Antenna base

[Vincelpz]

Hey guys I drove my car through a carwash had it broke my antenna off. I had to replace the antenna and antenna base. It took me forever so I thought I'd make a video on it. Also if anyone needs help with it just let me know.

 

 

[Ravenkeeper]

On 11/9/2018 at 5:34 AM, Vincelpz said:

Hey guys I drove my car through a carwash had it broke my antenna off. I had to replace the antenna and antenna base. It took me forever so I thought I'd make a video on it. Also if anyone needs help with it just let me know.

Your video actually answered a lot of my question about installing a hidden antenna or two.  I did the antenna delete mod, about a week after I got my truck home, when I bought it.  Had done it to my '15, shortly after I bought it, too.  I'm waiting for my drivers assist handle to come in, before I install the first hidden antenna.  May add a second one on opposite rear window, run it under the kick plates, and up to that connection in the top of the dash. 

 

My original plan, before seeing this video, was to push the antenna connectors through the firewall and connect to the antenna base.

[Mkovacs1988]

How much did you struggle getting through the firewall? I can hardly get my hand back to push it through the hole, but can’t see it inside the can. Removing the lower cover didn’t add much visibility. I doubt it varies, but mine is a 2016.

[Rogeram]

This video skips over the hardest part of the project.  Removing the battery helps with access to the side of the firewall.  It takes a lot of patience and finger feeding to work the cable thru to the inside.  Another skip is the difficulty to remove the plastic panel fasteners (panel under the glove box).  Plan for way more time and trouble than this instructional video covers.  

[kimnach]

I am currently struggling with this $#&! on my '14 Silverado LT.  Getting the old one out and pulling the shoe string was easy and I thought it would be a 10-minute job (excluding removing the trim).  Getting the new connector to feed through the inner firewall is a ****** because there is jute or some insulation that just will not yield to pulling.  (There seem to be two holes: the outer one into which the grommet seats and then an inner wall that opens into the passenger compartment.)  It is impossible to get the cable connector to feed past the jute and then pull at the 90degree angle that the shoe string is pulling on the cable connector.  In spite of having smaller hands, taping off the connector string into a conical shape, and having removed the battery, I am cussing up a storm (in english and hungarian) that any a-hole that designed it should be drawn and quartered.  My son thinks it funny.  I not so much after struggling a couple of hours.  Oh, wire pull lube is of no use either.

Not sure if removing the wheelwell liner would help: it seems that that would provide no to minimal additional access.

Just venting

 

UPDATE: after cooling down, i went back out and within a few minutes I got it fed through.  I switched over to fishing line which has less drag than shoe laces.  Perhaps that helped?

Edited June 14, 2022 by kimnach
update