Poor Radio Signal on RNSE

[danomorgan]

Hi All wondering if somebody can help?

I have a 56MY Audi A3 with factory fitted RNS-E Unit, since purchasing the car the radio signal was poor but now a few years later it is worse than ever, only picking up one or two local stations (all the BBC stations are picked up fine) I cant remember the last time i was able to pick up XFM :-(

I have checked the connection on the back of the headunit but not sure where it runs to after that? Also I think it may be exclusive to Fm frequencies only.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated

Dan

 

[Sandra]

Hi All wondering if somebody can help?

I have a 56MY Audi A3 with factory fitted RNS-E Unit, since purchasing the car the radio signal was poor but now a few years later it is worse than ever, only picking up one or two local stations (all the BBC stations are picked up fine) I cant remember the last time i was able to pick up XFM :-(

I have checked the connection on the back of the headunit but not sure where it runs to after that? Also I think it may be exclusive to Fm frequencies only.

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated

Dan

Hi Dan, welcome to ASN. I am sure one of the guys be long shortly to help you. Have a read through the faqs at the top of the page to see if there is any info in here of use to you. Post some pics up of the car. Enjoy the forum.

 

[jb0o]

Sounds like you need to upgradethe Amplifiers in the tail gate of the car as the RNS-E uses a different aerial system to that of the standard stereos, however this would only need to be done if your RNS-E was retrofitted.

How sure are you that the RNS-E was fitted at factory?

 

[Blackie]

I,m glad you mentioned it. Mrs B,s Cab had a retrofit & the reception is also rubbish. What do i need to buy ?

Cheers

 

[danomorgan]

I bought the car ex-demo from the Audi dealership & all the wiring to the RNS-E headunit looks factory so I would say pretty sure.

I have the haynes manual for this model but it doesnt really show where the cables run for the Ariel? Are there any common faults related to the ariel that i should look at?

 

[jb0o]

All of the aerial stuff is in the boot trim.

These are the parts KUFATEC GmbH & Co. KG - Aerial system - Retrofit - Audi A3 8P, but as you can see its only if you're going from a Symphony II+ (3) to a RNS-E.

I'd get it on VCDS to check for any faults first, if you do need the above parts a "ZF to Ground" fault should be stored.

 

[jb0o]

I,m glad you mentioned it. Mrs B,s Cab had a retrofit & the reception is also rubbish. What do i need to buy ?

Cheers

I don't know the part numbers for the A4 Cab I'm afraid mate

 

[s8craig]

If it's factory fitted then no need to upgrade/change the antenna amps in the boot. They should be the correct ones already.

I suspect that it may be connections to the boot that may be the issue, I would test the radio for faults with VCDS to see if any are present and maybe do test runs of new cables to the boot antenna module.

I would also guess the same with the cab depending on it's age it's a well know fault for the antenna cables to break on the cabs as the wires pass through the boot hinges.

 

[Blackie]

Cheers Craig

ill run a check. The cab did have a single din and I upgraded to the double din and rns-e

 

[s8craig]

Well if it was singe DIN then it did have the right antenna config as it would have been a concert II with HF/ZF antennas, unless it was a chorus whoich would not have had the ZF

 

[danomorgan]

cheers for the replies, going to run the VCDS tomorrow & see how i get on... Will post up my results soon.

 

[Blackie]

Well if it was singe DIN then it did have the right antenna config as it would have been a concert II with HF/ZF antennas, unless it was a chorus whoich would not have had the ZF

Not a clue Craig. I know that the station reception is a bit ropey sometimes but on the whole it isnt too bad. Will it tell me on a scan what amp is fitted ?

 

[s8craig]

No it won't tell what amps, but it will tell you if you have a bad connection to the boot with an open or closed circuit.

 

[danomorgan]

Ok so here are the VCDS findings.....

Thursday,15,March,2012,20:08:48:36838
VCDS Version: Release 10.6.3
Data version: 20101206

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chassis Type: 1K0
Scan: 01 03 08 09 15 16 17 19 22 25 37 42 44 46 47 52 56 76 7D
VIN: WAUZZZ8P07A055200 Mileage: 65400km/40637miles
00-Steering Angle Sensor -- Status: OK 0000
01-Engine -- Status: OK 0000
03-ABS Brakes -- Status: OK 0000
08-Auto HVAC -- Status: OK 0000
09-Cent. Elect. -- Status: OK 0000
15-Airbags -- Status: OK 0000
16-Steering wheel -- Status: Malfunction 0010
17-Instruments -- Status: OK 0000
19-CAN Gateway -- Status: Malfunction 0010
22-AWD -- Status: OK 0000
25-Immobilizer -- Status: OK 0000
37-Navigation -- Status: Malfunction 1010
42-Door Elect, Driver -- Status: OK 0000
44-Steering Assist -- Status: OK 0000
46-Central Conv. -- Status: Malfunction 0010
47-Sound System -- Status: OK 0000
52-Door Elect, Pass. -- Status: Malfunction 0010
56-Radio -- Status: Malfunction 1010
76-Park Assist -- Status: OK 0000
7D-Aux. Heat -- Status: OK 0000

