HOW TO? Replacing a broken antenna

[GG007]

Hi folks,
I'm helping my sister replace a broken antenna (base and stick) on her "new" used '07 yaris hatchback. I've spent much time Googling, searching for instructions.. no luck.

Best I could find so far is someone stating I need to drop the headliner but have found no instructions aside from the complete headliner removal in the service manual which appears to be much more than I need.

Can someone advise as to how to drop the headliner sufficiently enough to replace the antenna?

Thanks!

[CTScott]

You have to remove the rear mounting point for the center seatbelt. To do so you pop the cover off the piece that rotates and then remove the mounting bolt. Once you have done so, you can get your finger up above the headliner and pop the clips by pulling down gently on it. Don't yank it as you will crease the headliner. Unless you have small hands, you may find that you also need to remove the C pillar cover to get it down far enough to get a wrench on the nut that retains the antenna.

[GG007]

Thanks CTScott! Much appreciated.

1. Is there a trick to pulling out the clips without breaking them?
2. with the above instructions, is it fairly simple to disconnect the old and connect the new antenna?

[CTScott]

Thanks CTScott! Much appreciated.

1. Is there a trick to pulling out the clips without breaking them?
2. with the above instructions, is it fairly simple to disconnect the old and connect the new antenna?

In my experience the trick is to get your fingers in around the middle and then work your way outwards until you get to the clips. Then, you you are pulling right at the clip, rather than a few inches away from it.

The antenna has two connectors. They plug in under the right side C pillar cover.

[GG007]

Thanks again.
Does this mean I have to take a entire headliner out to connect my new antenna? (just to avoid confusion, the antenna is roof mounted)

[CTScott]

Thanks again.
Does this mean I have to take a entire headliner out to connect my new antenna? (just to avoid confusion, the antenna is roof mounted)

No. You are pulling the back down far enough to get to the mounting point and then the cable snakes across the top of the headliner from there to the rear right C pillar of the car (the vertical section between the hatch and the rear right window).

[CTScott]

Here's a picture that shows the antenna mounting nut and the direction that the antenna cable heads back in. The second picture shows the two connectors unplugged and hanging by the right rear seatbelt.

52025

52026

[GG007]

Very helpful! Thank very much.
I'm picking up the antenna mount/stick from the wreckers.
So... looks like I will have to remove the C pillar cover in order to connect it, correct?
Thanks for your patience,

[CTScott]

Very helpful! Thank very much.
I'm picking up the antenna mount/stick from the wreckers.
So... looks like I will have to remove the C pillar cover in order to connect it, correct?
Thanks for your patience,

That is correct. Until I looked at the picture I was thinking that the connections were higher up.

[GG007]

Yikes!
Ok..so how do i remove this side panel?

[CTScott]

Yikes!
Ok..so how do i remove this side panel?

That just pops off with the old fingers as well. You would be amazed as to how far you can disassemble a Yaris before reaching into the tool box.

[GG007]

Thanks CTScott!
I feel much better now and ready to undertake the task. I'll report back.
Hopefully, I won't break any of those xmas-tree type clips :)
G

[GG007]

Once again, a huge THANK YOU CTScott!
With your here we successfully replaced the antenna today. I removed both rear pillar covers to allow to drop the headliner a bit more. It was tricky not to crease the headliner but possible. Screwing the nut on the new antenna was the most difficult part.

TIP: to remove the xmas tree like clip, I used a fork, turned upside down. Insert it so the middle of the clip (stub) slides between the fork tines. Then use something hard (in my case, a pen) to put under the end of the times to protect the fabric (headliner)... then simply pull the handle of the fork down... clip will come out unscathed. :)

CTScott, you were a great help!
Cheers

[CTScott]

Once again, a huge THANK YOU CTScott!
With your here we successfully replaced the antenna today. I removed both rear pillar covers to allow to drop the headliner a bit more. It was tricky not to crease the headliner but possible. Screwing the nut on the new antenna was the most difficult part.

