality of not covering everything with a short overhang that they offer.
Can you get a new radio antenna?
The AM/FM radio antenna won’t often ever need to be replaced in a modern vehicle. But replacement parts could occasionally be required for older vehicles or vehicles with long, thin metal shaft antennae. These are the automobiles and antennas that are under discussion.
How do I know if I need a new antenna?
With FM, it might be challenging to determine because occasionally, relatively strong FM signals can be detected without an antenna. On the other side, you probably need a new antenna if you receive nothing on the entire AM band.
Take a grip of the antenna near its base and gently shake it back and forth to see if you can tune in a signal. If the signal sometimes appears, your antenna is not establishing solid contact with the car’s body. It might only require tightening, or it might be substantially corroded and require replacement.
Only four to six years may pass before stock antennas need to be changed. If you live close to the water, where the salty sea winds can hasten corrosion, they will wear out more quickly. In most cases, the antenna will only need to be replaced if the mast is plainly rusted out or damaged.
What if my radio antenna is in the windshield?
If you switch to a fender-mounted antenna from an embedded windshield antenna, your reception will improve. They simply have improved radio signal reception. But in order to connect the antenna cable to your radio, you will need to drill a hole in a fender. Doable but more difficult than a job that would directly replace it.
Motorized antennas
We have variants to fit most vehicles if you want the security and convenience of a motorized antenna, which automatically raises and lowers the mast. However, unless the original antenna has degraded, a motorized version won’t enhance reception.
Would an antenna booster improve my radio reception?
An antenna booster might work if your overall reception is good and you just want to improve reception on a few stations. On the other hand, if your overall reception is poor, the antenna or radio’s tuner can be at fault.
Using the “jiggle test” we stated earlier, verify the antenna connection first. Your antenna is not establishing firm contact with the body of the automobile if radio reception changes when you gently shake the base of the antenna. It might only require tightening, or it might be substantially corroded and require replacement.
Changing antennas won’t help much if the connection is sound and the antenna is not visibly corroded or broken. A booster might be the simplest, most affordable answer in this situation.
Tell us what you drive, and we’ll show you your options to see whether we have a replacement antenna for it. Additionally, you can call or chat with one of our friendly advisors if you have any questions.
Comments (18)
My 96 Vette has a Bose Gold audio system, but the non-power antenna I installed when the power antenna failed has left my signal feeble. Is there anything I can do to improve the signal without changing the stock power antenna? Thanks.
My 2019 Dodge Ram hardly picks up FM radio stations, but every car I’ve owned since 1995 has done the same thing. Is there a fix for this issue?
purchased a WPA 1 from your business. I tried it despite being disappointed to find a cheap plastic item in the box. Your “7’3” cable/power wire that was advertised was just about 6′. WOULD IT BE 7’3 “going around A Pilar to the rear of the dashboard to plug in the radio would still be problematic. Only 3 copper threads make up the.58 ga. “power wire,” which is less than speaker wire.
To connect to the radio plug in, I had to slip a cable down the front of my windshield and thread it through the ash tray slot.
After installation, FM reception declined but there was NO AM reception at ALL! Can’t even hear our flamethrower over the interference from our 100,000 watt megastation, does that mean anything? Oh, the “6” ground wire is only 4″, but it may be mounted using the screws on the mirror bracket. What is the price of wire??
ANY TRUE radio enthusiast is aware that the majority of FM head units can pick up local FM stations without an antenna.
In my current configuration, my car’s factory antenna mast is gone, and I can’t seem to find a replacement mast. My replacement is not a real radio antenna mast, but rather a metal rod that is placed into a roof housing.
Your representative Bruce had already informed me that WPA 1 will improve BOTH AM & FM. It’s untrue.
Does your business produce a high-quality antenna that will extend the range of my broadcast signal? My high-quality audio is a Pioneer, and I’ve always received excellent servicing from them in a number of cars. The “Supertuner” was developed by them. I have been a Pioneer since I bought my first automobile in 1976. !! Quality
On my 2011 Chevy traverse, I believe I have a damaged antenna base or antenna. What kind of adaptor is required to connect an antenna installed on a fender.
Rob, good news. We have the exact component you require. To connect an aftermarket antenna to your factory radio, all you should need is the Metra 40-CR20 Antenna Adapter.
The antenna in my 2005 Subaru Outback is built into the back windshield. I lose a lot of reception when I turn on the window defogger in the back. I’ll examine some of the wiring between the body and the tailgate, but assuming everything is in order, would a physical antenna not be a better solution to this problem?
Ira raises a good point. Yes, different receivers have different levels of reception quality. Make sure to examine the “Details” page and look for “FM Sensitivity” while comparing receivers. FM reception is improved by receivers with a smaller value.
Chuck, We don’t offer an antenna to replace the one on your car. If you have an aftermarket receiver installed, it could be worthwhile to inspect your connections and wiring to see if any tweaks could resolve the interference problem.
When I’m listening to AM channels, I experience a lot of electrical interference. My 2007 Nissan Frontier has a Kenwood head unit that is aftermarket. Stock antenna is used. Not nearly as much interference affects our second vehicle. A different antenna might be helpful. Exist any antennas that can filter out all that electrical noise?
Does the cable to the radio count as a ground or does the antenna need one?
How can I test the antenna on my car?
Even though testing antennas is a simple procedure, it can sound complicated to inexperienced ears. Fortunately, there are three tests you can run with an ohmmeter to verify sure your antenna functions.
You must take your antenna off before you begin. On the majority of autos, you can do this by taking the screw out of the hood slot.
Test No. 1:
- One ohmmeter wire should be connected to the radio pin.
- The other cable should be connected to the antenna’s tip.
- That equipment is operational if the reading is less than 5 ohms!
Second test
- Connect one of the ohmmeter’s leads to the antenna base.
- Touch the other antenna cable lead.
- You have a strong ground connection if the reading is less than 5 ohms!
Third test:
- One lead should be placed against the radio pin.
- Against the cable, place the other lead.
- When the meter reaches zero, the system is grounded and functioning properly.
You should replace your antenna if the results of tests 1 and 2 show values greater than five ohms or less than infinite. Bring your car to a mechanic, though, and ask them to provide you with a professional diagnostic if all of them are within the typical range.
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