By: Bimol Bee
Submitted: 2011-10-17 04:06:41 | Word Count: 464
Generally, the shark fin works as a compact replacement and is not difficult to install. So, you'll need:
1. Flat Head Screw Driver (Optional)
2. Painter's Tape or Masking Tape
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3. Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol (70% is better than 98%)
4. For Waxed Cars Only - 3M General Purpose Adhesive Cleaner or 3M Prep Solvent 70 or Dawn dish soap (liquid)
5. Hair Dryer
6. A stool (but if you're tall enough to reach over the Mazda3 and push down on the middle you won't need it)
1. Unscrew the Elroy Jetson style antenna from its base.
2. Apply the rubbing alcohol using a paper towel or any towel and wipe the surface where your shark fin antenna will be placed. Cotton balls or pads may leave streams of cotton on the surface. Before planning the location of your shark fin ensure there's no left dirt or dust on the area as it may decrease the integrity of the gasket on the bottom of the shark fin.
3. Locate the shark fin over the antenna base and fix the position over the antenna connection site. While placing the shark fin you should be able to place painter's tape around the sides and not have to re-align it when you want to connect the shark fin to the antenna base.
4. Locate painter's tape around the shark fin beginning from the front of the shark fin and moving to the back. Locate painter's tape on the left and right of the shark fin. In order to have an absolutely precise alignment place the tape over the front of the shark fin in two - three pieces in a triangular configuration.
5. Peel back the pre-slit paper on the underlying adhesive gasket from the back. Pull it away carefully past the corners of the back of the shark fin. Heel the back of the shark fin towards the antenna base to ensure enough slack.
6. The part of the roof where the antenna will be placed should have the room temperature. But if it's not, use a hair dryer. Try not to direct the hair dryer onto any other spot of the roof not to damage your car's paint.
7. Fake away your adhesive paper and prepare to fix the antenna.
8. Align the front of the shark fin to the pieces of tape used in Step 4 and between the two side pieces. Ensure the shark fin is aligned properly on all four sides.
9. Press down firmly on the front of the shark fin for about sixty seconds. It's important to press the front of the shark fin at first, not the rear!
10. Hold firmly down the rear of the shark fin for about sixty seconds and take away the masking tape.
