Antenna Mast '99 Rx 300

[douglasmiami]

Any advice for an antenna mast that won't retract all the way - the very last segment won't retract. It's supposedly a new antenna replaced by private dealer 9 months ago, and I haven't had any problems since that time, but recently I noticed it was louder than usual and then discovered it wasn't retracting. Could this be fixed easily, or would I need to replace? I've seen other posts, but I've only seen lubrication suggestions (white grease to lubricate).

I have a '99 RX 300.

[RX in NC]

When I had a similar problem on my beloved Datsun 260Z's antenna back in the late 1970s, greasing the antenna very lightly solved the problem. Do this before you try anything else - it's a no-cost fix if it works for you, and I'll bet it will.

Man, how I miss that Z.... It was my first new car, and I kept it for 13 years and almost 300,000 miles before I finally sold it to the kid of a friend of mine who'd been begging me to sell it for about three years. My Z would have turned 30 years old this month....

[jbarhorst2]

I agree.

Sounds like the mast has gotten dirty.

I clean mine with window cleaner and a paper towel before I lubricate.

Tom

[ColinBarber]

Clean by wiping in an upwards direction otherwise you just push dirt into the joints. Use a very small amount of light oil, don't over oil otherwise dirt will just stick to it making it quickly jam up again.

[douglasmiami]

Thanks for the advice. In terms of lubricating, I've heard of using a "white grease." Ever heard of this? You mentioned oil, what type? Regular motor oil?

[jbarhorst2]

You can use white lithium grease.

Or you can use a light oil. No, don't use motor oil. That's too thick.

A light sewing machine oil works nice.

And Colin's right, always go up with the dirt.

Tom

[douglasmiami]

And where would I find this white lithium grease? Or in what department (automotive?). I've never heard of anything like this before. What are other uses for this white grease that might help me locate it?

[RX in NC]

Any decent auto parts store such as NAPA and probably even Wal-Mart's automotive section carries tubes of white lithium grease. It's been around forever, and it's an inexpensive and effective all-purpose lubricant for exposed metal parts that contact each other while moving. I use it primarily on our vehicle's door, hatch, hood, and tailgate hinges. It's also the best lube I've found for the tracks and rollers of my automatic garage door mechanism. Keep in mind that a little bit of grease goes a long way on any lube job you do with it. I'll bet that I purchased my current tube in the early 1980s and I still have about a quarter of a tube left. How's that for cost-effectiveness?