Power antenna freezes in cold weather
Kevin Sargent
winter when your antenna freezes up and it refuses to go up and/or down.
Mostly makes me nervous when I hear it get stuck, just HOPING that it does
not burn out the motor.
Here in Montreal Quebec, we reach some pretty cold temperatures in the
winter so this becomes an issue. Last winter I managed to keep my antenna
on my Integra in relatively good shape by lubricating it whenver possible.
It froze a couple times when it got REALLY cold, but it was not so bad.
Ironically, over the *summer* the motor began to malfunction, making a
cruching sound whenver the antenna reached the bottom; like the antenna was
down, but the motor tried to keep winding it for another second or so,
resulting a loud crunching sound. Not good. Since I have the extended
warranty, the motor was covered for a deductible of $25 (Note - the motor
costs more than $200 USD). Anyway, I asked the service guy what *Acura*
recommends should be done for the antenna freezing problem. Here is how the
conversation went;
Me: "What does Acura recommend I should do to maintain my power antenna in
the winter? What is the best lubricant to use?"
Acura: "Do not lubricate it at all. Just keep it clean from salt and dirt.
But if you really want to lubricate it, you can use transmission fluid. But
whatever you do, do NOT use WD-40. It is an anti-seize and will actually
DRY out the antenna."
Me: "So... if I don't lubricate it, wouldn't that result in it freezing up
in the winter??"
Acura: "It might..."
Me: "So if the motor burns out because the mast was frozen, is that covered
by warranty?"
Acura: "No, of course not."
Me: "So..... ?"
Acura: "What many people choose to do is simply raise the antenna and
disconnect it for the winter. A lot of people leave it up about a foot and
a half, some people leave it all the way up."
So. Now I have a fresh new motor for my power antenna. I started right
away by testing it to make sure it works (the first one they put in was
defective; it had a bad ground inside the motor which resulted in massive AM
interference), then I told the guy to disconnect it and I would reconnect it
in the spring.
Now, what I am wondering is, among all the Integra owners out there (or any
other car equipped with a power antenna) who live in a cold climate and face
this problem, what do you usually do? Do you leave it on and lubricate it,
or do you disconnect it? And if you disconnect it, how far do you leave it
extended? Is there a *significant* difference if I leave it out halfway
compared to fully extended? I currently have mine fully extended with no
problems... except that the height of the car including the antenna is about
6' (not measured, but I'm 6'2" and it is almost as tall as me). I am afraid
this might be a problem with certain underground parkings or garages,
particularly the temporary winter garages which are very common in Quebec
(although I don't have one).
I'm just curious to know how other people handle this cold-weather
problem...
Merry Christmas!
--
Kevin Sargent
96 Integra
ksar...@NOSPAM.videotron.ca
Montreal, Quebec
UIN 1431766
(NOTE - Remove the NOSPAM. to reply)
Ron Jones
My antenna has stuck in really cold weather since the car was new and has
been to the dealer twice about it. They can't fix it. It's been the ONLY
defect in my 96 Integra (so far).
So now how do I get the WD-40 off? Doesn't transmission fluid attack paint?
"Kevin Sargent" <ksar...@NOSPAM.videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:zZC06.2912$G%3.7...@wagner.videotron.net...
> Anyone who lives in a cold climate knows how annoying it can be in the
> winter when your antenna freezes up and it refuses to go up and/or down.
> Mostly makes me nervous when I hear it get stuck, just HOPING that it does
> not burn out the motor.
>
Karl Nehring
"Kevin Sargent" <ksar...@NOSPAM.videotron.ca> wrote:
> Anyone who lives in a cold climate knows how annoying it can be in the
> winter when your antenna freezes up and it refuses to go up and/or
down.
>>>SNIP<<<<
>
> I'm just curious to know how other people handle this cold-weather
> problem...
>
> Merry Christmas!
>
> --
> Kevin Sargent
> 96 Integra
> ksar...@NOSPAM.videotron.ca
> Montreal, Quebec
> UIN 1431766
>
> (NOTE - Remove the NOSPAM. to reply)
>
>
Kevin:
I have had several cars with power antennas, including my curent 95
Integra LS, and have usually found WD-40 to work about the best. The
point about cleaning is important -- I usually get a cloth or paper
towel, spray the WD-40 onto the towel, then wipe down the antenna. In
the winter, it is surprising how much salt and other junk accumulates on
the antenna, and wiping it down cleans off this junk while leaving
just a very light residue of the lubricant.
