[ales]

> Thanks for your reply. I haven't taken anything apart yet, so I don't know exactly what the antenna assembly looks like. The antenna is motorized (it retracts when you shut off the radio), so if it refuses to retract, won't the entire antenna subassembly have to be replaced?
>

Not really. It seems to be a common problem on our cars. What I did was buy a used one from a Primera with a bad motor. It didn't quite fit and so I took the metal part (all the links) and it works fine now.

Can you hear the antenna motor work when you turn off the head unit?

Here is how it woks: the top (thinnest) link is attached to a plastic cable and the motor either pushes it out or pulls it in, and the first link, obviously, pulls or pushes the remaining links with it. If the cable breaks (most common problem) the cable is still able to push the antenna out, but not pull it in.

In order to replace the cable you need to replace at least the top link (they are not separable from the cableunless broken). I haven't really checked, but I think a guy that asked me for help a few months ago was able to purchase just the top link/cable. If not, your only option is the whole assembly, and there is no other sourse of those than the dealership.

In order to take out the antenna assembly you need to remove some of the trunk lining, unscrew three (IIRC) bolts or nuts that hold the assembly, and then unscrew a nut on the outside (on the fender) - use thin pliers or tweezers or whatever does the job.

There is also a tube that goes from the bottom of the antenna to the inside of the rear fender. You can either remove the tube from the antenna, of from the fender (together with a rubber thingie that holds it in place). I find the latter option *much* more easy.

You don't really need to take the whole assembly apart. And it's not hard at all anyway.

Good luck.

Alex Lamus