[avega]

Re: The radio problem...

It's really not that complicated, crutchfield.com will give you the perfect fit for replacement, not only speaker size, but depth as well... the way Im gonna do it is with 2 amps, one 4 channel for the mids and 1 for the subs. For the mids you want to get components if possible, so you have the speaker, a tweeter and crossover that match each other. You can splice the headunit speaker wires to a RCA converter to feed the amps. and thats it..

The front require 3 1/2" speakers..
the rear require 6 1/2"(get components)..

I have always been a fan of Infinity Kappas, high quality and inexpensive, but I have heard Boston or Polk are good as well, but expensive...

I hear alot of rattle whenever bass is present, so I would suggest getting Dynomat surrounding the speakers. For the bass, it depends on your personal preference, you dont need big bandpass with 12"s to get loud bass since it's a hatchback, so if you dont want to sacrifice trunk space, but want a good tight bass sound, I would recommend a 10" or 12" Polk MOMO box or another quality single sub setup.

If you really want to do it yourself and need help choosing what to get, email me and I will make some reccomendations.. ;D

 

[indygti]

Re: The radio problem...

Rather than pour money into a sound system, i would rather pour that same money into the engine.

 

[avega]

Re: The radio problem...

Then dont, better yet, try taking out the entire system, speakers, headunit, etc so your cars lighter...that'll give you a quick and free performance upgrade.. ;D
j/k to each their own..

 

[dean]

Re: The radio problem...

It's really not that complicated, crutchfield.com will give you the perfect fit for replacement, not only speaker size, but depth as well... the way Im gonna do it is with 2 amps, one 4 channel for the mids and 1 for the subs. For the mids you want to get components if possible, so you have the speaker, a tweeter and crossover that match each other. You can splice the headunit speaker wires to a RCA converter to feed the amps. and thats it..

The front require 3 1/2" speakers..
the rear require 6 1/2"(get components)..

I have always been a fan of Infinity Kappas, high quality and inexpensive, but I have heard Boston or Polk are good as well, but expensive...

I hear alot of rattle whenever bass is present, so I would suggest getting Dynomat surrounding the speakers. For the bass, it depends on your personal preference, you dont need big bandpass with 12"s to get loud bass since it's a hatchback, so if you dont want to sacrifice trunk space, but want a good tight bass sound, I would recommend a 10" or 12" Polk MOMO box or another quality single sub setup.

If you really want to do it yourself and need help choosing what to get, email me and I will make some reccomendations.. ;D

Forgive my ignorance, but where would the amps mount? Would they, too, get wired to the trunk with the bass box?

 

[avega]

Re: The radio problem...

Whereever you want, there's a good amount of space under the front seats, which is close to the source, meaning less $ for wires, preferably with built in fans, but the trunk is the usual place, you can have them mounted on the back of the rear seats. There is no limit... the only word of caution is if you dont know what an ohm rating is, or peak vs. RMS power, or really have no idea of what your doing, please get it done professionally, or do lots and lots of reading. The last thing you want is to spend money and time to install a system only to have a problem you cant find, or put strain on the head unit and burn it out...

 

[dean]

Re: The radio problem...

Oh I just asked out of curiosity. There is no way in hell I would try to rig something like that up.

 

[DrJones]

Re: The radio problem...

Oh I just asked out of curiosity. There is no way in hell I would try to rig something like that up.

Forget all that other crap, here's what you want to do. Head down to your local mall and look for either an '84 - '88 Buick Regal, '85 - '92 Chevy Caprice, or some sort of micro-sized foreign pickup truck. Once you've found one of these vehicles check for the following: 20" or larger chrome wheels, tint that's bubbling or peeling, chrome in places it doesn't belong (i.e. around the fuel door), metallic paint with flakes the size of a dime or primer in 3 shades of grey with maybe some black thrown in. Once you've found a vehicle matching these specifications, simply wait for its owner to return (not too suspiciously, though), then ask them what they have for a system. Copy those specs and you're set. But throw in some Dynamat, their rear license plate held on by that one rusty screw rattles like a bitch.

