The Plastic surround of the (OEM electric Aerial) fitted to my XJS V12 had started to break up and fall apart.

This is the Plastic/Rubber surround that goes between the metal part of the Aerial and the Bodywork.

So I took a new surround off another aerial, that I had laying around.

But when I started to undo the nut that clamps the Aerial into the Bodywork, (on the outside) the 'Dome shaped piece' on the very top of the Aerial, is too big to let the nut pass over it.

I've never come across anything like this before.

What the hell am I doing wrong? This is usually a very easy job!

 

put the nut back , as that is for removing the inner mast ,

open the boot , remove the carpet trim , then remove the nuts holding the aerial bracket to the motor, and drop down

replace the rubber seal , and install the aerial back in place

i found that a smear of grease not only helps the mast bulb go into the seal rubber, but it also helps seal the hole stopping the weather getting in


BB

 

Hi BB

I've just changed the Photo for a different one, that hopefully shows what the problem is a bit better.

What I still don't get is, how I replace the rubber surround on the 'Outside' of the bodywork, because if I don't get that nut off then I don't see how I would have anything, to clamp the new rubber surround in place.

 

as i said above

BB

 

If I've understood you correctly?

It looks as though both the Seal and the Aerial are inserted from inside the Boot/Trunk Wing.

Where the Aerial is also clamped in place inside the Boot/Trunk Wing.

On almost every other Car, the Rubber Seal and Chrome finisher are clamped onto the Top of the Wing with a lock nut, that has the effect of squeezing the whole lot together.

If that's the case, then that was why I didn't understand it first time round.

 

Maybe not an OEM aerial in your car OB? Greg

 

With the setup you have, it looks like the only possibility is to actually remove the antenna mast from the antenna motor.

First, extend the antenna partially to allow room to unscrew the nut
Unscrew the chrome nut above the grommet.
Turn the radio on to activate the antenna extension. While the antenna motor is operating, withdraw the antenna mast with its toothed plastic whip (and the chrome nut) entirely from the housing.
Disconnect and unbolt the power antenna housing from inside the trunk.
Drop the housing downward, allowing room to change the grommet.
Reassemble in reverse order. (See link below.)

Be aware that it can sometimes require considerable force to pull the antenna mast from the housing.
Here is a link to an old thread on the subject. A lot of the photos are no longer visible, but it still will give you a good idea of what's going on.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...ent-faq-48388/
Regards and good luck,
Retro

 

no ,

the mast does not have to come out at all , the mast can stay inside the tube , so the top nut can stay

go into the boot, undo the bracket and the aerial will drop out of the grommet , replace grommet and re install aerial

simples....


BB

 

correct ...... its a Jaguar , that's how they do it........lol

BB

 

Hi BB

I've finally got my head around it now!

Every Aerial that I've ever had to replace in the past, has been the type where you clamp it through the bodywork using a lock nut.

So I mistakenly thought that the one on the XJS would be the same and as such I took a Gromit off from another Aerial that I had laying around.

Except that on further inspection, the OEM Gromit is different, to that which you would find on almost any other Car.

Where in this case the Gromit is pushed up from underneath and held in place by the Aerial clamped underneath it.

What was even more surprising, is that the Gromits are available on their own, without the need to have to buy a new Aerial.

So I have ordered one for £10

Thanks for your help.

 

No BB is correct there, you do not have to take the mast apart.

Undo the bolts in the Boot/Trunk that are holding the Aerial in place, lower it down, take off the old Gromit, then push a new one up into the hole which must be an OEM one.

Then simply bolt the Aerial back in place.

Though not so easy to figure out, if like me you have been used to dealing with the Standard clamp type Aerials in the past.

 

Hi Greg

My Aerial is an OEM one, which I found out the hard way, is totally different to the type that clamp either side of the wing, as fitted to what appears to be almost every other Car on the road.

I've ordered a new one for £10

Cannot believe you can buy this part on its own!

 

Yeah, there's a good chance I overthought (or more likely underthought) the situation when I answered above.

The method you describe will work IF the top nut can be slid through the grommet. I assumed that the nut helped clamp the grommet in place so I figured it wouldn't fit through.

Now that I think about it, the grommet probably has enough flexibility or "give" for the nut to pass through, particularly before the grommet is inserted in the body.

All's well that ends well!

Retro

 

Jaguar builds cars their own way.
Its like they have never seen or driven a car before. Strike that. The car drives great.
I usually think what is the stupidest way of doing this and thats the way they did it.
Buffels the mind.

 

jaguar seems to be getting bagged out here for the design of the aerial. I for one think the design is better and a lot more user friendly than the alternative.
You just need to be aware of the design.

 

OB Here are a couple of shots of my original factory-fitted OEM aerial, still remarkably working after all these years: As you can see, I suppose that at some point between your car build date and mine Jaguar went to a cheaper rubber grommet alternative! Greg

 

Hi Greg

Yeah!

My el-cheapo looking rubber version, seems to leave a lot to be desired when compared to your classy looking Chrome one.

What gets me is the 'Gromit' costs less than £2 to buy but then they charge you £8 just to post it!

In case anyone is interested the Part Number is: DAC3588

And if you can find one for less than £10 inc pp. Please let us all know, as I have one or two XJS's that may in time be needing to be re-grommitised.

 

where did you buy the new grommet/seal from .

if jaguar , then you can pick it up from your nearest dealership for free ( as in no postage cost on top ),

and I seem to recall the ones on ebay are not that expensive ??

but its been a few years since I bought mine

BB

 

It would probably cost me a Tenner just to drive to my nearest dealer!

£10 for an Aerial Gromit seems to be the norm, which considering the vast amount of money I've spent on Spares, in the Scheme of things amounts to Peanuts.

 

OB, you can get it from SNG for €3,21 incl. VAT

SNG Barratt - The Ultimate Jaguar Parts Specialist

Just so you know

Oh, and the arieal is quite easily removed on an XJ6 The nut on top has nothing to do with the fixture. Coming from Volvo, the nut always creates the seal between top section (outside) and arieal (inside) and clamps it together. So I tried straight away by turning the nut. No results so I removed the side cover/trim, undid the one securing screw and it popped downwards nicely.

So it can't be that hard on the XJ-S/XJS as the X300 has the same arieal as the XJ40 had and that would be about the same (daft) British Leyland design as the XJ-S has