I kow the dealer said not to use WD-40, but IMHO, his logic is flawed.
You WANT to keep moisture out of the thing, bcasue that is what locks
the antenna -- frozen moisture. However, it all you do is spray it with
WD-40, witout wiping it down, then the WD-40 will gum up with salt and
other crud and you will indeed have a mess. Also, if you do not wipe
it down well, the WD-40 will ooze onto your paint around the base of the
antenna post when the antenna retracts, and you will have a devil of a
time cleaning it.
Anyway, that's just my 2 cents' worth.
Merry Christmas!
Karl Nehring
Ostrander, Ohio
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
dizzy
<ksar...@NOSPAM.videotron.ca> wrote:
>I'm just curious to know how other people handle this cold-weather
>problem...
WD-40 is too thin for this, I think. On my '92 Prelude, every couple
years I give it a cleaning and a light lube with some 3-in-1. It
always works good.
Darcy Roberts
is short order, leaving nothing to lubricate the antenna.
Try a light silicone based spray lubricant, applied with a
clean rag.
regards,
darcy roberts
ra300z
wrote:
>Hey ... I spray mine with WD-40 but it doesn't help.
>
>My antenna has stuck in really cold weather since the car was new and has
>been to the dealer twice about it. They can't fix it. It's been the ONLY
>defect in my 96 Integra (so far).
It's been the only defect on your Integra! It's only a matter of time
before your exhaust (A-pipe) cracks.
I haven't done anything for my antenna. If it doesn't go up, it
doesn't go up. WD-40 won't do anything as it is a solvent and a
lubricant would be a better solution.
---
http://go.to/ra300z
George Macdonald
the service guy makes out. It does dry out to a hard gummy substance
eventually though so it's not a good lubricant but it can help keep
moisture out. I don't use it any longer except to maybe clean the thing
off.
To get a little of some kind of lubrication down inside I use Super Lube
spray grease - it's a light synthetic grease with Teflon in a light
volatile solvent base so it penetrates well and yet leaves a good lube
behind which doesn't damage plastics or rubber etc. I spray a little on
the base as the antenna is on its way down, take it up & down a few times,
leave it for a while then bring the antenna back up and wipe off.
During the course of the Winter I wipe the extended antenna off with a
paper towel soaked with silicone spray lube from time to time. It repels
water of course and leaves a lubricating film behind. Whether any of the
above does any good is difficult to say but the most important thing is to
make sure that everthing is clean and before you turn on the radio that
there's no ice around the antenna base. Ideally I'd check the antenna for
ice before I turn off the radio every time but I usually think of that when
it's already on its way down.
My '92 Integra's antenna is still working (NJ so fair amount of freezing)
but it does give a slight crunch from time to time... just to keep me
awake.:-) On that car the frameless windows are more of a problem with ice
etc.<sigh>
On Fri, 22 Dec 2000 01:55:31 -0500, "Kevin Sargent"
<ksar...@NOSPAM.videotron.ca> wrote:
Rgds, George Macdonald
"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??
Tony Hwang
Hi,
Power antenna is a pain in the neck no matter what.
I usually disconnect it after extending a couple of inches out and
connect a flexible duckie on top of it.
Tony
Adrian Idzik
lubricant, as it will get
gummed up even further when salt falls on it.
"Kevin Sargent" <ksar...@NOSPAM.videotron.ca> wrote in message
news:zZC06.2912$G%3.7...@wagner.videotron.net...
Bror Jace
Like most others, I don't think highly of WD-40. It's merely a brand
name. The stuff is too light to be a great lubricant and it has a
strong solvent as well which can cause other problems wherever it goes.
Silicone or teflon dri-lube spray sounds good as does some of the
better lubes/light greases out there. I'm becoming a fan of Valvoline
Synpower spray lube and I wonder how something like the Mobil 1 spray
would work. I've used the Slick-50 spray with good results on certain
things but I hesitate to recommend it to anyone else. I think the whoel
line of products is somewhat scam-ish. I've used ATF as a good, light,
low-temp lubricant so I can see why your dealership would recommend it.
It cleans, lubrictaes and is kind to rubber seals.
Just be sure to spray whatever you use on a paper towel and THEN wipe
your antennae down, multiple times. Expect to do this at least once
month to keep things clean and lubed.
--- Bror Jace
The Good Bohemian
<ra3...@yahoo.com> wrote:
About that a pipe problem... Do '93 RS tegs have the double walled a
pipe also?
just curious...
Thanks.
Andrew.