 

[zulu]

Re: The radio problem...

Some dealerships have not heard of this problems so make sure you are armed with the following info. This is the TSB that went out to dealers and includes instructions on how to do it. No, you can't do this....even with vagcom. Call your dealer.

TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) number is - 91-06-02

Condition
Radio Volume Varies Resulting in Poor Sound Quality
91 06 02 May 15, 2006, 2012018/2
Technical Background
Panasonic Premium 7 radio (FM and CD) sound quality may be poor due to excessive amplifier clipping. Radio sound quality varies too much with speed dependant volume feature disabled. Radio sound is muffled at various volume levels or may be perceived as fading in-and-out. This amplifier clipping can be verified at higher volumes with various types of music and is most noticeable when playing music via the radio or CD.
This is due to the radio unit software for amplifier clipping.
Production solution
Radio software updated.
Service
If vehicle is equipped with Panasonic Premium 7 radio, use software CD Part No. W42PANASONICPRE7 and VAS 5051, VAS 5052 or VAS 5051B tester to update amplifier-clipping software to prevent this condition from occurring following the procedure provided.
Follow guidelines below to determine if radio is a candidate for this type of software flash:
Determine Panasonic Radio type and software level
1. Connect VAS tester to vehicle. Switch vehicle?s ignition to ON position.
2. Activate Vehicle Self Diagnosis from VAS tester.
3. Access Address Word 56 ? Radio.
4. Look at header information which appears at the top of VAS screen. Panasonic Premium 7 radios can be identified by either PM6 or ZSW letters as shown in figure 1.
Is vehicle equipped with Panasonic Premium 7 radio?
? Yes, go to step 5.
? No, go to step 6.

5. Is software level 0016 or 0017 as shown in figure 2?

? Yes, press Go To button to Exit VAS tester. Turn ignition to OFF position. Go to step 1 in Programming procedure for Panasonic Premium 7 Radio.
? No, go to step 7.

6. Radio is not Panasonic Premium 7 type. Do not complete this TB. Further diagnosis required.
7. Radio software has already been updated. Do not complete this TB. Further diagnosis required.
Programming procedure for Panasonic Premium 7 Radio
Tip:
For software programming to execute properly, vehicle?s battery must be maintained by an approved VW battery charger / maintainer. Failure to comply with these guidelines may result in software programming failure.
1. Connect an approved VW battery charger/maintainer to vehicle?s battery.
2. Insert update programming CD, Part No.W42PANASONICPRE7, into VAS tester.
3. Turn vehicle?s ignition to ON position.
4. Activate Vehicle Self Diagnosis from VAS tester
5. Access Address Word 56 ? Radio.
Tip:
Radio may be in the on or off position. Radio station presets will not be lost after the software programming has been completed.

6. At the bottom of the screen, select Update-Programming.
7. Read Note displayed on screen, and go forward to next screen, the Software programming process will begin.

Tip:
A bar-gauge will appear showing the programming process. If a pop-up appears on VAS tester stating that Diagnostic link is faulty, ensure ignition is ON and select repeat.

8. After programming process is completed, follow steps on VAS tester.
Tip:
If a pop-up appears on VAS tester stating that Diagnostic link is faulty, ensure ignition is on and select repeat.

9. Once programming process has completed (100% on bar-gauge), the VAS tester will display Programming Log ? Save Results?
This screen displays old and new radio information. Software level in header of screen should now be 0018

Press forward button on VAS tester.
10. VAS tester will now prompt to Erase Fault Memory?
DO NOT press forward button on VAS tester.
Instead, press the Go To button and select the option to Exit the VAS tester.
11. At the VAS start screen, select Vehicle Self-Diagnosis.
12. Select Collection Services.
13. Select Erasing DTC memory ? entire system

14. When DTCs have been erased, Exit VAS tester.
15. Disconnect VAS tester from vehicle.
16. Switch ignition OFF and remove battery charger / maintainer from vehicle.
Warranty
When procedure applies to vehicles within the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, use the following:
Claim Type: W2
Part Identifier: 9105
Damage Code: 9105 39 000 1
Labor Operation: Includes all procedures necessary to re-program radio 91052540 = 20TU
Diagnostic Time: No Additional Diagnostic Time Allowed
Claim Comment: Input ?As per Technical Bulletin Instance Number 2012018/2? in comment section of Warranty Claim.

