Several months aog, while in a brief moment of brain malfunction, I decided to clean my aerial shaft -- it had been sticking once in a while either on the way up or on the way down. I took the base nut off for no apparent reason and sprayed the shaft with white grease and wiped it down good. After putting it back together, I noticed that it would go down just fine but when going up it would get to the max position and motor would just grind away for a few seconds (seemed like hours!) making a loud, loud noise that was easily heard inside the car and outside, too.

I decided to forget about it and wait until it quit working and then take it apart and re-run the plastic cable or replace it or whatever it needed!

Well, I just realized the other day that it no longer makes that obnoxious noise! It works perfectly - up and down! It fixed itself!

Love this kind of DIY project! LOL

 

The white lithium grease probably worked it's way into the plastic gears and now it's happy