Expert: Cleggsan - 10/7/2011

Question
I have a 2003 Passat wagon GLS with a Monsoon AM/FM radio/single CD/ cassette player. Recently when it would rain or just damp out, my AM would slowly fade away to just static. If I turned the radio off then on again the station would come back on strong and clear, and then start fading out again. It's now doing it even when it's nice and sunny out. I suspect it might be a antenna problem. All the other functions work fine, even the FM, rain or shine. Suggestions of what to do?

Answer
My opinion is the antenna connection to the radio is part of the problem and you should have it looked at.  Perhaps a bad ground connection either at the mounting of the antenna in the car body or at the radio unit - which has deteriorated over time.  This is common.

Further, I think there is a bad capacitor in the tuner circuit which is discharging over a few minutes causing the fading problem.  You should either have it checked and repaired - if the antenna solution does not work - or replace the radio unit.

Let me know if more questions.