VY car antenna replacement

[jdcasagrande]

Hi,

Has anyone ever replaced the car antenna on a 2003 VY series 2 s pac?

I was wanting to replace the ugly long motorised antenna with a short black stubby one. Does anyone know if this is possible on the VY holdens?

cheers

[Fletch_QLD]

I have done this on a number of my previous cars - and plan to do it on my VY in the near future. I see no reason why it can't be done, but getting it to sit flush on the panel may involve some lateral thinking as it's a small hole on a tight curve - compared to some I have done.

[jdcasagrande]

ok, do i need to remove the whole antenna assembly? or does the antenna mast twist off? and i twist the smaller stubby antenna on?

[Fletch_QLD]

it's harder than just twisting it off.

Jack up front passenger side of car
remove wheel
remove plastic cover insider wheel arch
remove aerial from up under here

insert hew aerial base from under wheel arch
screw new aerial to base from above.


The tricky part is that the generic rubber aerials are designed to be fitted to flat surfaces - not curved.
so adaptations to the base are required to get a good fit as the aerial hole is on a curved part of the panel on the vy.


I'll see about taking some photos if I get a worthwhile result on mine.

[jdcasagrande]

yer a picture would be great! ok i see, must take some crafty skill to get it looking flush. nothings ever as simple as screw off screw on is it haha!

[Dr HaxZaw]

i think i might still have the instructions from when i changed mine... if so ill put it up for you but you need to remove some interior stuff as well to diconnect the aerial

[Fletch_QLD]

It actually worked out easier than I thought. Once the old aerial is removed - the standard issue plastic trim stays and the new rubber aerial fits through that.
Gone is the clunky, oversized fragile and overly expensive unit - in is the sleek 'n' sexy rubber aerial. Reception is a lottle better than the old aerial - but far from perfect. It would need to be perfect before I would switch from listening to the ipod, but that's a whole 'nother issue.

Anyways, aerpro universal mount rubber aerial $13 and supercheap. Remove old aerial, dissassemble the rubber aerial - the base goes up under the wheel arch, the aerial screws into the base from above - clamping either side of the standard plastic trim. I also earthed the aerial via a wire - but I don't know if it makes any difference?

[jdcasagrande]

yer the standard aerial is around $160 from holden, what a waste of money. is there any particular brand of stubby antenna that i need to use? or lets say one off ebay would do the trick?

[Fletch_QLD]

Can't speak for random brands off ebay - but in principal you should be able to work something out with any universal aerial ?

[TMM]

yer the standard aerial is around $160 from holden, what a waste of money. is there any particular brand of stubby antenna that i need to use? or lets say one off ebay would do the trick?

Only about $70 for a replacement mast/rope if it gets bent. No need to replace the aerial motor in such an accident.

[Fletch_QLD]

'only' $70

I have replaced my fully functional automatic aerial with a $12 rubber one for aesthetics - not just the visual but that clunky noise it makes irritates me.
Next step is to put the old one up on ebay I suppose.

[ausrs]

thanks for the tip ,changed mine today .....way way better than the bent and twisted non working electric version i had in there !!

[Fletch_QLD]

Enjoy

I found out today - at 110kmh it lays down pretty flat.

[RiCeY]

'only' $70

I have replaced my fully functional automatic aerial with a $12 rubber one for aesthetics - not just the visual but that clunky noise it makes irritates me.
Next step is to put the old one up on ebay I suppose.

They only cliunk when the rope gets stripped, the clunk noise is the gear skipping teeth.

[ausrs]

They only cliunk when the rope gets stripped, the clunk noise is the gear skipping teeth.

who cares ...the rubber one functions well and looks better

[RiCeY]

Post a pic on the car Im not convinced, especially if it cant even stay upright at freeway speeds.

[Fletch_QLD]

Nah mate - it's not that it can't stay upright - it automatically lays down to reduce friction at higher speeds

Best pic I can manage at the moment - not that I want to convince anyone. I love it. I'll look at taking a better photo tomorrow.

[stevepegg]

i started another thread but I'll ask here.

My clunky VY aerial just failed a roadworthy for the gear skipping teeth Does that sound right?

Anyway, if it is, I'll go the $13 supercheap route, so thanks for the post

[Nic92]

idk bout u but my arial doesnt go up or down, i had to pull it up so i just left it at about a quarter up

[Fletch_QLD]

That's crazy that an aerial becomes a roadworthy issue - I guess that means they couldn't find anything else?
How much did they quote to replace it?

[SS Manual]

That's outrageous mate.