Car wash snapped my antenna off

drive through the car wash and my antenna snapped off. I tried to take the broken base of the screw out but ended up screwing it down even further. Tried drilling it out and then tried unscrewing the entire thing.

Called my local dealer they said try unscrewing the black base that sits inside the silver 4 notch piece. That didn't budge. I chewed it up pretty good. Can i unscrew the silver notched peice or does not move either.

 

Welcome to TW! I would try using a stripped screw extractor tool like the one below. It is designed to reverse out any stripped/damaged screws. I also always carry a small wrench in my glovebox to remove my antenna if going through a drive-through car wash, exactly so this does not happen.

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-3-pc...gclid=CNzVxq6PsdECFUOSfgod1YgGCw&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Looks like your antenna broke off a bit above the mount. If so, you can file the top flat. Use a 1/8" or smaller drill bit to drill into the center of the antenna to give the EZ-out something to bite on.

Then try to back it out.

 

What car wash was it?

 

Hoffmann car wash. I drilled down into the hole pretty good. It's chewed up and not coming out. Can I unscrew the silver peice with the notches and then take the black inner peice out ? Does the black innner peice screw down into anything ?

 

The black piece probably sits in your fender with a plastic clip of some sorts would be my guess. I would try contacting the car wash also to replace it. I worked at car washes all through high school and we were always good about replacing if a stock antenna broke off.

 

Antennas UR us Car wash

 

This thread might be useful

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-replace-oem-antenna-in-fender.261341/

Edited to add: the silver piece does unscrew, i believe its called a bezel nut. I had to drill mine out completely to replace it

 

Ok if I take the bezel nut off can I take the black peice out and then just replace the black peice and the put the bezel nut back on I'm wondering ? Still get a few channels I'd rather not take the entire antenna assembly apart.

 

If the threads are ruined where the antenna screwed in, you have to replace the whole assembly to fix it

 

Wow, guess it wasn't a touchless car wash

 

the bezel nut needs to comeout before anything else.

do not damage the bezel nut, the antenna assbly is not sold in individual parts..

 

Are the threads damaged where you accidentally drove it deeper? If it can still be unscrewed if you can get to it, you could try a small left handed drill bit trying to get it to catch. Works similar to an easy out on pieces that are not siezed or torqued down.

Otherwise you're probably looking at replacing the entire mount

 

Not to rub salt in an open wound, but I'm pretty sure it says to remove your antenna before going in a car wash in the owners manual.

Sorry to hear about the damage, hope you get it fixed soon ....

 

Exactly. This happened to mine and I had to order a whole attena kit. What a pain in the ass. You will be pulling the head unit, interior pillar, and fender well. Not fun!

 

My 2015 came with a plastic antennae wrench. It was with the owners manual and wiring accessories in the glove box. I use it EVERYTIME I go through a car wash.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/290998...7290-0%26rvr_id%3D1150337217096&ul_noapp=true

 

Yeahh..most car washes basically tell you to enter at your own risk. Antennas, window visors, etc. are usually fair game and you assume the risk.

 

Happened to me twice
Once at local car wash 2nd time at dealer - Cant stand my dealer so I fixed myself
Drill with small drill (as quoted above) just a little to make small hole in center then use a easy out
Go slow push hard try not to slip off and hit fender
Maybe spray some wd40 or similar first

 

Ok that's what I thought. I'll try and find an antenna wrench for the bezel nut. Replacing the assembly shouldn't be too bad

 

My 2013 came with a little plastic wrench to remove the antenna.