Can't get reception, new antennas and new radio

check your antenna wire to see if it came unplugged from back of radio

you can try getting a better antenna other than that check the connection on the back of the radio for the antenna, the new radios do not have an adjustable antenna trim like the old ones used to.

Important! Please give copies to all your VW Technicians C 91--99--07 E 1999 Volkswagen of America, Inc. 1 Subject: Model(s): Group: Number: Date: AM Radio, Poor Reception 1999, 2000 91 99--07 New Golf, New Jetta, Aug. 2, 1999 New Beetle, Passat Condition AM reception is poor. May be caused by: ? An incorrect antenna mast installed for the antenna base equipped with the vehicle ? Poor ground at the antenna base or radio ? Poor battery ground to chassis or engine ? Poor antenna cable connection at Radio ? Corrosion at the antenna coaxial connectors at radio or antenna Service Vehicles are equipped with either a Bosch or a Clarion antenna base mounted on the roof and (for shipping purposes) the appropriate matching mast is located in the luggage compartment. If radio antenna masts are removed from vehicles and stored until vehicles are sold, there is a chance that an incorrect mast can be installed at the time of delivery. Note: Mismatched antenna mast and base will cause poor AM radio reception. The antenna base and mast can be identified visually as follows: (Cont. on Page 2)91-A260 requires gloss finish antenna mast 57mm 49mm Bosch 91-A261 requires matte finish antenna mast 61mm 41mm Clarion 91-A262 Technical Bulletin Important! Please give copies to all your VW Technicians C 91--99--07 E 1999 Volkswagen of America, Inc. 2 Bosch antenna ? Base (although oval) is more circular in shape (approx. 57mm x 49mm). ? Made in Germany stamped on underside of base. ? Two screws on underside of base are unpainted. ? Requires gloss finish antenna mast. Clarion antenna ? Base is more oval in shape than Bosch (approx. 61mm x 41mm). ? Two screws on underside of base are painted. ? Requires matte finish antenna mast. If antenna mast matches the antenna base correctly: -- Check antenna coaxial cable connections --arrows-- for corrosion and clean if necessary (DO NOT apply stabilant). Passat coaxial cable connection for radio is under the carpet on right side of tunnel near shifter. -- Ensure that coaxial cable is firmly seated in radio (Passat cable connection, see previous step). -- Check ground at the antenna below roof Nut --4-- (torque = 7+1 Nm) must firmly secure antenna to roof). (Cont. on Page 3)Technical Bulletin Important! Please give copies to all your VW Technicians C 91--99--07 E 1999 Volkswagen of America, Inc. 3 -- Check ground for radio behind radio on cross member (On Passat models as of Nov. 1998 beginning VIN: XE285000 ground for radio is on right side of center tunnel). -- Check engine compartment ground, left side, below battery tray; frombattery GND to body. -- Check engine/transmission ground on transmission, near engine block. -- If all grounds and antenna mast are OK. -- Replace antenna and coaxial cable assembly

Pull radio and check antenna plug in rear of radio, They'll still pull AM with antenna unplugged

FM reception is weak

What to do

• Extend the power cord as much as possible. The FM antenna is in the power cord.

• Move the power cord to adjust the FM antenna

• If you still have problems with FM reception, you may need an external antenna.

* Call Bose®Customer Service to request one.

The external antenna on your radio is a coax (round) design It needs an adaptor and an antenna which are cheap.

Easy to make, radio shack "F" connector 90 degrees or straight, to 300 ohm wire connections. Attatch a 300 ohm flat ribbon antenna cable to those two screws and plug into radio and see how your reception is. You will need to position the antenna wires to get best reception. I have hid them in back of paintings and so on.

Cheapest solution next to putting an extension cord on radio power cord.

Check your connections on the antenna again. Am usually gets decent reception. sounds like your antenna connection isnt fully connected either at the stereo connection or at the actual antenna connection.

With old radios it worked to connect the antenna to some central radiator or (metallic) water pipe. Some old wire was used to connect it;

The electrical cord acts as an antennae for this radio. Uncoiling the cord will give the best reception for FM. Rotating the radio (and built in ferrite bar antennae) will give the best reception for AM listening.

Reception has little to do with grounding. The ground plan is for transmitting. As long as the coax is connected and is in good standing, it should receive fine regardless of grounding.

There are a few reasons you may have bad reception.

1. Turn the RF GAIN all the way up. This is your receive sensitivity.
   
2. Squelch is too high. It should only be turned up enough to cut out the background noise.
3. Poor antenna. If the antenna is cheap, and not made well, this could be the problem.
4. Not enough of the antenna above the vehicle. It needs to be at least 60% of the antenna above the vehicle.

Hope this helps!

IT IS THE ANTENNA WIRE THAT RUNS FROM THE ACTUAL ANTENNA MOUNTED ON YOUR TRUCK TO THE BACK OF YOUR RADIO.THIS WIRE IS POSSIBLY BROKEN OR CORRODED.REPLACE THIS WIRE OR RUN A COMPLETELY NEW ONE.