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Uhhhh...Shark fin antenna cover came off..?

291K views 160 replies 73 participants last post by  lost nut  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Got home today, and noticed a bird dropping on the antenna (Good aiming for the bird). Grabbed a paper towel and wiped it upwards slightly, and the plastic cover came off.

At first, I thought oh no big deal, I'll just clip it back to place. But I found no clip or any design mechanism that holds this plastic piece to the base. It also does not seems to be glue based either.

I flipped it over and saw all the plastic holes in the cover are at least slightly cracked, where I would assume the screw would go, but none of the screws on the base actually appears to be extending that far? And they can't possibly all crack from my wipe?

How is this supposed to be held on? I feel like just sitting it on the base won't keep it there, but I guess I could've driven around with this loosely sitting there all this time, and aerodynamics just works it out...is this something warranty covered?

I feel like they may have to pull the headliner if the plastic part is not meant to be separable, which I would try to avoid.
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#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
I actually always hand-washed my car, and I can't think of any Ex issues lol.

XM radio reception is fine, AM and FM antenna I think is in the back window, and bluelink I didn't try but may be in the fin as well..?

I did more digging, and apparently, it's more common than I thought. I found this thread on Kia Optima forums, which I think uses a very similar fin.

Optima Antenna cover broken - Kia Forum

The dude on the second page is in almost the exact same situation as me. 2015 Sonata purchased in 2014, washing the car, and the thing just popped off, and he posted just 2 weeks before me lol.

I think it's just a badly designed part, those plastic holes can't stand the heat/cold cycles of the weather and deteriorate over time, and by the sound of it, dealerships are not willing to cover the antenna replacement.

I'm thinking of using JB Weld to glue it back since there is an edge I can place the glue... I'm open to suggestions if there is a better alternative product!
 
#15 ·
Hi all, just providing an update, I successfully used JB plasticweld epoxy and put the cover back on 2 days ago, time will tell how strong it will hold. So far no issues, tried to grab it with 1 hand after it cured and pull, didn't budge one bit. Drove on highway around 80mph, stayed in place. I didn't put too much, only on the outer edge of the cover and sat it on the rubber. I left the groove behind the edge alone.

I thought about the silicone, but after looking at it, the rubber base is solid. The nut & screw connecting to the antenna to the roof is sitting beneath the circuit board, which is sealed tight to the rubber base, so I won't worry about headliner getting wet. There is also a raised border thing around where the circuit board sits, so the likelihood of it getting wet is not very high either, there is also a very deep groove right after the edge where the cover sits on which also prevents water. Putting silicone on the cover and rubber will probably make it a bit messy even if it's clear silicone, I was able to hide the epoxy 100% between the cover bottom and the rubber base, so I think I will keep it like that and keep an eye out when the first rain hits.
 
#62 ·
Hi all, just providing an update, I successfully used JB plasticweld epoxy and put the cover back on 2 days ago, time will tell how strong it will hold. So far no issues, tried to grab it with 1 hand after it cured and pull, didn't budge one bit. Drove on highway around 80mph, stayed in place. I didn't put too much, only on the outer edge of the cover and sat it on the rubber. I left the groove behind the edge alone.

I thought about the silicone, but after looking at it, the rubber base is solid. The nut & screw connecting to the antenna to the roof is sitting beneath the circuit board, which is sealed tight to the rubber base, so I won't worry about headliner getting wet. There is also a raised border thing around where the circuit board sits, so the likelihood of it getting wet is not very high either, there is also a very deep groove right after the edge where the cover sits on which also prevents water. Putting silicone on the cover and rubber will probably make it a bit messy even if it's clear silicone, I was able to hide the epoxy 100% between the cover bottom and the rubber base, so I think I will keep it like that and keep an eye out when the first rain hits.
I drive a 2016 Kia Forte, same thing happened, I am using your suggestion or the method for fixing it, hopefully it holds.
 
#16 ·
This is a warrantable repair. Hyundai has an open service campaign for this condition.

"On certain Sonata (LF) vehicles the “Shark Fin” antenna mounting bosses may be
weakened and the cover may become loose if external force is applied.
This bulletin provides the procedure to inspect and if necessary replace the “Shark Fin” antenna to
correct the condition."

Bulletin 16-01-051-1.

While this bulletin does NOT directly apply to your vehicle (stock units ONLY), it does indicate a known problem. Any good dealer will be able to get this handled for you. It may take some time though.
 
#34 ·
This is a warrantable repair. Hyundai has an open service campaign for this condition.

"On certain Sonata (LF) vehicles the “Shark Fin” antenna mounting bosses may be
weakened and the cover may become loose if external force is applied.
This bulletin provides the procedure to inspect and if necessary replace the “Shark Fin” antenna to
correct the condition."

Bulletin 16-01-051-1.

