DX radio code baffles Skoda. Any help here?

[Sonicgroove]

My battery recently went flat after the interior light stayed on despite it being set to the door open setting (grrrr) and the Dx Satnav/radio requires a code to get it restarted. I don't have the manual as it came with nothing but the V5 when I bought it, so I took it into Skoda who said they'd charge me £30....A bit steep but hey, I like music, so in it went. After two hours of faffing about they declared themselves beat and said they 'couldn't talk to the stereo' 

 

Do I have to replace the unit or is there a workaround?

Edited 12 September, 2015 by Sonicgroove

[jimbof]

They should be able to talk to the nav unit over the diagnostics port.  If they can't, it is probably indicative of a wiring fault somewhere, or even a component failure.  

Do all your interior lights work properly?  Have you had water in the car?

 

Someone with VCDS should be able to see if indeed it is possible to talk to the stereo over the diagnostics port.  If you can't, then fixing that would be the first port of call.

 

You might find a car stereo decoding company (there are several on ebay, don't know how they rate though) - who usually work by reading the code out of a chip on the stereo.  You'll normally have to remove and send in your radio, though.

[Bodie]

My code was on a printed sticker on the stereo as well as in the book

[Phil-E]

The code for the stereo is stored in the instrument cluster so after a flat battery it then just "talks" to the instrument cluster and registers the code again.

 

The fact that it hasn't done this automatically and that they are unable to access the stereo through the diagnostics indicated a wiring fault of some kind.

 

I would suggest removing and refitting the stereo checking all the wires are connected at the back etc.

 

Phil

[James@RRG_Skoda_Rochdale]

The code for the radio isn't stored anywhere other than in the radio.

when the battery goes flat the radio assumes it's been removed from its current vehicle hence it asking for the code.

on vehicles with mainly k line comms (like yours) you had no choice but to input the code but on later can bus based vehicles the radio will communicate with other components on the can bus network to confirm the chassis number matches that stored in its internal memory, if the info doesn't match then it asks for the code.

you can access the code manually using the dealer portal but you need the 14 digit radio serial number (stamped on the unit) and 17 digit chassis number.

If you get this info and pm me I'll try to get the code for you.

[jimbof]

I've never had any luck with my car unlocking the radio by itself, and my wiring is fine.  From what I've read on the subject, these original MFD1's don't seem to do it.