Aftermarket Head Unit means rear speakers are not working-rear fader!

[Red Head]

Hi!

I have a 2003 8P A3 TDI Sport with a Concert sound system. The car has an aftermarket Kenwood head unit and when adjusting the fader to the rear, the rear speakers are not working at all. Is there an adaptor that is required to make the rear speakers work with the Kenwood head unit? It sounds terrible with only the front speakers working and therefore no bass at all....

I tried an adaptor from Halfords and it seemed to be faulty as the PCB within the adaptor did not seem to house any components, even the Halfords guy was confused!

Can anyone shead any light on this mystery?

Thanks

Jen

 

[Randomjim]

There could be about 4 different wiring looms. There's normally 1 for standard system, 1 for rear speakers amped, 1 for all speakers amped and another for bose. Check the autoleads website you may have the wrong wiring loom in there.

 

[AndyMac]

Yes you need an RCA input adapter (Autoleads PC9-401), there are no electronics in it it's just a wiring adapter to take the standard Kenwood RCA's down to the non standard Audi plug that feeds the rear/sub amp. The reason it didn't work is probably because you didn't connect the remote on lead to the power antenna/remote on lead on the kenwood, so the Audi amp didn't get the trigger to tell it the HU is on, so didn't power up.
Even the Halfords guy was confused? That's not really saying a lot is it, they generally get confused when they see someone driving anything other than a Saxo.

 

[Red Head]

Yea the Autoleads PC9-401 was the adapter that was used, trying again next week when a new adapter comes in but will ensure your instructions are followed, thanks!

 

[Red Head]

Still no joy, the wires at the head unit and wires at the amp in the boot are all working ok so I will have to pay a fortune and go elsewhere that specialises in ICE

 

[karl7900]

I'm in Bangor if you want me to have a look at it for you. I've fitted CD players to my last 3 Audis and never had a problem. Just fitted a new Alpine head unit to my A6 a week ago so I have a spare head unit (Pioneer) sitting here that could be connected to your car to check if its the Kenwood or the car at fault.

 

[Red Head]

A mate who works in Halfords tried a Sony head unit and the same thing happened, no rear speaker volume, he has fitted head units to plenty of audis before... The tiny sub is definitely in the boot, and is connected, so its probably the car. Vag can brought up a fault of the audio system. A real head pickler!

 

[kayvee]

A mate who works in Halfords tried a Sony head unit and the same thing happened, no rear speaker volume, he has fitted head units to plenty of audis before... The tiny sub is definitely in the boot, and is connected, so its probably the car. Vag can brought up a fault of the audio system. A real head pickler!

Hello, I know it's a while ago but did you get a fix for this? I've just tried installing an aftermarket unit in mine and my rear speakers are really low and very selective in what frequency they throw out.

Cheers
Kish

 

[Red Head]

Hello, I know it's a while ago but did you get a fix for this? I've just tried installing an aftermarket unit in mine and my rear speakers are really low and very selective in what frequency they throw out.

Cheers
Kish

Hi,

I sold the Audi last year and never found a cure at all for the rear speakers! The car had an aftermarket Kenwood headunit which was part of the problem. The car was meant to have a Concert head unit as standard but the woman before me installed a Kenwood headunit and the rear speakers were therefore not working when I even bought the car!

 

[kayvee]

It seems wiring the rear speakers directly to the headunit's amp is the way forward then

thanks red head for getting back to me