Volkswagen Repair: VW radio, cigarette lighter, jetta vr6

Question
Hi Ryan,
Thanks for the quick response..I Checked the fuse(ok) and the cigarette lighter works.  The radio is original equipment and nothing has been done recently to affect radio..It still wont work when car is running..help?

Bruce Vail
Followup To
Question -
I have a 1996 Jetta VR6.  My radio works with the key in the on position but when the car starts, the radio quits working..any suggestions?

Thanks
Bruce Vail
Answer -
There are two seperate power wires that run the radio in these cars. One runs the radio when the car is off and the other runs the radio when the car is running.  Check to see if your cigarette lighter works.  If it doesn't then you've blowen a fuse.  The radio and lighter share the same circuit.  If you have just installed an aftermarket radio then you've got the 2 wires mixed up.  You can use a test light or meter to figure out which wire is which.  I dont know the colours off hand.

Good Luck,
Ryan

Answer
You must have a broken wire or bad connection to the radio on the wire that powers the radio when the car is running, or the radio is shot.  You'll need a test light to determine whether its the wire or the radio.  If there is power to the wire when the car is running then its the radio thats bad.  If there is no power when the car is running then you will have to find and repair the break or just run a new wire.

Good Luck,
Ryan