Hi all

I have just received a genuine Panda short aerial for my 2013 4x4 and I am a bit perplexed. I unscrewed the old one and expected a female thread in the aerial housing to screw the short one in but instead found a male thread sticking out. The new aerial has a male thread so does not screw in. There is a hex below the thread for an 8mm spanner but it just spins round in the rubber housing. Is it stuck? do I need to take the whole aerial housing out?

Has anyone fitted the short aerial? Did theirs come with a male thread? any help appreciated.

The Panda Nut how did you source and fit yours?

Sounds like they've supplied you with a transgender aerial.

Or else your Panda has transitioned, on the quiet.

Life used to be so much simpler.

gar074 said:

Sounds like they've supplied you with a transgender aerial.

Or else your Panda has transitioned, on the quiet.

Life used to be so much simpler.

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Haha yes.


If I knew how to post a picture it would help explain it all much easier. The genuine Fiat aerial mounting looks like it has a female thread so unless it is stud screwed into the end then something is not right.

Suggest you put a couple of lock nuts on the thread on the mounting and try (gently-ish) to extract the headless screw as it should be a female thread.

babbo_umbro said:

Suggest you put a couple of lock nuts on the thread on the mounting and try (gently-ish) to extract the headless screw as it should be a female thread.

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Yeah thanks for the tip, I did try and unscrew it but it is in so tight that the whole threaded headless screw/stud is spinning down in the rubber section so there is nothing to grip on to stop it turning. You are right though, it should be female and it is definitely a genuine Fiat housing. I'm thinking it is an aftermarket aerial that someone has fitted and there are loads on ebay with a female thread in the bottom of the aerial itself that also come with some male to male adaptors of different thread sizes so they are a universal fit on various cars. A bit of WD on it might help but it will probably seep into the rubber and it will be even easier to spin round making it even worse.

Worked out how to add pictures now so you can see what I mean

So its a new housing or keep the original aerial. It was only a cosmetic thing anyway so I guess I'll return it and keep the original aerial.

Thanks for the replies eveyone.

Ian64 said:

Hi all

I have just received a genuine Panda short aerial for my 2013 4x4 and I am a bit perplexed. I unscrewed the old one and expected a female thread in the aerial housing to screw the short one in but instead found a male thread sticking out. The new aerial has a male thread so does not screw in. There is a hex below the thread for an 8mm spanner but it just spins round in the rubber housing. Is it stuck? do I need to take the whole aerial housing out?

Has anyone fitted the short aerial? Did theirs come with a male thread? any help appreciated.

Click to expand...

Upside down - sorry




New aerial

Al D said:

The Panda Nut how did you source and fit yours?

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Mine was a straight unscrew and screw in. Just like the original.

Warning - digression alert!!!

As a 15 year-old, I got dragged along to an illustrated talk by my dear old dad on the history of coal mining in South Wales. (He was a coal miner, turned mining engineer, turned industrial archaeologist, turned industrial museum curator.)

I was in charge of the projector and slides for the evening (we're talking early 70's here). The talk was to a local Baptist chapel group, and in the audience were my then-girlfriend, her very straight-laced parents, and assembled sober-sided chapel-goers.

When my dad's lyrical exposition turned to some innovative use of male and female connectors in the mining industry (I can't remember the precise context), I prayed, as never before, for the floor to open up and swallow me.

My girlfriend regrettably declined the offer of a practical demonstration later that evening. Some you win...

Thank goodness mine just screws on and off,as I have to remove it to get in the garage without practically ripping it off

Motorcyclist Colin said:

Thank goodness mine just screws on and off,as I have to remove it to get in the garage without practically ripping it off

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Yes - I had to go to the stubby aerial on my 4x4 as the long one was hts by the up-and-over garage door.

Well, when I'm feeling flush or find a second hand genuine (female thread) mounting I might have a second go. Until then stubby returned to supplier.

It looks like you need a new aerial base, that thing sticking out should not be there. I think its part of a non standard aerial that has come off the wrong way. You will probably wreck it trying to get it off the base. I think your right to leave it for now. Its probably a major job to get the base off and the wire out.

Two nuts turned into each other and then turning it loose on the lower nut.

gr J

Thanks A3jeroen. I did try and unscrew but the whole threaded section including the bit disappearing inside the rubber is just spinning round. Im thinking whoever put the aftermarket aerial in with the adapter tightened it to within an inch of its life. Bless them.

Panda Nut - Yep its stopping in for now. Can't be bothered ripping the headlining out nor the £26.00 for a new base.

Al D said:

The Panda Nut how did you source and fit yours?

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Very belatedly... I bought from the dealer they are still under a tenner from teh right place on the net. Its a Fiat Accessory and it has a male thread to go into the thread on the roof mount. Screws ion very easily.

Motorcyclist Colin said:

Thank goodness mine just screws on and off,as I have to remove it to get in the garage without practically ripping it off

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Hi Colin. That's the reason for using the short one it allows you to get in and out without risking roof damage and without needing to remove. It works just as well as the long one. Must remember to swap it next week.