Need help with antenna
 

Hi guys,

The power antenna on my (new to me) 1972 280SE doesn't work.

I hear the motor wind every time I turn the car on/off, but the antenna doesn't move. I thought it needed lubrication, but it didn't. Still, I lubricated the mast. I can confirm it moves up/down very easily if I pull/push it.

It seems as if the mast has disengaged from the motor. I tried pushing the antenna down to see if I could make it snap back into the motor (carefully as not to bend it), but that didn't work.

I did some research on the forum and learned about the access panel in the wheel-well and about how there is a Hirschman universal replacement.

- Any thoughts on trying to fix my car's antenna?
- If not fixable, how easy is it to replace the antenna with a Hirschman universal?

Thanks!

Jose

There is a nylon cable inside the mast. Some have teeth at the bottom and some do not. The cable end catches in the motor and the motor reels in the mast. The mast replacement comes with the cable inside; I am pretty sure the cable itself is not replaceable. Your nylon cable may have broken. I cannot remember whether you need to remove the motor from the car. As I remember you can just raise the mast and pull it up and out from the motor (seems like you have to remove the chrome nut and cover outside the fender but do not quite remember). Then feed the new mast nylon cable down into the motor and hit the power. I think it reels itself in. Then replace the chrome cover and nut.

Search some of the old posts on this forum. There are better instructions. I have not done this in years but I remember it as being really easy and quick.

The Hirschman is priceless and pretty much bullet proof; do not replace it.

A tip on removing the antenna from a 108 or 109.....

Remove the kick panel on the right side footwell. Behind it you will find the blower motor for the A/C. This is held into place by, I think, three bolts that are easy to reach. Remove the bolts and the blower is now held in place only by a rubber mounting gasket that protects the body of the fan from the body of the car.

Pull the blower motor out and the antenna is right there in front of you. You may still need to go up and into the fender to remove it, but if the antenna is in the lowered position it should pull out through this hole. In any case this will give you more room to deal with it if you have to take it out through the fender liner route.

When replacing the fan remove the rubber mounting gasket and install it first. Then put a bit of lube of some type around the inside of it and slide the blower motor back in. This is easier than trying to line up the mounting ring with the motor still stuck through it.

if its just the mast ( just worn teeth) , no need to remove. If the motor runs when you turn key on and off then most likely a bad mast. If it is broken off , then you will have to take it out and apart to remove broken piece

Hey guys,

I did a little research and found out how to remove the mast, which shows the nylon cable is missing (see attached pic below).

I took a quick video of what the motor sounds like when it winds up and down. I'm wondering if the nylon cable is stuck in the motor and I'm gonna have to replace the whole thing... Here's a link to the video showing audtio for 1) wind up, 2) wind down, 3) wind up again, and 4) wind down again.

280SE Antenna Motor - YouTube

Listen and let me know your thoughts.

Thanks!

If the nylon cable is broken and stuck in the mechanism, the broken cable piece is easily pulled out. You will need to remove the Hirschman from the car but that is no problem. Seems like there is a side inspection plate or maybe one side cover comes off; cannot remember but it is easy. Pull the broken piece out, feed the new mast nylon cable into it and turn it on. It will feed the cable in.

you are going to have to remove antenna , take off cover an inspect
No way to tell by sound, but my gut tells me it has a piece in there that needs to come out . If it was broke right at the mast you would see it and it would at least exit a bit and then go back in.

Another way =- order correct mast and feed it in , if it works great, if not remove broken piece and then feed in new

When I replaced my power antenna I did it from the tire side. There is a panel behind the tire that is held on by 3-4 screws (at least one that is accessible from the engine compartment), I removed this and the antenna is right there.

This is the only true way to do it. I usually remove the A/C blower motor because it is so dark up inside that fender and I don't see as well as I once did.

Guys, I'm gonna try to tackle the mast replacement over the next few days but I cannot seem to find the correct replacement part. Anyone knows the part for the OEM mast?

Keep us posted.

Can anyone help me with this?

The easiest way is to cross it to the antenna mechanism. Most if not all of the era MB used the same mast. Or any car of the era using that motor would be the same. Not specific to MB

It appears that Mercedes is not the one to deal with for this part. That would be Becker Autosound. I don't know if they sell spare parts but they can rebuild the one you have.

You can also, through Automobile Atlanta, buy a replacement power antenna that is made for the mid to late 70's 911 but should work. I checked with Pelican but they only thing they sell is a manual Hirschman that is a drop in replacement. Not power, but at $14 it is tough to beat their price.

Thanks Idle, yes, I had looked on Pelican and all I saw was the manual antenna.

I've been trying to figure out the bigger picture. While the antenna's nylon cord is broken, the bigger problem is that I don't get radio reception. All I hear when I turn on the radio is a grunt.

First I thought the problem was the mast, but then when I saw that the only issue with it was that the nylon cable is missing, I thought that regardless, it should be working (incorrectly maybe? -- I'm not that knowledgable about this stuff. Just starting...)

My next thought was that maybe the antenna is not connected to the radio. So, I opened the fender panel today and this is what I found:

http://www.my280se.com/pics/antenna_01.jpg

I don't know if that is an original antenna or a Hirschmann Universal. Judging by the pics I've seen online and the round sticker I see coming off on the side, looks like a Hirschmann Universal to me.

More importantly on that photo to me is the fact that the antenna IS INDEED connected.

So, next I thought, maybe the antenna is not connected to the back of the radio... I found instructions on how to remove the radio here. And, after pulling it out, this is what I found:

http://www.my280se.com/pics/radio_back_01.jpg

Everything seems to be connected. I went ahead and labeled the connections 1-5 in an effort to attempt to identify each cable. Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

1. Antenna cable
2. ?? (it's a plastic cap covering a connector)
3. Ground
4. Speakers (is it a speaker harness?)
5. Power


So my mystery deepens. The antenna seems to be connected. I know its not the speakers. I tested them with a cable connected to my iPod. They work great!

Maybe the radio is shot?

P.S. Oh, the taped paper! I Googled C+M Motorworks. They're a repair shop in New Jersey. I have NO HISTORY on this car. I'm so calling them on Monday! :-)