AM static

[Motor Sport Visions Photography]

In a message dated 9/28/2000 Brad Wilson <bradw at pobox.com> writes:

<< You are experiencing electrical interference on the antenna cable.
There's
typically not much you can do with this, except ensuring that all your
connections are good (especially the ground). A booster may or may not
help
this situation. You can tell the dealer you'll pay, but only if the
problem
is completely solved (doubtful they'll make that kind of a guarantee, of
course...). >>

Thank you Brad. FWIW, when I started this thread it was to assist a very
good auto radio sales and service shop where I moonlight doing consumer
electronic repair who have a customer with an A6q that has this static
problem. The shop owner has been in business for ~20 years now and my CE
repair background dates back close to 25 years now as well. In other
words we actually do have a clue as to the obvious but this is obscure
and we (still) seek the help and wisdom of the q-list for potential
BTDTs. (Come on dealer techs...where are when I need ya? I know there
must still be someone here lurking who wrenches full time on Audis.) I
have told him to re-check all grounds as soon as we can get the car back
in. My thought is bad ground to the booster or the box itself be bad
(bad terminolgy too...I prefer "antenna amplifier" since that is what it
really is, but we can thank an Audi service dept. for tossing that
phrase in the mix).

Some more details, all is well when ignition is set to "acc." but when
switched to "on" (engine running or not, doesn't matter) the AM gets
obliterated by white noise that is *not* RPM dependent when the engine
is running. One other lister replied with same sympton, same (pretty
much) car and the dealer told him he needed a new booster. The antennas
in these models are ampilied. The car is a '97 so it has not been around
long enough to develop serious electrical gremlins like my old type 44
could. Anyway, my point is the "booster" suggested by the dealer isn't
an adder, rather a replacement part for what they perceived to be the
defective component (which I am dubious of but it is
possible...especially if it is perhaps prone to water damge or
something). 

You're quite correct that they will keep replacing parts (and charging)
'till the problem (or often the customer) goes away. One huge reason I
tend to dislike new cars (dealer service)...besides the financial
reality that I can't afford one these days.

Mike Veglia
Motor Sport Visions Photography
http://www.motorsportvisions.com