Right, So i know that fitting the aerial is simply a case of pulling the roof lining down to give enough access to the nut holding it on. 

 

But how do i get the rear plastic trim panel off of the back of the lining in order to pull it down in the first place?

 

I have pulled the plastic down to see some clips holding it on but how to i actually remove it.  broke one clip just be pulling it to see what was holding it on.

 

Thanks

 

 

Don't Worry,  Big screwdriver to prise the clips out is the answer.

 

Still doesn't seem massive of room to get to the nut without taking the side panels off too.  I will see how i get on.

Estate or hatch? There's more room on the estate.

Estate trim will pull straight down into the vehicle.

Just check either end is free first as there are some tiny plastic clips there.

No great shakes if they break though as once back in place you'll never notice.

I have a spare black one off a hatch if that fits and you need it. I can post pictures of the clips if that helps you visualise what you are doing.

On the estate it is certainly possible to replace the aerial base by just removing the top trim panel. It looks like there is no room, but when you get your hand above the lining there is quite a bit of space.....almost like an Attic!

 

It is very fiddly, and took a few goes to get the new nut on by feel alone, but I got there in the end.

On the estate its pretty easy to remove the 'D' I pillar trim to make it easier to get to.

Taking out the 'C' pillar trims is a little long winded though. If you're going that far, its not much more effort to do the whole lot and drop the headlining completely.

Don't know about the hatch though...

Turns out that there is just about enough room by just pulling the lining down at the back.  I think like a few people have said, it would be very easy to overtighten the nut so some care is needed.

 

Anyway all done and back together.  ANT2 on bolero now says on so thats a good sign.

Right, So i know that fitting the aerial is simply a case of pulling the roof lining down to give enough access to the nut holding it on. 

 

But how do i get the rear plastic trim panel off of the back of the lining in order to pull it down in the first place?

 

I have pulled the plastic down to see some clips holding it on but how to i actually remove it.  broke one clip just be pulling it to see what was holding it on.

 

Thanks

A few years ago I bought a couple of sets of trim removal tools like these and they have been invaluable many times - including removing the roof lining of the estate this morning - always buy a couple of sets because those in one set are often not enough to do the job easily!

 

A few tips from this morning:

 

Use the trim tools to GENTLY prise one end of the Centre section down until you can just see the nearest clip - this is a springy device which is mounted in a raised slot in the plastic Centre section . Then insert a long THIN flat-blade screwdriver so that the blade is between the raised slot and the slot in the metal roof panel into which the clip fits, and then GENTLY lever the two apart so that the metal clip finally pops out of the slot in the roof panel - this is how to avoid breaking the raised plastic slot (which has happened to me many times - but not this morning!). Gradually work your way from that end of the Centre Section to the other, and then pull the section down a BIT.

 

You will probably have do the same to the top clip of at least the top of at least one D post trim panel so that you can disengage the Centre section from that - note that each end of the Centre section has two plastic lugs which slot upwards in the adjacent D post trim panel, so you don't want to break those either.

 

That procedure should allow you to pull down and completely remove the Centre section to gain access to the antenna base.

 

I found that the best tool to undo/do up the 22mm nut on the base was a  22mm open-ended spanner as opposed to a socket, as I could angle the spanner more easily than a big socket on the end of a ratchet. However, if you have a 22m ratchet spanner with a swivelling end, then that would probably be even better.

 

NB:

- The genuine VAG antenna & base is P/N 1U0035505F, and I got mine from here ("number1forskoda", AKA Rainsworth Motors) and it cost £29.99 inc. P&P.

- someone mentioned silicone grease - this not readily available everywhere, but you can get it from the CPC or Satcure websites (I already had some from CPC, which is a good place to buy a lot of things although it may not always be the cheapest).

 

Temporarily secure the new antenna base to the hole in the roof with a lot of masking tape - otherwise you can't hold the antenna firmly in place whilst you do up the nut (unless you have long arms like a rock ape!). Tighten the nut, fit the cable plug into the socket of the car's existing cable (it's a pull-out/push in fit) and check that you now have good radio reception.  THEN remove the masking tape and check that the antenna is still firmly in place - I forgot to do that this morning, refitted all the trim and put away the tools (in the garage, at the other end of the garden!), and THEN found that the antenna base was actually very loose and so had to take the Centre section off again to tighten the nut very firmly this time.

