Power antenna

RCADUDE

MEMBER
CADILLAC ELDORADO

My power antenna cord broke in my 89 Eldo. Replaced it with a new one. Works fine, goes up and down but when power is off and antenna is completely down I can still here a click in the antenna motor about every 30 seconds like it's still trying to pull the antenna down more. I have tried to adjust the cord to different positions but it still has that click. I read somewhere that there are limiters in there somewhere to shut the power off once the antenna is down. There is a relay switch that the power attaches to. Could that be bad? Or is this normal? Any advice would be appreciated.

2 Replies

MIKEYBDMAN

MECHANIC
623 POSTS

Looks like the down switch is located inside the motor. Not sure if it could have gotten damaged in the replacement, but it probably needs to be fixed or eventally you will have motor problems.
A simple explination of how the system works is as follows.
The antenna is supplied power fromt he hot all the time antenna fuse 3 and it runs thru the antenna relay. This power is supplied to the down signal of the antenna motor. It will run the antenna down when the antenna relay is relaxed. When the motor down switch is contacted, it removes the power to the motor. When the antenna relay is powered, it removes power from the down wire and supplies it to the up wire of the motor. When the antenna is up, it makes a switch to remove power from the motor.
Sounds to me like the down switch is not removing power from the motor by the down switch. The relay is operating correctly by supplying power to the down side. If you cannot repair the down switch in the motor, then you may have to replace the antenna motor.
Now, since this is an older model car, and if money is not an option, then I would get with someone who knows electrcity, and have them wire in a kill switch on the main power going to the antenna relay. If they mount the switch on your dash, or under your radio, then you can select when you want to supply power to the antenna.
Before I would do anything, I would look at the motor, and there is a switcha nd harness assembly. Inspect the switches and see if you can find the cause of your trouble.