Antenna won't go down!

Hi All!

My antenna decided one day to stop working on me. The antenna will not retract anymore even when the engine is turned off. I cannot retract it by hand and when the ignition is turned on, I do not hear any antenna motor noise.

The antenna fuse looks fine and so I was wondering where do I begin fixing this problem. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Simon

Oh, yes, I have a 1984 300D TurboDiesel.

Moraine,

Thank you for your post.

I checked the fuse as you instructed and it is ok. Next, I checked to see if power was being supplied to the antenna motor when I heard that the motor was whirring, although very quietly when the radio was turned on/off.

Then I located the antenna assembly box containing the motor and drive mechanism, opened it up, and found to my luck (I say "luck" because the problem has been located and the quick painless solution is a replacement belt) that the small thin rubber belt being driven by the motor is broken.

The fact that this small thin rubber workhorse of a belt has raised and lowered the antenna faithfully for over 15 years is amazing. Most vacuum cleaner belts don't last that long. Now, if only I can find where to purchase a new belt...

[Heriberto Rosas]

Your MB dealer sells parts for the original antennas, i just bought the plastic base for mine, good luck.