Audi RS3 Radio Issues: Ground Connection Fix Guide

Had the exact same issue on my 2013 S3. The FM signal was terrible and the infotainment system kept showing errors. After trying basic troubleshooting like checking connections, I took it to a workshop. Turned out the antenna and its ground connection were both defective, causing radio interference across the whole system. The technician found corrosion at the antenna base which completely disrupted the signal path. They replaced the antenna assembly and properly grounded all connections. Total repair cost was 255 Euro including parts and labor. Since then, the system works flawlessly, no more error messages or poor signal issues. Could you share: Any specific error codes showing up? Does the radio work at all or is it completely dead? Have you noticed if the problems get worse in certain weather conditions? Are you still running the original antenna or has it been replaced before? This info would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced. Proper diagnosis is important since these symptoms can sometimes point to other electrical problems too.

Thanks for the feedback. I also have similar issues on my 2015 RS3 with 48985KM. Just had my service last month and the vehicle electronics were checked. Identical static noise problems started showing up right after. The radio interference is particularly bad when using FM stations, though digital radio works a bit better. My error code reads 01044 which points to a signal strength issue according to the manual. The static gets worse during wet weather which makes me think water might be getting into some connections. Still using the original antenna setup with no previous replacements. The audio cuts out completely about 40% of the time, requiring a system restart to temporarily fix it. Going to check the antenna ground connections first based on your experience before considering a signal amplifier install.

Thanks for those additional details. Your symptoms match my S3 case exactly, especially the weather-related issues and static noise. The 01044 error code definitely confirms its signal-related, just like mine was. The fact it started after service is interesting, they might have disturbed some connections while doing other work. When my antenna ground connection was faulty, I also noticed the static noise got much worse with moisture, and my FM signal would drop completely during rain. A few things to check before spending money: Look for green corrosion spots around the antenna base, Check if the antenna mount feels loose, Test the static noise levels when the car is stationary vs moving The original antenna setups on these models are known to develop issues around 40-50K kilometers. While a signal amplifier might help temporarily, it wont fix the root cause if theres a grounding issue or water ingress problem. In my case, the complete antenna replacement was the only real fix. The static noise disappeared completely and the FM signal strength improved significantly. Make sure they check all ground points during repair, there are several that can affect signal quality. Let us know what you find when checking those connections. Based on our identical symptoms, you might be looking at a similar repair path.

That definitely helps narrow things down. Your experience matches my situation perfectly, especially the symptoms getting worse in wet weather. The car radio problems showing up right after service does make me wonder if something got knocked loose during maintenance. I checked the antenna base today and found some slight corrosion, just like you described. Also noticed the mount has a bit of play which probably isnt helping with signal quality. The static noise and radio interference are definitely worse when driving versus when parked. Based on your repair costs, getting the antenna assembly replaced seems like the logical next step rather than trying band-aid fixes like an antenna booster. Will have the shop check all the vehicle electronics and ground points while they're at it. Will update once I get it looked at, but sounds like this is a known issue with these models around this mileage. Thanks for walking me through your experience, saved me from throwing parts at the problem without addressing the root cause.