How can I tell if my NB had a monsoon system

[snadam]

I just picked up an 02 NB that has an aftermarket headunit installed. I'd like to figure out if the car originally came with a monsoon system or the standard fare. What can I do to figure that out?

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

The simplest way, is to have a Dealer run your VIN number. The second way is to find the mini-build sheet (1) generally in the original owners manual and (1) generally in the spare tire well. Then decipher the option codes using this site
VW Group Option Codes Decoder

MORAV

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Perhaps, and I say perhaps, because I have only read this and not verified it, is that the Monsoon system has speakers up on the dash in each corner next to the windshield pillars, and hence a grille. My understanding, a non-Monsoon doesn't. Obviously elsewhere also as there are 8 and 10 speaker Monsoon systems.

From an '01, pirated from another Orger's sale


M.

[sanlyn]

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

The simplest way, is to have a Dealer run your VIN number. The second way is to find the mini-build sheet (1) generally in the original owners manual and (1) generally in the spare tire well. Then decipher the option codes using this site
VW Group Option Codes Decoder

MORAV

Since I didn't get an owner's manual, I'll have to check in the spare tire well to see if I have a build sheet. Where would it be there? do I have to root around, or should it be visible?

[scarletvw]

It should be pretty visible under the carpet, maybe have to pull the tire but I don't remember.

Did the car come with an aftermarket radio in it? And if I remember right the monsoon's had an amp (or at least mine does) its hidden in the hatch area behind the plastics on the side. If it was originally a monsoon or they took out the amp there would still be the wiring harness back there or the amp itself. Worth a shot at least.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by sanlyn

Since I didn't get an owner's manual, I'll have to check in the spare tire well to see if I have a build sheet. Where would it be there? do I have to root around, or should it be visible?

Do you have the speakers on the dash at the bottom of the windshield pillars? This is the easiest, most visible way to know. If someone deleted the Monsoon, odds are they didn't delete the speakers and change out the speaker grills to blanks.

[riverratmike]

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

Perhaps, and I say perhaps, because I have only read this and not verified it, is that the Monsoon system has speakers up on the dash in each corner next to the windshield pillars, and hence a grille. My understanding, a non-Monsoon doesn't. Obviously elsewhere also as there are 8 and 10 speaker Monsoon systems.

From an '01, pirated from another Orger's sale


M.

I have a 2003 NB with the monsoon system and I only have 6 speakers

[ShaneM]

Originally Posted by snadam

I just picked up an 02 NB that has an aftermarket headunit installed. I'd like to figure out if the car originally came with a monsoon system or the standard fare. What can I do to figure that out?

Do the speakers sound good or bad?

A friend of mine was getting some Alpine speakers installed in hers luckily the guy at the stereo shop told her that the speakers in her car (monsoon) were better than the ones she requested. Idk how he was able to tell but if you know someone in the stereo business they should be able to tell.

Just my two cents

[sean_fabanich]

pretty sure the monsoon amp should be in the rear bumper on the driver side. pull up the carpet covering the spare and peak over and look

[Oh Randi]

Originally Posted by ShaneM

Do the speakers sound good or bad?

A friend of mine was getting some Alpine speakers installed in hers luckily the guy at the stereo shop told her that the speakers in her car (monsoon) were better than the ones she requested. Idk how he was able to tell but if you know someone in the stereo business they should be able to tell.

Just my two cents

lol he probably just said that so he wouldn't have to work on it I work at best buy installing car audio and my coworkers absolutely HATE working on anything German, especially with the Monsoon system. It's like Bose, a comeplete PITA. They make me do all the VW's that come in (not complaining!) But seriously, I am about to check and see if I have the monsoon system. It had a JVC deck in it when I bought it. I changed the cabin air filter a few weeks ago and noticed I did have tweeters in the dash whereas my friend with the same year car as mine didn't. Wondering if this is what is causing my battery drain.

IMO, I'd pick my alpine speakers over the monsoon or stock anyday. I replaced mine with the alpine type r's. Yeah, my stock speakers had more bass, but they were muddy and I promise they will not be able to pair well with an amp and subs. Not enough power or clarity.

[ShaneM]

Originally Posted by Oh Randi

lol he probably just said that so he wouldn't have to work on it I work at best buy installing car audio and my coworkers absolutely HATE working on anything German, especially with the Monsoon system. It's like Bose, a comeplete PITA. They make me do all the VW's that come in (not complaining!) But seriously, I am about to check and see if I have the monsoon system. It had a JVC deck in it when I bought it. I changed the cabin air filter a few weeks ago and noticed I did have tweeters in the dash whereas my friend with the same year car as mine didn't. Wondering if this is what is causing my battery drain.

IMO, I'd pick my alpine speakers over the monsoon or stock anyday. I replaced mine with the alpine type r's. Yeah, my stock speakers had more bass, but they were muddy and I promise they will not be able to pair well with an amp and subs. Not enough power or clarity.

