Afternoon all,

So the antenna was broken off on the truck when I got it, the original owner had a OEM antenna wire that came with the truck. In the 9 years I have had the truck I have "found" it several times and thought about replacing it.

So I am seriously trying to do it, I have even opened the bag, I can not for the life of me figure out how to unscrew the cap from the top, I have reached under and can not feel anything that needs to be loosened, so how do I get it off?

 

Here is a Lisle set that should have the right socket.

Or, be cheap; use a pair of vise grips or something else to fit in two opposite flats.

Or measure, and knowing what tool set it is, Google for the right one.

(I don't know for sure the size, and don't know how to cross, or I'd supply a link to the one Lisle socket by itself ... and being on Tramadol for a torn rotator cuff, I'm not sure I could remember and think well enough to do the job myself! )

RwP

 

That piece with three notches in it is a nut. It's regular threaded. I would take some channel locks or even just good old pliers and screw it off. You can put some rags between the jaws and the nut so you don't damage it. It should come off no problem. (if it's really tight regular pliers might not do it, but channel locks or vise grips should make quick work)

 

Thank you Ralph and TBugDen for the replies and help. I went out this morning and in about 45 seconds had the nut off. Now I need to go out and run the new cable into the back of the dash and to the radio, then go to AutoZone or O'Rielly and get a new antenna.



I will post some pictures when I am done.

Chris

 

Great! Always good to see a follow-up.

 

Okay, got the radio out, got the old cable out, I tied some rope to the old cable to act as a guide. However it got snagged and when I tugged it pulled all the way out. I should of used a longer piece and tied it off to the steering wheel.

So now I have the new cable inserted but can't seem to find it. Any thoughts short of pulling the entire dash? Any tricks I should know about?

 

You don't have to pull the entire dash...

Start with the upper trim. Remove the two screws that hold the steering wheel lower trim. That will expose two more screws that hold the trim. Remove those and the 8 star head screws that hold the trim. Turn Key to on and lower your gear shift to drive and that will give you enough room to maneuver the trim out.

Once trim is out, two screws hold in the radio. Remove those and the radio slides right out. Two connectors and a ground screw if you want to pull the radio all the way out. Then there's a good amount of room in there to find the antenna. Which you would have had to do all this anyway to plug the new antenna into the back of the radio.

If you still can't see it, you can remove the lower dash. About 8 screws underneath and inside the glove box...you'll need to remove the ash tray mount which is held on with two screws. Remove the ash tray light which is just a spring clip. Then the tray has spring clips that mount to the upper dash, so kind of maneuver it to release. Once it's out of the way, there's one last screw under the tray mount that also holds the lower dash.

 

I have already done everything up to this point. I need to go look at the dash again, It did not seem to be in two parts to me.

Actually I think if I had a kid with small enough arms that they could reach in and find it.

 

It's a 1st gen, it's in two parts.

Might be able to remove the glove box and expose enough to find it; that's part of removing the lower half.

Lemme see what I have here ...

Ah. Read this attacgnebt from my 1988 FSM.

RwP

 

So I went to the a local stereo shop, figured there was a trick to it. They wanted $120 an hour and said that they would have to pull the dash.

I then went to Reilly's is is on the way to Lowe's, I was thinking a drywall tool like they use to run wire. Picked a a flexable tool, along with a 16 inch antenna, at O'Reilly was then able to grab a piece of rope from the cab, some electrical tape and I was in business.


Next project is to replace the broken mirrors. Waiting for them to come in.