QuestionQUESTION: 03 jetta wagon....started having trouble with AM channels, cant get clear reception, gets worse as I drive the car. FM works great. CD player works. Replaced the stereo with another VW radio...still does the same thing. your thoughts?
Trev
ANSWER: Hi Trevor,
VW now uses stubby antennas (antennae?) on their car. As a result, it doesn't pick up AM very well at all on its own, so they install antenna amplifiers to provide extra strength to the antenna. I would imagine that amplifier has lost power or has died. If you're using a VW deck, then a lost connection is unlikely. You might have a dead amplifier, or a bad wire somewhere. It might be something thatll require a trip to the dealership to really find.
Justin
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hey Justin
The antenna on this car is the long one off the roof ( its about 10 inches long and screws into the roof mount) When I unscrewed it and then replaced it with some compression on the roof mount it did seem to get better reception temporarily.
Is the antenna amp something that is apart of the VW radio or is it inline with the antenna wiring.The reason I ask is if I can install the antenna amp,I ll do it myself.
Secondly, I have 06 jettawith satelitte option..Instead of getting it activated for the car ...can I get a portable unit that can be used in the car and in the home or office? I noticed that there is a connecting port in the glove box of the car...the previous owner had an ipod hooked up that he just plugged in..Is that radio port compatible with a portable satelitte radio receiver? Itjust would make sense to have one satelitte subscription than multiple ones for the same person..Your thoughts?
Thirdly, I noticed that there is a phone symbol on my steering wheel ..would you have any info on making that hands free option available to me? how I go about linking the phone tothe car..is the question
Thanks very much!!!
Trev
AnswerHi Trevor,
I was positive I already wrote up a response to this and sent it along, but apparently I'm insane.
If pushing the antenna helped, you might simply have a loose connection. Perhaps try removing it, cleaning the connections, and putting it back.
The amplifier is usually inline on the antenna somewhere. Where exactly in the car, however, I wouldn't know.
If you get a portable receiver, you'll have to find a way to hook it up to the stereo, and wouldn't be able to use the receiver that the car came with since XM registers accounts based on the serial # of the unit. They might have plans for multi-units too, though that might be worthwhile.
As for the phone symbol, if your car has bluetooth and wireless available, full instructions on using it should be available in your users manual.
Justin
