TyraMA

I'm new to this forum and also a new owner of a 1992 Legend LS 4DR. It's a great car and I love it.

Like many of you, I have a problem with the power antenna not fully retracting, making this aweful noise going down and up. I purchased another mast from the "Bridgewood" guy/gal and removed the old antenna mast only to find that the "toothed" plastic thread was NOT broken.

I removed the power antenna drive assembly, diassembled and cleaned it. I put it back together, installed the new mast and powered it up, only to discover that the antenna still won't fully retract -- and the annoying noises continue.

I've concluded that the drive gear inside the antenna drive assembly is worn. It works fine pushing the antenna up, but doesn't have enough grip on the edge of the drive gear to pull the antenna all the way down. I suspect that the alignment of the plastic thread is such that it just isn't getting enough of the gear teeth to drive it down.....

My questions:

1. Can I purchase just this antenna drive gear from Acura? (The one inside the antenna drive motor...) I'm not interested in spending $300 just because a gear inside the unit is worn...

2. If I can't purchase the gear, is there any way to shim the drive path between the antenna drive gear and the "toothed" plastic thread so as to restrict the plastic thread so that it is squarely sitting on the drive gear when it is driven up and down? ( I noticed a metal retainng pin opposite the drive gear -- I could probably build that up if I had to....)

3. Has anyone found that lubricating the path of the "toothed" plastic thread helps the situation as it is coiled up inside the antenna motor?

My option here is to buy a Hirshmann Auta2040, but I'd like to fix the original OEM unit if I can.....

Any tips?

 

92coupeon18s

i have a good antenna sitting in my basement if u wana buy it. It is silver

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stevieray

Welcome to the best Forum on the 'Net! To answer your question, you CANNOT buy a replacement gear for the OEM antenna. However, there is a relatively inexpensive fix. Go here to antennaworld.com and check out the SJ-4FB which is a identical replacement for the OEM in that it bolts up to the OEM brackets whereas a Hirschmann is a "universal fit" antenna. The SJ-4FB also has a black mast instead of chrome and looks very sweet! Send an e-mail to Raul, the owner of antennaworld.com, and he'll be more than happy to work with you. I sent my old OEM antenna to him to measure and adapt the SJ-4FB to fit and he had both items back to me in 3 days from Miami! You will have to hardwire the connections but it's not difficult. Good luck---

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"King of Kleen"

"Know this. Being able to purchase a Legend and being able to afford a Legend are two separate things. Realize nothing post-purchase is cheap." - LegendGS

TyraMA

Thanks for the offer and the leads!

I sent an email off to "Antenna World" -- I saw on that website that they are offering to sell "used" SJ-4F motor units with "good gears" for $20.

If the SJ-4F is IDENTICAL to my OEM antenna motor, then I'll just buy the used mechanism, pull it apart and pop the "new used" gear into my existing OEM antenna motor unit. ( I looked at the schematic they've posted -- sure looks to be the same design........)

I've sent off an email to them to see what they have to say about this matter.

I'll keep you posted.

If this isn't the right path, I'll be back in touch....

LPB

Well this is a first. Never heard of an antenna motor and/or gear wearing out. Usually the vehicle is long gone before. Check www.car-part.com for a used OEM unit. I did find just the motor listed for $35.

TyraMA

I just wanted to follow up with the results of my efforts to replace the gears in my Antenna Motor unit.

Thanks to all of you, the unit now works beautifully.

Here's what transpired since I was last in contact:

1. I ordered a used SJ-4F motor unit from Antennaworld.com. Cost me $20.00 plus shipping. Email "Raul" and make sure he gives you a used unit with "good gears." The unit arrived and was in excellent condition -- as far as the "gears" were concerned.

2. It turns out that the SJ-4F motor unit is VERY similar to the OEM Acura unit -- appears to have a very similar design.

3. I disassembled the SJ-4F unit and my OEM unit. The designs are a little different inside (I think the SJ-4F is a lower cost version of the Acura unit, but the basic geometries are the same, even on the outside of the unit. The gears inside are the same size, just put together a little differently -- but they DO WORK.

4. I replaced the main gear and the retaining post opposite gear that forces the antenna mast "rack gear" onto the main drive gear. The SJ-4F Raul sent me had a "retaining post" that was in good shape. The "post" on my OEM was corroded and worn out....I think this was the principal reason why my antenna would not retract all the way...

5. Lubricate the trajectory paths of the antenna rack as well as the gears, put back together.

Bottom line, the thing works like a champ.

Best of luck......

LPB

Please post this info in the DIY section. May be of benefit to others.