BD A3

When I turn on the rear defroster in my A3 Quattro (2015) the radio goes to complete static both AM and FM. But otherwise the radio works great. The dealer claims it is due to the tinted windows blocking the antenna. I bought the car used, so don't know who did the original tints, but a tint shop nearby said they haven't heard of this causing a problem.


Any suggestions?

arU4ic

Not sure how tint could block the antenna only when the defroster is on, is that what they were trying to say?

BD A3

yes the dealer said part of the antenna was in the rear window. I read on a different forum that

"the FM boosters are in the trim around the inside of the rear screen as they use the heated rear screen element to get more signal"

If that is the case wouldn't this not have anything to do with the tint and be a wiring issue in the car? (That the dealer is responsible for fixing under warranty?)

whitby

It is not uncommon for the radio to use the rear window defroster as an antenna.
Tint alone has nothing to do with your issue. The signal comes in from the outside so it hits the defroster before it gets to the tint.
The only way your tint could be having any impact - and it would be a stretch, is if it is metallic tint and is creating conductivity across the defroster wires.
Sounds like an easy out for the dealer to me

Antarius

It's possible they are right, there are a lot of metallic tints these days.

DennisMitchell

I am not an expert, but the film might promote the conduction of static charges from the defroster element to the antenna element.

Kushmin Ayy

I can guarantee it has absolutely nothing to do with your window tint it contains nothing metallic thats absolutely absurd. Just blaming it on anything they could to get outta paying to fix the issue. My 2007 A4 has no tint what-so-ever and I have the same issue it's either linked to the antenna/defroster conflict as suggested, or something to do with wires behind the infotainment system conflicting with each other. . I haven't been able to fix the issue yet, but when I do I'll post the fix.

jnavarro20

DID YOU EVER FIND OUT HOW TO FIX IT? I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR AND FOUND THIS PROBLEM. AUDI DEALER HAD NO CLUE.