2014 6j DAB radio signal / aerial

[Gingerbread Man]

My radio when set to digital will keep loosing signal for a few moments, sometimes minutes at a time. It is the same as the one pictured. I think there are a couple of different versions for these cars so I attached a picture of mine so you can see which one I have. The trouble is I am not sure of why my radio is bad. I'm not sure if the digital aerial is built into the thingy on the roof or if it's built into the rear windscreen. Some clarification would be helpful on this. I tried to replace the original aerial topper that screws into the roof base thing as it was all bent and damaged. I got a slightly smaller one from Halfords which said it was suitable for digital radio. This didn't help really other than look better because the original was clearly broken. I'm wondering if I tried to clean inside the roof base thing with a cotton wool tip and something strong and then using an electrical contact cleaner might help. But I'm not sure if the base on the roof is where the aerial even is. I have Carista and scanned the car and have no faults no codes of any kind. I live in Gloucester so I wouldn't think I live in a bad coverage area, in fact the digital radio on my '18 Ateca is fine throughout the city.

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[serdar_18fr]

I'm not sure if the digital aerial is built into the thingy on the roof or if it's built into the rear windscreen. Some clarification would be helpful on this.
...
But I'm not sure if the base on the roof is where the aerial even is.

As you can see in the part numbers below, the base and the rod is different on cars without digital radio (PR code QV0) than the ones on cars with it. (PR code QV3)

Part numbers for standard radio:
6J0035501A aerial base / QV0
6J0035849 rod-type aerial / QV0

Part numbers for digital radio:
6J0035501B aerial base / QV3
5P0035849B rod-type aerial / QV3

So, not sure about the source of your problem, but the answer to your question is that the digital radio aerial is the one on the roof.
Parts catalog does not show any other aerial anywhere else on a 2014 Ibiza.

 

[Gingerbread Man]

As you can see in the part numbers below, the base and the rod is different on cars without digital radio (PR code QV0) than the ones on cars with it. (PR code QV3)

Part numbers for standard radio:
6J0035501A aerial base / QV0
6J0035849 rod-type aerial / QV0

Part numbers for digital radio:
6J0035501B aerial base / QV3
5P0035849B rod-type aerial / QV3

So, not sure about the source of your problem, but the answer to your question is that the digital radio aerial is the one on the roof.
Parts catalog does not show any other aerial anywhere else on a 2014 Ibiza.

Thank you that is actually very helpful I really appreciate it! Knowing the aerial is through the roof and the base is a good start.

The fact the aerial rods seem to have different parts numbers is interesting. I attach a link to the one from Halfords I have which doesn't seem to be getting digital;

Richbrook Car Aerial | Halfords UK

Richbrook Car Aerial has an anti theft locking system to keep it where it should be.

www.halfords.com

Searching the part number 5P0035849B does seem to show what looks like the correct part. Although there seems to be a difference in the thread at the end of the aerial base. The thread that goes into the roof base thing has a section of smooth metal with a thing on the end, past where the threads of the screw are. The one on my car didn't have that, perhaps it was a 3rd party replacement. Same as the one from Halfords linked above doesn't have that extra bit protruding beyond the threads. Is it some sort of anti theft thing? Would it require removing the car ceiling in order to access the base from underneath to fit? If I were to use a aerial of the same design but without that extra bit would it work to screw directly into the 5 / 6mm thread of the base? Images attached to try and help explain what I mean and show the differences.

My other guess is that if I can pick up FM / AM the base it's self is ok otherwise i would end up with no signal at all?


Attaching 2 pictures to show different ones I found with a slightly different fitting I was describing at the base.

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[serdar_18fr]

The one on my car didn't have that, perhaps it was a 3rd party replacement. Same as the one from Halfords linked above doesn't have that extra bit protruding beyond the threads. Is it some sort of anti theft thing? Would it require removing the car ceiling in order to access the base from underneath to fit?

Or it was an original VAG part but the one for a standard radio, fitted by a previous owner who didn't care about DAB.

I don't know anything about the anti-theft thing. The only way to find out whether it would require removing the roof is to get one and try. I would just do that if it was me.

 

[Gingerbread Man]

Or it was an original VAG part but the one for a standard radio, fitted by a previous owner who didn't care about DAB.

I don't know anything about the anti-theft thing. The only way to find out whether it would require removing the roof is to get one and try. I would just do that if it was me.

