Such a minor issue, I hate to bring it up

Bought a used 2008 Rx400h, and I can't get any AM stations. I like some AM talk radio stations I can't get on FM. The antenna is broken off, and I'm pretty sure that's the problem. How hard is it to replace the antenna?

Meanwhile, I have nonfunctional A/C and a couple of bald tires, which of course take precedence. [Tires first, then A/C]. Is the antenna replacement something I can do at home?

 

Should be able to.....If the stub isn't broken, then a shorty antenna at a autoparts store would work. If the the stub is tweaked/messed up, then you'd need to replace the cable from the back of the radio to the rear of the roof.

 

Don't worry we talk about minor stuff too! 🤓

 

The antenna base (86300-48140) on the roof is a separate part from the mast. The antenna base contains a signal amplifier printed circuit board. To replace this, you have to pull the headliner down to get to the nut that holds it to the car as well as the electrical wires and coax cable. The antenna mast (86309-48040) is a separate piece that screws into the base.

You didn't say anything about the FM stations, so I will assume that you can receive FM stations.

Do you live in a metropolitan area where the radio transmitters are nearby? If not, maybe the amplifier is bad.

But before you go and buy the antenna base with the built-in amplifier, I would suggest you check that the radio itself is OK. To do this, you need to plug another antenna into the back of the radio. You could use an old style antenna that would mount on a car fender but what I do is take my #1 Philips screwdriver that happens to be the same size as the tip of the antenna cable, plug it into the radio and then touch the screwdriver and I become the antenna. You cannot have your skin touching any metal of the car as this would ground out the "antenna". And don't jam the screwdriver too far into the radio and short out something. As you slide the screwdriver in, stop when you feel resistance.

If the radio works with another antenna, then it is a problem with the antenna on the roof. You could unscrew the antenna mast and put a piece of wire (I don't know what size is needed) in the base section and use yourself as an antenna to see what happens. If the radio still doesn't play then I would say the amplifier is bad. It would not be a fuse, because the radio sends the power to the amplifier.