radio antenna 84 190D
 

Yesterday morning my radio antenna extended properly---when I cranked the car to go home yesterday afternoon the antenna didn't extend and I do not hear the antenna motor running. I immediately checked the fuse but it is not blown--Is there an inline fuse and if so where? This is the first electric antenna I have had to quit--do they usally go out like this or is their demise gradual? Any suggestions for troubleshooting. This is a virgin factory system on my 84 --never touched and works fine.
thanks
Joel

Q1: Do you have a dash antenna switch? Q2: Is the radio/HU working OK?
There should only be 1 fuse for the antenna, in the fusebox. Check the ground connection at the antenna too. If you can easily get at it, I'd also check power coming from the harness at the antenna plug too. If you can confirm that its getting power, then you'll need to remove the unit and do a bench check. Real easy BTW, and most problems are related to an accumulation of grime that prevents the mast from rising. That's easy to fix too, of course.

Don
I do have an antennae switch in the dash and yes the radio is working as well as it can without an extended antenna. wouldn't you think with the sudden stop of function rather than a gradual slow down that loss of power would be the culprit. The motor is dead and there was never a malfunction prior to it quitting. Again this system has never been touched
joel

Well, with antenna electrics, I usually find that things cease rather abruptly, usually when a fuse blows, a wire loosens or breaks, an internal circuit component fries, or a switch fails to connect a contact. The trigger for the antenna comes off the dash switch. Have you tried playing with the switch?
I agree, either loss of power or a broken ground is the likely culprit. You'll have to do a process of elimination to isolate the problem.
Since the antenna plug is the easiest to access, I'd start there, both by using a multimeter or test lamp to confirm power and ground from the harness side, and applying 12V to the antenna itself.
Of course, it could be mechanical, as in a broken part inside the unit too, and these do break just as suddenly as an electrical connection. That doesn't sound likely in your case though...