Poor Radio Reception

[arkaig]

Help please - anyone else with the same type of problem. I'm finding that in the heart of Scotland, radio reception on both FM and AM is limited. For instance for the 50 miles or so between Blair Atholl and Spean Bridge, at best reception is pisspoor and more often just plain non-existent. Is there a means of adding a conventional radio aerial? My Golf Mk IV did retain some semblance of discernable/listenable Radio 2 reception all the way.

[Shaun]

Take it and get it checked as mine is fine all the time, If you want the hassle you can add a sharks fin that has a conventional type long aerial attached to it (there is an oem one), this would of course mean adding wiring as your roof aerial will be a dummy unless you have sat nav or phone prep ( you still would need wiring even if you have these two )

[RW1]

There have been instances in the past of loose or crossed connections on the aerial feeds. Reception should be good and no need for an extra "special" aerial.

Don't know if you have a RCD510 Radio/CD or the RNS510 Navi unit. My RCD510 has the best radio reception I've had since a Pioneer Radio/Cassette 25 years ago. It holds stations very well with good sound quality in the Peak District hills and with very little drop out when other sets have given up.

I think there is something wrong with your installation that the dealer should be checking out for you.

C.

[topicalkeith]

Mine is fine, I'm also really surprised how good the DAB reception is. I'd say it should be covered by the warranty.

[cajpaj]

Hi, I also have rubbish radio reception on FM. DAB is not so bad but on the motorway recently even that was loosing signal.

I have RCD 510 setup with the DAB addition and the car has been into the dealers but has come back the same with the statement it is comparable with another car of similar type.
If you press setup button for over 3 or 4 seconds the radio will show another screen for signal levels. Select FM and see what level you get and if it is poor like mine it will be quite low, around 20 dbUv at best on BBC 2

I have heard that the fault could be down to broken connections in the side back windows but getting the dealer to admit there is a problem seems difficult?

My car is is a R built in May 2010

[greenstick]

I urge anyone with DAB problems to insist that their chosen dealer submits a technical query to VW.

My local dealer failed to do this twice, I took the car back to the supplying dealer who were more than happy to help.

My car (built June/July 09) had erratic DAB signal and the FM signal was mono most of the time. Problem was the DAB and FM connectors were connected the wrong way round. There was also a suspected problem with the DAB amp so this was also replaced. All fixed under warranty

I think the DAB is excellent, the quality is noticably better than FM and has only dropped out once since the fix, for about 10 seconds.

PM me if I can be of further help, especially those in or near South Yorkshire, I can point you in the right direction.

[cajpaj]

Hi Greenstick,

Supprisingly the DAB reception shows good signal locally ( Leicestershire) until out on a motorway but FM is a joke with hardly any useable signal so always mono. Any chance you could post a picture of the signal level for FM to compare with mine which is about 20 db uv on most stations. I could use this at the local dealer who also supplied the car.

I believe the DAB connector is out on its own in the middle of the unit with the other two for the FM/AM and diversity function being next to each other.

[greenstick]

Hi cajpaj

I'll try get a picture tomorrow for you. I;ve not even bothered with FM since I got my DAB fixed so don't even know myself whether it's any better.

I have spoken to someone at VW Customer Care about the hassle I've had, they were good to talk to, very helpful.

If you continue to have problems getting your dealer to look at it, I can recommend giving them a call, they're definitely aware of the problem.

[cajpaj]

Hi Greenstick,

Thanks!

I have taken the radio out to look at the fakra feed connections and the AM/FM are in a white moulded plug (two together) with the DAB being a single black fakra. I don't see how they could be mixed at the radio end as the lead plugs do not pull out of the plastic clips or moulding so I'm thinking that if they are wrong it is probably where they connect at the window connections?

DAB aerial is the nearside window according to info I have read elsewhere with onse part of the diversity aerial so was it here that they changed your connections over?

I also have VCDS (VAGCOM) but no radio faults appear when scan is completed but signal levels might not induce a fault anyway?

I look forward to seeing what signal levels your car is producing after the fix.

Pete

[greenstick]

Hi

My understanding is that it is at the rear of the car, as the dealer mentioned it was over a half day of a day job and the back of the car may need taking apart. Looking at the car when I got it back though, this hadn't happened. I got a call from the technician doing the work, checking I was happy before he put it back together, so he must have had something apart.

VAGCOM shows no error as there is a signal, it's just erratic. THis was the problem when I took it to local dealer, "Computer says no" attitude to fault finding, rather than using their eyes and ears

TBH I wouldn't start taking my car to bits, you paid for a warranty, let VW fix it.

I've taken some pics, sorry it's a bit scrappy but you'll get the idea. I mainly listen to BBC radio stations and this was where I suffered most problems. BBC is the top left picture, it's been spot on since the work was done.



Good luck

[cajpaj]

Greenstick,

Thanks for the pictures and your help!

The pictures clearly show that there is definately a problem with my car and as such I will contact VW again asking them to look at the problem and provide an appropriate fix.

Pete

[cajpaj]

Hi All,

Quick update on poor radio reception.

Thanks to members of this forum I have been able to diagnose the rubbish radio reception down to broken tracks on each side windown. The problem is now my crappy dealer is saying this would not be a manufacturing issue so unlikely to be covered by warranty.

It seems they couldn't find the problem until I actually pointed out the cuse and they agree this is the fault now but are now saying I must of caused the damage?

Where do I stand now in getting VW to take responsibility as I pretty pi**ed off with the whole experience with my dealer?

Thanks for any advise.

Pete

[shaudy]

I've got the same issue with my RNS510, reception is rubbish - station list only shows 4 or 5 stations and loses radio 1 reception around North Manchester - I've had another Scirocco for a year and that had a great reception, station list showed 20 odd stations and didn't lose radio one around Manchester!

Apparently mine needs a new amplifier... I'll wait for the 'fix' and see how it goes..
Shaun

[whiteDevil_170]

Noticed earlier that when I press the button for drivers window to go up when I'm listening to dab as the window goes up the radio stops. Only when got dab on and only when window is going up whilst driving. Symbol appears on rns like a radio antenna with a x over the antenna. Is this a fault or just means loss of signal? Only seems to happen whilst dab is on and pressing window one touch button .

[andy35554]

I have noticed radio reception gets worse when I have a USB charger plugged into the ciggie lighter hole in the centre console I use for charging my phone... If I unplug it the radio station reception is a lot better.
Has anyone else notice that
ps 2011 1.4 tsi 160 car