So I'm doing some interior work and I need to replace my glove box door as someone forced it open and cracked the poop out of it. I noticed while pulling the inner liner out that my antenna cable is not connected to the mast at the rear of the car. It's just thrown up under the dash. The radio was replaced before I got the car and the quality of the signal has been crap. I now know why. Any way I've torn about everything I can out of the way to find the lead cable to the mast and it's MIA. Any tips of where to look.

Any tips on removing the center console so I can really get a look at what's going on behind the radio and what not.

Thanks

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Mad_Matt's Current Stable:
Oil Burners:
09 Jetta TDI The highway queen @ 105k
83 300D. Sold
Gassers:
16 A4 sport line
10 Passat
83 Recaro Trans AM WS6 Bone Stock Survivor
11 Harley Ultra

The attachment may help.

Attached Files

console wood trim 123:68-230.pdf (175.5 KB, 125 views)

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83 SD

84 CD

Probably the connector types for original antenna cable did not match new radio, and they just gave up.

The OE connectors are probably different than what you're expecting. It's not a banana plug like north american cars, it's a small coaxial screw-on connector. Look around for that.

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Cheers!
Scott McPhee

1987 300D

I pulled an antenna cable from a US car and it's grey and runs through the bottom of the center console and follows some of the other parts across the floor to the antenna. This is going to be fun. WTF would the former owner cut the cable out.

Got to pull the rear seat, drivers seat and half of the carpet just to get this started.

__________________
Mad_Matt's Current Stable:
Oil Burners:
09 Jetta TDI The highway queen @ 105k
83 300D. Sold
Gassers:
16 A4 sport line
10 Passat
83 Recaro Trans AM WS6 Bone Stock Survivor
11 Harley Ultra

Main reason I haven't replaced mine. The console comes out (quickly) without breaking anything if you take it apart instead of forcing. Youtube has vids.

Recline the drivers seat if console won't clear the armrest.

Surely all POs aren't idiots. We've all sold vehicles.

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85SD 240K & stopped counting painted, putting bac together. 84SD 180,000. sold to a neighbor and member here but I forget his handle. The 84 is much improved from when I had it. 85TD beginning to repair to DD status. Lots of stuff to do.

Are you sure you're looking at the correct cable behind the glove box? It seems like a cell phone antenna was a common add-on since there have been a few posts about the mystery cable near the glovebox. The phone cable is a black co-ax, the antenna is gray.

Well I can't pull the radio out of it's chassis because it requires special tools and I've been out of pocket on a parts mission and some family time.

May order removal tool if I can't build my own set. Found some good kits on Fleabay for about 30 bucks with 38 different tools.

As for cell phones It could be but it's connected to the radio. When I shield it with my hands the signal drops to the point of static. If I put it on the floor boards I get the same results. If I raise it about the Dash line the radio is clear as a bell.

I agree that not all owners are sloppy but this one was as I'm fixing small Attn to detail crap all over the place. Wrong screws, type, thread and standard .........

__________________
Mad_Matt's Current Stable:
Oil Burners:
09 Jetta TDI The highway queen @ 105k
83 300D. Sold
Gassers:
16 A4 sport line
10 Passat
83 Recaro Trans AM WS6 Bone Stock Survivor
11 Harley Ultra

Well so rather than fight the radio I pulled the side cover and I see the grey antenna cable. I trace it to the gear shifter whet it's buried and hiding. OMG wire hell. I also trace the cell phone coax (As stated above) and then move to the trunk where low and behold no antenna Motor,. The coax is taped to what is left of aluminum oxide that appears to have been taped to the bottom of what's left of the motor assembly.

Mystery solved. The 2 pieces of coax were close enough in the trunk where the cell phones cable was helping reception. Now the nasty work of re-running a new non damaged/corroded antenna cable has started.

Also on a quest to find a working Antenna motor assemble on the cheap.

I have a lead on a broken one but the controller is shot. any tips on diagnosing the circuit board so that it can be repaired?

Thanks

__________________
Mad_Matt's Current Stable:
Oil Burners:
09 Jetta TDI The highway queen @ 105k
83 300D. Sold
Gassers:
16 A4 sport line
10 Passat
83 Recaro Trans AM WS6 Bone Stock Survivor
11 Harley Ultra

Depending on the aftermarket install, you might just be able to push the HU out. Unless the PO/installer put the DIN cage in the unit is probably just a friction fit. It's unlikely the aftermarket hooks line up with the OE holes to properly engage.

Wire tracing isn't really that big a deal. Commit early to removing one seat, the console (or the wood trim cover at least) and the rear seat. It sounds like a lot but it's really only 8-10 screws/bolts/nuts. The carpet comes up easy. The thin metal panel in the trunk is also only 4x screws.

A working motor is a rare JY find, but I would think a cable would be easy. Maybe reasonable practice to look for the routing, too.

I'd recommend vstech for a motor or parts. I think there are three-wire types and five-wire types.

Ya thanks for the advice. I've completed the re-wire and cleaned up the hack job under the console and was able to remove the radio with some work. the din bracket has a catch and now it's almost back together. I'll follow up with VSTech on a motor. i think I have a 5 pin as I saw a plug in the trunk with 6 holes. I did not check the wires.

__________________
Mad_Matt's Current Stable:
Oil Burners:
09 Jetta TDI The highway queen @ 105k
83 300D. Sold
Gassers:
16 A4 sport line
10 Passat
83 Recaro Trans AM WS6 Bone Stock Survivor
11 Harley Ultra