Passat no radio reception - resolution / possible fix?

[JimC64]

Hi there,
my wifes Passat 2003 1.9 Tdi Highline has recently been playing up, with regards to the radio so my wife complains.

We were out a few days ago using her car and I turned the radio on only to be met with hissing and hit / miss signal, poor quality reception.

After doing a little checking I found her aerial mast was damaged and thought to myself, haha that'll be the problem, paid £5 and got one from Ebay, fitted it and just the same.

After further checking I find that VW Passats / Golfs / Jettas etc all seem to have this as a common complaint at some point, turns out its more than likely the antenna base......water has leaked in and corroded the circuitry, bam no radio!!

I've found a post about it here........

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=vw%20passat%20radio%20antenna%20base%20replaceme nt&source=web&cd=10&cad=rja&ved=0CJUBEBYwCQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fforums.generationdub.com%2Fshowth read.php%3Ft%3D16270%26page%3D1&ei=SugBUeCRE5OR0QXz54GoDg&usg=AFQjCNEQsACxkYsSMzRsD7ZoLwXFGK_ZGg&bvm=bv.41524429,d.d2k


This shows a detailed "how to" fix that will apply across the range I'm sure.

The key is for not a lot of money an antenna base c/w replacement gasket can be bought and fitted to resolve the issue.

I hope this may help someone with the same issue at some point...........Now all I need to do is buy the parts and get it fixed on my wifes car....lol

Cheers
:beerchug:

[Col]

Sometimes you can get away with cleaning the PCB, particularly the contact area to the whip.

Sometimes.

[JimC64]

Well for not a lot of money I've bought another antenna base and await its arrival.

I'll get around to it as soon as I can after it arrives and see how we go from there.......keep you all posted of course

[Doctle Odd]

I have had this problem in a couple of Passats, being afraid of damaging the headlining I bought something like this Glass Window Windscreen Mount Car Radio Aerial Antenna | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Glass-Window-Windscreen-Mount-Car-Radio-Aerial-Antenna-/360497470329?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item53ef52db79)

[Dunsmorechap]

If you do replace with a new antenna base, then you can seal it properly - remove the 2 small screws holding the two halves together and put a small amount of gasket sealant around the seal then screw back together. My old one was buggered and the small seal had disintegrated.

[JimC64]

Thanks for the thoughts guys, much appreciated.

I reckon as the original one has lasted approx 9 years I'll be ok, I don't think we'll own the car that long so if it goes in another 9 years or so that won't be an issue.

I'm wary of the headlining also, but I think with time and patience it can be worked out all ok.

I'll report back

[John Brooks]

I had this problem on my last Passat and found it to be a bad coax connection at the antenna base. There is a small fly lead of coax at the base of the mount which joints with coax coming from the radio end. This connection was loose, crimped together and fixed the problem.

[JimC64]

Hey all, got my replacement antenna the other day and started to remove and replace the old one.

Its a real PITA to get to and kinda awkward especally if you're a big guy like me at 6'3"....lol
Anyhow, persevered and got the old one out and decided to take it apart to check it.......well as soon as I started to unscrew it there was water eveerywhere!!
Serious water ingress had caused the pcb to become corroded, this gave me hope.

Fitted the new one onto the car no problem, and all buttoned up.

As per John Brooks post though, the coax cable connections seem really difficult to connect for some reason. Its really maddening as I'm almost there, but the cables are in place with the new antena attached all good to go, until I figure it out.

[Toonmania]

looks like this might be my next job, seems to be one job after another on this car :biglaugh: although it keeps me out the wife's way

[JimC64]

Ok guys, here's the update!!

I took the car to a local car audio place and they had a quick look & confirmed conections should be ok........It turns out the black sheath that surrounds the connectors was a little too long / too thick.
2 mins and a little work with a stanley blade removed the excess and we got a perfect fit, he then wrapped it up in some electrical tape and BISH BASH BOSH........working radio clear as a bell and all for £20 :approve:

I gave the guy £10 for his efforts and thanked him and was on my way listening to some tunes for around £150 less than at the dealer :beerchug:

Needless to say the wife is pleased and has now asked me to look at the parking sensors:1zhelp:.....lol

Thanks for reading guys.......I hope this may help someone else that may have similar issues with their radio.