Google

Looking here it has quite a good diagram with all the various part numbers. I would need an aerial and possibly the nut which is under the base and I think that's a take the roof liner down job to get at from under as the base seems pretty attached to the roof. I think it's more than I would be able to do myself I don't think I'd be comfortable removing and fitting the roof lining without breaking something so I would probably get my usual mechanic to have a look for me. Probably cost more in labour than the actual part

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[serdar_18fr]

Looking here it has quite a good diagram with all the various part numbers. I would need an aerial and possibly the nut which is under the base and I think that's a take the roof liner down job to get at from under as the base seems pretty attached to the roof. I think it's more than I would be able to do myself I don't think I'd be comfortable removing and fitting the roof lining without breaking something so I would probably get my usual mechanic to have a look for me. Probably cost more in labour than the actual part

Below is the actual diagram from the related 2014 Ibiza section of parts catalog.
The one you attached is from another model probably, as same parts are used in a lot of different brands & models.
But it doesn't matter anyway, the nut below is used to fix the base to the roof.
I don't think it has anything to do with the rod.

 

[Gingerbread Man]

Below is the actual diagram from the related 2014 Ibiza section of parts catalog.
The one you attached is from another model probably, as same parts are used in a lot of different brands & models.
But it doesn't matter anyway, the nut below is used to fix the base to the roof.
I don't think it has anything to do with the rod.


View attachment 53234

So here's a couple of options, which would you go for?

Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/0hM6FkVn

Or LLL parts https://www.lllparts.co.uk/product/5p0035849b/rod-type-aerial-5p0035849b

The main difference from what I see is lllparts seems to be a more exact match with the part number you said, and the Amazon one also lists the "standard radio" you mentioned in your initial response and also has the same 5p0035849 but with an A as last character. Amazon being probably easier to return if it's not right.

Which would you go for?

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[serdar_18fr]

So here's a couple of options, which would you go for?

Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/0hM6FkVn

Or LLL parts https://www.lllparts.co.uk/product/5p0035849b/rod-type-aerial-5p0035849b

The main difference from what I see is lllparts seems to be a more exact match with the part number you said, and the Amazon one also lists the "standard radio" you mentioned in your initial response and also has the same 5p0035849 but with an A as last character. Amazon being probably easier to return if it's not right.

Which would you go for?

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Amazon lists three different part numbers and none of them matches 5P0035849B, so I wouldn't go for this one.
The part number on the lllparts looks OK.

You may also want to check this one:

SEAT Direct Parts | SEAT Ibiza 2013-2017 Roof Aerial Antenna

SEAT Direct Parts | SEAT Ibiza 2013-2017 Roof Aerial Antenna | 5P0035849B | Genuine SEAT Parts & Accessories Delivered Straight To Your Door

seatdirectparts.co.uk

 

[Gingerbread Man]

Amazon lists three different part numbers and none of them matches 5P0035849B, so I wouldn't go for this one.
The part number on the lllparts looks OK.

You may also want to check this one:

SEAT Direct Parts | SEAT Ibiza 2013-2017 Roof Aerial Antenna

SEAT Direct Parts | SEAT Ibiza 2013-2017 Roof Aerial Antenna | 5P0035849B | Genuine SEAT Parts & Accessories Delivered Straight To Your Door

seatdirectparts.co.uk

Looks good, based upon your recommendation I will get in touch with them tomorrow. If they have it in stock and located a reasonable distance from me I might even go and fetch it in person and take the Ibiza for a nice stretch of its legs! I really appreciate all your help, thank you. I hope to scratch radio signal issues off my list of things to do to this car! Thanks again

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[serdar_18fr]

Looks good, based upon your recommendation I will get in touch with them tomorrow. If they have it in stock and located a reasonable distance from me I might even go and fetch it in person and take the Ibiza for a nice stretch of its legs! I really appreciate all your help, thank you. I hope to scratch radio signal issues off my list of things to do to this car! Thanks again

Have a safe drive and keep us posted.

 

[Gingerbread Man]

Have a safe drive and keep us posted.

Well I phoned up and they didn't have one in stock at that time but I did manage to get one ordered. Should be here in a few days so I will update when it arrives. I got up, showered, shaved and prepared for a nice little road too trip too and was quite disappointed not to go lol Instead I got some cotton wool tips and ec 90 and cleaned out the threading where the aerial sits and also the ignition barrel was looking rather grimy so that got a clean.

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[serdar_18fr]

Well I phoned up and they didn't have one in stock at that time but I did manage to get one ordered. Should be here in a few days so I will update when it arrives. I got up, showered, shaved and prepared for a nice little road too trip too and was quite disappointed not to go lol Instead I got some cotton wool tips and ec 90 and cleaned out the threading where the aerial sits and also the ignition barrel was looking rather grimy so that got a clean.

