Antenna up Alarm

[BudtheDiplomat]

My Antenna Up Alarm has started flashing and beeping intermittently even though the antenna is not up.

This alarm will last for 20-30 minutes and finally the dash Antenna Up light will glow red for the rest of our trip.

I'm certain there is a short in the wiring somewhere, but I haven't a clue where to start looking.

Have any of you had a similar problem? How did you fix it?

Thanks,

Bud
2008 Monaco Diplomat SFT

[Sixpack98]

I would first look at the microswitch at the base of the antenna. When the antenna is lowered to its rest position it presses against the arm on the microswitch. It may need adjusting or has failed.

[mahon1993]

I agree. Check out the switch on the antenna.
Greg

[Diplomat Don]

Bud...On mine, the switch is a ball bearing switch. It's a small tube with a metal contact at one end. When the antenna is down, the ball bearing rolls toward the contact or away from the contact depending on how it's wired. Check this switch. It sits at an angle when the antenna is down. It may not be at enough of an angle anymore (worked loose or got bumped). It's mounted on the side of the antenna arm. Mine is blue and about an inch long.

[BudtheDiplomat]

Thanks Don.

I'm crawling on top of the motorhome tomorrow. I wondered if it was something under the dash, but this'll be easier to check out.

My gosh! it seems like every wire under the dash and behind the radio is white. What ever happened to color-coding! I like red being hot, brown being ground, and everything else being, well, everything else.

And I'm still saying, What's up with all of these white wires!

[observer]

Bud,
If you check those wires you will find that most have a black imprinted label on them, describing their function.

[Gordon66]

The wire going to the switch is the ground for the light/alarm. Mine is pinched somewhere along the run, made contact with the roof framing and stays on all of the time. The wire runs from the dash, up the drivers side pillar, across the roof structure to the antenna. Monaco says it will require running a new wire.