Greetings all,

The patient is a '95 S320(V) with an immobile antenna. I can hear the motor run when the radio is powered on and off. I've pulled the mast and it is perfectly straight and the teeth on the nylon drive are likewise undamaged. With the chrome ferrule nut on the fender removed, the mast will extend a few inches, however, that is the only movement I've been able to coax from it.

I believe this car has the 6000KE series antenna (looks like an external control module). I've pulled the trunk liner to see what I can see, and what I don't see is how to open the motor case to examine the drive mechanism.

Does anyone have any tips on how to open the case? I expect that once I get it open, the problem will lie with either the drive wheel gear or it's bearing, based on my 6000U experience and what bits I can find online. Am I on the right track?

Thanks in advance,
Tom

Hi Tom. "I've pulled the mast and it is perfectly straight and the teeth on the nylon drive are likewise undamaged." How do you know the teeth are OK without opening the case? I think the unit has to come out for a thorough bench check and probable cleaning.
I checked the Antennaworld website. They show a couple of pictures of variations on the (now obsolete) 6000KE, but not enough detail to show the case fasteners. The usual method is to insert a small flat blade screwdriver into the tangs and kind of twist the blade to release them one by one around the circumference of the casing. At least that is how most of the older Hirschmanns are constructed.

__________________
1986 560SL
2002 Toyota Camry
1993 Lexus

Don,
I meant that the teeth on the nylon 'whip' inside the mast are undamaged. Just undo the chrome ferrule nut on the top of the fender, and pull the mast out while the motor is running. (Wonder if I could do it when the motor isn't running...)

Ah ha! It looks like the case is fastened on the back, unlike other Hirschmanns I've encountered. I haven't actually removed the antenna yet as one of the bracket screws is fastened absurdly tight, and I was hoping I could open it up for a looksee in situ. Time to get out the kroil and try not to further round off the head of that screw. Thanks for the reference, no one else seems to have any info on the KE. I'll let you know what I find.

Tom

Finally got the antenna out yesterday, and the problem turned out to be (drum roll, please) a broken piece of plastic. Imagine that!

The drive gears on the KE (and EL, it looks like) are a two-piece affair. One is driven by the motor and connects to the one that drives the mast with a circlip (on the motor side) and a little nub of plastic (on the mast side). Opening the KE is simple once you get it out of the car; just a big torx screw on the backside.

I ordered a new gear from Walter Odemer at http://www.geocities.com/odemer@sbcglobal.net/index.html for $45. Should be here in a couple days.

Thanks for the advice,
Tom

Here's a thread I posted to awhile back, in which, if you scroll down a bit, there is a picture of the 6000EL drive gears. Antenna operation ins & outs. If one of these is the culprit, I fixed the broken/sheared off 'pin' with a dab of glue and a tiny nut/bolt. Not sure about the KE, but since you've ordered a new one, it's moot, but thought you'd enjoy the read anyway.

__________________
1986 560SL
2002 Toyota Camry
1993 Lexus