The antenna mast on 86-92 cars likes to break off, or break internally. Normally, as long as you can hear the antenna motor running when you turn the stereo on and off, all that needs replacing is the mast. The following instructions are for coupes, but the convertibles are basically the same – just somewhat harder to get the assembly out.
The factory mazda mast is discontinued. If you happen to have a NOS antenna mast, these are the instructions for you.
This requires two people. Be sure to have a HIGHLY qualified assistant, preferably ASC certified, minimum 3 years experience, with at least a masters degree, who is capable of turning the radio on and off when you tell them.
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If you have a rear wing, it has to be removed in order to get to the upper part of antenna. Wings are usually held by a few screws from the underside. |
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Using a punch and small hammer, or a pair of needle nose pliers, unscrew the black ring. |
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After pulling the interior carpeting back out of the way, undo the two mounting nuts using a 10mm socket. |
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Unplug the electrical connection, and also the black antenna wire. |
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Fish the assembly out of the car. |
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Using a 7mm socket, take the center nut off. |
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Take the black plastic cover off. Make a note (and don’t lose them) of where, and what order, the washers go above the wheel. |
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Remove the remainder of the white plastic “rope” from the broken mast. Then re-install the wheel and black cover. |
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Pull the metal part of the old mast out of the top of the assembly. |
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Pull the locating sleeve off of the old mast. The thing won’t work right without this sleeve. If yours is gone, the part number is 66-A9Z0-HE02. |
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Remount the assembly into the car (mast is not in yet), and plug the antenna and electrical connections back in. |
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Remember to slip the sleeve over the end of the new mast. |
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Turn the stereo ON. Feed the white “rope” part of the mast as far down the hole as you can get. You are feeding it into that black round wheel thing, and it can take a few shots before it’s in far enough. The majority of the rope will still be outside of the car. |
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Now comes the interesting part – What you are doing is feeding the mast (including the metal part!) down the hole as the antenna goes down when the radio is turned OFF. Holding the mast kind of high, so you have a reasonably straight shot down, have your assistant turn the radio off. The antenna will feed down the hole, and should go all the way down. |
| This sounds so easy, and we actually get a lot of them on the first shot. If the winder did not grab the mast rope, or it did not go down all the way, then you didn’t get it started far enough down in the earlier step – have your assistant turn the radio back on, and repeat the steps. | |
| When you get it to go down all the way, reassemble everything, and you are done! | |
| If you are having trouble, don’t feel bad. The car we used for this “shoot” fought us all the way. We had to take the assembly back out and all apart. Then bless it and put it back together – and still ended up feeding the mast down with the assembly on the back of the car. This is another option, and can sometimes be easier. Theory is the same, just remember the antenna case needs to be grounded in order to work. | |