[vfrvulcan]

Well for not a lot of money I've bought another antenna base and await its arrival.

Jim, I have a similar issue with lousy reception and the whip fell apart in my hands leaving the metal stump in the base and now it just 'floats' in there and can't remove it!!

Would you be kind enough to let me know which item you bought off eBay to get the job done please?

MTIA

Aaron

[JimC64]

Hey there, no problem buddy.

See link below for the one I bought.....£9.99 and works a treat.


Car Roof Aerial Antenna Base For VW Volkswagen Passat Golf Jetta Polo New | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360594899371?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649)

If you need to buy the whip, you can do that separately for around £4 or so iirc.....I've posted a link below to one similar to the one I bought

16" Replacement Aerial Mast Whip VW Golf MK4 Bora Jetta Passat B5 5mm Antenna | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16-Replacement-Aerial-Mast-Whip-VW-Golf-MK4-Bora-Jetta-Passat-B5-5mm-Antenna-/310521881901?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item484c8be52d)

Hope it helps :beerchug::beerchug:

[vfrvulcan]

Hey there, no problem buddy.

See link below for the one I bought.....£9.99 and works a treat.


Car Roof Aerial Antenna Base For VW Volkswagen Passat Golf Jetta Polo New | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360594899371?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649)

If you need to buy the whip, you can do that separately for around £4 or so iirc.....I've posted a link below to one similar to the one I bought

16" Replacement Aerial Mast Whip VW Golf MK4 Bora Jetta Passat B5 5mm Antenna | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/16-Replacement-Aerial-Mast-Whip-VW-Golf-MK4-Bora-Jetta-Passat-B5-5mm-Antenna-/310521881901?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item484c8be52d)

Hope it helps :beerchug::beerchug:

Thanks Jim, much appreciated.

PM your email address and I'll buy you a beer!

Cheers

Aaron

[JimC64]

Thanks Aaron, thats not necessary buddy.

Just glad to help......anything else please feel free to pm or email me.

The process is really simple Aaron, if a little tiring as you have to be a bt of a contortionist, but nice crystal clear sounds at the end ofit all make it worthwhile

Good luck

[vfrvulcan]

Thanks Aaron, thats not necessary buddy.

Just glad to help......anything else please feel free to pm or email me.

The process is really simple Aaron, if a little tiring as you have to be a bt of a contortionist, but nice crystal clear sounds at the end ofit all make it worthwhile

Good luck

Cheers Jim, tried to ask you by PM but as I haven't made 10 posts yet the system wouldn't let me.

Looks like I have just one to go after this!

[JimC64]

Cool...........don't forget to revisit and let us know how it goes for you.

[vfrvulcan]

All done and dusted - thanks very much for all your help on here.

Just one quick question - how the farouk do you get the headliner tucked back in properly along the top?!?!? :1zhelp:

[JimC64]

All done and dusted - thanks very much for all your help on here.

Just one quick question - how the farouk do you get the headliner tucked back in properly along the top?!?!? :1zhelp:

You're more than welcome mate, its what we're all about here.

As for the headliner?
It is a reall nightmare.......just become a contortionist and stick with it......you'll get there in the end.

Presumably radio os now all A ok?

Cheers

[vfrvulcan]

Thanks Jim,

Radio working fine now apart from intermittent pass-rear speaker failure - need to take door card off to have a look as the occasional bang on the speaker will get it working again :-)

Contortion is a bit of a problem at the moment due to tearing a rotator cuff in my right shoulder fixing the infamous intermittent door opening problem. It seems a good way would be to use a small, strong, hook on a handle to pull the headliner lip back with one hand while teasing it back into place with the other because it's bl00dy difficult to pull back with fingers alone.

Cheers

Aaron

[vfrvulcan]

Hmm, VCDS-Lite is now reporting:
00856 - Radio Antenna 36-00 - Open Circuit

Is this due to the 3rd party antenna now being used?

Radio is working fine

[JimC64]

Vfr - No idea about the message you report I'm afraid.

My radio is working fine and have had no issues since completing the work, just a usable radio.