A security gate karate-chopped my antenna on my 97 XJ6 VDP, and sadly it snapped off....not even connected by the nylon cord any longer.

Question: do I need to buy an entire assembly/motor, or simply a new mast with cord?

I have a faint memory that--if the mast is still connected by the cord--it's a fairly easy repair/fix, but if the cord was severed (as in my case), you have to buy an entirely new assembly, because getting the retracted cord out is very difficult.

Is this true? Advice?

 

similar thing happend to me.
i got the first replacment to work. then it happened again in a car wash.
now i can not fix it. i have to get a full assembly i think

 

You should be ok with a replacement and cord. To be sure, remove the assembly and extract all of the old toothed-cord. I had one with a 2"-3" piece stuck down in there. Just disassemble the mechanism and clear it out. Not hard. But beware, while you have the antenna out, you have a hole in the boot, in case of rain.

 

As alholbro1 says, replacing the mast is straightforward. I would suggest removing the assembly, remove the plastics back and clear out any remains of the old mast and nylon rack to ensure a smooth operation of the new mast. Last year I changed a mast without clearing out the remains and had trouble with erratic operation. All was OK when I removed a length of rack.

 

Thanks, guys--I'll try just getting a replacement mast, then!