Now to fix the radio......I get a lot of static here too!

[Gone Hunting]

Now that the engine is working, next important thing is the radio.

I get static on AM with some faint background of the station. FM is better. I ran the VAG COM on the radio icon and it came back "No Faults"

I went into measuring blocks. I have tried to paste the picture in this message but not figured out how. I will post it on the media section if I can.

Basically it comes back:

Group 004 ACTIVE Antenna OK NA
Group 005 Ant. SW Outp Open Circuit NA NA
Group 008 Signal Strength 23.0 NA NA

And yes, the antenna is screwed onto the back roof and not missing!!

If anyone can help me with this, it would be much appreciated.
Thanks!

[R_Ethug]

Re: Now to fix the radio......I get a lot of static here too!

AM!! thats your problem right there! i dunno could be the antenna or could be the station and the signal your getting.. i do know if you have a TT or smaller antenna your AM reception goes to crap but FM is fine so that could be the issue also.

[Gone Hunting]

Re: Now to fix the radio......I get a lot of static here too!

I know, I know. AM..... Gotta listen to the news sometime?

The static is on BOTH AM and FM. Antenna is factory. Is there some powered booster in the system? It used to work fine and then crapped out.

It is something wonky with the signal.

Help Please?

EDIT: It happens on ALL STATIONS. And they all used to come in fine.

[R_Ethug]

Re: Now to fix the radio......I get a lot of static here too!

yea the radio reception is boosted via 12v so that is probably the problem.. probably have to visit the dealer..

[Stonewall]

Re: Now to fix the radio......I get a lot of static here too!

Help Please?

EDIT: It happens on ALL STATIONS. And they all used to come in fine.

I am about 90% sure it is a corroded antenna base. I went through a bunch of stuff with some guys on the tdiclub about the stock bases and it looks like they oxidize and casue all types of reception lose. The only real way to fix it is to replace it. Thankfully if you look in the forsale section of the tdiclub someone went and got a good price in a bunch of them to help everyone out.

[Gone Hunting]

Re: Now to fix the radio......I get a lot of static here too!

Thanks Stonewall, I will go look there.

A little more info please. Where does it corrode? Can it be repaired?

When the car was about 6 months old, the same thing happened and I took it to the dealer. I was told they scanned it and the "booster" was shot. Now when I scanned it with Vag-Com, there was nothing about boost anywhere. The closest thing was the signal strength.

Has anyone else out there had the same problem?

Thanks again to all.

[VAG_Tech]

Re: Now to fix the radio......I get a lot of static here too!

PM'ed ya a walk through to diag your radio reception problem.

[Stonewall]

Re: Now to fix the radio......I get a lot of static here too!

A little more info please. Where does it corrode? Can it be repaired?.

Link
As you can see in the pictures there it is the base on the roof itself that corrodes. The base is also the "booster" the dealership is talking about. The headunit add's a 12v line to the antenna output onthe deck that powers the roof antenna base because the wirring is so long to the antenna so there is a signal loose. Unless the dealership had some expensive RF equipement they where not checking signal strength output of the antenna.

[Gone Hunting]

Re: Now to fix the radio......I get a lot of static here too!

Thanks guys. I PM'd Volkstech back. He seems to give a lot of GOOD advice on this forum.

The link (from Stonewall I think) to the corroded base is something else. I would be a little P.O.'d if a dearler accused me of having a dirty car too.

Definitely looks like another case of Mexican execution of the "FINE" German Engineering. I hate to beat on a dead horse but these things just seem to be one little problem after another. The overall product (car) is good but dozens of little glitches and oversights. The fuel savings get eaten up in maintence of the rest of the car.

Anyone wanna buy a slightly used TDI Jetta with a freshly cleaned intake manifold, a radio that doesn't work, a loose drivers window, no place to hold a coffee cup while commuting, squeaky doors, a wonky shifter but nice 17" BBS's on it? I will even toss in my VAG-COM!!! All this in the antique model year of 2003....

But with a 90 km round trip to work downtown, where else can you get over 50 mpg?????

My frustrations are showing though. Disregard the negative comments above. It is thanksgiving. I should be greatful that I even have legs to push the clutch in with. Happy Thanksgiving to all.