I've done a search but can't find on the site how to replace the roof mounted radio aerial on my 2002 Octavia estate.  The original was chewed to shreads by the monkeys at Longleat !!!!

I thought it would be a simple matter of unscrewing the aerial from the boss and fitting a new one - either a Skoda one or an aftermarket one. But the old aerial will not come off when unscrewed. Someone once told me you have to remove the whole headlining - PLEASE tell me there is an easier way, fellas !

If you just want to change the mast, you will have to fully unscrew the mast then pull it really hard as it has a barb on the end to stop it being stolen apparently. I ended up changing the whole thing as I couldn't get the mast off. It was quite straight forward you only have to remove the plastic trim at the rear of the headlining then pull it down slightly to get to the nut on the bottom of the aerial.

Hope that helps?

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I've never done it but a few have commented so off memory no I'm fairly certain the whole lining doesn't need to come off. You can lower the rear of it enough to get at the nut underneath that holds the aerial on. The panels that run down the rear pillars come off and the one along the top of the boot lid iirc. Someone with better knowledge will confirm but don't go ripping the whole lining off just yet!!

If you just want to change the mast, you will have to fully unscrew the mast then pull it really hard as it has a barb on the end to stop it being stolen apparently. I ended up changing the whole thing as I couldn't get the mast off. It was quite straight forward you only have to remove the plastic trim at the rear of the headlining then pull it down slightly to get to the nut on the bottom of the aerial.

Hope that helps?

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Just beat me!!

Thanks guys - that fills me with optimism (a commodity in very short supply having just had to remove the rear door cards to fit new central locking mechanisms - the most fiddly job I've done on any car for a very long time !) 

I'll let you know how I get on !

I might try to do this again as i was put off trying to remove the rear plastic panel. Or just brute force it and pull the old aerial off.

cheeky monkeys

If you just want to change the mast, you will have to fully unscrew the mast then pull it really hard as it has a barb on the end to stop it being stolen apparently. I ended up changing the whole thing as I couldn't get the mast off. It was quite straight forward you only have to remove the plastic trim at the rear of the headlining then pull it down slightly to get to the nut on the bottom of the aerial.

Hope that helps?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

What he said! I used a large pain of pliers and pulled the old mast out. There is a barb that 'secures' it once loose. Replacement S2000 mast on the way. Soo happy I've not had to drop the roof liner!

From memory that plastic trim that finishes the head lining at the boot hatch comes off by sliding it to the right (or possibly the left). Don't just prise it off as you will break the fastener moulding off it.

Hope this is a useful tip!