In a message dated 21/10/2004 10:54:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

When I  pruchased my 87 westy there a genuine VW tape radio with it. It
was  supposed to work, but the father of the owner did not know how  to.

Model is X 034 300 E. It has a remote. That's why I may keep  it.

I have everything. Manual, etc. Even the code (it's protected) and  ask
you the code whenever you disconnect from the battery,

My van  sit for a long time (several years). I wonder if some cables did
not  break.

Anyway. I played with it. It gets some current. I can see a  backlight on
and hear a noise/bip when I plug it.
I do not get the  message asking for the code, neither I get the message
it's blocked (need  to go to the dealer).

I also have a passat, with VW radio that connects  directly into its
place (almost same connections).
When I plug the west  radio in it.
I also get a bip. But I do not get anything more.

When  I plug my passat radio into the westy: same thing. Bip. no more. I
do not  get the Code thing as I do in the passat.

Anyone has an idea what to do  or try?

The only way I understand it is the westy has some broken  cables (but
both get some volts).
AND the radio is broken or  blocked.

JP, if you have 12v power input to the radio and  the radio fuse on the radio
is good and you do not get the message to enter the  CODE and you see no
other message then it has to be returned to an authorised VW  dealer to be
reprogrammed.  Somehow in all the connecting and disconnecting  you have done you
have sent it into DEAD mode.  I have done this  before, about eight years ago,
and it cost me $130 CND to have it  reprogramed.  I have another used one here I
was trying to repair the tape  deck on and in the process of connecting and
disconnecting the power many times  while trying to repair the deck it went
into DEAD mode !  So much for  that radio.  It's not worth the big bucks to have
it reprogrammed unless  your in love with that radio.  There are many new
radios with remotes, CD  and MP3 capability on the market for less money.   I have
a JENSON from Radio Shack now.

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 09 ~ 12, 2005
'87 Westy, '90 Carat &  Lionel Trains
Member: _Vanagon List_ (http://www.vanagon.com/) , _LiMBO_
(http://www.bcn.net/~limbo/) , _IWCCC_ (http://www.westfalia.qc.ca/)  & _CCVWC_
(http://www.ccvwc.ca/)
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in  the Ottawa Valley
_STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel  Mufflers_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
or  http://frankcondelli.com