Friends (and Romans): Lend me your ears!!

My 116 450 SEL got a good detailing and waxing from me last week. But I think it had something to do with my power antenna getting stuck.

Noticed that it was still fully up after I turned off the car last week. Never happened before. I think some wax (Carnauba) got pulled down into the shaft. Too much coincidence. Was working fine all along.

I touched the motor housing tiself, and it was...hot. Later that evening, it went up and down...but very slowly. I didn't want to drain battery or kill motor entirely, so I disconnected one of the power leads in the trunk for now. at least it's in the fully extended position for reception, etc.

I'm not going crazy over this. But....

Any troubleshooting suggestions? I'm sure this has happened to several of you.

Motor does not look that old. May have been replaced once by the previous owner.

Ideas??????

Thanks
Bob

I don't know about your car, but I just changed an antenna mast for the first time a couple of weeks ago on one my 126 cars. Bought a new mast and a new "grommet". Removed the assy from the car because I could not get the broken plastic part out. It took four hands and 4 tiny screwdrivers to unsnap the case, but it came apart easy. Took it completely apart. Cleaned out the insides so it looked light new. Used a very minimal amount very lightweight grease on the gears. Put it back together with the new parts and works great, goes up and down quickly now, and is very quiet, much quieter than before.
Maybe you should pull yours out and do what I did?
PS - buy a new mast and grommet. It'll set you back about 20 bucks.

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Thank You!
Fred
2009 ML350
2004 SL600
2004 SL500
1996 SL600
2002 SLK32
2005 CLK320 cabrio
2003 ML350
1997 C280 Sport

Power antenna's require regular lubrication or eventually they fail. Every time you change the oil on the car, extend the antenna mast and wipe it down with some white lithium grease. A thin film should be enough. Too much will allow dirt and grit to adhere. If it should become stuck, a little WD40 is OK. The oil or grease will not affect radio reception.

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Resistance is Futile.

alarm is stuck on valet
now I just came home from a downpour
had the antenna up
now it won't retract all the way

Somehow the rain/water made a problem

I am going to let it dry

Hope that works

What kind of lubrication does it need?

I have lightweight machine oil
sewing machine oil
turbine oil
don't really have lithium grease

What lubrication is recommended?

What should I do?
I don't seem to have a height adjustment switch
my care is a euro...

Thanks

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83 500 SEC Euro 198K

Yeah!!!
I let it go all the way up
then dried the mast & blew into the bottom hoping to forse the water out
& she retracted all the way!!!!!

Success!!!!

now note to self
no radio in rain
luckily it nev er rains in So Cal

LOL

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83 500 SEC Euro 198K

LOL Ack, that reference might mean we're old....

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'88 300SE | Midnight Blue | 237k
'09 Subaru Impreza | red | 0k