On again/off again stereo issue

[Jerry7171]

I have the OEM stereo for my 2000 Beetle. I've been putting up with my stereo switching off and on at random for the past week and am starting to get a little batty. The security light comes on and starts blinking when the stereo is off while I'm driving. I can turn it on and sometimes it will stay on without incident, but at other times it'll power down within seconds. At night the display flickers and blinks almost like morse code--very distracting. Does anyone have any idea what is going on and what I can do about it aside from driving to the dealership?

[Flatliner]

I know this is a tad bit old, but we have the same issue on our 2001 NB TDI. I took the radio out and fiddled with the fuse that is on the back of the radio, disconnected/ reconnected the three wiring harnesses and still the same issue. It's frustrating... and well the wife is all over me to fix it. I will tell you that once I fully took the radio out, I need the code in the owners manual to unlock the radio, so be careful if you do not have this code.


I just ordered a new head untit and am praying that is the issue, cause shorts are not fun.

[Flatliner]

New head unit has no issues, so it was the VW radio.