Soundaktor be Gone !

[takmanR]

Took out the soundaktor this evening and what a difference. The videos on youtube do not do justice to the improvement it will make to get rid of this piece of junk. The artificial buzzy sound is gone and replaced with a pure motor sound. It felt so unnatural to have it on the car. It serves no purpose that I can think of, and only degrades the sound of an otherwise outstanding engine.

You can hear the turbo whistle a little more now since the soundaktor's extra sound is gone. It sort of homogenized the sound before removal, and I am sure VW was after that affect. The transition on to boost was muffled by this awful thing. From the first slip of the clutch at the dealership when I picked up the car until today, I knew something was not right with the car. My original sales guy even agreed with me when we bought the car. Thought it was some sort of exhaust rattle or the like, and it would get sorted out at the 90 day check. Had not had time to take the car in yet, but after seeing the videos on youtube, I knew this artificial thing had to come off the car no matter what.

The car is so much quieter now and the motor so much smoother like it should be. My son even said it was like driving a different car, and I agree with him. We could not be happier with this mod, and agree that VW should have never put this piece of crap in our cars. Why on earth do we want our fire walls to vibrate?? Car manufactures spend millions to quite their cars, and this thing is pure noise pollution.

Best of all, it is a FREE modification. Below are a few helpful videos and hints to remove the Soundaktor. This is not a complete "how to" thread, but some helpful hints and sources for a DIY job. If anyone has any questions post or pm.

Episode 35: 2011 VW GTI: The Soundaktor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mUbYVS3uEc

Wiper blade removal is not just undoing the bolt and pulling up, you need to see these videos. Actually rock the blade arm back and forth to loosing it up first and then do like the video says. Took me 30 minutes to mess around with pliers etc, put a small crack in the black plastic, smash my hands up, find and watch the videos to get the first one off. Now 60 seconds to take off the bolt, loosen, and pop off. See these videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3gXG6hh01w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpnpp...feature=relmfu

View the episode 35 video, as that is a good place to start. It has some good views of what you are looking for. You need to also remove the two 10mm bolts that hold part of the windshield wiper assembly of the passenger blade. This lowers the soundaktor down low enough so you can reach in with another 10mm wrench and loosen the bolt holding it to the wiper assembly. Then you can move it around and gain better access to remove the plug and take it out of the car. We then taped off the end of the plug and zip tied it to another wiring bundle. A second person is nice to hold the flash light, but not mandatory.

[ibcnum1]

you can follow this clip here to disable it in less than a minute:

[takmanR]

Well that is a lot easier than what I went through. Somewhere else in a thread, it was said that the plug was too big and harder to remove than the little one on the soundaktor. What they don't tell you about is all the extra work there is to actually remove it. This way obviously looks a lot simpler than actually removing it like we did. Hopefully this makes a lot easier for others to follow suite. That is what is so beautiful about these forums, we can all pool our knowledge into on collective and share it with everyone.

I will say however, that I feel much better knowing that this thing is actually out of our car. One day soon my son and I will break out a few hockey sticks and take great pride in slapping this puck around in the street until it breaks. Should be worth a few good laughs.

[ignitionlive]

you can follow this clip here to disable it in less than a minute:

Easy! I can do that!

[codewhore]

I followed that video on just disconnecting the harness on the passenger side of the car. But I didn't even have to take the weather stopping all the way off, just pulled it back about 2 feet. The connector locking mechanism on mine was a lot harder to disengage though. It had two "notches" when opening it up. The first notch was easy but the second one required a fair amount of wiggling and force to get it. Perhaps it was due to the limited space I had because I did not pull the weather stripping all the way off.

[batman25]

First does this affect anything else.

Second why the hell would they ever put this in any car. How did that make it though the cost cutting meeting? I would have gladly trade any number of things.

I don't have to blast my iPod now. I love the quietness of the cabin now.

[keihin]

I did this, following the easier method. One helpful thing was the use of a screwdriver to unlock the plug clip. I just put he tip of he screwdriver into the opening at the top of the locking clip, and applied lateral force to the screwdriver thru the handle. It had been stuck and hard to apply any force in the needed direction. With the screwdriver, it clicked open easily. Might save you some knuckle skin.

[speeedfrk]

took my hockey puck out completely today. sounds so much better. quieter when cruising and better engine/turbo sounds when driving harder. from start to finish including taking the wipers off and removing soundaktor, bagging the plug and zip tying it to the harness....it took 20 mins. i would have just unplugged the bigger connector but once i got to it, it became a principal thing.

[Siliconrane]

I crushed mine in a 33 ton press.

To poster above - no other systems in the vehicle are affected by the removal of this device or it's controller.

