Car aerial snaps in the wind

ankles

So last week I was driving on the N7, windy day but not the worst, when bang, my aerial snapped off at the join where the hard section ends and the whippy part begins. This is the second time this has happened to me, both times it's just been the wind, first it bends the aerial, and after a while it eventually snaps. In fact what it starts doing is whacking against the rear window of the car very hard as I'm driving down the motorway until eventually it can't take any more.

Anyone else have this happen? I don't want to get a "cool" stubby aerial as I hear the reception isn't as good, and I don't want it nicked? Design flaw or am I just unlucky?

miller50841

What make and model and year OP.

ankles

2006 Mazda 6

miller50841

Hi Ankles do you use car wash without taking it off ? That can damage them or just unlucky with a faulty batch but think its been put under some strain from something.

ankles

Never use car wash, just a fair bit of motorway driving, sometimes in windy weather. Can the wind alone break it?

miller50841

Honestly no it shouldn't have never heard or had any trouble with them arials myself.

Did you get a replacement off Mazda or spurious it is possible it was a cheap copy only guessing of course.

I thought I had it with the wash ha ha

deandean

Yea the windscreen wiper on a new, 2-week old car of mine blew off the windscreen one time, but I was doing (censored).

So what speed were you really doing?

ankles

Original was a Mazda. First replacement was from a motor factors. Now wondering what to do...

road_high

Are these the same screw off ones you get on all the VW's? If so fairly handy to get at a breakers yard, got one before years back.

miller50841

Did you put on extremely tight as fatigue in the little bit of metal(screw part) could eventually cause it to snap.

Do you know anyone with a similar arial that you dont like


If you are losing signal I would replace or also when you do just check it every so often just to check noone has been at it.
Also would try some silicone or glue just to seal may solve the problem

miller50841

road_high wrote: »

Are these the same screw off ones you get on all the VW's? If so fairly handy to get at a breakers yard, got one before years back.

Bee sting as most would call them;)

ankles

Its a 5mm screw in aerial with a few inches of hard plastic with a longer whippy section. You can pick up a replacement in Halfords or on Amazon but am wary in case it goes again

miller50841

Some manufacturers or motor factors would be using cheap spurious make sure that the part that screws in is flexible not the screw but the part attached.

A lot of rubbish copies coming from china and the likes.

Senna

A short "bee sting" style one would probably be better, you should try halfords.

zapata

Would something like this suit:
http://www.gumtree.ie/cp-car-parts-accessories-in-dublin/electric-glass-mount-aerial-441188945

Senna

zapata wrote: »

Would something like this suit:
http://www.gumtree.ie/cp-car-parts-accessories-in-dublin/electric-glass-mount-aerial-441188945

reception is usually rubbish unless its a very good window aerial, for a €10 you can bet its crap.

zapata

Senna wrote: »

for a €10 you can bet its crap.

So, on that logic, if the seller put a price of €50 or higher on the same product - would that improve the quality?

miller50841

zapata wrote: »

Would something like this suit:
http://www.gumtree.ie/cp-car-parts-accessories-in-dublin/electric-glass-mount-aerial-441188945

Buy a VW one and try that I would not bother with Halfords again just cause lots use them doesn't mean they are great.

Look up ebay and don't bother with changing mounting or other spurious add ons.

corktina

deandean wrote: »

Yea the windscreen wiper on a new, 2-week old car of mine blew off the windscreen one time, but I was doing (censored).

So what speed were you really doing?

about mach 2 I suspect..:D

Senna

zapata wrote: »

So, on that logic, if the seller put a price of €50 or higher on the same product - would that improve the quality?

Of course and if it was €100 it would be even better:rolleyes:.
Its €10, so its one off ebay or halfords, both rubbish (in my experience).