I really messed up this time
 

I have a problem, I was burnishing the points in a hirshmann antenna and re-assembled it wrong (I missed the groove for the circuit card) & shorted the power lead to ground. Popped the fuse, and then without checking anything replaced it (same size fuse) & popped it too. Then (TOO LATE!) I dissambled the unit and figured out what I did wrong. I put it all back together and everything worked as advertised. Next morning battery was stone cold dead. Troubleshooting found that apparently the power wire to the antenna melted through somewhere and was shorting power to ground. Not a dead short, (about 17 ohms), but enough. I removed the fuse, and I've been driving w/o clock, radio, emer flashers, etc. for a while now. It is a can of worms under the dash, & I havent looked there, yet. Are they spade or other removable connectors on the fuse box? Once cut/disconnected, I will have to run a new wire to the antenna or leave the mast extended 'all the time'. Any suggestions or tips??

-corne-

'83 300 CD

I vote for keeping the mast up all the time.

Time to get the schematic and find where the +12v feed is grounding.

The fuse block has a lug connection underneath. However, since the circuit feeds other functions, it's unlikely that you can disconnect just the antenna feed at the block. It may be a common +12v feed that branches off inside the car to feed the other functions. If you are lucky, you've got a dedicated feed for the antenna only....

If so....

It's not too hard to replace the wire, the harness runs along the threshold plates, you can pull them, and pull back on the carpeting to reveal the harness. Removal of the back seat will get you to the grommet that goes into the trunk above the wheelhousing. Only difficult part is removal of the fuseblock and feeding the new wire into the passenger compartment. Use the old wire as a fiche to pull the new one through the firewall.

Jim