Power Anntenna 2000 4Runner

I just replaced the Power Antenna on my 2000 4Runner. It was pretty easy. I purchased a new antenna mast at the Dealership. Here's how it went:

I unscrewed the retaining nut on the fender and turned on the radio. From some research I had done on some 4Runner forums, one of two things would happen: Either the entire antenna with the plastic cord attached would just feed right out of the motor, OR if the plastic cord was severed, just the antenna would come out, and the plastic cord would be wound up inside the motor. In my case, the plastic cord was severed, and I had to get to the motor.

There's a plastic splashguard in the wheel well. The guy at the dealership told me that I could get to the motor through there if I needed to. I removed some screws in the splashguard, and peeled it back a little to get at the motor. I removed one screw that attaches the motor to the inside of the body, and pulled the motor out through the wheel well, leaving the electrical connections intact. Once I got the motor out, I removed about 6 screws and took the motor cover off. And there it was. The rest of the plastic cord. It just popped right out.

I then put the motor back together and put it back in the fender. With the fender retaining nut still off, I turned the radio on and let the motor finish running. I fed the new plastic cord with the antenna attached into the hole in the fender. I turned off the radio and the motor grabbed onto it, and sucked it right in. Works like a charm. It took me about an hour from start to finish, but I went slow since I had never done this before.

Hope this helps.