Problem with radio power antenna on 97 C280

[Ali Al-Chalabi]

Hi all, I have a problem with the automatic antenna for the radio on my 97 C280.

Whenever I turn on the radio, the antenna fully extends, but after the antenna is fully extended, the motor for the antenna continues to run for about 5 seconds or so after the antenna is fully raised, which makes a loud, very annoying grinding noise until the motor finally shuts off after 5 seconds or so.

My idea is that there must be some sort of switch or something to let the motor know that the antenna is fully raised that must be malfunctioning. There must be a time limit in the motor or something that shuts it off no matter what position it thinks the antenna is in, and this is the only reason that the motor shuts off.

Please advise as to how I may go about correcting this problem.

-Thanks in advance.

[Ali Al-Chalabi]

I am just hoping that there is a cheap fix and my motor doesn't burn out from running continuously with the antenna up and making a horrific grinding noise.

[Ali Al-Chalabi]

Thanks for the advice!

I'll try to find time to take out the motor this week and look at it.

i think that the motor running for a few seconds after raising or lowering the antenna because sometimes when my radio antenna does not go all the way down after removing the key i walk to the back of the car and push the antenna down a little and it continues to go down. about the gringing noise, check the geared cable and the motor housing like the others suggesdted.