Loose Onstar Antenna

DSChamber · January 14, 2011

Hi...

We recently got a real heavy snowfall (about 14" of heavy wet snow)... it came down without any wind so I had a nice thick blanket of that snow on my truck. Being that it's the first winter with the truck ('10 Sierra) I took my snow broom and started pushing the snow off the truck. Of course when I got the roof I began to push the snow and since the snow was heavy/wet it sort of compacted and brought up on that shark fin onstar antenna. Once I realized what I was doing I stopped. I was running late for work, the roof had 12 or so inches of snow on it so the antenna was buried, and to be honest I forgot all about the antenna. I didn't push too hard with the snow but I felt the antenna afterwards and if I put a small bit of pressure on it from side to side it I can move it. It can move maybe a fraction of an inch (you could slip a piece of paper between the antenna and the roof while moving it if I tried). When I got to work this evening I checked out my buddies '10 Sierra's Onstar antenna and his seems solid, not a bit of play.

Lesson learned, remember about the antenna next time we get a lot of snow.

Questions

How does this antenna seal the hole in the roof? Since I can move mine, even just slightly, will it now leak? Is the seal for this hole on the base of this antenna on the outside perimeter of it where it sits on the roof (sort of looks like a rubber bottom on the antenna base but maybe it isn't)... or is there a rubber seal underneath the antenna at the hole?

Should I just call the dealership and tell them that my antenna is loose and let them tightened it up... or can this be easily done by myself (I am mechanically inclined), looking it I would think that the A-pillar would need to be removed as well as the visor to allow for the head liner to drop to get a look at it...

Can the antenna even be tightened up or do you think I possibly bent something?

Any feedback or personal experiences with this kind of thing would really be appreciated.

DSChamber · January 14, 2011

51 reads but nothing huh? ... Guess this isn't a common thing....or maybe nobody has ever seen the underside of this antenna.....

Metro12 · January 14, 2011

The antenna has a bolt, which is inside the cab of the truck. I had only onstar, and upgraded to a NAV-GPS and XM Antenna. You will need to drop the interior roof to reach the nuts, to try and tighten it back up. To drop the interior, you will need to remove the overhead light assembly, the "A" pillar covers, and the visors. If I recall correctly, the nut has metal wings, which if you over-tighten, simply spread out, so it doesn't pucker the sheet metal. Again, if memory serves me right-you may have bent those little wings, which if is the case, I'd order new ones from your parts desk.

DSChamber · January 14, 2011

The antenna has a bolt, which is inside the cab of the truck. I had only onstar, and upgraded to a NAV-GPS and XM Antenna. You will need to drop the interior roof to reach the nuts, to try and tighten it back up. To drop the interior, you will need to remove the overhead light assembly, the "A" pillar covers, and the visors. If I recall correctly, the nut has metal wings, which if you over-tighten, simply spread out, so it doesn't pucker the sheet metal. Again, if memory serves me right-you may have bent those little wings, which if is the case, I'd order new ones from your parts desk.

Thanks Metro12...that sounds about right from what I could find on the internet... I am willing to bet that you're right about me bending those wings, that would make sense as to why the antenna has a slight, side to side movement now.