poor radio reception???

Recently bought mk3 golf and have just realised the sony car radio doesnt receive signal ie. just about get a local station if im lucky.
I changed the aeriel on top (screw in type) as the old one was weathered thru to the metal spring underneath.
Anyway this has made no difference and i still cant get any stations on the radio.
The car has had a cd changer taken out of it when i bought it by previous owners as i found a connection lead + l/r phono lead in the boot.
I managed to take out radio and look behind to see if aeriel connection had come undone but wires were tight so couldn't get it right out. Anyway, i could see two wires were connected to the back (one each side) which i expect are the aeriel + cd changer connections.
So i am not sure what else to do.
I was wondering as i have not yet purchased a haynes book for the car whether i am missing something hear ie some sort of relay switch or something else which needs connecting in the boot etc.

Can anyone help me with this simple but annoying problem?

I'm not sure if UK systems are the same as in NA, but usually poor reception is caused by problems with the powered (amplified) antenna. You should find a Bentley manual if you want to address the wiring for this type of antenna. Sometimes a poor ground at the antenna can cause the problem.

Hey, boschmann, you were right about this.
I had already pulled back roof trim and checked that the antenna holder bolt was tight and connecting with roof metal. That was ok.
I noticed that there was a small black wire that split of from the main (thick) ariel wire and this wire connected via a connector to the antenna.
I just happened to disconnect this small wire to see what would happen and Hey presto! Clear fuzzy free radio. -- Problem solved.

I still not sure why this happened but i'm not complaining. I thought this wire was just an earth wire but some current seems to be going through it
(as i touched it against the bodywork) oops! but no harm done and now i will just leave this wire unconnected and tape it up.

I haven't got a clue what that wire does anyway. (maybe it is for one of those fancy aeriels that goes up and down electrically). which i havent got anyway.

Anyway thanks for your help Boschmann. Never heard of a bentley manual. We have haynes books in the uk.

Hope this thread helps others with the same problem as it is very annoying when you cant get to the bottom of it.

Sorry, I forgot Bentley only covers NA models. That antenna is powered. Do a Google search on "VW amplified antenna" & see how it works.

hello again boschmann. Thanks for the advice.
I had a look at the vw amplified antenna page and more or less understand how it works.
I assume that my amplifier must have burnt out or something.??

It did mention something about an adapter to turn the amplifier on and off but i am not sure if i need one of these or not??

At the moment there is the small power lead and the big aeriel lead coming out from the base of the antenna and they are just short lengths that connect to the same coming from the radio end via connecters ie one that screws together and the small wire is just a clip together job.

Do you think someone may have taken out the adapter part before selling the car to me?? because according to that vw antenna page this adapter contains electronics to switch amplifier on an off when the radio switches on and off.

Or is the amp switched on and off by the power wire and the electronics are all in the antenna base.?? meaning no adapter bit is needed.??

I think im losing it boschmann, I just read that article on amplified anttena page again and i think this adapter is for use at the radio end of the cable (basically an adapter to enable plugging into back of radio).
I was thinking it was fitted at the other end in between the normal cable fixing. I don't think this is what i need.

Oh all i know is that the bloody thing aint working properly for some reason and that when the power wire is connected i lose the signal and it goes fuzzy. Disconnect the wire and it is much better almost perfect.

Without buying new bits or a new stereo i will have to accept that it is not working properly and make do with it as it is ie a disconnected one, annoying as it is.

Those adapters are for aftermarket radios and go right at the radio & provide a switched power source for the antenna - I believe they actually run power through the antenna wire. Look at a few sites to get a better understanding, most are wanting to sell their adapters, find one that has good descriptions of the system. Without seenig what is going on with your system it is hard to give advice, perhaps you have a radio shop nearby that is familiar with VW's.