I did a boneheaded thing the other day. While going through the car wash (I normally wash my car by hand), i was wiping down the nav. screen and accidentally turned on the radio. The antenna went up and was bent by the car wash. The antenna still goes up all the way, but does not go all the way down, but to about 12" . The mast is bent slightly. Any suggestions, barring a new antenna which the dealer tells me is about $500. I am told that the entire motor mechanism must be replaced, not just the mast.

Sure wish I had the 2008 model with the antenna in the rear spoiler to avoid this issue.

 

WELL SEE THIS IS WHY I COME ON HERE, TO KEEP ME SHARP AND THINKING ABOUT DIAGNOSTIC ON PROBLEMS I HAVENT SEEN IN AWHILE AND TO LEARN... SO HERES THE LEARNING FOR ME TODAY, THE MAST ISNT AVAIL SEPERATLY..OUCH LIST $342 FOR MOTOR ASSEMBLY, BUT YOU MAY WANT TO TRY AND "CAREFULLY" STRAIGHTEN WITH GENTLE PRESSURE AND IF YOU CAN ACCESS ABOVE AND BELOW THE CRIMP IF ITS CRIMPED, YOU SMOOTH JAW PLIER WITHOUT SERRATION TO FLATEN CRIMP. IF ALL ELSE FAILS YOU CAN UPGRADE TO THE 08 SPOILER WITH INTEGRAL ANTENNA, WE HAVE DONE A FEW ON THE 07. IF YOU WANT TO TRY AND REMOVE THE MAST PULL UP THE BODY COLORED COVER, AND WITH A 14MM OPEN END WRENCH, UNSCREW THE SMALL NUT ON TOP, TURN ON RADIO AND MAST WILL EXTEND AND YOU CAN PULL IT ALL THE WAY OUT(SHOULD BE ABLE TO) AND SEE IF THE OLDER MAST IS AVAIL AT PARTS AND COMPARE THE 2, TO REINSTALL TURN ON RADIO THEN HAVE SOMEONE TURN OFF WHILE YOU HOLD THE CACLE IN THE HOLE DOWN TO THE GEAR IT WILL THEN PULL DOWN INTO THE MOTOR, PUT THE RETAING NUT BACK ON AND WD40 THE BODY AND COVER TO REINSTALL EASILY.

 

Thanks, great advice, however, you're talking to a guy that can't do much more mechanically then fill the car with gasoline.

 

You might try PMng ken@britishparts on here, he is forum member and sponsor that has a pretty extensive used parts inventory including some Xk parts. He might be able to come up with a used one, or at least a new mast/motor from Jag that is waaaay below dealer parts department sells at. Try calling other import wrecking yards, though a 07 is gonna be hard to find. My bet would be a new part thru Ken. Good luck!

PS, I hope I never do that. On second thought, I only hand allow a hand wash on my car. No automatic washes <- should be your new motto.

 

Just to let all of you know, I purchased a mast replacement for my 2007 XK Convertible (antennamastsrus.com) for $15.95. It came with instructions. They claim it can be replaced in about 5 minutes. Well, it took me about 15 minutessince I am not very mechanically inclined. The instructions were very simple and accurate for a novice to understand. My dealer wanted to replace the entire motor and antenna for $500. The antenna works great and is good as new. At under $20, these are almost disposable.

 

Hey Jaybee, was it as tall (long) as your original one? Mine seems like it is 4' long!

congrats, and glad you fixed it yourself.

 

Mine was pretty much identical to the original equipment antenna and recesses all the way in to the body also. It's still about 30 inches too long, if I had a choice!

Who said size matters?

 

how do you pull up the body colored cover. mine won't budge.... thanks

 

I have used the mast from an early XK8 on quite a few new XKs, the length is almost the same & works just fine. Thankfully the 2008 onward cars no longer have the mast antenna.

 

that's great... i have the mast.... just can't seem to get the cap off so i can take off the nut on the outside and replace. does it need to be squeezed a certain way or pried off from a certain angle ??? any suggestions appreciated...

 

Can anyone answer the question as to how to safely remove the body colored cover on the fender for the power antenna mast? I'm about to replace the mast in mine and want to try it on the car before having to remove the entire antenna assembly. Also, don't want to damage the painted cover piece?

 

I'd like to know the same thing! Or I'd like to just plug the hole after I remove the antennae but I don't know what to plug it with , maybe a cork and paint it! You know the 07 XK has that nice colored cover but does it just pop off?

 

Ok, I broke mine three times before giving up and pulling the fuse. Since the antenna was a carry over from the XK8, the mast is the same. I've replaced mine three times with this mast. It's the exact same and you'll have to take it out to replace it. Can be found for around $20. Take the antenna out to do it and have someone help you. It will be easier or it was for me.

 

The problem with the aerial in question is that it has been bent and therefore will not retract fully. Solution (as suggested earlier): fully extend the aerial. GENTLY persuade the bent portion back into a straight position - this will take some time and multiple attempts - every segment except the topmost should be able to slide up and down and rotate smoothly. When that is accomplished the aerial will retract properly. This can be done - I have done it many times on many aerials. Make sure the aerial mast is clean and lubricated with silicone spray. It will last then for decades (yes) unless the car wash gets to it...hmmmm and taking your Jaguar through a car wash is the best way to ruin the finish...

 

Hi, has anyone managed to answer the question about removing the body coloured cap? I can't seem to get this off to get to the nut, and I don't want to break it or damage the paintwork,many thanks

 

Bumping the question about how to remove the body colored collar at the base of the antenna. Mine moves a little bit, but I'm afraid of breaking it if I pull too hard. Is there a trick to it?

Govtslug

 

I managed to remove it, there is a rubber skirt attached to the bottom, this goes through the hole in the body, it has a thick collar that sits inside the bodywork and holds the unit in place, I found the best way to remove was by pushing the collar up from inside whilst pulling on the outside, if you can just get one edge of the collar through the hole in the body the rest will follow,

 

Thanks Woodystu, that's what I needed.

Govtslug

 

Woodystu - I finally got it out! Pushing from the bottom while pulling from the top did it. When I put it back in I had to put a little dialectric grease on the rubber so it would go back into the fender and seat properly. The new antenna goes up and down just like it should!

Govtslug

 

I was just signing the documents to buy a XK Convertible 2007 in a dealership when a guy came in and said he'd just broken the antenna while prepping the car. The dealership said take it to the local Jaguar dealership and have it replaced and we'll pay for it. I did and this was a total mistake. The Jaguar fix for this is a complete new motor, this motor is not the same, has a different harness for it's power supply and therefore they cut off the old one and splice in the new harness, they have to drill out the grommet that sits on the wing because the antenna is shorter and it sits almost 3/4 inside the drilled out grommet. There is now a hole in the grommet that is 3/4 inch deep and 3/4 inch diameter and it fills with rain, or car wash, and the water gradually leaks out of the grommet down the wing. This cost $977. There is no longer anyway to get a new grommet as Jaguar do not make them anymore. If anyone had come into the waiting room and asked me if they could drill any body part, I'd have been out of there in a flash. They cut the old harness close to the plug so I cannot rewire the harness back to its original state. What should have been a simple job of buying a replacement antenna from PartsGeeks for $27 and replacing the old one turned into a $977 nightmare. I have refused to pay this until they can put everything back as it was. So don't let Jaguar have the job to replace this. Do it yourself. My XJ6 antenna i had for 22 years never failed ever. The final outcome is still to be resolved and it's the worst job I've ever seen. Dealer is sending photos to Jaguar for them to suggest solutions. All my excitement of a new Jag was just drained right out of me.