Radio Reception Problems

[Jimbo.King]

Hi all, ive got a 2001 A6 Allroad and i am having problems with the radio loosing reception while driving (concert radio), i have run the vagcom and it came up with an error: 00856 - Radio Antenna 36-00 - Open Circuit,
I tried a another aerial + base that mounts on the roof which has made no difference and if you remove the aeriel from the roof the reception goes altogether, this makes me think there’s an inline aerial amplifier fitted which is faulty.
Does anyone know if there is an aerial amplifier fitted somewhere on the car and if so where is it, i have looked on vagcat but there’s not one listed for the avant and ive searched on other forums with no luck.

Any help would be muchly appreciated.

 

[NHN]

Probably in the boot lid mate if there is.

 

[Inskip75]

This may not be relevant but had this problem on my '95 Passat estate and amplifier was built into head unit - only discovered this after lots hassle swapping radio/cassette for cd and fitting in line amplifier, which sorted problem. Possibly try in line amp wired to 12V and see what happens - they're only few quid on e-bay?

 

[NHN]

I would try & find the fault full stop instead of doing a quick cheap fix, but thats me.

It shows a diversity antenna system for nav units which would have an amp/s usually in tailgate or side walls hidden behind trims & antenna's are in the rear 3 windows & I see an antenna base most likely for concert radios that seems to have some connections to it, maybe this is whats knackered tbh as I recall on my S3 that was around the same time that the base unit had a pcb inside that must have been an amp as without connected the radio was of course *****, I'd lean towards this, have you actually traced along the antenna route for any amps?

 

[Jimbo.King]

This may not be relevant but had this problem on my '95 Passat estate and amplifier was built into head unit - only discovered this after lots hassle swapping radio/cassette for cd and fitting in line amplifier, which sorted problem. Possibly try in line amp wired to 12V and see what happens - they're only few quid on e-bay?

Cheers for the reply, i thought of this as an option but would like to find the problem and sort it.

It shows a diversity antenna system for nav units which would have an amp/s usually in tailgate or side walls hidden behind trims & antenna's are in the rear 3 windows & I see an antenna base most likely for concert radios that seems to have some connections to it, maybe this is whats knackered tbh as I recall on my S3 that was around the same time that the base unit had a pcb inside that must have been an amp as without connected the radio was of course *****, I'd lean towards this, have you actually traced along the antenna route for any amps?

The diversity antenna for nav units was the only thing i could find, mine has only got the 1 aerial on the roof and non in the rear windows but i have noticed the US Allroads have the aerials in the rear windows too, strange.

The aerial base has only 1 connection to it and no other wires, i know what you mean with some having an inbuilt amp in the base, usually these have an aerial connection as well as a + wire to power the amp up.

I have traced the wire down the rear pillar into the o/s rear quarter, the trim that covers that quarter looks an *** to get off and was wanting to know if there was an amplifier anywhere before taking this panel off and tracing the wire further.