How can you access the radio antenna motor for a 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee to replace it?

Answer 1

Three fixes available to you. Of course you can take this to the dealer and pay the big bucks. If that was an option you wouldn't be writing here.

The two other options involve one simpler than the other. Harder, and the more expensive option involves removing the right front quarter panel (yes, the whole fender thing) to access the motor and bracket that holds the assembly in. I promise you that you have no other option than removing the fender if you want to restore this to original condition. The reason you have to remove the front quarter panel is because the antenaa is installed before the quarter panel is put on when the vehicle is built new. So, buy a new power antenna for megabucks at the dealer or go to a junkyard and get another of what just broke and the rest is easy. I just hope you get the fender back on and the bolts arent rusty and it fits back correctly. Sigh....

The other, easier, method involves going up to it directly from below thru the wheel well. This will give you a functional antenna and one that will wear better than the fancy dancy power one that came with your GC.

I'm assuming your OE antenna is either broke off due to a car wash or low limb or the motor doesnt work anymore. Do you really REALLY need to have that fancy automatic antenna? If you wish to save some cash and do it yourself then you still have to go to the dealership and buy a factory replacement antenna mount. Why? Because where the antenna is mounted to the sheet metal on the outside is at such a severe angle that none of the aftermarket antenna kits that are available will allow the new thing to stand at a straight up and down angle. Go ahead and buy 2 or 3 and see if I'm not right. So, go buy the kit from the dealer and then replace the fancy one with a solid one that will stand up to car washes, tree limbs etc. Remember, this IS a Jeep and it SHOULD contact tree limbs occasionally.

So, you have to remove the old power antenna and you can do that by turning your steering all the way to the left, removing some screws in the wheel well that hold the inner wheel well liner in and looking up into the cavity. Just bend the plastic, it bends and doesnt break. At this point a flashlight and safety glasses would be a good idea, the glasses because this area of your jeep tends to capture and hold lots of dirt that will come down on your face even if its never been treated like a real jeep and has only gone to the mall. This is the down and dirty part: since the motor is dead anyway you are going to hack and slash that thing out of there. Take no prisoners !!! You are not going to use any of those bracket holes or the bracket again anyway and the old assembly is not serviceable so this is where you indulge your inner distructive self. There are several bolts that hold the assembly in and they are accessible with a ratchet and an extension, so remove all that. I don't remember what size socket you need but a simple set will do. Then remove the outside bezel on the existing antenna by just popping it off and remove the nut holding the antenna in the sheetmetal. It really IS easier than it sounds....

I cut the antenna lead from the radio inside that space with wire cutters and put in a new female connection because if you don't do that then you have to run the new antenna lead to the back of your radio in the dash and that's another whole can of worms. The connection can be crafted with parts and cheap tools from Radio Shack. I coiled excess antenna wire and secured it in that space, installed the new, cheaper and longer lasting antenna to the outside, replaced the screws holding the wheel liner in and called it a done job. And the radio works fine but the antenna just doesnt go down when I turn the radio on. OH WELL !!!!

This is really something that an non-mechanic can do in an hour or two and will save you cash. Good luck.