Pretty sure it has just got itself in a twist and broken the cable's core somewhere along the run.

I've taken it apart, and re-soldered where I suspected there was a break, and it improved things slightly, but not much.

Tried adding an aftermarket windscreen aerial, but utterly useless (worse than my repair to the original cable).

Does anyone know how much of a faff it is replacing the complete aerial loom in an Octavia mk1?

Would like to know before I end up elbow deep in broken clips and headlining...

Secondly, can anyone recommend an aftermarket aerial that will avoid me having to do that...?

Thanks

L

What head unit have you got?

What head unit have you got?

It's the bog standard octavia 1 head unit. Seems sort of equivalent to a volkswagen beta but not certain what its called as the car is away for a couple of days.

I know it needs an amplified aerial and it passes power down the aerial cable somehow...

Have you tried another unit? Seen a fair amount of them fail on the radio side of things.

Have you tried another unit? Seen a fair amount of them fail on the radio side of things.

Yeah - I only put the original unit back in because the Alpine (with appropriate aerial power splitter dongle) I was using for a couple of years stopped receiving FM. Turns out it's the aerial not the head unit.

Assuming its not the amplifier in the aerial base then the much easier option is to get a new aerial cable and route a different way. The standard cable is in the main vehicle harness and actually goes down the floor of the car not in the roof. I would drop the headlining a bit and tuck the new cable along there.

Assuming its not the amplifier in the aerial base then the much easier option is to get a new aerial cable and route a different way. The standard cable is in the main vehicle harness and actually goes down the floor of the car not in the roof. I would drop the headlining a bit and tuck the new cable along there.

Good plan - I can go up the A pillar and along the side.

So is the replacement aerial cable easily attached to the aerial base then (i.e. with a screw type connector) or is it all moulded in (in which case I'm into soldering, which is a bit hit and miss with my skills)?

Thanks

Get a genuine cable and it just plugs in.

Get a genuine cable and it just plugs in.

Ah, cable is a separate part from the aerial. Thanks

Off to google part numbers...

Found this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-GENUINE-SKODA-OCTAVIA-A4-SALOON-AERIAL-CABLE-WIRE-1U2-035-550-D-/281114562081?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4173bbce21

Not sure if it's the right thing. Looks OK, but haven't seen the base of my aerial.

I shall have to begin dismantling...

That's the one mate.

That's the one mate.

Got it. Thanks for your help