Fixing a broken or malfunctioning car antenna can be done without too much time or effort. Knowing how to fix a broken car antenna can be the difference between driving with music blasting and driving with a bunch of static playing.

Fix or Replace?

First, you need to determine whether your antenna will need to be fixed or replaced. The amount of damage to the antenna will determine which one it will be. If there is any damage to the base of the antenna, it will likely need to be replaced. However, if the antenna is still intact, check the screws at the base of the antenna to make sure it is tightly screwed in. If it is loose, simply tighten the screws until you can’t tighten it any more. Believe it or not, this is one of the top causes for poor reception.

How to Fix Broken Car Antenna

If the problem with your antenna lies in the shaft, it will need to be replaced. You can find replacement antenna shafts at just about any auto part retailer, online or otherwise. The best type of shaft to look for is one that is both flexible so it can bend without breaking, and one that is rubber coated to make it able to absorb more impact. To replace the shaft, you need only to break off what is left of the old shaft from as close to the base as possible. Use a file to taper off anything remaining of the old shaft. With the old one removed, simply attach the new antenna shaft and fasten the retaining screw.

Replacing a Broken Car Antenna

If the damage is more than that, or if this step did not fix your antenna, the next step is to replace it. Replacing the antenna is the best and most effective way of taking care of a broken car antenna. Attempting to fix a broken antenna is often a fruitless labor as the wiring can be unfixable. To replace the entire antenna, you will first have to remove the broken antenna. There will be an antenna cable attached to your stereo beneath the dashboard. Unplug this, then unscrew the antenna nut at the base, then remove the entirety of the antenna. Next, find yourself a pair of wire cutters and cut the old antenna cable. Tape this cable to the new antenna plug and place it into the mounting hole (where the old antenna used to be). Push it in as far as it will go and finally, plug the new antenna cable into the stereo. Your car stereo should now play your favorite radio stations once again!

Following these steps, you should be able to do any antenna repairs yourself, but if you feel more comfortable having a professional take a look at it, consider using TalkLocal. TalkLocal is a free service that will connect you with top-quality, reputable auto repair companies in your neighborhood within minutes. Just enter in your specific problem, location and availability, and up to three companies will call YOU directly, saving you the time and stress of finding one yourself.

This entry was updated on Tuesday, June 9th, 2015 at 11:04 am. This entry was originally posted on Friday, August 31st, 2012 at 6:00 pm and is filed under Auto Repair. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.