Can someone please confirm what the standard radio/aerial arrangement is in a 2001 Fabia Comfort please (I think with the either the MS 402 or MS502 headunit). The reception on all frequencies on our car seems to fade in and out badly (but the tape deck is OK) so I

I think it's the aerial that's boosted for all VAG radios, whic is why you need to buy an aerial booster kit if you plump for an aftermarket stereo. I can't imagine much would go wrong internally (it's just a bunch of transistors after all), so I'd suggest trying the connections like you said...

You dont get a positive feed up a radio co axial cable.

I'd say if the aerial is connected OK in the back of the set its more than likely a defective aerial base.

I had a similar problem on MW with a 2002 Comfort. The dealer offered to fix the problem if I paid for the part which I declined as the car was still under warranty. I think it was an amplifier or something like that.

When they had to replace part of the wiring loom the MW reception got even worse and they once again refused to do anything.

Your dealer will be able to get the part for you should you need it.

You dont get a positive feed up a radio co axial cable.

Trust me, the signal booster on VAG aerials is integrated into the radio end of the coax...!

Unless you have a bad coax connection at the aerial end or HU end then it's more than likely going to be a fault in the HU. Other less likely causes I can think of are a damaged aerial base or some damage along the coax.

The Fabia doest have a seperate powered amplifier for the aerial signal as it has a booster in built in the Head Unit.

You can buy external booster for use with aftermarket head units for around

What tends to happen with the aerial bases is when the mast is unscrewed and laid down water gets into the thread, then when you screw it back in the water gets pushed into the base and can cause problems.

But as said it could be the headunit, they aint the best.

What tends to happen with the aerial bases is when the mast is unscrewed and laid down water gets into the thread' date=' then when you screw it back in the water gets pushed into the base and can cause problems.

But as said it could be the headunit, they aint the best.[/quote']

Hmm... sounds a possibility as it seems to have only happened recently after I put it through the car wash with the mast unscrewed!

Any easy solution?

Hmm... sounds a possibility as it seems to have only happened recently after I put it through the car wash with the mast unscrewed!

Any easy solution?

Squirt of WD40 on the thread?

I take it back about the signal amplifier not being in the HU, BTW...!

OK an update on this

Try putting a length of wire straight into the aerial socket and see if the radio works OK, if it does then the aerial is faulty, it could be a short on the cable so do a continuity check from the aerial plug to the aerial base and you should have a low resistance, I think the base is amplified and needs 12v down the coax for it to operate, dont just connect it to 12v as you will break it

Cheers ears... I'll have a go over the w/e!