84 Power Antenna

[Duck]

The plug to the antenna was off when I got the car, antenna was up so I never messed with it.
Now I want to fix the antenna. When I plug the connector into the antenna, the motor runs, but the antenna does not move. Key on / key off / radio on or off, it make no difference. Is the antenna bad?
I hate to replace the antenna, about 40 - 50 dollars here, and it not be the problem.
Anybody have any ideas?

Here is a pic:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/kwinset/Town%20Car/1984Lincolnantenna.jpg

Thanks

[Dibly74]

Is the motor running constantly or only when you push the antenna button up ro down. If it runs constantly the switch might be bad. If that works like it should then the mast is bad. I have one I picked up from the junk yard yesterday as a spare for my 89. If the mast is your problem and its interchangeable with my year i'll sell it to you for cheap.

[joedogg]

You should test the connector with a multimeter to see if it gets voltage. Other than that, fuse maybe?

[Duck]

The 84 does not have a switch for the antenna. I asume it gets the signal from the radio. I don't know what years are interchangeable, maybe someone here does.
Are the gear kits for the factory antenna still available?
joedogg: It has power to the antenna, but appears to have power all the time. I don't know if this is because the mast or gears are stripped and the antenna can not go into the "park" position.

[gadget73]

No switch for the antenna? Hmm, it should be next to the climate control stuff. Probably it needs a new mast assembly. I'm guessing if its the auto up/down type that it has some sort of a switch inside that kills the motor once the mast is down. If its not going down, then it wont stop. The 86 and later I can confirm have a manually operated swich, maybe the earlier ones did not. If the motor operates, you should be able to pull the whole thing out, and remove the retainer nut on top of the mast, then pull the old mast out. Usually what happens is the plastic gear thing snaps and the motor wont grab it. To put the new mast in, just feed it in as far as it will go by hand, then have someone run the antenna down while you feed it.

[Dibly74]

I actually have a brand new NOS mast for an 84 Towncar I got off E-Bay a couple of months ago. Its not like my 89 come to think of it, it dosen't have teeth on the white plastic part, just smooth and round. If this is the same one as the one in your car I will sell you that one instead for cheap also. Its still in the bag but I did open it. Take yours out and post pics of it and we can tell you what you need. I paid 20 for it you can have it for half that since I won't have any use for it, and hey its brand new also. Kinda hard to find them brand new for an 84.

[Dibly74]

Just looked up pics of an 84 Towncars dash, and it actually dosen't have an antenna switch. Just has a Lincoln symbol in its place. Maybe the motor runs on a timer, or an increase in amps tells it to cut off because its all the way up or down? I really doubt something is wrong with the motor, cause my friends car has an auto antenna and the mast is gone and the motor runs for a couple of miutes before it turns off. Got some pics of it on here now, just make sure that its exactly the same, cause I made that mistake. If your has ridges on it then I will have no idea what this thing goes too.

[Duck]

Looks like I need to take mine apart. Wonder how the cable feeds with it being smooth?

[Dibly74]

Thats what I want to know. To take it apart just get a crescent wrench and take the nut off the top of it then yank the mast out.

[gadget73]

The plastic track isn't smooth. It has gear teeth cut into it that aren't visible from that picture.

[Dibly74]

I know the pic make it look riged from the pixels, but it is perfectly smooth, not a single tooth. If it had teeth on it I would have put in on my car instead of going to the junk yard to get a used one. Maybe someone on here knows what its for......anyone.

[Elemino]

The 84 does not have a switch for the antenna. I asume it gets the signal from the radio. I don't know what years are interchangeable, maybe someone here does.
Are the gear kits for the factory antenna still available?
joedogg: It has power to the antenna, but appears to have power all the time. I don't know if this is because the mast or gears are stripped and the antenna can not go into the "park" position.If my '89 has a switch, I know the '84 doesn't get the signal from the radio. Or maybe Lincoln just wanted you to feel important later on in the years? :D

[Dibly74]

Heres a pic of an 84's interior, and with no antenna switch. Someone on here has to know what controls the antenna in these cars.

[gadget73]

I know the pic make it look riged from the pixels, but it is perfectly smooth, not a single tooth. If it had teeth on it I would have put in on my car instead of going to the junk yard to get a used one. Maybe someone on here knows what its for......anyone.

No idea then. The correct part has the teeth cut into the ribbon. I just put one in a Crown Vic over the weekend, and its pretty much the same antenna. Perhaps thats for some other year or model antenna, or maybe whoever made it screwed up.

[Elemino]

Heres a pic of an 84's interior, and with no antenna switch. Someone on here has to know what controls the antenna in these cars.Maybe the car didn't originally come with a power antenna :confused:

[Duck]

I am going to take mine apart this weekend and we will see.

[joedogg]

Maybe the antenna just comes up with accessory? Then again, car washes. That's my best idea, though.

[Duck]

Well, I took the antenna apart. Big round motor, not like the other Lincolns in the salvage yard. Only 2 wires to the motor, looks like it works by a limiter switch in the end cap of the motor.
The ribbon is round and smooth, just like Dibly 74 says!!!! It looks like I need to get the mast from Dibly 74!!!!
I can't figure out how to get in the motor case to see how the cable works, but mine just pulled right out.

[gadget73]

Hm, very strange. They must have changed the antenna in 85. All the 85+ ones I've worked on had the teeth.

[Dibly74]

Hmm, so I guess the guy was right that I bought it from saying it fit 84. I sent you a message regarding the antenna before I read this post. Also when you find out how it works let us know were curious.

[Duck]

Here is a pic of the antenna that is in my car.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v147/kwinset/Town%20Car/1984Lincolnantenna.jpg

[Dibly74]

Hmm, that looks completely different from my antenna assembly.

[gadget73]

Not like mine either. I've seen that one before though in an 84 Mark VII.