twonks

Thanks Felix. Good to know it's not just my car, although it adds a layer of complexity I didn't envisage. I might disconnect the speakers from the head unit physically, as I can now do that from the boot, and see if the centre is spliced from the left/right or amplified elsewhere. If it is elsewhere, I'll be using an external source into my DSP (Helix) for main music, so it shouldn't be a problem. If not, more thinking needed.

I'm in the middle of upgrading the factory sound system on my 2023 vRS with the std 8 speaker system in it. Was surprised to find that after an initial turn on of my DSP/amp when there should have been no sound coming through, there was music coming out of the centre of the dash. I've not dug around too much more in the car but came in to search google and found a few people have mentioned it but mainly relating to the Canton option - which I do not have, Does anybody know if my car should have a centre speaker? How it is wired? and can it be removed/disconnected? Seems a bit odd for Skoda not to use it as a sales feature if it should be there.

If it is like my 2023 Octavia, the light switch that is pressed to turn auto on also has a headlight symbol on it. When the lights go on, this illuminates. I checked it last night and it comes on and goes off with the infotainment navigation changes as the lights go on and off.

This smells a bit fishy to say the least. Not sure I'd be making any mods at all without checking the cars full details - could be two cars, a dodgy repair, and a lot of other things. A quick auto trader sell my car says it has had 6 owners and not scrapped, stolen or written off, so the basics look ok - although the condition you've said above suggests otherwise. In the seller pics, there is a garage name on the number plate surround - might be worth a call to them to see if they know anything about it. Gerry Hill Car Sales :: Home Auto trader suggests £5.4K selling with 82K miles. In that condition, assuming the basic car checks out ok, I hope you paid around £3K for it!

Done. All ok with just ignition on. Took about 25 minutes in total and now has a fresh update OTA pop up already, as expected.

Before I start the update, are there any tricks to leaving the ignition on for such a long time? In previous VW cars, it turns itself off after 10 minutes or so. Don’t want this happening with the update. vRS 2023 petrol if it makes a difference.

Just read through most of this thread after my 8 week old car annoyed me one more time by restarting the infotainment 3 times after I started it this morning. On hardware H61, Software 1900. Are there still members sharing the 1941 link please?

Hi all. Just had a mild 'oh' when I lifted the bonnet on my new vRS (pertrol) and found no engine cover. Didn't know it was a thing until I found this thread and there are no recalls on my car, registered 14th July 2023. Will check with Skoda and update.

Hi all. It's been many years since I was here but, having just ordered a new Octavia I will be back Car audio has been a passion of mine for many years and I have a lot of experience with Helix and VW based systems, having had a P-Six amp for 5 years before upgrading to a newer unit to get the better DSP. Using a factory VW based head unit into the P Six at high level will always sound rubbish I'm afraid, irrespective of any de-equalisation. I too have the same Flax component kit and ran them actively off the P Six, with a 750W mono block for many sub options in the boot. The main problem with a DSP that offers de-equalisation is in general they will only do it at a set head unit volume control. To then hear the flat sound, you need an external volume control from the amp. Because of this, you might as well simply use an external source with a clean digital out into the Helix (or any other such amp) and then use the same external volume control to adjust your levels. If it is an all Helix / Match system, the remote will also have programmable buttons to go between sources so you can still leave the factory connected at high level should you choose. I ran an iPod touch through a camera kit to give me USB digital out, then through a Topping D10s to get optical from the USB and into the P-Six. All controlled from a Helix URC.2 remote discreetly in the dash. Also gave me sub level control as well as the source selection, and was immeasurably better than the factory signal in every way. In my last VW, I was that impressed with simply amplifying the factory fronts using there own passive x/o and high passed at 90Hz in the Helix that I never bothered even considered putting the Focals back in. Combined with a 12" sub getting around 450W, it went plenty loud enough and sounded very sweet. This was only with the external source though.

Bump-tastic thread alert. Doh... Please ignore this bump. The wife has just seen it and moaned at e as apparently a new floor in the house is more important than suspension. 😪 Thanks.

Hi all, My OH has a 2016 Monte Carlo with a Bolero head unit. Works well enough but she doesn't really like the small plastic like touch screen. Are there any options to get a newer version with a glass like screen (similar to newer units, and the one in my VW) - or better still anybody producing after market units that are not horrid Chinese things. All it needs is Carplay and probably DAB. Navigation etc is all taken care of through Carplay. Thanks.

Sorry for the late reply. I was told it should be like the smaller shorter keys, and they sort of work but couldn't get all four corners unlocked at the same time. Ended up using some old longer thinner ones from a Ford I believe, which looked a bit like the other pic.

Hi all, thought I'd post this nice an simple walk through as there isn't a lot on the web and a few have asked questions on the Fabia mk3 stereo. The display part of the head unit come out with insertion and pushing outwards of the four release keys. As mentioned elsewhere, this is just a shallow depth screen and the main gubbins is in a single DIN package shown behind and to the left of the display. It is got at by removing the glovebox and removed by sliding in a tool and bending the plastic tray out towards the seats to release it out through the glovebox opening. There should be enough slack on the connectors to allow it to be manipulated as needed. Refit is a simple push back in both the main unit and the display. Hope this helps others, and I'll do a more in depth amp, sub and front speakers install instruction once funds allow for the amp.

Hi Damian, Unfortunately I made the decision last night and have gone with some Vogtland 30mm lowering springs, for a reasonable £124 shipped. Budget was always tight (ish) as it is for my other half that doesn't really push her car to the limit, just likes it to ride firm and not squidge everywhere - as it does now.

Hi Davy. Did you get the springs installed and have you any thoughts on them so far? I'm tempted down this route now, as the daughters Monte Carlo is lower and rides much better, so we have concluded the difference must be just the factory sport springs. Ideally we want something like the look of my ST, but appreciate that has 19s and the arch looks much smaller, but here's hoping..