DIY: GLI Sound Aktor Disable

[VeeDubbinU]

I've heard mention that there is a way but it's so easy to just unplug it. When I was cleaning the engine bay and getting ready to unplug mine I noticed a un-used tube/port that I thought was where engine noise was going into and being amplified and sent to the soundaktor but I was wrong. LOL.

[araemo]

got to be a way to kill this via VAG, anyone know?

We've been looking. Haven't found yet.

[GLIjersey]

Thanks so much for posting this, it took me all of 5 minutes to do (and most of that time was spent wrapping the connector in tape and using a velcro tie to secure it).

My impressions...

I have been driving manual transmission cars for 30 years and when I picked up my GLI two weeks ago I felt like there was a slight disconnect between what I was hearing and the feedback I was getting from the car itself, it was just a little off.

Now that I have disconnected the soundaktor I feel like everything is more in tune and I can drive the car more smoothly. Maybe it's different with the automatic, but it really helps to not have the artificial noise with a stick.

That's my two cents, and thanks again for th DIY!

[-Silver-]

Thanks so much for posting this, it took me all of 5 minutes to do (and most of that time was spent wrapping the connector in tape and using a velcro tie to secure it).

My impressions...

I have been driving manual transmission cars for 30 years and when I picked up my GLI two weeks ago I felt like there was a slight disconnect between what I was hearing and the feedback I was getting from the car itself, it was just a little off.

Now that I have disconnected the soundaktor I feel like everything is more in tune and I can drive the car more smoothly. Maybe it's different with the automatic, but it really helps to not have the artificial noise with a stick.

That's my two cents, and thanks again for th DIY!

I completely agree with you. It felt like I was redlining the car every time I hate 4000 rpm before...

Now it's just a smoother ride overall!

This does make me want to get the carbonio intake ASAP though

[postman505]

I've tried to disconnect the aktor but could not. Do you just pinch it and pull it off because I couldn't do it need help. I have a 2013 gli.

[VeeDubbinU]

I've tried to disconnect the aktor but could not. Do you just pinch it and pull it off because I couldn't do it need help. I have a 2013 gli.

Yes, it's a bit tricky but yes, thats how you do it.

[postman505]

Yes, it's a bit tricky but yes, thats how you do it.

Any tips or tricks I should know about .

[Cj303]

I've tried to disconnect the aktor but could not. Do you just pinch it and pull it off because I couldn't do it need help. I have a 2013 gli.

I just disconnected mine yesterday, it was a PITA to unhook the cable, but you have to pull the gray tab underneath away from the aktor and push it away from the connector then wiggle the connector loose, that is how I got it done but it was not easy.

[VeeDubbinU]

Any tips or tricks I should know about .

Um, not really. My hand were wet when I was doing it and I couldn't get a good grip on it. Also I'm not that familiar with how all the plugs clip/unclip and I couldn't see the back where the clip was so i just looked at the plug that goes into the windshield wiper container? (I think) and unplugged it to see if it was just like your regular pinch and pull connector. It was. Sound I dried my hands off and stuck my hands back under the cowl and got a good grip on it and it unpluged rather easy. Just be patient.

[GLIjersey]

Any tips or tricks I should know about .

Mine actually came off pretty easily, I just got my finger underneath and slid the gray tab back and the connector just came off.

[VeeDubbinU]

Mine actually came off pretty easily, I just got my finger underneath and slid the gray tab back and the connector just came off.

That's what she said.

[Cj303]

Mine actually came off pretty easily, I just got my finger underneath and slid the gray tab back and the connector just came off.

I was not so lucky maybe because it was cold? But it did take a lot of wiggling to get it loose, at one point i thought i was going to break it.

[Lief]

went for a drive a little while ago to take care of some errands, more I thought about how this car sounds, it reminds me of a TDI. My 2010 GTI with the sound tube sounded throaty and nice. It's raining cats and dogs, so no unclipping this thing now. I just can not believe that none of us have figured out how to turn this off via VAG - or even a fuse.

[Cj303]

went for a drive a little while ago to take care of some errands, more I thought about how this car sounds, it reminds me of a TDI. My 2010 GTI with the sound tube sounded throaty and nice. It's raining cats and dogs, so no unclipping this thing now. I just can not believe that none of us have figured out how to turn this off via VAG - or even a fuse.

Not all of us have easy access to vag and its fairly easy enough to get to the aktor to begin with.

[Lief]

another ? on turing this off via VAG?

[wilson pickett]

vagcom 12 beta has an option for soundaktor,but it doesn't work.
channel not found error.

[GLIheretic]

Any tips or tricks I should know about .

