Radio Antenna Ariel - Stuck And Can't Remove

[Jezza251]

Hi All

Newbie to the forum here . Great site as I have found answers to a few questions already!

I do have a problem on my Celica I hope someone can help with. I have just bought a UK 2003 Celica VVTi which has the roof mounted plastic Ariel radio antenna. The antenna is split and bent so I wanted to replace it.

So have bought another Ariel to fit the car.

The problem I have is that the current one does not want to come off. I tried unscrewing it by hand but it would not move at all. So I used some WD40 around the base to try to loosen it and then used a wrench to grip the base of the antenna and turn. It did then turn a little and I can turn it a bit by hand now but it doesn’t seem to unscrew. It just turns a bit and then kind of clicks back. I was wondering if anyone else had come up against this at all?

I haven’t tried pulling hard as I turn with a wrench in fear of damaging the thread or breaking the antenna still in the base.

I wanted to ask some advice here first in case there is a knack or if it does just take some brute force.

Thanks in advance all

Jezza

[RUToyota]

Hi Jezza...new here myself.!!..welcome..

AFAIK it does simply "unscrew"..but if it's the original then it may well be well "seized" of course..I use Halfords Shock and Unlock spray to loosen such things usually..it may take a few applications and ya gotta let it do it's work for a while..but I'm sure you'll get there.!..slowly does it I reckon.!

Ironically i'm looking at replacing my ariel too....I'll see if I have the same problem..lol

Neil

[gazza1286]

You'll need a dremel or hacksaw and a steady hand to 'split' the aerial.

[RUToyota]

Jezza...curiosity got the better of me and I've just been out to look at mine...just took a little bit of "teasing" with a pair of ordinary pliers and a protective bit of cloth..and off she came..unscrewed no problem.

Neil

[Jezza251]

Thanks for the tips all. Neil, think I will get some of that spray you mentioned and then do as you did with a cloth and pliers and see how it goes.

Thanks for the advice...

[Raistlin]

Try to tighten then loosen after a few times it should undo.

[RUToyota]

Try to tighten then loosen after a few times it should undo.

Yep..that's what I did with mine, mate...didn't need any "lubricant" on this occasion.

Neil.

[Scarlett Arrow]

Hi Jezza...new here myself.!!..welcome..

AFAIK it does simply "unscrew"..but if it's the original then it may well be well "seized" of course..I use Halfords Shock and Unlock spray to loosen such things usually..it may take a few applications and ya gotta let it do it's work for a while..but I'm sure you'll get there.!..slowly does it I reckon.!

Neil

Now..that sounds like an MG-Rover solution ;)

[RUToyota]

Hi Jezza...new here myself.!!..welcome..

AFAIK it does simply "unscrew"..but if it's the original then it may well be well "seized" of course..I use Halfords Shock and Unlock spray to loosen such things usually..it may take a few applications and ya gotta let it do it's work for a while..but I'm sure you'll get there.!..slowly does it I reckon.!

Neil

Now..that sounds like an MG-Rover solution ;)

Correct.!...lol...the other main one requires a very large lump hammer.!

Neil

[Capt Mannering]

I have fought every bolt and every fixture on my sisters Yaris 2002. Evey bolt, fastner just snaps. I have tried all sorts of pentrating fluid. OK here goes.  WD40, WD40 SPecialist Rust spray, WD40 Blue Works, Plus gas, Bilt Hamber (the worst out of the lot Ferrasol), Liquid Wrench, Knocker Loose, PB Blaster, Kroil, DW40 from the Pound shop. HOme brew of Acteone with ATF, Innotec, Wurth Rost off, Wurth Normal, Locitie Freeze Relase, the Halford Shock (this is also very poor), I have probably spent more in snake oils then the car is worth about £450 max! I have let each soak for at least 24 hours, to in some cases with a daily application for several months. 

Heat is the best but when a fastner has a rubber or plastic surround it is not practical. In the end I just broke and replaced the item after much drilling, cutting. Back in the 70s and 80s I was a mechanic and Japanese cars were always know to have very poor rust inhibition I dont know why they dont make it a simple practice that all non essential fastners have to have anti sieze, or use a lock tite blue coating. Then they complain  there is too many unrecylced parts and plastic and metal waste. It should be an industry practice but then the manufactueres would not make after market sales on selling you parts at the extoritionate price they do. I.E if you buy a car it is say £20K. If you buy the parts remember saving them on assymbley and labour, but built it yourself as a passion with no labour costs, then to build a car your self with parts would cost you £70K. The mind boggles at this stupidty. Stupidty in terms of time motion, and enivromental concerns, but in the terms of commerce and captialist methodology, hello baby! 

[FROSTYBALLS]

Well the topic is six years old, so I would suggest that a remedy has been sorted by now ......