www.jec.org.uk

A common problem: My aerial mast has been getting stuck half way and not extending fully up for some time now. Occasionally the message "clean aerial" is displayed on the radio!

With the aerial up as far as it will go, I have cleaned the parts that I can several times with a cloth and WD40. However, no luck so far in totally freeing up the mast, although it is slightly better.

The XJS forum in the magazine this month has an article about replacing the mast, by unscrewing the nut at the bottom, turn ignition/radio on so that mast rises, and then pulling the mast out. Should I follow a similar method just to clean it?

Mike.

Mike,
this is a common problem with our wonderful Xk's
It is often caused by the wind resistance while driving, a continuous bending and whipping bends the mast.
The best way is to replace it. They are not that expensive ( I bought one at a Jaguar Spares Day in Kenilworth for about £15.
Fitting is quite a simple procedure.
I have done quite a few Continental journeys at higher than UK speeds on the German Autobahns and it did not help the situation

Also, if you do oil/grease the mast, use very little lubricant and rub it upwards. You dont want to get oil or grease settling in the bottom of the arial, and always wipe it upwards to clear the excess.

My arial has always fully extended but retracted with the bottom section still showing.

It may not be of much comfort but on the news last week I noticed the Prime Minister's X350 suffers from the same problem. Don't be tempted to remove the mast from the motor just to clean it. It's more than likely that it would be damaged in the process. If cleaning doesn't work, as Grand Tourer says, replacement is the only other cure. Mike.

Many thanks for all the above advice. Will keep an eye on the PM's car and see how rapid their maintenance is!
Tried cleaning it again the other day, but still no luck in making the aerial come up all the way. I think I probably exacerbated the situation with some of my earlier cleaning efforts by putting too much WD40 on and dragging dirt further down. And wiping downwards as I remember...
A replacement it is then! Have found several on offer on eBay for around £15 as suggested above. Some say they come with fitting instructions, which will be helpful. Do I need any particular tools?

Mike.

No special tools needed. Good luck, Mike

Have you tried a judicious tug yet? If you give it a helping hand as it extends you can sometimes persuade it to free up.

Ah ha! Gave the aerial a "judicious tug" and have made it come up all the way! Hadn't wanted to do this before in case I damaged something. Was absoutely caked in dirt (and quite a lot of gloopy WD40.... )

Thanks all.

I find that 'helping' it upward as it is under power really helps to fully extend it. Once done, clean the aerial and lightly oil upward as mentioned before. You may have to run it up and down a few times, cleaning each time, to fully clean the works.
Once you have it working properly, always remember to was your car with the aerial up! Again wash upward to wipe dirt away from the joints.

My aerial was groaning a lot whenever it went up or down So I used PTFE chain lubricant spray on it. After a couple of raise/lower cycles it quietened down and has been fine since.