thegetawaycar

ive been having some serious reception problems with the stock stereo head unit in the car so i decided to check out the antenna. I found this. Now I dont really know much about the car and I dont know if the power antenna is stock but the wiring down there looks seriosly hack. the wad of tape in the lower left is what i think to be the antenna cable itself. also is it normal for the head unit to stay powered after the ignition is switched off? the ignition was replaced a few years back and i was wondering if that had something to do with it. I plan on replacing it anyway and i was hoping a replacement wouldnt stay on but im wondering if its just an audi thing?
 
<img src="http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c367/itissuchashame/HPIM1761.jpg">

AudiSport4000

Yes, the radio remains on after the car is turned off. You must turn it off . Strange? Yes, but thats how it was with the car.
I have an aftermarket antenna in the car too, really easy to install and wire up!

thegetawaycar

is there anyway to fix that hack job? if youre close enough could you help?

AudiSport4000

Should be simple to clean up. You could cut and splice the wires again, make them neater?
I wasnt too picky when I did mine. I just made sure it was connected properly and the wires were tied back out of the way with a zip tie

thegetawaycar

do you have a picture of your wiring? it would really help me figure out where things are supposed to be..

Katman

That thick black wire, running horizontal, with the metal ring and tip is the antenna wire back to the radio.

It doens't look connected.

However.. Audi (and VW) use a different connector for antennas than eveyone else, so that may be just leftover from a hack splice job.. (And you can get adapters from VW to Normal)

Either way, the antenna lead from the front of the car has to hook up to something!

eurotuned85

If you want to get the radio to turn off you can do one of two things. Drop down the dash under the steering wheel and locate your ignition harness. Then run a wire from the actual ignition wire to the red wire on the back of the radio harness. You could also run to the fuse box but thats lots more work. You also may want to put a fuse in line incase the radio fuse wouldnt blow first for some reason. As for your reception when your back there see whats pluged in and try to trace it that plug in the trunk needs conected if thats the wire that plugs into your deck, most aftermarket antennas have the same conection up top for that peice...you may have to unscrew the antenna lead that come with the aftermarket.
Hope that helps any.
Brandon

AudiSport4000

There are only two wires for the antenna, and a ground wire. It almost doesnt get eaiser .
If the antenna works now, you can just redo the cut and splice job. then use a zip tie or something similar to tie the wires away.