[rkieffer]

Just got my 01.5 Passat Sedan back from the 10k Service....I had been having problems with the rear speakers and asked the dealer to look at it. They told me that the radio had been coded wrong at the factory and recoded it. Now, when I turn on the car, the radio says MONSOON, as if I have the monsoon system installed. The rear speakers are working fine now and the sound quality of the radio is better (less muddy). My question is, do I have Monsoon or not? Where is the monsoon amp located in the 01.5 Sedan? What option code indicates whether I have monsoon or not? Thanks...

 

[Ronbo]

Re: Monsoon Question (rkieffer)

The Monsoon amp in the sedan is in the trunk, top right. It is affixed to the bottom of the shelf just behind the rear seats and below the rear window.

 

[BBear]

Re: Monsoon Question (rkieffer)

So this brings to mind another question. What if you took a stock HU and programed it to "say" monsoon. Would this then give you monsoon features sans the power amp?

 

[vwguild]

Re: Monsoon Question (BBear)

No... http://www.monsoonpower.com is the Amplifer, Upgraded Speakers and
DSP in the HU...


[Modified by vwguild, 10:24 PM 2-7-2002]

 

[rkieffer]

Re: Monsoon Question (vwguild)

Which simply raises the question, if the amp is not on the roof of the trunk as mentioned above, then why does the HU say monsoon, if it isn't there? And if it in fact isn't there, why does the radio now sound much better???

 

[BBear]

Re: Monsoon Question (rkieffer)

I'd like to know the answer to this too.
<wondering>

 

[BBear]

Re: Monsoon Question (rkieffer)

To be clear, are you saying you do NOT have the amp and your HU says monsoon at powerup?

 

[vwguild]

Re: Monsoon Question (rkieffer)

Rob...It would be VERY unusual if you DID NOT have Monsoon...

 

[timho]

Re: Monsoon Question (BBear)

quote:[HR][/HR]To be clear, are you saying you do NOT have the amp and your HU says monsoon at powerup?[HR][/HR]​

This exists in my car...
Tried to look for the amp in the trunk, but couldn't find it. I'm 99% sure that it is programmable b/c when I first got the car, the Monsoon didn't show up. But after the CD changer got installed at the stealership, VOILA it's there!
If only I could "program" my car w/ 250+ hp...

 

[rkieffer]

Re: Monsoon Question (timho)

Correct....No amp in trunk, HU says monsoon at powerup, audio quality much better after dealer reprogrammed unit (when it started saying monsoon).....Anyone???? VWGuild, when my car was delivered they put a sticker in the owners manual with all of the option codes listed (and the paint and trim colors) as codes. What code would indicate Monsoon (or not)? Anyone?

 

[vwguild]

Re: Monsoon Question (rkieffer)

Code for Monsoon is *RMA*...

 

[rkieffer]

Re: Monsoon Question (vwguild)

Thanks VWGuild....I have now verified for sure that I really don't have Monsoon.....No Amp, Not listed on the Options codes sticker....Which brings us around to another part of the original question. Why, after reprogramming (when HU started displaying MONSOON), is the audio quality much cleaner and brighter? Anyone have any ideas?

 

[rcaton1]

Re: Monsoon Question (rkieffer)

think that I'll have my girl friend's 2001 golf reprogrammed too... And funny you should bring this up because, when I bought my B5, I don't think that I was even charged for the monsoon. I thought that I got away with it... maybe not (in a sense)

 

[Wagonuser]

Re: Monsoon Question (rcaton1)

What's the verdict here? can we get our head units to say monsoon without the AMP?
I'm about to have a panasonic cd changer hooked up, and wonder if it will make a difference?
Thanks in advance
Wagonuser

 

[BBear]

Re: Monsoon Question (Wagonuser)

I suspect that if you do program it (stock HU) for "monsoon" then it really does enable some additional circuitry or software that does like the DSP function. But I don't think VWoA wants us to know this. So unless we have some true audioflies(sp) or sound engineers out there with the VAG tool willing to test this out in several cases, we can only assume.
Another thing comes to mind. My dealer told me that each monsoon is hand tuned after it is installed and that each one is different depending on the exact accoustics of that car. So if you do have the monsoon and it isn't saying it and you get it reprogrammed, does that mean it is no longer tuned?

 

[vwguild]

Re: Monsoon Question (BBear)

There is nothing cunning going on here...I delivered a Passat today with
Monsoon & discovered during the Pre-Delivery Inspection that the HU was
bad and not *reading* the Monsoon info...HU worked fine, but did not say
*Monsoon* at startup...Ordered New HU.
This system is configured for the Model, not each and every car

 

[rcaton1]

Re: Monsoon Question (vwguild)

You gotta love the conspiracy theories.

 

[ghillis]

Re: Monsoon Question (rkieffer)

Radio functions are programmed via VAG tool. These include a certain amount of equalization for the car model (Passat vs Jetta, etc.) and the Monsoon/Premium V selection. This allow VW to use the same head unit for all their US cars, and customize to the application via the codes. If the code is put in for the wrong car, the sound may be muddy or it may be improved.
Refer to TSB 91-99-09

 

[rcaton1]

Re: Monsoon Question (ghillis)

C... O... N... spiracy!

 

[BBear]

Re: Monsoon Question (ghillis)

quote:[HR][/HR]...
Refer to TSB 91-99-09[HR][/HR]​

Does anyone have access to this tsb they'd be willing to fax or email to me?


[Modified by BBear, 10:16 PM 2-12-2002]