How to remove cell phone antenna?

Not a helpful post in terms of removing it, but... I have a similar cell phone antenna mount through the rear window of my Euro 308 GTS QV - and "THROUGH" is the important part of that. Unfortunately, these cell phone antenna mounts required a hole to be drilled through the glass - I suppose a blob of clear silicone would seal it, but I decided to leave the antenna mount in place covering the hole rather than risk any chance of breaking the glass prying it off.

Gordon

 

Soak it with Goo Gone or WD40. Let it sit, soak it again. Do that 3-4 times, then try a plastic spatula or putty knife and wiggle it under the rubber.

If that makes you nervous, you could also using fishing line (after soaking) and slide it back and forth to slice through the rubber.

If they used windshield glue (which seems unlikely) then acetone may be needed.

I have removed a couple of these over the years, I don't recall a hole through the glass.

D

 

Haven't seen one of those for a couple decades...
Anyway, I remember using brake cleaner spray as a solvent (keep it away from the window gasket) and a straight razor blade to cut around the perimeter. The process was cut, spray, cut, spray, etc until I could pry it off. Finish the adhesive clean up with acetone, then glass cleaner. A putty knife can scratch glass if you are not careful.

FWIW I've use dental floss to saw through the adhesive on stick on emblems, but didn't try that on the antenna mounts I removed.

 

Try soaking the adhesive mounting with some type of release agent, such as 3M release agent for weather stripping, before trying to pry the mounting off the glass. I assume it is held on purely with adhesive. That said, the antenna is obviously outside the car, and the antenna cable inside the car, so there must be a hole in the glass to allow a physical connection of the antenna to the cable. If you remove the antenna mount, it looks like you'll be left with a hole in the rear glass. Will you just plug it with some type of plastic or rubber body plug? Am I seeing this correctly based on your picture?

 

I don't recall a hole... Fishing line and see-saw motion.

 

I doubt there is a hold inn the glass. You can not cut a hole in tempered glass. Unless my eyes are playing tricks there looks like an inside and outside component to the antenna. There is probably an inductive connection between the inside and out side components.

 

The reason I ask about a hole in the glass is that green color in the photo looks a lot like the edge of a piece of glass when light shines through it. Though I suppose that could be some kind of green adhesive pad which holds the components to the glass, which is more likely the case.

 

I see what you mean and you may be correct. In that case I would suspect that rear window had been replaced with maybe a plexiglass unit. Looking at it, I don't see any rear defroster wires and assuming the original window would have had them.

 

Those type of antennas (capacitive coupling) which were the latest tech in the '90s, do not require a hole through the glass. Still available new if you want something for your CB radio.

 

My car has the same thing attached to it. Rather than use volatile fluids to soften the adhesive, I'm planning to use a heat gun, followed by dental floss to get it off.

I can't remember for sure, but if the defroster wires are bonded to the interior of the glass, be very careful removing the inside part of the antenna mount or the wires may lift off along with it.

 

I'd recommend confirming the material your window is made of before continuing; specifically whether or not it's some type of plastic. It's probably not - I remember reading that the rear window demister was optional on most Euro models; which would explain the lack of heating elements in the pic - but if it is plastic, it could be easily damaged using the wrong chemicals or excessive heat.
- Dave

 

I have removed many mirror bases. Prying or getting in a hurry will end up breaking the glass. I use a new razor blade. Less chance of scratching the glass. Work it under around the circumference slowly and carefully.

 

There is no hole in the glass. They only drilled holes for roof antennas. I would try using either dental floss or super thin fishing line and "saw" through the tape first. Then you can go back with a razor blade followed with Goo Gone or whatever.

 

I had a few of those antennas installed on my cars back in the '90s, there should be no hole in the glass! I never saw a hole drilled in the glass on any of my cars. That was quite the status symbol back in the day to have one of those cell phone antennas on your vehicle! (Mobile phone time back then cost $0.35 a minute, I got to bill one month for $1,000 worth of phone time!) If it were mine I would leave it there for nostalgia!
Alden

 

i would go to a glass shop but if you are to trying yourself get the seal cable used to remove windshields and a heat-gun start at the corner heat around the base while keeping pressure on the cable and just slowly work the cable back and forth but take your time

 

success?

 

How'd you go ?

 

Wow, they stuck them on to survive a bomb blast back in the 80's.

Fishing line seems to be the trick to avoid scratches.

 

Congrats on successful removal! Good to know my assumption that a hole was drilled was wrong - I'll be removing my antenna mount in a month or two.

Gordon