1995 Acura Integra Antenna Leak :: Trunk Leaking

Here we continue the journey in keeping the water out of the back of a 1995 Acura Integra 2dr Hatchback. The tail lights were leaking, and I repaired that in another video:    • 1995 Acura Integra Tail Light Leak :: Two ...  

Yet, after a couple of rains, there was water on the driver's side of the trunk. It was coming through the antenna and the antenna motor assembly. I used a T and another piece of hose to connect the bottom nipple of the antenna assembly to the existing drain hose.

This antenna motor is good, but the gears are stripped, so the antenna would go up a little but would not go down and would make a crunching-stripping sound when turning on the ignition. So, I disconnected, and left disconnected, the connector going to the antenna assembly to remove power from the unit so that the motor would no longer turn and make that dreadful noise. As a final precaution, with the antenna all the way down and disconnected so that it would no longer come up, I then sealed the top of the antenna with clear caulk to prevent water from entering the antenna chute.

00:00 Leaking areas
02:02 Water test
03:46 Antenna Unit Removal
06:47 Antenna Unit Disassembly
11:43 Antenna Motor Test
12:28 T-connection
12:57 Antenna Unit Reinstall
14:06 Water test

NOTE: I would also suggest sealing the mating surfaces of both the metal cover on one side and the plastic cover on the other side of the gear housing to prevent seeping between the mating surfaces.

Alternatively, if you do not require the antenna, you could remove it and plug the antenna hole in the body. They make rubber/plastic plugs for this.

OR, you could install an aftermarket shorty antenna and remove existing electric antenna.

My goal was to keep the water out, NOT fix the antenna.