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 16: Steering wheel Labels: 8P0-953-549-F.lbl
Part No SW: 8P0 953 549 F HW: 8P0 953 549 F
Component: J0527 H34 0070
Coding: 0002042
Shop #: WSC 06314 000 00000
VCID: 41825980610F
Part No: XXXXXXXXXXX
Component: E0221 H07 0090
1 Fault Found:
01304 - Radio
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 19: CAN Gateway Labels: 1K0-907-530.lbl
Part No SW: 1K0 907 530 J HW: 1K0 907 951
Component: J533__Gateway H12 0160
Revision: H12 Serial number: 320010672683FA
Coding: BD0F0F4A07000101
Shop #: WSC 06314 000 00000
VCID: 2E58123CC091
2 Faults Found:
01300 - Control Module for Navigation with CD-Rom (J401)
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00100100
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 61
Mileage: 65254 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2012.03.13
Time: 08:06:17
01304 - Radio
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00100100
Fault Priority: 2
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 61
Mileage: 65254 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2012.03.13
Time: 08:06:17.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 37: Navigation Labels: 8E0-035-192-RNSE.lbl
Part No SW: 8P0 035 192 H HW: 8P0 035 192 H
Component: RNS-E HIGH EU H72 0650
Revision: 01S Serial number: AUZBZ7F0971933
Coding: 0205117
Shop #: WSC 06314 000 00000
VCID: 346C00542EBD
1 Fault Found:
01305 - Databus for Infotainment
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00100100
Fault Priority: 5
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 65
.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 46: Central Conv. Labels: 8P0-959-433.lbl
Part No: 8P0 959 433 C
Component: KSG H04 0050
Coding: 198000403F3F8505489AC63300
Shop #: WSC 00052 210 88667
VCID: 3C7C287406ED
Part No: 1K0 951 605 C
Component: LIN BACKUP HORN H03 1301
Part No: 1K0 907 719 C
Component: Neigungssensor 005 0003
Part No: 8P0 951 177
Component: Innenraumueberw.H04 0020
1 Fault Found:
00332 - Control Circuit for Tank Flap
007 - Short to Ground - Intermittent
.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 52: Door Elect, Pass. Labels: 8P0-959-802-MIN2.lbl
Part No: 8P0 959 802 H
Component: Tuer-SG 020 0090
Coding: 0000560
Shop #: WSC 06314 000 00000
VCID: 41825980610F
1 Fault Found:
00933 - Electric Window Motor; Passenger Side (V148)
005 - No or Incorrect Basic Setting / Adaptation - Intermittent
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Address 56: Radio Labels: 8E0-035-192-RNSE.lbl
Part No SW: 8P0 035 192 H HW: 8P0 035 192 H
Component: RNS-E HIGH EU H72 0650
Revision: 01S Serial number: AUZBZ7F0971933
Coding: 0205117
Shop #: WSC 06314 000 00000
VCID: 346C00542EBD
1 Fault Found:
01305 - Databus for Infotainment
004 - No Signal/Communication - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00100100
Fault Priority: 5
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 65

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------.
End ---------------------------------------------------------------------


Not entirely sure where to go from here?

 

[warren_S5]

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/new-a3...ny-ii-antenna-system-use-rnse.html#post691119

This may be of use.

 

[s8craig]

Certainly not showing any antenna faults, it must be factory fit or it would be showing one fault.

 

[NHN]

Options now imho are to check all the coaxials front to back, the double connector that plugs in rear of rns sometimes one wire can become frayed, but this is usually from in/out all the time, but could check this, other option is to test rns in another car & vice versa.

 

[danomorgan]

Cheers Warren, had a look through your thread & then had an inspection of the Antenna system.

After removing the boot trim to access the amps it is clear that the headUnit is factory as the amps & wiring are all (OEM looking) correct for an RNSE unit.

I had a look at the looping on the back window & some of this was quite dirty where the trim normally covers it, this was cleaned with a dry cloth but still hasn't made any difference to my poor FM radio signal. (bit of a shot in the dark i know)

I did notice after having a mess around with the headunit that this problem is exclusive to the FM waveband only.

I unplugged the 3 way plug from the upper amp to see what happened & all Stations were lost, plugged back in & then unplugged the green & balck 2 way plug the other side that actually attaches to the back window, this didnt make any difference to the radio signal & Radio 1 was still working (only station i could pick up). Thought that this might have made a difference?

I did take some pictures but not quite sure how to add them?

Nigel, I will try what you said on Sunday if i get a chance..... I did read somewhere that it could be damage to the back window loop that could cause this? Although mine doesn't look damaged??