Just unscrew the nut that holds the soundaktor in then pull the whole thing out and disconnect it. Thats what i did since i couldnt disconnect it myself.

[Lief]

Hmm ... Thank you Wilson, going to try this on mine ...

[wilson pickett]

i can't remember where it was,but i think it was 17-instruments-adaptation.
for the people having so much trouble,it was very easy for me to disconnect.
peel off the cheesy styrofoam strip on the passenger side far enough to lift up
the equally cheesy plastic cover far enough to get your hand in.
there is a flat gray clip on the bottom of the round black connecter.
put thumb on top of connecter,put finger on tip of gray clip on the bottom.
squeeze,making sure your finger is only on the clip on bottom,pull out connecter.
requires little effort,no wriggling,or tugging,etc..
i suspect if you're finding it difficult you're squeezing the whole connecter,and not just the
gray clip.
do it you'll be glad you did.

[Lief]

channel not found ... ughhh

[Lief]

ok got the left and right sides of the rain guards up off of the clips on the sides. Have the right side slid over, cant pull the left side cover off where it meats the glass.

How does it come off - towards the engine, or straight up off the glass, to the left or right?

[wilson pickett]

ok got the left and right sides of the rain guards up off of the clips on the sides. Have the right side slid over, cant pull the left side cover off where it meats the glass.

How does it come off - towards the engine, or straight up off the glass, to the left or right?

if i'm reading you correctly you raise the passenger side upwards on the engine side.the clip and conector are on the passenger side of the soundaktor.

[Lief]

I figured it out. The part of the plastic tray on the left side, that you have to remove. Slide both left and right sides of the trays towards the fenders a little - this is once you have pulled the clips from the side up. Then with the wipers in service mode put you hand between to two pieces of the plastic trays right where it meets the glass - and Pull the left side up, and take it out - carefully!!

[wilson pickett]

all's well that end's well.

[ChrisFu]

Holy crap this makes a HUGE difference.

The engine is QUIET. I can only wonder why VW didnt just install a more open intake if they wanted more engine noise.

[erick295]

Holy crap this makes a HUGE difference.

The engine is QUIET. I can only wonder why VW didnt just install a more open intake if they wanted more engine noise.

What really surprises me is that with all the other cost cutting, that stupid thing somehow stuck around.

[mediumbluemetalic]

I'm surprised that VW continues installing this device too. I'd almost rather have anything that costs VW $3 than a fake sound generator.

Car and Driver not only complains about the Sound Aktor on a continual basis, but they also wrote in the Long Term test of their GLI that most owners visit You Tube for videos about how to remove it.

Between the Sound Aktor and a carpeted trunk lid liner, I'd prefer the latter, and I imagine that the cost difference isn't very high.

[Cookiepuss01]

Im keeping my soundakotor for now, people the Audi S7 has one and thats a v-8 TT. So when Im driving I make believe Im in a S7 vrooom

[Lief]

Well I guess if you like your TSI sounding like a TDI then keep it.

[UberWgn]

Bump for a easy DIY.

seriously if I can do this anyone can.

[Clyde Smith]

Found a DIY on youtube for disabling the soundaktor with vag com here.

Also adds an option to toggle it on/off in the MFA...good stuff

[GLI4TJ]

Found a DIY on youtube for disabling the soundaktor with vag com here.

Also adds an option to toggle it on/off in the MFA...good stuff

April fools.

[garycolo]

I have a brand new '13 GLI Autobahn 6mt and the Sound Aktor was driving me crazy. After I found this thread (thanks clutchrider!) I was able to get this stupid thing unplugged. It took me two tries to remove it. Getting to it with clutchrider's pictures is easy enough but getting the connector to release is the hard part. I would add the following observation:

You need to approach this from the passenger side of the car and slide your left arm/hand in under the raintray cover to reach the Sound Aktor. Then using the fingernails of your index finger and thumb, pull the "T" top of the grey tab straight out (towards the passenger side of the car). It does indeed click. Once it has clicked, you can pull the connector straight out.

What a relief! Being able to hear the engine without the Sound Aktor makes this a far more enjoyable car to drive. This may be less of an issue with an auto trans but with a manual, I like to hear what is really going on and the Sound Aktor really disconnected me from the car.

[Whitejettaknight]

Thanks for the posting. I disconnected mine the other day and wow I am so glad it did. The sound is so much smoother and does not sound like a Gargling Kazoo. The Soundaktor was actually causing a rattle big time when it activated on full throttle. Does anyone remember the Alpine Bass Engines? Reminded me of that. The disconnect was easy, only took five minutes max.