Originally Posted by Stemmer

I would have recommended just take it to the dealer for service and ask them to wash it. Twice I've had the car jockey run it through the car wash with the radio on, breaking it. I've gotten two new masts that way!

Originally Posted by Mark2008

The Gazi001 description is spot-on and thorough, and I wanted to add a few notes I took yesterday while replacing my RX300 (vintage 2000 and on its third transmission...another thread but not here) antenna mast. I removed the slotted chromed nut holding the antenna mast in place by using a very dull, half inch wide screwdriver blade, and taping against each of the four slots using a hammer with the dull screwdriver blade. The nut came off easily and the remains of the antenna and its toothed drive plastic were readily removed. I did not need to remove the hinged rear deck that covers the spare tire, but did prop up the hinged floor, and did remove one of the large push pins that holds down the hinged flap and the smaller panel push pin nearby.

There is a plastic hook attached the underside of the hinged deck, and this I used to hold the side panel out of my work area. I suspect this hook is used specifically to hold the panel when servicing the antenna power unit, since it cannot be hooked to anything else nearby. Rather than remove the drain tube from the wheel well, I cut a slot in a shallow cardboard box for the drain tube and worked on the motor while still attached to the drain tube.

Removed the power assembly screws and the broken end of the toothed plastic actuator; cleaned the two large drive gears, applied fresh Aeroshell lube to these two gears, and completed the reassembly. The antenna channel conduit is inserted before the power cable is reattached, due to the short length of this cable. Antenna cable is reattached, along with the power plug. Loosely mounted the motor assembly and reattached same using the two 10 mm screws.

Purchased the OEM replacement antenna mast from antennamastsrus.com ($29.50 including shipping) for P/N 86337-0W030 showing on the invoice. The actual parts bag listed P/N 86300-0W010-B (Mexico). Threaded the toothed actuator plastic lead into the antenna housing. One needs be a little aggressive in pushing this lead to begin engaging the teeth of the drive gears, as there is a small ridge the end of the toothed lead must be "bumped over" just upstream from becoming engaged by the takeup gear. A good brisk thrust of this plastic lead should get it beyond this hang-up and engaged, while the significant other turns off the radio. The interior panels do not need to be removed if the drive lead is fully intact, with no broken parts left in the takeup reel on the motor. Tech Service (Tech@AntennaMastsRus.com) responded quickly to my installation inquiries and installation instructions are provided on the back of the sales invoice. Phone support is found at 920-686-0644 or -9688. I will upload some pictures that may help the next soul needing to replace the mast.