Gamma Radio

[POSBORNE]

I have a 1998 'S' Reg TDI (110 BHP) sport passat saloon, with a issue with its radio. Its a factory fitted radio cassette Gamma radio, that up until two weeks ago worked fine, either on AM or FM. it switches on off plays cassettes not an issue, but know picking up a radio station is getting to become a right chore, let alone when you want to stay on say radio 1 or 2 (even with rds function on) it becomes a faded signal. the AM band you cant listen to it either with the engine off or on. with the engine off you can pick up radio 5, except theres alot of interference, when the engines running nothing. i`ve replaced the external aerial incase it was that, and this has not improved it at all. i thought these units lasted longer than the car! Any suggetions on what might be an issue?

I am loathed to fitted an aftermarket cd player as my previous VW passat (1997, Tdi) had a sony cd player fitted from halfords, fitted by one of there technicians, and went back twice to correct the wiring, and to fit a signal booster. thus within two weeks of fitting it the wiring harness went up in smoke, thus having to replace the harness or scrapping the car, hence a new car, due to the new wiring harness alone costing 1000 english pounds.