Required Parts and Tools
Description Part No: Quantity
CD W42PANASONICPRE7 1

 

[DrJones]

Re: The radio problem...

You are awesome!

I'm taking this up to the dealership today.

Edit: 3 cheers for you, man.

 

[dean]

Re: The radio problem...

You are a true blue bad ass. Copying and pasting into a Word doc and making an appointment for next week.

 

[DrJones]

Re: The radio problem...

You are a true blue bad ass. Copying and pasting into a Word doc and making an appointment for next week.

Way ahead of you, chief. That was the first thing I did after reading his post.

 

[zulu]

Re: The radio problem...

Don't thank me just thank the Vortex...

I'm just trying to help you fellow brothers out!

I got my appointment at the dealer for this weekend this radio drives me nuts.

 

[avega]

Re: The radio problem...

My car has been at the dealer since yesterday, they gave me a Jetta to use until they get this fixed for me because they are ordering a new head unit.. I emailed the service tech the bulletin, but they are just going to replace it anyways.. I miss my GTI.. :'(

 

[deviltailedfast]

Re: The radio problem...

Will someone respond how the stereo sounds after the upgrade? I've noticed the effects of the strange volume changes, and will eventually go to the dealer myself with a request for the fix (thanks Zulu!). But in the end, I'm just generally unimpressed with the sound system.

It's saddening to get out of my girlfriend's '97 Jetta thinking how great the music sounds, only to get in my own - otherwise fantastic! - GTI and think, geez the sound in here is kind of lacking...

 

[LuciferRex]

Re: The radio problem...

Will someone respond how the stereo sounds after the upgrade? I've noticed the effects of the strange volume changes, and will eventually go to the dealer myself with a request for the fix (thanks Zulu!). But in the end, I'm just generally unimpressed with the sound system.

It's saddening to get out of my girlfriend's '97 Jetta thinking how great the music sounds, only to get in my own - otherwise fantastic! - GTI and think, geez the sound in here is kind of lacking...

Yeah, I miss the sound quality in my '03 Jetta with premium sound

 

[avega]

Re: The radio problem...

It is still going to sound like shit, but at least there wont be this annoying fluctuation with the sound, so if you decide to upgrade and out some amps in and upgrade the factory paper speakers you will have a decent head unit to work with... There is no way Im replacing my head unit since it has the 6 disc changer and Sirius..

 

[avega]

Re: The radio problem...

I just got back from the dealer today and got my radio replaced... no more problem ;D... they also did the fuel line fix... now I can crank it up and really hear how shitty these factory speakers are... ^-^

 

[Thalo]

Re: The radio problem...

They replaced the head unit?

And aren't 10 shitty speakers as good as maybe 4 decent ones?

 

[avega]

Re: The radio problem...

yup, new head unit, I emailed that fix that someone posted, but they werent sure if they had the equipment to do it or not, they will try it on the next one...

and no, 10 shitty speakers are not better 4 quality speaker.. by the way, the GTI only has 2 sets of components, 3 1/2" and tweeter up front, and 6 1/2 and tweeter in the back.. thats 8 shitty speakers, that need to be replaced with 8 quality speakers...

I honestly recommend for anyone on a bugdet that wants quality to look in to Infinity Kappas components.. you can spend 3 times as much and some quality polks that arent that much better...

 

[toweringq]

Re: The radio problem...

Back from the dealer...they did the exact TB that zulu posted earlier "TB2012018/2, 91052540 Flash Radio". All under warranty.

Let me just say you will want to replace the factory speakers after getting this flash completed.