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On their website they say part numbers are checked against the car's reg before ordering, to make sure that it's correct.

I wonder whether they asked you about car's reg or VIN.

 

[Gingerbread Man]

On their website they say part numbers are checked against the car's reg before ordering, to make sure that it's correct.

I wonder whether they asked you about car's reg or VIN.

So I made 2 calls to them, the first I was asking if they had stock of the item asking for it directly by the part number, the guy said no but it can be ordered. We went through my car registration and confirmed it was the right car we were talking about which matched the registration. So I assume they have some way of being able to tell if it was the correct part. The store seems to be linked to a Seat / Cupra dealership on Swindon - Fish Brothers Seat.

I then called my local Seat dealership in Gloucester and they didn't have the exact part on hand either, so I went back to the Seat Direct Parts site again. My local dealership wasn't able to confirm the exact part number, they asked me if it was the rod or base I wanted. Curiously there was a difference on price quoted between these 2 different Seat garages, not much. But I went with the original because I had more confidence in using the exact part number we went through last night and the call before I think they would have said if it wasn't the right part.

Before my 2nd call to Seat Parts Direct, I was building up my profile, adding my address, phone number, email, password all that stuff and I was trying to save my card to for it to used in future transactions without entering my full card details again. I was not able to do this. So my 2nd call came about and I said to the guy I was having issues trying to save my card number and I was trying to place an order. What I did in the end was add the item to my basket and then check it out and I was able to get my payment details onto their system.

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[Gingerbread Man]

Looking through their site again and going back to the part numbers you helped me out with, this one https://seatdirectparts.co.uk/parts...ories-mk1-1999-2005/seat-roof-aerial-antenna/ is for the standard radio and looks very similar to what I had on the car, but imagine this looking like bent in half. So yeah, no wonder my signal has been struggling because it was definitely the wrong part installed initially and broken. So I'm feeling pretty confident that the correct part is on order

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[serdar_18fr]

So I'm feeling pretty confident that the correct part is on order

Glad to be of help

By the way, not to make you worry but I just have a concern about the base on your car, thinking about whether a previous owner replaced the original DAB one with a standard non-DAB base, along with the rod. In such a case new rod probably would not function as it should, and this would probably make you think that the rod isn't the correct part. Can you take a photo of the base and post here?

 

[Gingerbread Man]

Glad to be of help

By the way, not to make you worry but I just have a concern about the base on your car, thinking about whether a previous owner replaced the original DAB one with a standard non-DAB base, along with the rod. In such a case new rod probably would not function as it should, and this would probably make you think that the rod isn't the correct part. Can you take a photo of the base and post here?

Here you go. Not exactly ideal photography lighting outside right now but there's a couple of angles

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[serdar_18fr]

Here you go. Not exactly ideal photography lighting outside right now but there's a couple of angles

It seems alright and there's no need to be concerned, I believe.

When I searched for the part number of standard base, the photos show a smaller one without the circular receiver section on the front, while the photos for the DAB base part number looks exactly like yours.

 

[Gingerbread Man]

Well it arrived about an hour ago through DHL shipping, pretty good I would say considering they didn't have physical stock of it at the time so I it came from where ever in a reasonable time I would say.

The Ariel did come with that extra little bit poking out past the threads, but it went into the base thing just fine and screwed in nicely. I guess it does something...

So yeah, went into the car and first thing I did was update the station list which updates the location and what's available in the area. I then set it to scan through DAB 1 & 2, FM 1 & 2 then AM 1 & 2. It's definitely getting more channels than before and it seemed to hold the channel signal for the moments it was scanning through finding what's on the various frequencies.

I guess the true test will be later on when I drive into work (nigh shift) if it can maintain signal on the journey.

Thanks again for your help especially with the part numbers! I am already eyeing up my next purchase from that seat direct parts for a replacement wheel arch liner and set of screws. Apparently half of my liner is missing which probably explains why I can hear some rattling and rumbling from the area where it's missing from!

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[serdar_18fr]

It's definitely getting more channels than before and it seemed to hold the channel signal for the moments it was scanning through finding what's on the various frequencies.

It's always good to hear that it's a happy ending.

I'm glad that I was able to help.
Have safe rides & enjoy your digital stations!

 

[Gingerbread Man]

It's always good to hear that it's a happy ending.

I'm glad that I was able to help.
Have safe rides & enjoy your digital stations!

It's definitely much better than before, but still losing signal at times, enough to be a bit of an annoyance. I think I read something along the lines of the cable between the head unit and the aerial base can sometimes fail. I'm not really too sure. I don't really want to go down the route of replacing the base because it's pretty expensive

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