[iMod.:R]

I don't have to blast my iPod now. I love the quietness of the cabin now.

This =this.

[darthfuhrer]

No cell?

[Siliconrane]

I crushed mine in a 33 ton press.

To poster above - no other systems in the vehicle are affected by the removal of this device or it's controller.

No cell?

[takmanR]

Glad to see more people are disconnecting this unnecessary piece of junk. We could have had auto headlights for far less than the cost of the black puck and control box. Hey maybe even LED tail lights instead. Who knows what VW was thinking.

[JosephHatfield]

Glad to see more people are disconnecting this unnecessary piece of junk. We could have had auto headlights for far less than the cost of the black puck and control box. Hey maybe even LED tail lights instead. Who knows what VW was thinking.

I filed an official complaint about the Soundaktor with VW. They basically told me to f off. AKA, thanks for the input. We're sorry it upset you.

[ThatVdub]

VWOA has done much worse and got away with it, like mk4 paint peal. it's a love hate relationship.

[MichaelRB]

I have a question for those who did it like in the video posted above, it looks like the plug is now just sitting there, does this cause any type of rattle during the drive now?

[GlfSprtCT1]

I crushed mine in a 33 ton press.

Hero status sir

[ThatVdub]

I would wrap the plug in something watertight, and secure the plug so it wont rattle.

[batman25]

After a couple if days with no soundaktor, Im becoming a fan of the exhaust. Esp the pop between 1st and 2nd.

[keisuke_z]

I would wrap the plug in something watertight, and secure the plug so it wont rattle.

I finally got mine unplugged today after a few failed attempts... I covered the cable plug end with Gorilla tape, and then used some more Gorilla tape to sort of get it to sit on top of the control unit itself..... being the newb that I am - any thoughts on whether this is a bad idea? I'm not sure what temperature range Gorilla tape can withstand... would the adhesive melt and become a hazard?

[DudeLePowSki]

I finally got mine unplugged today after a few failed attempts... I covered the cable plug end with Gorilla tape, and then used some more Gorilla tape to sort of get it to sit on top of the control unit itself..... being the newb that I am - any thoughts on whether this is a bad idea? I'm not sure what temperature range Gorilla tape can withstand... would the adhesive melt and become a hazard?

I am just going to cover my plug with a balloon and ziptie. Then I'll tape it down to avoid rattling.

Sent via Nerdroid

[vince900ss]

I realize that more and more vehicles are coming with stuff like this. But I sure don't want it in my car. So I disconnected mine today. Sounds much better without that artificial sound. Once I install my exhaust, APR tune, and intake, I'll have the proper sound as it should be...real!
Thanks for the tutorial.
Vince

[red72914]

Liberation! I reached under the rain tray and unplugged the control unit tonight, what a difference! I'll go ba k in this weekend and pull all the unnecessary components.

[lovecarsDrV]

Won't be long before they make a smartphone app that will mimic different car engine sounds - streamed through Bluetooth to your car audio system - no need for "Soundaktors" with today's technology! It's still a lame concept, but it may have a market as a novelty.

Edit: it appears that they already exist

[spydrz]

Nice. Will do this today. And cover it so water won't get in the harness.

[keisuke_z]

I am just going to cover my plug with a balloon and ziptie. Then I'll tape it down to avoid rattling.

Sent via Nerdroid

Balloon - what a great idea! I was trying to think of some kind of bag...

Have to admit - now that there's no vibrating drone from the soundaktor, I am wanting the APR exhaust more and more......

[ignitionlive]

Sound-fake-tor has been deleted.

[triman11427]

Is it necessary to cover the plug? I've just wedged it in but never covered it.will that be an issue in the rain?

[Rdurty2]

Is it necessary to cover the plug? I've just wedged it in but never covered it.will that be an issue in the rain?

Water shouldn't get to it but there is always that chance. I would cover it just in case. It is a VW, you def don't want electrical problems.

[TLud]

Is it necessary to cover the plug? I've just wedged it in but never covered it.will that be an issue in the rain?

I definitely taped mine up.

[JLCVDUB]

Needs moar hammer smashed soundaktors...

[ThatVdub]

u guys removed both the controller and soundaktor?

[TLud]

u guys removed both the controller and soundaktor?

I only removed the control module. Removing the soundaktor itself seemed like more trouble than it was worth.


Sent from my iPhone 4S using Tapatalk

[BigmountainVMD]

I only removed the control module. Removing the soundaktor itself seemed like more trouble than it was worth.

What did you bind the harness to if you removed the control module?

[spydrz]

Done. Like the first post says, what a difference. So much better.