Radio reception problems Mk5 Golf 2004 rcd300

**willielavery** · 06-01-2012,08:20 PM

Reception on the radio on my 2004 mk 5 golf has been great up until now. Local FM stations which it recieved well are now intermittently patchy and often more than one station at a time tries to come through .No roof aerial fitted and i believe it uses rear screen heater as an aerial. Tailgate covers removed and all the multi plugs checked and soldered connections to element ok. RDS reg set to auto and attempts at retuning make no difference. Any help or guidance much appreciated.

Cheers

**richard@thebrae** · 06-01-2012,08:59 PM

There is a button sequence you can use to view the signal strength on your rcd300, and there is an antenna amplifier usuall fitted in the tailgate. A VCDS scan will show you where the fault lies and you can access the radio with this tool as well, and check all the radio antenna signals as the radio is recieving them.

**willielavery** · 07-01-2012,10:23 PM

Richard,
Thanks for taking the time to respond. Pressed and held the menu button to bring up the sub menu and signal strengths. On a station the normally was recieved without issue, signal strength varied considerably but mainly poor RDS fluctuates between 1-4
ANT1 and ANT 2 on.
Display shows a test icon I believe for antennas, but i can see no way to activate it.
The Display also shows
MP - 0 &
NK - 0
Do you know what these represent by any chance ?
Thanks for advice re VCDS- I think you are right this is probably the easiest way to proceed
There is a good company A4Audi close by will probably pay them a visit when i can.

Regards

**richard@thebrae** · 08-01-2012,11:25 PM

Tried to find the meaning for you , but no joy, A VCDS scan is what you need.

**willielavery** · 09-01-2012,11:30 AM

Once again,
Thanks for taking the time to respond

**wally59** · 17-02-2014,07:37 PM

Dear Sir,

I am at the same point as you were with your radio reception and was wondering if you could tell me what you had to do to sort it out and how much it cost

Kind regards

W.W.

**richard@thebrae** · 17-02-2014,11:52 PM

1st you must tell us what radio you have, do you have a roof top antenna ? and have you tried to find out if you are receiving a signal to the radio by the onboard diagnostics or VCDS

**wally59** · 18-02-2014,12:58 AM

Dear Richard,

Please bear with me as I am a complete novice when it comes to the workings of a car and radios the radio is a VW Volkswagen RCD 300 RADIO CD is in a mk 5 Golf

I have accessed the advanced menu which shows a weak signal but I don't know if I can adjust that in any way as regards onboard diagnostics or VCDS not sure what you mean

Thank you for taking the time to reply to me I suppose the next step is a in car radio specialist

Kind regards

Walter W

**richard@thebrae** · 18-02-2014,11:54 AM

Hello Walter,
From what information you have supplied, it seems more like a signal supply problem rather than a faulty Head Unit. You cannot adjust this with VCDS. You must find the fault in the Antenna system.
The RCD 300 uses what is called a "Diversity Antenna" this is a twin tuner in the radio which has the signal supplied via a twin feed antenna system. If you have a roof top "bee sting" arial then it normally has a built in amp/booster. which can short out and fail due to water ingress.
It may have a rear screen antenna instead of the roof top one, and again (if you have this system) it seems as the built in amp/booster has failed.
This is where VCDS can help to pin point what has failed in the Antenna System.
Regards Richard
A car radio specialist will certainly pin down the fault and fix it but could be £50 plus.
Just found further information that the RCD 300 might not have a rooftop antenna, only a rear screen one. So if it is the case on your car ignore the info above ref. roof top antennas.
Check that the cable from the antenna has not broken at the tailgate flexible joints. The amp/booster is inside the tailgate lid.
This could also apply to your car. " Vehicles with radio “RCD 300” or “RCD 500” have a rear window aerial with an aerial amplifier on the right and a roof aerial with aerial rod. One diversity function circuit runs via the rear window aerial, the second via the roof aerial "

**wally59** · 18-02-2014,03:43 PM

Dear Richard,

Many thanks for your reply which was very informative, yes you are right I have the rear window type but I must confess I have never had much faith in it.
The next step is to find a radio specialist can you tell me what a VCDS is as I don't understand this !!!! sorry cars are not my thing Again many thanks for your help

Kind regards

Walter