 

Refit the Centre section so that the lugs at the end near the D post trim that you did not loosen are engaged, and then do the same with the lugs at the end near the D post trim that you did loosen. The Centre section should now be hanging in place, and so (you may need that thin screwdriver again) make sure that each of the spring clips in the Centre section is aligned with the matching slot in the metal roof (if you don't do this you might break the raised plastic section which holds a clip), and then, starting at the end near the D post trim you did not loosen, firmly  "thump" the Centre section upwards under each spring clip so that it engages in the slot, and finally do the same for the clip in the D post trim that you did loosen.

 

NB: you will probably lose at least 1 metal spring clip - down between the D post trim, or just flown off "somewhere" - so buy a few spares before you start (lost 2 this morning, but had some spares in the box!).  If you DO break the raised plastic slot (which I did not do this morning!) in a trim panel so that the clip won't stay in it, then you can often bodge the clip back in place with some duct tape (had to do that many times with the old Mk IV Golf estate :-().

 

Sorry if this is a bit detailed but better safe than sorry - and take your time over the job as hurrying (at least the first time) could result in some tears (and extra expense).

 

John

In addition to the above I would like to add that the masts that as sold as separate items for a few quid (mine was only £2.99, thank goodness, from Amazon) are NOT suitable!

 

Why? Because the mast cannot be unscrewed from the retaining nut in the swivelling part of the base, and neither can it be unscrewed from the threaded shaft that joins the two together.

I confirmed that by trying to unscrew the mast from the new Skoda part, and it cannot be done. I also carved the insulation off the bottom of the old mast and found that the threaded shaft is part of the base of the mast and is firmly attached to the spring which allows the mast to bend when something hits it.

 

Therefore this type of mast is NOT a suitable replacement antenna for the Skoda Octavia II (1Z5 chassis) and you need to replace the complete base and mast assembly as above! I have therefore revised my Amazon rating to the minimum I can give it!

Edited 4 August, 201510 yr by jeallen01

PS to my first post at lunchtime, I also replaced the door mirror glasses this afternoon, and found the trim removal tools are IDEAL for levering the old mirrors off the swivelling mounting inside the housings - dead easy and with little or no danger (unless you are that "rock-ape!) of damaging either the mirror housings or the glasses.

In addition to the above I would like to add that the masts that as sold as separate items for a few quid (mine was only £2.99, thank goodness, from Amazon) are NOT suitable!

Why? Because the mast cannot be unscrewed from the retaining nut in the swivelling part of the base, and neither can it be unscrewed from the threaded shaft that joins the two together.

I confirmed that by trying to unscrew the mast from the new Skoda part, and it cannot be done. I also carved the insulation off the bottom of the old mast and found that the threaded shaft is part of the base of the mast and is firmly attached to the spring which allows the mast to bend when something hits it.

Therefore this type of mast is NOT a suitable replacement antenna for the Skoda Octavia II (1Z5 chassis) and you need to replace the complete base and mast assembly as above! I have therefore revised my Amazon rating to the minimum I can give it!

Are you talking about the Skoda / VAG 'whip' aerial? Or the one you bought off Amazon?

If it's the Skoda one, then the aerial does come away from the base. Not easily, but it does. It's intended to be an anti-theft element.

Are you talking about the Skoda / VAG 'whip' aerial? Or the one you bought off Amazon?

If it's the Skoda one, then the aerial does come away from the base. Not easily, but it does. It's intended to be an anti-theft element.

The new complete antenna base & mast/aerial was a genuine Skoda part (as identified above), and, as I said, I tried as an experiment to remove the mast from the base before I fitted it to the car - and there was no way I could get the two apart without the risk of damage to one or other part.

That was the same problem as with the base/mast originally fitted to the car - the mast and threaded section screwed out about 8-10mm and then just kept turning in the fixing in the swivelling section of the base. Tried many, many times with the same result before I finally shelled out for the complete new assembly!

Anti-theft feature? More like a damned bloody stupid design, I say!

It does come out. Quite a regular question on here. And one of the first questions I asked IIRC.

Usual answer is to unscrew it, tilt it backwards and pull hard with the aerial horizontal.

Does require a lot of pull...

Whether it's a stupid design or not depends upon whether your aerial gets stolen or not, I guess.

Usual answer is to unscrew it, tilt it backwards and pull hard with the aerial horizontal.

Does require a lot of pull...

Whether it's a stupid design or not depends upon whether your aerial gets stolen or not, I guess.

Tried all that many times - didn't work.

£30 and a lot of work for a complete new antenna V £3 for a new mast? - please answer your own question in your last sentence!

Oh and by the way, I did do several searches on the forum for guidance on what to do before trying to do/buying anything - with no real result relating to the posts to which you refer!!!

Edited 4 August, 201510 yr by jeallen01