Anyone know why the antenna booster cracks and breaks? Been searching and it's common..
11-06-2006, 01:45 PM
#1
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Anyone know why the antenna booster cracks and breaks? Been searching and it's common..
My FM SUCKS! It's not that big of a deal because I've got a PhaBox and the CD changer but every once in a while, I'd like to switch to the radio.
Anyway, I've read that the booster is under the rear window deck and forms a verticle crack and craps out. $250 - $300 to replace out of warranty. I'm thinking, there's got to be a cheaper alternative that will work. But if not, I'd like to know what causes it to break in the first place. No need in fixing it if it's just going to crack again. That's a lot of cash just to hear the d*mn radio! And who ever heard of that breaking anyway? Audi never ceases to amaze me. Remember the trunk CD changers? POS!
Anyway, I've read that the booster is under the rear window deck and forms a verticle crack and craps out. $250 - $300 to replace out of warranty. I'm thinking, there's got to be a cheaper alternative that will work. But if not, I'd like to know what causes it to break in the first place. No need in fixing it if it's just going to crack again. That's a lot of cash just to hear the d*mn radio! And who ever heard of that breaking anyway? Audi never ceases to amaze me. Remember the trunk CD changers? POS!
11-06-2006, 02:49 PM
#2
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Diversity Control Module 8E5-035-225-S
I thought it had to do with heat cycling. When I had mine replaced under warranty, the service advisor said that the new revision uses a thicker PCB to prevent this from happening again. Haven't confirmed whether or not this is true.
Agree with you though, pain the ***. Is it repairable?
Agree with you though, pain the ***. Is it repairable?
11-06-2006, 03:00 PM
#3
Mine's cracked too.
<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/116017/img_1269.jpg"></center><p>I feel the same way. I don't want to pay the ridiculous amount to have it fixed only for it to break again. I've thought about trying to connect a regular antenna to the harness and hiding it in the roof, if that would even work.
11-06-2006, 07:18 PM
#6
Re: How did you access that?
Just pull the panel off the ceiling of the car. It is a pain in the butt to get back up there. But you just grab hold of the panel near the glass, and pull really hard. When it sounds like the tabs broke off, its loose. They don't break, but it sounds horrible when they come loose. Be careful if your window is tinted too. The actual diversity control module is held on with little clips, its easy to get off. If you press on it the reception will get better, but taping/gluing it to the window won't help. Its just the extra force of your finger, plus the antenna cable using you as an antenna. If there is a contact missing from the circuit board side, somewhere in the middle, don't bother making a new one for it, it won't change anything. I don't know if its supposed to have one or not. My reception sucked before i soldered one on it, and it still does now.
I have more pictures if you need any specifics. You can see the crack in mine in the first picture i posted, its toward the right.
I have more pictures if you need any specifics. You can see the crack in mine in the first picture i posted, its toward the right.
