wolong

While using a broom to push deep snow off of my daughter-in-law's 2009 Scion XD, I broke the antenna base. A phone call to the dealer indicates that it will cost many hundreds' of $$$$$ to replace the base because of the labor involved (the headliner has to come down). Any suggestions?
Bill Long, Crofton, Maryland

JJGeneral1

what do you mean by base? if you mean the thing that is 3M taped on, then that's an easy fix. if it's under the roof, then that's a little more difficult.

could you elaborate?

because i know people who have taken off their antenna and replaced it with the "shark fin" antenna on their xD. it's only 3M taped on if it's on top of the roof. if what you broke is under the roof, then yes, the headliner would have to come off to be replaced.

wolong

Thanks you for the reply.
Are you able to see the photo I've posted at:

http://www.longwebs.org/ScionAntenna.jpg

JJGeneral1

that looks fairly easy to replace, just buy a new "antenna mount" from any dealer. and mount it on yourself. it doesn't appear you need to drop the liner at all.

JJGeneral1

any updates?

i'd say if as long as you didn't break the actual antenna wire that plugs into that antenna base, then you're fine. just remove the base, unplug, plug into new base, and 3m tape it down.

shouldn't cost much at all. try ebay.

wolong

I got the car dug out here's a photo of the damaged base. (May take a minute to download)

http://www.longwebs.org/AntennaBase.JPG

Don't let the reflection of my house confuse you [:-)
Can that swiveling part of the base be replaced separately?

JJGeneral1

that's an easy fix. buy a new base, look on ebay for OEM base, or go stylish and get the shark fin. that base is only held on by 3M tape (that gray double sided sticky stuff). it's real easy to pull off and replace.

trust me, if i can do it, you can... LOL

uskrewed

I'm going to agree with JJ on this one, grab a shark fin antenna on ebay - she'll not only be happy it's fixed, she'll be glad that you broke it in the first place.

wolong

Thanks for the reply. I'm considering a shark fin, but am concerned about radio reception. The Toyota parts people say that the stock antenna base is an "amplifier." See diagram at: http://tinyurl.com/ybdy3l8 What I want to know is how to get the busted antenna base off and replace it. JJgeneral1 says it's just taped on and I can just pull it off, but if that's true I don't think it would have broken when I was wiping the snow off. The diagram shows a nut under the base. Is that nut used to bolt the base to the roof, or to bolt the cable to the base?

JJGeneral1

hmm, i'll have to ask my buddy who changed his to shark fin. he said a simple flat anything (be careful not to scrape the paint) under the antenna base would help it come off easier, then just unscrew the nut, that hold the wire for the antenna to the base, and put it on the new one, then 3M tape it back down.

3M tape is all that's used to hold on our "scion" emblems as well as the "xD" emblem. it's very strong stuff, and will last. oh, and those that get the eyelids for the headlights, they're 3M taped on too.

wolong

Thanks - I'll be waiting to hear what your brother has to say about whether the shark fin affects radio reception.
There is a guy on the Scion XB forum that has a similar problem. His wife damaged the antenna base when their garage door closed on it. The antenna bases for the XB and XD have the same part number, so he may be interested in this too.

JJGeneral1

well wolong, i may have an oem antenna for ya. i rolled my car last night, and it's more than likey totaled. but the only part of roof that got any was the passenger front side.

i'm ok, but i may have a part you need.

oh and the shark fin does affect radio reception, but not too bad.

beerbucket

I have the same problem - Idiot car transport guy busted mine. Unfortunately you have to buy the amplifier to get the threads.

Here is the cheapest link to the real deal item:

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...layCatalogid=0

I will have to have the entire thing replaced due to the crushed plastic caused by the antenna being bent backwards (the price of vanity).

In your case it will be possible to leave amplifier in place and rob the new amplifier for its threads and swivel.

You can use a shark fin, but you will have to get creative attacking the antenna lead since you have no threads.

Hopefully you can avoid the complete install - labor involved in replacing the amp is like $200

Those suckers are fragile when they are cold

beerbucket

To JJGeneral1:

The base is actually held on by a nut the is between the roof panel and head liner(from the diagram I was able to find). **** how did you turtle it?

If I am wrong about this I will be very happy to find that out - not looking forward to shelling out a lot of labor dollars to have the entire external assembly replaced.

And get this - the a-hole transit driver would not let me search the covered carrier for the mast - so I got to buy a new one of those too.

wolong

JJGeneral1,
Sorry to hear about your accident (Bummer way to start the new year. Glad you're OK.)
Yes I sure could use that antenna mount. Is there a way I can contact you directly? Bill wolong@aol.com

wolong

Beerbucket, The diagram in your web link is different from the one in my web link http://tinyurl.com/ybdy3l8. Yours is not a Scion drawing. But maybe the parts are the same.

beerbucket

Wolong,

The point of giving you that link was to show you where to buy the part for 10 bucks over wholesale.

JJGeneral1

i'll let you know, if they total my car (which they probably will), i'll yank it out and send it to you for cost of shipping.

beerbucket, are you sure, because my buddy said he just pried the old one off, pulled the antenna cord out, hooked it to the shark fin, and 3M taped it on the roof as it's supposed to be.

beerbucket

Yeah General,

The shark fin install involves leaving the "base" on the vehicle. That is why it is so big and ugly.

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=161198

see link above ^ (scroll down for visual)

ChelsDS

The fin looks much better on the xDs than it does on the xBs in my opinion.

It does affect radio reception but I rarely listen to the radio anymore (iPod) so it doesn't bother me.