Replacing Antenna

I searched for similar threads...

I'm getting terrible radio reception. I bought my 97 Civic EX with a Pioneer radio already installed in it and it's always been hit and miss for stations. It's weird that I can get certain stations in and others not so well until I get close to the tower. I think the antenna might be damaged. I think the previous owner had removed it at one point or moved it around. He left a lot of XM equipment installed in the dash still, probably didn't feel like removing it all.

Anyways, I want to replace the cable and the antenna. I don't even know where to begin to look.

If anyone has some suggestions that would be great.

Thanks

EDIT: I'm looking on ebay right now and there are tons of possibilities. Maybe I should just try one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/96-00-Honda-Civic-2-3-4-Door-Manual-Antenna-Kit-98-99_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33639QQihZ016QQitemZ 260171229650QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW#ebayphotohosti ng

or maybe

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/96-00-HONDA-CIVIC-OEM-STYLE-ANTENNA-KIT-97-99-2-3-4DOOR_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33639QQihZ017QQit emZ270176184053QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW#ebayphotoho sting

I never know they made automatic antennas for our cars!

Anyways, I want to replace the cable and the antenna. I don't even know where to begin to look.

If anyone has some suggestions that would be great

Do you mean you don't know how to do it? Or where to find a replacement? I would imagine that any junk yard would have a replacement, those are not typically destroyed in totalled cars.

Swapping it is fairly easy, you'll need a hex driver to get the plate off the roof. and manuvering the wire around under/behind the dash is a pain... but do-able. The inside plastic cover on the a-arm pops right off, and there are guide holes along the way. Pop the thing off, guide the old wire out, get a hanger on guide the new one in...poof! Take your time when you to it, scraping the wire, crimping or denting the antenna plate, etc can significantly reduce the capability of the antenna.

One tip on replacing the antenna, when you pull off the plate, pull the antenna out till you get to the cable. Cut the cable at the bottom of the antenna, then duct tape the end of the new antenna cable to the cut off end of the old antenna cable. Then just pull the old antenna wire through your dashboard until you find where you taped the new one to it. Then just plug it back into your reciever. This will save you tons of time!

A marvelous idea, and a simple one, and one of those ones that makes me want to hit myself for not having done that back when I changed mine. Kudos.

Thanks for the tips, everyone.

:)