radio removal

[jonnies]

Can someone tell me how to remove the Symphony II radio in a 2003?

[yamer]

you need audi stereo removal keys to fit into the two small slots on your radio maybe 1mmX4mm or some thing like that

[jonnies]

Thanks- I found a picture of them and made up a set out of sheet metal. Worked fine - got the radio out.

My radio reception is acting as if there's no antenna and I wanted to check the connector on the back of the radio. It was connected.

But if I disconnect it and just stick a wire antenna to the antenna jack, the radio reception is fine. So the antenna is disconnected somewhere.

Where does the antenna cable attach to the rear window antenna?
Can't see anything in the trunk. Does it attach at the top? Does the cable run under the headliner????

Jon.

[yamer]

jon i think i have come across this problem b4 with another customers car the aerial plug that you plug into your radio could be broken when you hold the aerial jack and look face on into it there should be a pin in the centre of it these can break and fall into the radio....hence when you put a wire in the radio it connects to the inner core (most important connection) give it alook and see let me know how you get on

[jonnies]

yamer- Unfortunately that's not the case. The center pin of the coax connector is OK. Flexing the cable at the connector didn't have any effect. Plus, that cable/connector never see any flexing (and has never been touched since new), so I doubt it would break on its own.
That's why I want to know where the other end goes.

Thanks,
Jon

[nick26]

Originally Posted by jonnies

Thanks- I found a picture of them and made up a set out of sheet metal. Worked fine - got the radio out.

did you need to use 4 of them? I noticed there's 4 slots on the symphony 2, didn't know if i needed the top ones or bottom ones or both.

[jonnies]

nick26- Yes, you need to use 4 of them.

[wand106]

Originally Posted by jonnies

nick26- Yes, you need to use 4 of them.

The reception problem is likely to be the booster, if the antenna itself checks out, on advant the booster is is the bottom of the bee sting style antenna IIRC or in the saloon its in the rear windscreen.

I can't remember if the booster is powered by the radio (inline up the coax) or a seperate feed though, but it could be a power supply problem to the booster.

Wayne

[jonnies]

wand106- You are correct. The problem is the diversity antenna amplifier module located behind a trim panel at the top of the rear windscreen. This has been described in another thread. Apparently it is not uncommon for cracks to develop in the rubber that coats the electronics. The cracks are due to shrinkage of the rubber (with heat+time), and in doing so, breaks the connections between the PCB and some surface-mount components. At least this is what I observed in my unit. Its seems impossible to fix (and I am very skilled at electronics repair and fabrication) because if I try to peel back more of the rubber to get to the broken components, it ruins more components.

The module connects to 3 coax cables. One supplies power and command data from the radio, the other two are antenna outputs -- the radio selects which has the better signal.

Very difficult to find a replacement unit. Very expensive new from dealer.