Poor AM Radio reception in A4

In Europe AM is not really used anymore since 20 years. Across the Altantic AM is used a lot and in excellent quality -for AM-. Bandwidth in Europe is only 4.5 KHz, in US it is 9 KHz, so double. European radios are made to European standards.

Ronald

Ronald, So.....the radio shouldn't pick anything up on AM? Cam, I've read a few times here and on Audifans, where someone had tinted their windows using metallic film, and the radio antenna in the glass couldn't pick up any AM radio stations as a result. The antenna in the glass might be broken, or there might be a flaky connection at the amplifier. Someone on Audiworld may be able to help you find the location of the amp and how to test it. Hey, try:

- amazing thing, the 'net.Or, maybe you'll just have to drive to Europe to get a 20+ year old AMstation to tell you what the traffic is like on the highway back at home ;-)Cheers! Steve Sears

1987 Audi 5kTQ - shorty metal antenna - great reception on AM and FM 1980 Audi 5k - honkin' huge steel mast antenna - decent reception on both bands

Thanks for the pointers. The rear window is stock and untouched. I may just have to go back to the dealer and have them root around a bit. The 'thats the way it is' came from the Audi service manager. I have dealt with him when I had a Jetta (same dealer) and didn't find him all to my liking. But now I have to live with him so it is better to make nice. I think I will call my advocate, the guy who sold me the car, and get him involved too.

I've had this problem for the last couple of years ('96 A4). Can someone enlighten me on the location of the C pillar and how I would go about getting the trim off. Its the drivers side I presume (oh oh I'm in Australia - we drive on the left), so which side is it?

Pull the radio and check the grounds and antenna connections behind the unit. You can pull it out far enough to move the wiring around, with the radio on, and see if it makes a difference. Bad grounding will kill the AM, but FM will still be working.

I emailed my sales guy at the dealer with the link to the Audiworld site (kindly provided by Steve Sears ) to look into it. I am giving him until tomorrow morning to respond. He is a good guy and I have had no trouble with the dealer (I did have to get a new turbo 2 weeks ago and the car had only 1100 km when that happened).

I do expect this problem to be fixed by the dealer 'soon' and will inform all of the real cause and solution of the problem.

This will be for the dealer to do. I put gas and washer fluid in the thing and nothing else. I am a hands-off owner because I don't have the tools or real interest in DIY. And because of the warranty, I do not expect to do a damn thing at least for 4 years and generally for the entire time I own the vehicle. But I am v interested in how the vehicle functions, I just don't want to DIY.

The 'C' pillar is the area of sheet metal between the rear window and the rear door side window.

Should be able to just grab the inner trim at the top and pull inward to open it up.

Bear wrote:

So sorry. When you said > >> Any ideas on how the radio could be adjusted

I am a disciple of Adam Smith and Ricardo WRT to the specialization of labour and comparative advantage.

Here is the reply from the sales guy at the dealer:

"Charlie showed me a technical diagram of the antenna on your A4, it is radically different from the previous A4. Thus that fix will not be possible. If the computer showed no fault with your antenna system then it is working as it was designed. When the car companies decide to work on aerodynamics and remove the mounted antenna in favour of a window mount, the result is a more streamlined car, and a little less reception in radio signal. "

Now I am looking for a little booster that can be plugged into the system.

Cam, Well hey, if the 'puter says everything is ok, then it must be....right? Maybe they should have closed all the windows, shut the car down and then started it up and opened all the windows up again to be sure.....sorry, that was the punchline to the joke, but it seemed appropriate.... The window mounted aerial uses an amplifier in the C-pillar - even the Type

44's (100,200,V8) of the early 90's had those. "radically different"??? wha? Was he looking at a circuit diagram or something? Sure, nothing works like metal in air, but obviously others had the problem and they solved it - bad grounds or connections at the amplifier. His reply sounds more like a "we don't want to be shown as wrong....so you should drop it". The booster you're looking for is already in your car - make it work and show how much they care for you.... That's why I do most of my own work - I care more than anybody. Sure, I didn't go to Audi school to be trained to work on my Type 44 (/Type 43/Type F-11 800), but then again, neither did most of the folks working at the Audi shops now. A bad ground or flaky connection has nothing to with specialization - the mechanics know that you'll freak out if they spend 2 hour$ tracing a loose wire. "Thus that fix will not be possible"....that's giving it the ol' College Try..... Cheers! Steve Sears 1987 Audi 5kTQ - Type 44 - sing with me...."The License Plate bulb is connected to the Dash Lights...." 1980 Audi 5k - Type 43...."The Dash Lights are c>

Thanks. I am no wimp when it comes to demanding satisfaction. My sales guy assures me he will help me. Time for the rubber to hit the road.

