Antenna cover gone

[Bangker]

Hi, I have a 2018 Explorer Sport. Like many others, the carwash ate my antenna cover. It's the shark fin with the extra mast for the radio. I found the posts about epoxying the cover back on, and I had planned to do that, but just used painters tape to hold it on in the meantime. Well, the painters tape doesn't last forever, and the cover finally blew off somewhere down the interstate. It's been dry here since it flew, so I haven't been too worried, but since I don't know how long it'll take for a replacement antenna to come in, I find myself wondering if the components within are waterproof in any way. I know they're PCB's, but I'm sure there's a little bit of power in them that wouldn't react well to water. Does anyone have a recommendation on what I should do to prevent damage to these components in the event of rain?

Thanks for your help!

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the Forum.
Perhaps you could tape a plastic bag like a sandwich bag over it until you get a replacement.
Original 2015-2024 Ford Antenna Base JJ7Z-18936-AAPTM | Levittown Ford Parts

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Peter

 

[J_C]

I'll second that, can't think of anything that is that unique shape, so see 4 options:

1) Tape down a plastic bag.

2) Get the dimensions and 3D print a cap

3) Take a rubber mallet to a junkyard, bang the cover off a vehicle there and then epoxy that onto yours. Or of course, take the whole thing off as well as yours to replace it, but if the original came off in a car wash and you want to continue using same type of car washes, then it seems like something more reinforced than just the original design needs to happen?

4) Seek an aftermarket cap. Will something like this work? They might be cheaper elsewhere.

Amazon.com

Funny thing about my '14 is last time I took it through an automatic car wash, I didn't notice at the time, but the next day I was walking around the vehicle and saw the fuel fill door open. I hadn't parked it anywhere else besides in my locked garage since the car wash, so it had to be the car wash rather than someone trying to siphon gas.

 

[Bangker]

Good ideas, thanks! I think I'll start with the plastic bag until I can either find one in the junkyard or order a new replacement. It bites that Ford can't sell just the cover, and instead makes you buy the whole unit, but the replacement process looks pretty straightforward.
Regarding the carwash, it was knocked off by an attendant with a brush before ever going into the muppet mouth.

 

[J_C]

If an attendant damaged it, I'd be talking to the mgr. about paying for the damage. I mean I always thought there was some kind of waiver you accept for things getting knocked off IN an automatic car wash but not so much any damage done by an employee.