TIP: to remove the xmas tree like clip, I used a fork, turned upside down. Insert it so the middle of the clip (stub) slides between the fork tines. Then use something hard (in my case, a pen) to put under the end of the times to protect the fabric (headliner)... then simply pull the handle of the fork down... clip will come out unscathed. :)

CTScott, you were a great help!
Cheers

Nice! Glad to hear that it was successful. The fork as a panel clip puller is a great idea and probably more maneuverable than one of the real tools.

[El Kapitan]

CT Scott,

is there anywhere on this forum where you have posted some pics of your snowplow yaris? that is a yaris, right? i'd like to see what the interior looks like.

[blktiger60]

What a pain.
All I needed was to replace the stub. Oh sure, easy right? Um no.

The factory had cross-threaded the stub into the antenna base. Oh goody. I had to dismantle the base, then I had to cut the plastic shroud up the back with some dikes and a utility knife to get the base that the stub screws into. The stub base is knurled and heat welded into the shroud - this was stripped from me trying to get the stub off by unscrewing and the wire from the base electronics was broke off due to twisting. Got it out. Then I cut the rubber shroud off the stub to reveal a small wrench point at the bottom of the stub, covered previously by heavy rubber. A pair of vice grips and a small wrench later and that's when I discovered the issue. Too bad I didn't do it a couple months earlier. My extended warranty ran out in March. I would have had them put a new one on and reassemble my headliner.

Well at this point im going to repair it, rather than buy new. The new stub screws into the old base pretty smoothly now after some repeated screwing and un-screwing with WD40.

solder
flux
soldering wand

heat gun - to smooth out the shroud plastic

JB Weld

Should be good to go tommorow afternoon. I'll put some black vinyl doc on the outside of the shroud monday at work on lunch.

Update 3-4-18:
The old base failed last summer. I knew it wasn't going to last. Found a used one at a local wrecking yard, and it had an antenna on it so got that too for $20. Works great.

[Wincharger]

Just got a replacement base and its single circular connection(raku 2?) is about 8 inches from the base, the one on the car is 2-3 feet and 2 plugs.

Just called dealer, they say it's $300!!!

Any suggestions?

[shepd]

blktiger, one of the best tools I ever bought was a tap and die set. Pick one up for next time and this sort of thing will be a breeze to fix. Also great for when you need to fit the proverbial square peg into the round hole.

[Wincharger]

Not sure what your answer has to do with antenna base replacement.

[Wincharger]

Pressing on, I cut the ruku 2 connector off stripped the wire, a solid core wire and a braided around it. Cut the old antenna base off the special wire harness revealing a solid core wire and another twisted core wire. Matched them up and taped them off. Put base back in which by the way is a pita. Locked everything back up.

Getting FM great now but no AM.

Any ideas?

[esse10]

I need to replace my antenna base and antenna.

hate to bring back to life an old thread but have a question. So you don't have to remove the whole back seat to remove the back right pillar cover and seatbelt? is that correct? so the antenna connection is behind the pillar cover? is that correct?

[shepd]

Not sure what your answer has to do with antenna base replacement.

Absolutely nothing. It is in relation to this comment in the thread:

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/showpost.php?p=760078&postcount=16

The factory had cross-threaded the stub into the antenna base. Oh goody. I had to dismantle the base, then I had to cut the plastic shroud up the back with some dikes and a utility knife to get the base that the stub screws into. The stub base is knurled and heat welded into the shroud - this was stripped from me trying to get the stub off by unscrewing and the wire from the base electronics was broke off due to twisting. Got it out. Then I cut the rubber shroud off the stub to reveal a small wrench point at the bottom of the stub, covered previously by heavy rubber. A pair of vice grips and a small wrench later and that's when I discovered the issue. Too bad I didn't do it a couple months earlier. My extended warranty ran out in March. I would have had them put a new one on and reassemble my headliner.

[abdel.bolanos]

Hi guys, sorry to revive this thread. My antenna got smashed by my garage door and I need to replace it. Do you know a place where I cane get one (the base of the antenna). Or give ame an alternative to replace the antenna base with something else. Thanks

[esse10]

Has anybody had to replace their antenna base mount and have to deal with removing the Rear pillar cover which also has an SRS Airbag in it? experiences and what not to do or do before I shop my head off if this airbag go's off. :eek: