cheeber

how do i get to the bottom of the mount to remove the cable:

'3) unplug the wire lead from the bottom of the mount. (Caution here - be certain to pre tape a string or some other way of grasping the lead because it is so tight, that when loosened from the mount, it will pop down inside between the outer and inner fenders and you'll have to fish for it.) My next adventure.'

PistolWhip

I'm dealing with this right now. I was able to get my hands on the orange antenna cable by opening the hood and reaching in through the opening at the back of the fender. I just put some electrical tape around the cable and taped it around the hood hinge. Then pulled the base up out of the fender until the cable popped out. It took some force, but it eventually pulled free and the tape kept the cable from dropping down into the fender.

I don't have the new part yet so I can't comment any further on the reinstall. I can tell you that on my truck, 2013, the antenna cable has a female spade connector on the end of it and the part of the base that it slides into appears to be crimped, so getting it back in is going to be a chore. I'd imagine that just replacing the entire base and cable assembly is going to be easier than trying to fight that cable back into the base with the limited space I'm working with.

josh34

^^ any update? So to clarify, u grabbed the top metal base piece and lifted up on it after u removed the screws, then pulled on the underside and it came undone?

Just an fyi to anyone who cares, use caution with these stubby antennas, they can rust in the mount and if they break, there's no way to get the threaded connector out and you're in the spot we are in

PistolWhip

Yup, that's exactly what happened to me. I started to notice that my HD radio reception was degrading rapidly so I decided to ditch my flexy antenna. Of course, the crappy adapter was rusted solid into the antenna base and all efforts to remove it, drill it, EZ out it, etc were futile.

I got my new antenna last week and it too about 40 minutes to swap them out. I took the fender flare off (FX4) which was no easy feat in and of itself; found out the hard way that there's two nuts up front that hold that on...
Anyway, once the flare is off you can pretty easily move the inner fender liner out of the way. You only have to pull out the rear half enough to get your arm in. The antenna goes into the cab right behind the fender liner, down low by the bottom. You don't have to remove the whole inner fender liner.

Go into the glove compartment first, you'll need to squeeze the outside edges of the glove box door where it keeps it in place, and lower it all the way out of the way. The antenna cable is right behind it. Just separate the connection behind the glove box and then disconnect the two white push clips from their female parts. Once you have that disconnected, you'll be able to pull the entire assembly out from the spot where it goes through the firewall. You'll see that there's a grommet there behind the inner fender, you just have to work it loose, then pull from the antenna base and the whole thing will come right out.

Drop the new antenna cable in through the fender, reach in through the bottom of the inner fender and stick it through the hole in the firewall, pull it through from inside the glove box and reattach the connections. Just make sure you seat the grommet properly in the firewall. That is NOT a place you want water to be leaking in.

It's really a lot easier than it sounds. The most PIA for me was removing the fender flare without F'n it all up. It was freezing cold outside so nothing wanted to move or flex at all.

josh34

Update, don't pull the cable out of the new mount....there's no way to push the old cable back into the new mount. Can't even do it out of the truck, let alone in the truck with limited space. Use the method above and do it the right way

kcmfg

ok so this just happened to my 2012 f150, I had a stubby antenna on there and just yesterday tried to unscrew it and the adapter was rusted in the base and snapped off in there (knew I should have put more anti-seize on it in the fall). I haven't tried to drill it out or anything but after reading this it sounds like not many people had luck with an easy out or drill out method. Has anyone successfully drilled out the broken piece and not had to replace the entire base?

Mod (Ret.)

Why couldn't you tie a piece of string to the disconnected end end of the cable behind the glove box. then remove the base (at the fender), pull the old cable/base out, attach this string to the new cable/antenna base, and from the glove box area, pull the cable back through?

danorules

That way works....I've done it twice already

945

I know my part # for the antenna base on my 04 FX4 is 4l3t-18a984-a. However, I can only find that part with the cable attached and not just the base. Anyone know how to find just the base?

Thanks.

Screwed05

Given the age of the vehicle. You may only be able to order as an assembly (with the cable) and not an individual piece.