I am going to copy (and edit) your post and send it over. The dealer is about a two minute walk from my office. They will hear me coming; I won't remind them until I need to that the original tubo failed at about 800 km and a couple of other annoyances that they have dealt with but not to 100%.

I sent your reply to the sales idiot at the dealer and got this reply:

"I don't care what this person says, He is not an Certified Audi Tech, he has no training, minimal experience, and improper tools and resources. He puts judgements on me and my co-workers, based on the what experience ? Does he have a 2004? Does he know me? No.

I am disappointed that you would post my response on the internet, but I am confident with what I said. I thought that we where friends but it is now obvious that you don't trust me and I suggest that you deal with service directly from now on."

I told him that I posted his 'reply' anonymously. I need to learn him some English and help him improve his reading skills.

Three weeks ago when I had the turbo replaced he told me 'if you have any problems, let me know'. I bought the car nine weeks ago. I have

199 weeks to go on the warranty.

I contacted the sales mgr and forwarded him the email dialogue I had with this idiot. The last email is the one he shouldn't have sent. I even gave him an out to reconsider and one week later, nada.

What a friggin' idiot. I kind of hope he gets his ass kicked out the door. So much for the great service he promised me.

Oh, and the radio, I went thru the radio manual last saturday and adjusted the sensitivity and the reception cleared up.

The sales idiot could have said "come over and let's take a look'; I am about two blocks from the dealership. And when I spoke to the sales mgr he didn't ask about the real source of the problem, the radio. Another missed opportunity but they seem to never miss an opportunity to do the wrong thing.

Maybe I shoulda bought the Camry.

Cam (ry?): Well, now you see why many here have in NA been turned off from Audi - it has nothing to do with the cars, and everything to do with many people who are supposed to "stand behind the cars". Because I don't have a 2004 I shouldn't offer suggestions or do some free searching for you on the net to find what he and his coworkers should? Yeah....right. I attended the Quattro Challenge at Mosport a few years back (not because I had a new Audi, but as a guest of my local Audi dealer - PS - Thanks Guys!) - I recall how the folks from Audi continually drummed into the heads of the participants that: a) Marketing surveys said that Audi owners were some of the most internet savvy car buyers...if not _THE_ most. b) Audiworld.com is there for enthusiasts.....check out Audiworld.com......Have I mentioned Audiworld.com yet? It's too bad that I did some troubleshooting at $0 that your dealership should have been doing for their customer who may bring in future business to the service, and in the future...sales....arms of the company. Instead of digging up circuit diagrams, they should have been dialing in.....um...Audiworld.com It's true that I don't have an '04. I'd give my left arm for an RS6 (but I'd need it for the turn signal switch). The folks posting on Audiworld.com, however, _DO_ have _MANY_ '04's.....and 03's....and '02's...etc. I'd say that I have very adequate resources. He was right in one respect, though....You can now deal with service directly - instead of Dis-service. Ask around for a better place to take your car.

Oh yeah - good fix on the radio. Who gets the "RTFM!!!" award?

Cheers! Steve Sears

1987 Audi 5kTQ - not an '04 1980 Audi 5k - not an '04 1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes - not '04's (SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)

"Cam Newton" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@news.gv.shawcable.net...

My Camry comment is about not caring what you drive. Call up the local Toyato dealer and order a Camry XLE, silver or something like it and no I don't need a test drive. Just get it ready for me by 3 pm tomorrow thanks.

And I forgot to add that the sales mgr thingy didn't volunteer to resolve the radio problem. That part of the discussion has been missed. I have spoken with the owner and might have to elevate this a bit more. I bought a Jetta there in '93 and I told the sales mgr it was their sale to lose. They got the sale but damn the 'sales support' is terrible.

I will definitely be spending more time in Audiworld. It will bug the crap out of the service dept if I come up with a solution for some bug in the car.

And I get the RTFM award; perhaps I should show the sales idiots at the dealer and the service dept the entry on radio sensitivity. With Audi's you really need to read the manual else damage could be done.

Thanks for you input.

Cheers

Cam, I put the "ry?" there because I couldn't resist the comparison with your name - heck, you could even partially de-badge it and make it your own personal model.

Don't waste your time with the sales folks there - they got you into one of their cars now, future purchases from you be darned. And if you're going to get your car serviced at the same facility, don't beat them over the head with Audiworld postings.....there is, after all, the Auto Repair equivalent of a "spitburger".

Yes, there is important/helpful info in the manual about things other than don't drink battery acid/stick head out sunroof and close it/check gas tank with lit match/etc. Just make the necessary revision to the timing belt change interval (change to "less than 60k miles").

Cheers! Steve Sears

1987 Audi 5kTQ - CD trim without a CD player 1980 Audi 5k - S trim without the S-car attributes 1962 and '64 Auto Union DKW Junior deLuxes - wooooo....deLuxe!! (SPAM Blocker NOTE: Remove SHOES to reply)