Ice and power antennas - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lietuviai · #1 02-13-2005, 12:12 PM

Be careful when start off in the morning and you've got a good layer of ice on your car especially around the antenna. I nearly ruined mine last week when I got a good layer of snow and ice on the car. I usually have the radio on when I leave in the morning as I did that day. I heard some horrible groaning from the back and I realized that the antenna was frozen over. I immediately hit the off switch on the radio and saved the antenna. The antenna suffered no damage and still works fine. I have a feeling this happens to many of us without ever realizing it.
Don't let it happen to you.

Brian Carlton · #2 02-13-2005, 01:07 PM

I have a suspicion that the mechanism in the antenna is designed for these situations. Sometimes the antenna on the SDL gets fouled with dirt and it will only extend 1/2 way. Apparently, the motor senses this and shuts itself off after a valiant attempt.

Lowering the antenna is the same deal. If the mast is binding slightly, the antenna will stop before it is fully lowered. No damage occurs.

I've not checked it with the antenna completely frozen over, so YMMV.

MikeTangas · #3 03-12-2005, 01:09 PM

Funny, I have gone all winter without turning on the radio just to avoid antenna problems..that is until yesterday. Drove 600 miles to visit my Dad, started getting a little bored and turned on the radio. Problem is this was during a mild blizzard. When I got to his house I turned off the radio so I wouldn't have to worry about snow/ice build-up when starting the car enxt. When I got out I noted the antenna only went down about 1/2 way.

If I turn on the radio the antenna goes up, but will only come down half way. I am going to try raising the antenna and wiping it down, maybe with warm water to try to clean any salt, grime or ice build up that may be impeding the travel. Any other ideas?

Brian Carlton · #4 03-12-2005, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeTangas

Funny, I have gone all winter without turning on the radio just to avoid antenna problems..that is until yesterday. Drove 600 miles to visit my Dad, started getting a little bored and turned on the radio. Problem is this was during a mild blizzard. When I got to his house I turned off the radio so I wouldn't have to worry about snow/ice build-up when starting the car enxt. When I got out I noted the antenna only went down about 1/2 way.

If I turn on the radio the antenna goes up, but will only come down half way. I am going to try raising the antenna and wiping it down, maybe with warm water to try to clean any salt, grime or ice build up that may be impeding the travel. Any other ideas?

Nobody should have to drive with the radio off just because they are worried about their antenna.

I have this problem all the time. I extend the antenna all the way and wipe it down with paint thinner. Cleans off all the debris and any old oil/lubricant.

I would not use warm water. If the water gets down into the mast, the unit won't like it one bit.

I have been experimenting with liquid graphite as a lubricant. I add the liquid to the mast and run it up and down several times, attempting to get the fluid down into the mast. The longevity is still only about one month.

My next try will be transmission fluid and see how long that lasts.

Hatterasguy · #5 03-12-2005, 01:42 PM

Sometimes ine gets stuck half way down or part of the way up, I just leave it and usually the next time I start the car it corrects itself. But not very often usually the sun melts it pretty fast. They seem to have an overload protection built in, also they are belt driven so that should break before the motor does.

I have been using a dry lube on mine called McLube. Sailors coat everything with it; it seems to last only a couple of weeks at best though but is simple enough to apply.

whunter · #6 03-12-2005, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeTangas

When I got out I noted the antenna only went down about 1/2 way.
I am going to try raising the antenna and wiping it down, maybe with warm water to try to clean any salt, grime or ice build up that may be impeding the travel. Any other ideas?

Never use water in winter.

Rubbing alcohol, paper towel and rubber gloves will fix it.

pawoSD · #7 03-12-2005, 11:32 PM

I put my antenna switch into the down/off position the day I installed sirius satellite....no need for it anymore

Its going to be many many a day before I ever need to extend my antenna for "old fashioned" radio signals again

My music beams down from the heavens.....

#8 03-13-2005, 01:30 AM

Next timethat youfill upwith diesel, simply wait for the last DOZEN drops or so and let them drip nto (into) a cloth or peper towel and wipe the mast (fully extended) and shut off said radio....Turn it back onand repeat......... do this procedure 5 or 6 times amd usually you will be pleasently supprised! On occcasion, you will need to TAP the antennae down into the CLOSED position. This take somewhat of a delicate touch.

Do NOT be hamfisted...............Enough said...
spo out

Carrameow · #9 03-13-2005, 01:37 AM

You can replace the mast which is hard enough, but if you strip the plastic gears and insides, I dont think coming by the parts is very easy,,,,

Johnhef · #10 03-13-2005, 02:01 AM

Has anybody tried the $30 antenna mast and motor package on ebay??

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7959798078&category=33639

I suggested it to a friend of mine awhile back who needed a motor for his 380SEC, but I never heard back if he bought it or not.

whunter · #11 03-13-2005, 02:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carrameow

You can replace the mast which is hard enough, but if you strip the plastic gears and insides, I don’t think coming by the parts is very easy,,,,

When I got my car the antenna did not work.
I pulled the entire unit, cleaned and lubricated it, installed a new mast, it works great.
Junk antenna motors are easy to find, it is the good used ones that are hard.
The drive gears are made to slip under heavy load + the mast push rod is weak and strips or breaks before damage occurs.

Normal destruction fault is circuit board corrosion in the motor box.

Carrameow · #12 03-13-2005, 02:20 AM

Its coming back to me now ( I am 45). The insides are very tough. I apologize for the mistake. I remember rebuilding one, ten years ago, but what I had to do was more involved than just the mast. I remember it wasnt easy.

Tirebiter · #13 03-13-2005, 02:50 AM

I hate it when the ice builds up all over everything

Gotta walk to the car through the driving blizzard on snow shoes and it's uphill in both directions.

MikeTangas · #14 03-13-2005, 09:09 AM

I wiped off the heavy crud with a slightly damp paper towel, even that little bit of water left a thin skin of ice. But it did clean off the junk. Foloowed up by rubbing the extended mast with a dry towel and cycling the mast. Working great now, when I get home I will get a little glide paste on the mast.