PDA

View Full Version : Poor radio reception



davlin
05-09-2011, 10:21 PM
Over the past months the reception on my radio has got bad. Sometimes I lose the FM single completely and have no MW signal at all (there is something out there but I have to turn the volume up all the way to hear the faintess sound and that is in the centre of Belfast). Does anyone have any idea what could be causing the problem. I have changed the ariel and still makes no difference.

Peter D
06-09-2011, 09:10 AM
There is an aerial amplifier in the rear of the car and it has either failed or lost power. What year and model to you have.
Regards Peter

davlin
06-09-2011, 12:35 PM
Hi Peter,
She is a Highline TDI 130BHP Saloon Feb 2004 AWX.

Thanks
David.

Peter D
06-09-2011, 01:14 PM
Depending on the options you have in your car there is an aerial amp in the C/D pillar left side and one under the rear parcel shelf. Regards Peter

vwturbo
06-09-2011, 07:30 PM
hi sorry to butt in on thread,but have the same problem how hard is it to replace the amp in the aerial of a estate

davlin
06-09-2011, 09:23 PM
Hi again Peter,
Just after doing a contortionist trick which nearly broke my back to have a look under the parcel shelf (I'm sure there must be an easier way) all I could find was the bottom of the rear brake light and the rear sensor bleeper (right under each other in the centre of the shelf). What am I looking for, should I see ariel coaxial going into something? And excuse my ignorance but what is the C/D pillar? Is it the centre door were the seat belt is attached? and again I take it that I should see coaxial connecting to something and I am asuming current must go into it as well so I should also see a live wire.
Maybe this will help vwturbo as well.

Peter D
06-09-2011, 09:25 PM
It depends on what option you have. Sat Nav, TV, DVD Telephone etc etc. Regards Peter

Peter D
06-09-2011, 09:26 PM
No you have to remove the top of the parcel shelf the amp is bolted to the metal work under the covering. Regards Peter

davlin
06-09-2011, 10:04 PM
Hi Peter,
I will give it a try in the morning. I noticed a cople of clips which I assume holds the shelf in place. As I mentioned in my last post is the C/D pillar the centre door pillar?
Regards
David.

davlin
06-09-2011, 10:17 PM
Hi Peter sorry to pester you again. When you say amp, is this an expensive item. The last time I had radio problems when someone broke the ariel off my Mk 1 Ford Escort and my dad stuck a metal coat hanger in the socket and it worked fine. Modern cars?

Peter D
06-09-2011, 10:39 PM
Rear pillar. Yes they do not come cheap and rarely fail but loose connectors and water ingress can be the cause of the problem. Regards Peter

davlin
07-09-2011, 10:12 AM
Hi Peter,
Removed the parcel shelf, nothing is bolted to the metal work except for one brown wire which seems to be connected to a plastic 'THING' about the size of a ping pong ball, hollow could be an earth and I removed the drivers side (offside) that runs down the rear window and all I found was I think the gas cannister for the air bag. I'm I looking in the wrong place. I don't see any coaxial.

Regards
David.

Peter D
07-09-2011, 11:06 AM
As I detailed earlier "C/D pillar left side" note the left side i.e. passenger side. Regards Peter

davlin
07-09-2011, 09:41 PM
Sorry Peter I didn't know what C/D meant.

Regards
David.

Lincs Vagcom
07-09-2011, 10:05 PM
Thanks for this, I have a similar issue, i tried changing the headunit, but to no avail. Didn't know the was an amp for the ariel.

davlin
07-09-2011, 10:12 PM
Thanks for this, I have a similar issue, i tried changing the headunit, but to no avail. Didn't know the was an amp for the ariel.


I know neither did I, although you would think they would put it somewhere were it would be easy to find(I suppose it's easy to find if you know its there?). Going to give it another go tomorrow and will report back.

davlin
08-09-2011, 05:38 PM
As I detailed earlier "C/D pillar left side" note the left side i.e. passenger side. Regards Peter
Hi Peter
Pulled the left side panel off that runs down the rear window and again it looks like a gas cylinder for a airbar infact there was an orange tag connected to the panel and I didn't want to pull at it any more incase I set something off.
Think I'll give it up and resort to putting on a CD when I lose the signal.

Many Thanks
David

Peter D
08-09-2011, 06:17 PM
Remove luggage compartment side trim (left-side): Amp is high up just under the bottom of the glass. Regards Peter

davlin
10-09-2011, 12:38 AM
Hi Peter,
Pulled the side trim off and the parcel shelf and put my hand and fingers into every orifice that I could find and although I found some wires I was able to trace them back to there connections but no sign of any amp.
However as I was giving the car a bit of a clean I noticed some wires hanging down in the passengers footwell near to the console and indentified them as the connections to the Parrot bluetooth system that was installed when I got the car by the previous owner. There was a wire that had a screw at the end and I traced it back through the glove compartment and it went up the pillar along the windscreen to the roof I presume. Does this look like the connection to the back of the radio. It either wasn't connected when the bluetooth was fitted or it has fallen off?
14748
If it is could you tell me how do get the radio out. It looks like you have to insert something in the two slots
14749

Regards
David

makemineamythos
19-09-2011, 08:12 AM
Hi Guys,
I'm having the same problem in my 97 B5 estate. Does anyone know the location of the amp in this particular model?
I am considering if this could be related to a leak from the pipe that supplies the rear wash wipe, as water from this seems to accumulate in the compartment where the jack is stowed.
Thanks,
Russ

The Fixer
26-09-2011, 11:57 AM
I'm having the same problem in my 96 B5 estate.