While this bulletin does NOT directly apply to your vehicle (stock units ONLY), it does indicate a known problem. Any good dealer will be able to get this handled for you. It may take some time though.
Does that apply to the Hyundai sonata hybrid also on the bulletin or do you know for sure and what do I have to do just call a dealer and give them the bulletin number
 
#17 ·
Well, I guess it's a little too late for this now since I already glued it back...But in all honesty, even if it is covered under warranty, I'm not sure I want some random guy at the dealership removing the back seat, trims, and headliner to replace the shark fin on my car. More likely than not it will give me scratches and random rattles after the job is done. I really wish they have a secret access door to remove the antenna, such as the rear dome light. The amount of work required to replace this single piece is unjustifiable.

We replaced a failed power rear sunshade motor under warranty on our Lexus at a very well rated dealer. When we got our car back, there was a deep scratch mark on the C pillar airbag cover, one of the rear seat torso airbag cover wasn't snapped in fully and scratched on the edge, and it took me awhile to get rid of a random rattle in one of the trim (wasn't clipped in correctly). Then another time, they did not reinstall properly the plastic piece behind steering wheel, and it was rubbing and scratched it. After that, I give up all hopes on dealers' ability to remove and reinstall trim pieces properly, or any interior work for that matter. On the Sonata too I got some swirl marks on the AC display and digital clock due to the complimentary car wash at dealership, didn't notice it right away, but been declining the wash ever since then. While dealerships and managers themselves may be decent, the workers simply don't give a rat's ass about your car.

Hopefully this epoxy will hold for a few years till I sell the car.
 
#22 ·
Glue is holding up great for me! I occasionally check on it when i wash my car just to make sure it is still solid, and sure enough it still is after many temperature fluctuation cycles, high winds, high speeds, even 1 or 2 automatic carwashes, zero issues so far after 9 months. I forgot it even broke off of my car before I saw this post got bumped again....hope this plasticweld will hold for many more years to come, or at least till when I sell the car.

I used the PlasticWeld Epoxy, the tube type where you have to mix, NOT the putty. And make sure it's plasticweld, not the regular JBweld, those I think are more for metal, and may not offer as much bonding support for plastic part. It may work just as well though, just never tried personally...
 
#28 ·
I'd like to add that my shark fin cover also fell off this weekend while washing the car - by hand.

What breaks is the four plastic screw pins at the top of the screws that hold it on to the base on the roof. The construction is not robust at all given that these cars go through car washes. The bottom of the broken pins are still screwed on which is holding the unit base to the roof. I used RTV gasket maker around the edge of the cover where it sits on the roof gasket and four dabs in top of the screws where the cover pins sit.

This is a temporary fix as my dealer said this is covered by my bumper to bumper warranty. Seems Hyundai sees a lot of this.

I would suspect that the RTV will hold for a very long time, but under warranty I'll fix it.
 
#29 ·
........my dealer said this is covered by my bumper to bumper warranty. Seems Hyundai sees a lot of this.
Got the new shark fin today under warranty. Invoice stated reason for warranty repair was it came off while owner was washing the car. It was fixed in about 1/2 hour by slightly lowering the rear part of the head liner and working with skinny arms up inside to get to the screws.

If anyone else has it come off and car is past warranty then I imagine it's possible to fix yourself, but Hyundai only sells the entire part, not just the cover.

As I said the RTV gasket maker I used worked well. Only RTV under the outer edge of the cover on top of the rubber gasket and also the screw tops.

I'll need to be more careful from now on when washing. Cover needs to be more robust, or even metal.
 
#38 ·
Just had my shark fin cover knocked off by a carwash. Didn't notice until the next day. Asked at the carwash but they didn't have it, so I have to order it. It looks like both hyundaioemparts.com and hyundaipartsdeal.com have it for a little over $160. This is the full antenna assembly, and not just the cover. My vehicle (2016 PHEV) is out of warranty, so it looks like I have to buy the whole part and glue it myself.
 
#42 ·
and had to pull the headliner to get at it properly.
Had to remove the headliner to replace.
For those doing this DIY apparently you only need to lower the rear of the headliner and reach in with skinny arms. That's how my dealer did it and had it replaced in about 15 minutes. I assume you'll need a right-angle screwdriver and a helper to hold the antenna.
 
#43 ·
Unless they have changed the design on the cover with the skinny plastic posts a new assembly will also break easy. I just re-attached mine with a bead of silicon RTV around the whole cover which will be much stronger than the flimsy posts. I was shocked how easy it broke when cleaning off the snow from the roof and I don't wonder why some are breaking off in car washes. Obviously, in my case I did not lose the cover.

Frank 2017 Sonata SE with 30K miles
 
#44 ·
The shark fin antenna cover (just the cover) came off (lost) on my 2017 Sonata. Dealership quoted me $550 installed for entire assembly. Ridiculous! Does anyone know where I can find a replacement cover? I have searched and searched and can't find one that fits. The universal ones are for replacing the "pole" type antennas not the '17 Sonata that has circuit board type antennas. Please help!
 
#46 ·
Please help!
There is a TSB (16-01-051) on these with a new design part. Make sure they replace with new design "QH" in the part number. Mine was replaced under warranty but with the old design, which I will have updated.

Should not take the dealership longer than about 20 minutes to replace if they just lower the head liner a bit in the rear.