# Replacing a power antenna **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [August 28, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-a-power-antenna/18777 "2008-08-28T03:30:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![1mccoady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/439d5e/32.png) [@1mccoady](https://community.cartalk.com/u/1mccoady)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 3:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-a-power-antenna/18777/1 "2008-08-28T03:30:38Z")
I’m replacing a power antenna on a 1990 Buick Lesabre since the original antenna is partly broken off. I ordered a universal antenna online so just waiting for it to arrive. The original antenna has a 3-wire plug going to a factory wiring harness and I’ve been told I need to get a test light so I can figure how which wire is always hot, which is switched and which is the ground. When I first noticed the original antenna had broken off I unplugged it from the factory wiring harness which I had forgotten I had done. So I plugged it back in ( just to make sure that’s the place I plug it back into) and the antenna motor starts running even though the ignition switch is off. Why would the antenna motor be running with the ignition off? ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 11:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-a-power-antenna/18777/2 "2008-08-28T11:40:30Z")
The antenna would extend when the ignition and radio were on. If either were turned off, it would retract. If you remove the old antenna and clean out the housing a new mast may be all that is needed since the retracter appears to work. ---
**Author:** ![1mccoady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/439d5e/32.png) [@1mccoady](https://community.cartalk.com/u/1mccoady)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 4:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-a-power-antenna/18777/3 "2008-08-28T16:37:18Z")
Okay thanks I guess that explains why the antenna motor would be running with the ignition off. I had thought about possibly just replacing the mast but I wasn’t sure I knew how to replace it or if I could even find a factory replacement mast so I ordered a new antenna. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2008, 5:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/replacing-a-power-antenna/18777/4 "2008-08-28T17:32:07Z")
Replacing the Mast on most antenna’s is pretty easy. And you don’t need a factory replacement. There are aftermarket Masts that work fine.