My columbus is the plain old vanilla version built wk 42 last year. I have not done any fw updates. Today, i lost all sound from it, in radio mode, media it wouldn't play anything on the disk, the bluetooth had no sound either.

When pressing any screen buttons there was no sound also. I reset the unit a couple of times, but still no sound.

took to a dealer nearby and he said it will have to be checked, and there is a testing procedure that takes 2hrs or so. On returning back to my car it was working again!

Anyone had this before?

Thanks

My unit has thrown a couple of wobblers since I got the car 3 months ago. It sometimes decides to not respond to the volume control and a few minutes later the volume goes crazy like a sort of delayed reaction. When was yours built last year? I think mine was built around mid Sept 2009 which was week 37 if I remember correctly. Has the Columbus been updated since then?

It was built wk 42 which was mid oct 09 delivered on 5th Nov.. I have not changed FW yet. Car is going into dealers on 4th Feb for front fog light change, and fix to front passenger side interior door trim. I'll mention it to them then and see what they say - if anything!

Thanks

Intersting,

are your foglights fogging up? mine for up slightly.

What is the problem with your door trim?

rattling from speakers perhaps?

My dealer does not seem to be up to date with Columbus upgrades,I think Skoda U.K. should keep the sales staff at dealerships up to date because they will know their customers, either that or they cannot be bothered with informing their customers.

My previous car (Octy L&K ) now the wifes car has a columbus unit factory fitted and it is on it's third unit. (second one was faulty as soon as it was fitted!!) third one has performed faultlessly mind you

my fogs are collecting water! more than just a bit of condensation!

The interior door pull feels loose and "flexes".

Not sure if the dealer will find a problem with the columbus, but I'm glad i didn't update fw as no doubt they would blame that and not honour the warranty!

I'm glad i didn't update fw as no doubt they would blame that and not honour the warranty!

I don't understand why you think that the warranty would be affected by updating the firmware. If you have an iPod, or other computer and did the same, no-one would turn a hair when it came to a warranty claim.

I'm running the latest firmware in my Superb, which I took into my dealer last Wednesday for fog lights and the DSG software check. It will have been immediately apparent that I was running the latest version, because the Columbus displays a digital clock on startup, instead of the blank screen, but nothing was said, nor do I believe it would have been.

If there's something quoted in the warranty specifically excluding this operation, then I've missed it.

Ray

Hi Ray,

Technically, the warranty does become void when you upgrade the firmware. It's the same way that the warranty becomes void if you modify the firmware in the ECU.

Skoda consider the upgrade to be an unauthorised modification, as the unit supplied with your car was never meant to run this firmware. If you plug my Columbus into the factory diagnostic unit, then the newest firmware that shows up is 1164. It's keyed on serial number and original part number. Currently, only 'C' revision Columbus units are eligible to run the 26xx firmware, and these didn't enter the production line until week 45 last year.

I've had the same problems recently with Nokia and Vodafone. We source our corporate handsets from Vodafone, and they have a custom Vodafone firmware on them (quite typical in the industry). Nokia then release a firmware update that fixes some problems. You'd think that we would be able to replace the Vodafone branded Nokia firmware with the latest generic Nokia firmware, but we can't. It is possible to force the update, but then neither Vodafone or Nokia will honour the warranty. Again, it's all about unauthorised modification, even though the firmware is an official build from the phone manufacturer. It's crazy, and crap, and a whole load of other adjectives...........

My dealer is also fully aware that I've upgraded my unit to 2664, and really doesn't seem to mind. However, if something went wrong with my Columbus then I suspect the dealer will have great difficulty getting a warranty replacement authorised by Skoda. They can tell from the diagnostic logs that the unit has been upgraded, and will almost certainly refuse the warranty claim.

If I ever do get a problem with my Columbus, then I'm going to downgrade it to the 1164 firmware before taking it to the dealer. This does assume that the unit still works well enough to actually do this.

Bagpuss.

Technically, the warranty does become void when you upgrade the firmware. It's the same way that the warranty becomes void if you modify the firmware in the ECU. Skoda consider the upgrade to be an unauthorised modification, as the unit supplied with your car was never meant to run this firmware.

I cannot believe, in this technological day and age, that something so easily reversible would affect a warranty claim. You say "Technically ... " and you're so reliable with your information, but have you seen it written anywhere, or is this a "view" held by someone at Skoda without corroboration? All I can find in the manual is "Damage within the meaning of the warranty must not be the result of improper handling of the system or from unprofessional repair attempts. It is also essential that there is no external damage."

