oh arse. Ariel has bust.

[Munter]

So my leccy ariel broke. It went up most of the way. Then made a loud GERRRRR noise. Turned radio off and it went back down. Turn radio back on and it went up less and loud GERRRR noise. Radio off and it went back down.

Does anybody know.

Can I just replace the mast with one of these?
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...

Or will I need the whole thing?
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...

[Wigeon Incognito]

"GERRRR" isn't normally a good sound!!

Not sure about the answer to your question but from what I've read on various forums changing the motor etc is a really fiddly job.

If it is that, you'll have to let us know how you get on.

Good luck!

[NiceCupOfTea]

Never really examined the aerial on my MX carefully but the Saab has an electric aerial too. Chances are the nylon toothed strip that runs up the mast has stripped. A new mast should probably do it but will be fiddly no doubt. Don't bother with s/h ones, I am on my 3rd second hand one and they have all been knackered!

[franv8]

An alternative - cheat.

Electric aerials on the outside of the car aren't (as far as I can see) something that's fitted that much anymore. Perhaps an alternative is to go for one of the windscreen mounted aerials (small box fitted to top middle of windscreen with two 5" long aerials out each side).

Just an idea! I bought a Halfrauds 'premium' electric aerial for my other car - lucky for them I lost the receipt as it lasted less than a year... grrr!

[DennisTheMenace]

You might get away with replacing the antenna
http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info.php/product...

If not get a peasent spec stainless mast no sections or breaking to worry about

[franv8]

Saves some weight too!

[Hovis]

Not that fiddly to just swap the mast - which is what it sounds like you need. If you unscrew the top cover (the sliver bit on top of the black mound surrounding the mast), raise the aerial, grasp firmly, you should be able to pull it out with ease, push the nylon bit of the new mast into the hole, retract aerial(switch off radio in other words) and the motor should pull the new mast down into the works. Might need a couple of attempts to get it right. Replace black mound and silver retainer and jobs done.

Caution - examine your new mast carefully against the old one (once removed) there may be a little collar on the bottom of the mast itself - if you new one doesn't have this, you'll need to swap the one over from the old mast. You need this - it stops the mast from being pushed up too high.

Hope that helps

[snotrag]

Theres a guide on Miata.net I believe for swapping over to a Honda S2000 aerial - a short, rubbery bendy one.

I seem to remember the parts cost from Honda is very cheap too.

[Munter]

Well I fitted a new mast just now. Same problem. Bugger. I should have guessed really when the original came out with all of it's nylon "tail".

So we have chopped the tail off the old one and put that back in. Motor runs for a bit, but then stops, and oddly the radio still works fine.

Anyway now I'm torn between replacing with one from mx5parts or trying the s2000 one....

[Munter]

snotrag said:

Theres a guide on Miata.net I believe for swapping over to a Honda S2000 aerial - a short, rubbery bendy one.

I seem to remember the parts cost from Honda is very cheap too.

Had a scoot through the garage section. I cant find the bit for the S2000 aerial. I'm sure I've read it before years ago though....

[swansea v6]

My arial has just packed up aswell!!! It still makes the whirring sound when you turn on the radio but the arial doesn't move up or down, in fact it is stuck in half way up!!!

What is the S2000 one like? or are there any others I can replace mine with?

[Munter]

Ok I've found the S2000 aerial instructions here:

http://www.mx5ocforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=23053&...