Audi A4 radio reception problems

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fionntan

Banned
So long story short, I had to replace the rear glass on my 08 audi a4 and now the radio reception is garbage. The installers broke the ground contact on the antenna booster when they installed the glass, and after about a month they finally replaced the booster. The fm reception is better, but not good and I still cannot get any am channels. I am curious if anyone here knows how to properly install one of these boosters. It seems like they would have to make contact with the window to make a proper connection. If I touch a certain spot on the back of the booster the fm channels come in clear, but only when I have my finger on that spot. I have looked around on the web and the only thing I can find is about replacing the booster, which has already been done. Does anyone know anything about how these work? I hate to ask specifically, but @civicious do you know anything about this, or would you be able to tell me the process of installing one properly?
 
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Are you suggesting I use that on the people who screwed my car up? :)

I messed around with it a bit and it seems that the booster needs to pressed closer to the window. It seems that it is just not securely attached. I might need some sort of adhesive to hold it in place. I will take some pics this weekend for reference so anyone who can help will be able to see what I am talking about.
 
I started poking around today and there is a black plastic piece that holds the booster in place. It was stuck to the window with a grey adhesive pad pictured below in the second picture. As you can see it is covering part of three of the contact points on the glass. I did not take a picture before I removed the plastic piece, but it was attached too far to the right of the glass. It should be positioned like the one in the picture below.
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IMAG0638.jpg

I removed the pad and took a good look at the booster and I don't see how it is supposed to make contact with the glass. It does not have and metal sticking off that could touch the contacts on the glass. Also the points that seem like contacts on the booster do not line up with the contacts on the glass.

IMAG0640.jpg


I think it should look something like the on below. You can see obvious contact points that would touch the glass.

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The one above is from a b6 A4, and mine is a b7 (later year than the b6). The part that I have says b7 on it, and it looks just like the one that was in there before. So now I am wondering if the glass is actually made for an older body style, or if there is something missing that allows the booster to make contact.
 
Oh man...yeah...


You need to do one of two things:

1. Accept that fixing this is going to be expensive, and take it to either a Euro specialist or the dealership and pay out the ass to get it properly installed, and hope that you don't need a new glass installed; or,

2. Accept that you don't have FM anymore.


If you want a more thorough response, bring my attention to this thread at some time other than late in the evening on a weekend. I assure you that my response already posted here is more than sufficient, though.
 
If you have time, I would really appreciate a bit more detail about the problem. If it's possible to fix it myself, I would like to try. If not, then I would at least like to understand the problem before I take it to a shop. I would also like to add that the shop that installed the glass screwed this up, but I can't say that without knowing what the problem is. If they messed it up, then why should I have to pay for it. I am just looking for some guidance.
 
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Email me your VIN and see if you can find any part number on the new glass - should be stamped in a corner somewhere. Gimme that info and I'll see what's up and if it's the correct glass for the car. wil@idbracing.com
 
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