Ray

Edited 30 January, 201016 yr by Argee

Plenty of columbus headunits have been turned into door stops by end users carrying out firmware upgrades. The columbus firmware is only intended to be a dealer update only, When they plug their VAS system onto the car, the VAS system will report and carryout any required firmware updates without the need for upgrade CD's. Initially the 266x and 268x firmware are unofficial leaks of test builds from the factory that had been modified to install onto headunits that dont officially support that version.

when i questioned my dealer on updated FW they said there is nothing official from skoda, and any 3rd party fw would invalidate the warranty.

I've been waiting for a while now to put the latest 26** on as I have on disc, but not to pleased about it doing a factory reset.

The columbus firmware is only intended to be a dealer update only.

when i questioned my dealer on updated FW they said there is nothing official from skoda, and any 3rd party fw would invalidate the warranty.

(My emboldening above) So, nothing in writing, then, as I thought.

Ray

(My emboldening above) So, nothing in writing, then, as I thought.

Ray

It would seem so, though I haven't looked

Fair enough. BTW, I'm not trying to be a smart-a**e here, or take a pop at anyone, or anything.

However, I'm sure many of us would have difficulty in accepting any rejection of a warranty claim on the basis of "Head office said so," or similar. At the very least, I'd want something in writing and - perhaps more importantly - something which I could have referred to beforehand if I'd have so wished. It's simply not good enough nowadays to try to impose conditions retrospectively, which is why I was hoping for some text to refer to, that's all.

Ray

Hi Ray,

Just been looking at my warranty paperwork, and there is an exclusion (one of many) which states:

Types of damage not covered by the warranty include, but are not limited to:

- Components or equipment which are not part of the vehicle at the point of original manufacture

I think Skoda might argue that the 2664 firmware is a component that was not part of the vehicle at point of original manufacture.

Still, the whole issue is moot unless you are actually going to try and get a broken Columbus unit replaced. It's also my thought that Skoda would have to prove that the newer firmware was the cause of the problem, in order to be able to deny the warranty claim.

One of the reasons I held off on doing the upgrade was down to my Columbus playing up. Now that's it's been replaced under warranty (which was a long and tortuous process), I've actually got a newer hardware build which does work fine with the 26xx firmware. So, it's win-win really for me.

Bagpuss.

I'm about to upgrade to a columbus unit, which will have V6 maps on it. I also have the option to have 2664 firmware installed.

Given that it will be an after-market fitting I'm not so worried about the warranty issues (as it won't be covered by a skoda one!), but would be interested to know if you'd recommend the firmware update, and what the benefits are over the B1100 firmware....

Manufacturers treat warranty issues is a little like the way insurance companies treat insurance claims. If there is any way they can get out of paying, they will!

I'm about to upgrade to a columbus unit, which will have V6 maps on it. I also have the option to have 2664 firmware installed.

Given that it will be an after-market fitting I'm not so worried about the warranty issues (as it won't be covered by a skoda one!), but would be interested to know if you'd recommend the firmware update, and what the benefits are over the B1100 firmware....

I would definitely recommend upgrading to the 2664 firmware. The main advantage is SDHC card support, allowing up to 32GB SD cards to be used.

Other advantages are speed limit indication, lane guidance, full voice control (if you have a microphone installed), better routing algorithms and a male voice (in addition to the standard female one).

Bagpuss.

Totally agree with Bagpuss I have just upgaded to 2680 and v6 maps, does all of the above and the display zooms in and out automatic dependant on speed (driving slow get max detail of streets driving fast low detail and can see route miles in advance), alsospeed limit indication is spot on (better than tom tom!).

Just be aware you will need vag com up date to restore audio/navigation in MDF and <> on steering wheel, also if you have sound system (10 speakers) then you will have no sound! takes about 40 mins to do firmware update and about the same for the map updates.

So where do I find the best set of instructions to upgrade the firmware in a December 2009 Elegance with the enhanced sound system ?

Are there people who will do this (and the Microphone mod) for money ? (Mid Herts)

(We do have VAG-COM if that is relevant!)

A.

Very easy you put the disk in and it updates (both of them), it takes everything off (hard drive/radio memory/mp3 etc) so you have to start from scratch, got VAG-COM sorted today by Shark Performance (VAG-COM) all runs sweet now.

If your car is Dec 2009 I'm sure the mike is the latest anyway so no need to change.

Hi all!

I'm new here, and i'm not so god in English, sorry.

I need some help with my "new" Columbus.

I have buy this Unit in e-bay, but it seems to me bad.

The Unit doesnt work together with the car, dont use the Can-BUS kommunikation.

We can't see the Unit with VAG-COM, the lights wont lightning on the Columbus.

The Radio and the DVD player is without Sound.

We have maded an fw. update with 2664 and a new Map, V6 east.

The installation was succesfull (it was on the Screen), but the Unit is still unvisible by Vag-COM and the Problem is the same, no changes.

Have anyone an Ideal to get the Unit well?