Could be that though he put my deck in my NB and my dads in his Cabrio. But speakers might be a different story...I'm not sound system savvy.

I'm happy with my monsoon system...any things better than the p.o.s setup in my old car.

For a while I was carrying a Portable jump starter in my trunk just because My battery does drain If I don't drive it enough but I've been trying to keep up on taking her around the block

[Jeff2]

Originally Posted by sean_fabanich

pretty sure the monsoon amp should be in the rear bumper on the driver side. pull up the carpet covering the spare and peak over and look

I believe the 05 Convertible we just bought has the Monsoon system. That's what's in the manual we have plus it has the extra speaker grills on the dash. But, I can't seem to find the amp you describe. Does anyone have a PIC of where this would be?

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

.pdf attached, from the almighty Bentley...

Open the trunk, look up and to the left. Black steel box, mounted underneath the rear deck...

Hope this is what you were looking for.

FYI (not shown) - As you know, the antenna is in the windshield, the amplifier for it is located in the windshield header bar.

[Jeff2]

Thanks! I looked yesterday for the amp, but I was obviously looking in the wrong location. The location I read about in these forums must have been for the sedan, not the convertible.

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by Jeff2

Thanks! I looked yesterday for the amp, but I was obviously looking in the wrong location. The location I read about in these forums must have been for the sedan, not the convertible.

I might suggest that you had some BAD information, as the Bentley has it in the same location in the sedan (.pdf attached).

[Jeff2]

I think it was my bad memory. Doh!

[Oh Randi]

Originally Posted by ShaneM

Could be that though he put my deck in my NB and my dads in his Cabrio. But speakers might be a different story...I'm not sound system savvy.

I'm happy with my monsoon system...any things better than the p.o.s setup in my old car.

For a while I was carrying a Portable jump starter in my trunk just because My battery does drain If I don't drive it enough but I've been trying to keep up on taking her around the block

My car dies in hot weather if I don't pull both the radio fuses. I think my factory amp is not shutting off and causing a drain. Plans in the near future to wire all the speakers to the head unit and cut out the monsoon amp all together. Hope that will work. I have to carry a jump starter also

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by Oh Randi

My car dies in hot weather if I don't pull both the radio fuses. I think my factory amp is not shutting off and causing a drain. Plans in the near future to wire all the speakers to the head unit and cut out the monsoon amp all together. Hope that will work. I have to carry a jump starter also

Have you tried a solar maintainer, or a battery with higher amperage capacity? Have you checked the draw on your battery when in hibernation mode? Do you need help in learning how to do that? From your posts it sounds as if you have enough basic knowledge to do this.

So much better to fix things than to jury-rig them.

M.

[Oh Randi]

Originally Posted by MyOtherRidesAVette

Have you tried a solar maintainer, or a battery with higher amperage capacity? Have you checked the draw on your battery when in hibernation mode? Do you need help in learning how to do that? From your posts it sounds as if you have enough basic knowledge to do this.

So much better to fix things than to jury-rig them.

M.

I tried a solar panel charger and it didn't help. I did notice that my alternator is 120amps, I believe the one on my old motor was only 90. Perhaps I need a stronger battery, and to replace the fusebox (again!) because the fusible links are starting to look warped. The alternator wire too. There is obviously a huge draw, because if I forget to pull both those fuses, it will not start in the morning. The battery has tested fine every time.

When you say hibernation mode, do you mean when the ecu goes to sleep after like 20 minutes? I did hook up a multimeter while my car was in the shop and from the time the car shuts off, you can watch the voltage drop to 10.2, where it sits. I haven't sat around and waited though. That was the first time I've used a multimeter.. I have no clue how to test for the draw. Something about pullin fuses is all I know lol

[MyOtherRidesAVette]

Originally Posted by Oh Randi

I tried a solar panel charger and it didn't help. I did notice that my alternator is 120amps, I believe the one on my old motor was only 90. Perhaps I need a stronger battery, and to replace the fusebox (again!) because the fusible links are starting to look warped. The alternator wire too. There is obviously a huge draw, because if I forget to pull both those fuses, it will not start in the morning. The battery has tested fine every time.

When you say hibernation mode, do you mean when the ecu goes to sleep after like 20 minutes? I did hook up a multimeter while my car was in the shop and from the time the car shuts off, you can watch the voltage drop to 10.2, where it sits. I haven't sat around and waited though. That was the first time I've used a multimeter.. I have no clue how to test for the draw. Something about pullin fuses is all I know lol

Sorry, not hibernation mode, sleep mode is the correct term, draw is measured in milliamps, not volts. I can find the numbers if you'd like. There could be any number of different causes of a high draw after sleep mode kicks in. The only way to check it is to eliminate them one circuit at a time. You could have multiple issues, aside from the Monsoon amp, even though by pulling this and the radio fuse you seem to have narrowed it down. The fuse box should not be causing this unless there is a short downstream of the fusible link or a fuse. Inadequate alternator size would also not cause this.

M.