Originally posted by SPL_Eclipse replace the antenna motor. its worn to a point of non functionality. i beleive theres a few posts about replacement (aftermarket) antennas around here somewhere if you search.
Hes right...you have about a week or so before all it does it make lots of noise and does nothing....you can buy yourself some more time though... get a cloth and wipe some sewing machine/3 in 1 oil on it.
Sorry but I have to disagree here. His antenna motor is fine. It's the mast that is bad. At the bottom of the antenna where you cannot see is a long white piece of plastic with teeth in in that the gear(s) on the motor grab and spin up or down to make the antenna move. Over time these will break causing the antenna to do what you are explaining. It will go up but not completely and start "buzzing" when it can't go up anymore. When you have to push down on it when it's trying to go down is because the gears aren't/can't grab the teeth on it. If you notice when you're pushing on it usually you will have to twist it in 1 direction or another for the gears to grab the teeth and pull it down. The best solution is to remove the antenna completely from the car, take it apart and get the broken piece out. Put it back together, power the antenna on, turn it off and feed the new antenna in. You may have to do this a couple of times for it to go completely in. Once it's in, put the nut back on the top and you're done. Probably would take an hour or so to do the whole thing.
