Why won't the antenna go down on your 1993 integra?

Answer 1

If you can hear the motor run and it's trying to retract but you hear clicking noises then the motor is slipping on the plastic teeth of the antenna mast. It's actually designed to slip as that's the way it adjusts when a mast is installed. It may be that the mast itself is gunked up with dirt and oil or bent such that it encounters resistance as it's retracting. Order a new mast online, I got mine for $38 but many sites have it for $50. The mast will come with a replacement chrome nut, O ring and plastic base. I didn't bother with those since my old one was a gold accent nut and I didn't find the nut, o ring and base in the box till after I replaced the antenna. You unscrew the nut at the base of the antenna where it comes out of the car by using a bent nose snap ring plier, bought mine for $11 at Autozone, remove the nut. Have an assistant turn on the radio so that the antenna extends, grab it and pull it out. Stuff the plastic teeth end into the hole with the teeth facing the rear of the car, have your assistant turn off the radio and move the plastic end around until it catches and guide the antenna in. It won't go all the way down because it took some time to get the teeth caught on the motor, screw on the nut. Turn on the radio again to extend the antenna, since it didn't pull in all the way, it will try to push the antenna out more than it will go so you'll hear the motor slip on the end of the plastic teeth. Turn the radio off again and it should go all the way in. It's incredibly easy to replace the antenna mast. When I did it, I didn't believe it was that easy so I took it back out and did it again. I don't think oiling the mast helps, a lot of mechanics have told me to just oil the mast, the oil probably drips onto the plastic teeth making it easier to slip and holds on to the dust so the mast gets gunked up faster. The next time it starts to mess up on me, I'm just going to replace the mast. I'm thinking of trying the dry wax that bicycles use on their chains to lubricate the mast as it won't drip and it won't hold on to the dirt.