Columbus, radio, sat nav and phone complete failure

[the chemist]

My centre consol has just packed up for no reason.

Story - was going up m way making phone calls etc, went in for a costa-lot coffee and came back out and moved off - system fires up with welcome screen lasts for about 15 secs then shuts down and black screen. Then after 15 secs re-boots, get welcome screen, then goes black, then repeats over and over all the time.

So no phone, no radio, no sat nav etc. Funny thing is the blue tooth connects and shows on dash matrix but does not allow use.

Looks like a software fault - anyone else had this problem??

Its off to the skoda man tomorrow, but i am currently about 400miles out of area so i have limited options.

Any info would be good

Thanks

B

[Richf]

Have you tried the force re-boot

[skippy41]

You can go to any dealer to rectify any problems

[dan123]

See my post here from October;

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/176045-my-columbus-has-died/page__p__2123635#entry2123635

you appear to have the exact same fault as I had, unit was replaced under warranty.

Dan

[mannyo]

Sounds like the HDD has failed, the symptoms are the same as the system will constantly reboot if there is an issue with the columbus hard drive. Only solution is a dealer visit and a replacement unit.

[the chemist]

Thanks for the link there - looks lioke exactly the same thing - realy an noying as it is my office also.

It also means that I did not get a radio update on the way home and got caught in bad traffic.

How ever thanks to Royce Roberts in Hull who looked at it the next day and told me its is kaput and gave me all the infor to pass to my dealer, who annoyingly will not now order the part to fit even thought the hull dealer has the diagnosticts - my local dealer wants to look at it first, then order the part - so another week without the phone and sat nav - really impacting on my working day now.

Anywas will update when fixed.

Thanks for the ideas guys

B

[Minotaur]

Thanks for the link there - looks lioke exactly the same thing - realy an noying as it is my office also.

It also means that I did not get a radio update on the way home and got caught in bad traffic.

How ever thanks to Royce Roberts in Hull who looked at it the next day and told me its is kaput and gave me all the infor to pass to my dealer, who annoyingly will not now order the part to fit even thought the hull dealer has the diagnosticts - my local dealer wants to look at it first, then order the part - so another week without the phone and sat nav - really impacting on my working day now.

Anywas will update when fixed.

Thanks for the ideas guys

B

[Minotaur]

Took delivery of my Superb estate 8/3/11. Unit started to malfunction 1/4/11 (radio still working but no CD or SD, no sat nav - message: "Please insert navigation DVD"!)

To Skoda garage 4/4/11. Verdict: new unit required. Being fitted under warranty 12/4/11.

[G.K.]

My unit failed to "wake up" as quick as usual just giving me the "system starting" message yesterday, switched it off, tried it again later and all was well.

This morning there was nothing except a gradually brightening white screen and then it would go blank again, constantly repeating this process. The unit even refused to switch off!!. I drove through to the dealer in Dundee and they examined the unit immediatly and pronounced that it had failed. a replacement has been put on order. At 5.30 I went to my car to return from work, started the car and lo and behold,,, it is working again!! This is not the first time it has thrown a wobbler but this time I managed to get to a dealer while it was still malfunctioning.

This is the second car that I have had with the Columbus, it is a great unit (design and function) but the reliability is seriously questionable. Whoever manufactures these units must be fed up with Skoda (and the rest of the VAG group)returning units under warranty.

I think that these units need to be provided with extended warranties, My wifes Octy has one fitted also (this is her third unit). First one failed, second one did not work at all!!, third one has been fine,,,,,,,,,,,,, But for how long?? because her car is now over 3 years old and out of warranty!!

[Guest]

My Columbus started playing up on Monday. Wife was looking at the time and the figures faded out and the screen was filled with vertical thin coloured lines. Did a reboot and worked for a few minutes, second reboot lasted 15 minutes same symptoms. Called dealer and car taken in for check this morning, as normal on trip to dealer Columbus worked o.k., no faults found. They thought it was possibly caused by my Tracker, strange as it has worked perfectly since November. As no fault showing not prepared to change under warranty in case it is not the Columbus. So just got to keep going untill it fails completely. Previously mentioned above slow start up, this has been happening right from new, my other MkII with Columbus only showed the welcome screen twice in two years and always seemed available in a few seconds. From reading this thread it appears that the latest Columbus has various faults although dealer says none are known, seems par to the course.

[G.K.]

My Columbus started playing up on Monday. Wife was looking at the time and the figures faded out and the screen was filled with vertical thin coloured lines. Did a reboot and worked for a few minutes, second reboot lasted 15 minutes same symptoms. Called dealer and car taken in for check this morning, as normal on trip to dealer Columbus worked o.k., no faults found. They thought it was possibly caused by my Tracker, strange as it has worked perfectly since November. As no fault showing not prepared to change under warranty in case it is not the Columbus. So just got to keep going untill it fails completely. Previously mentioned above slow start up, this has been happening right from new, my other MkII with Columbus only showed the welcome screen twice in two years and always seemed available in a few seconds. From reading this thread it appears that the latest Columbus has various faults although dealer says none are known, seems par to the course.

That is the sort of thing that usually happens to me, i.e. it starts to work again just as you set out to go to the dealers. This time it "went on strike" long enough to show the dealer, so when I go to get the replacement unit fitted they cannot argue.

[mcmug]

Or u can take a photo or video as.a proof when it happens?

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk

[Guest]

Or u can take a photo or video as.a proof when it happens?

Sent from my HTC Incredible S using Tapatalk

I have now put a camera in car ready for next time, I am also contacting Tracker again and asking them to activate the unit when I am in the vehicle to see results, if nothing happens I will contact dealer again.

If it fails on the road again I will take photos and try and get to a dealer with the symptom showing.

I fully understand the position for dealers if they replace a unit under warranty and when the unit is stripped down and tested ( which they are ) at the factory and found o.k.

[G.K.]

I fully understand the position for dealers if they replace a unit under warranty and when the unit is stripped down and tested ( which they are ) at the factory and found o.k.

At the rate they are giving trouble they will have to take on extra staff!!!

[G.K.]

Got a phone call from Specialist cars in Dundee this morning, New unit arrived within 2 days. I took them up on the offer to fit it immediatly . Top marks for Skoda and Specialist cars (Dundee)

P.S. they have four brand new Superbs on the forecourt, two hatches and two estates. Someone will beat the long wait!!

[the chemist]

Depressingly I have to report that despite the local skoda dealer looking at the car on Monday - 1/2 day sitting waiting for this to happen despite giving them the details that said it was broken from previous dealer, they reckon on a software fault. Easy job re-load software - despite me saying this has already been tried. So booked in for Friday, as i am away. Get back friday night to find NOT repaired.

Local dealer now says that they need to order a new unit and fit it - as they had already been told they needed by me and the other dealer. Guess what they want the car back next week for 1 day so they can fit the part. Bit bad really this as I need to take my car - which is a business tool off the road, not visit any clients, sites etc for a day loose more time transfering car to/from dealer, office etc. NOT impressed at all :no:

[G.K.]

If they need a day to fit a new unit then they must need a week to change someone's oil and filter!!. The longest part is reloading the mapping which is less than an hour I believe.

[the chemist]

Saga continues

Phoned up today to get it booked in for the change over - hopefully this week.

Get answer from girl on reception 'cant do it this week as the Master tech is on holiday' It took me all my time not to be rude to her. When i asked why this was just got a poor answer - repeated - 'we can do it the week after if you like'. Also she could not see that it was the garages fault that had got it wrong, despite being told what the fault was by another Skoda main dealer AND having had the car for a morning to run a diagnostic

The other excuse was there is a bank hol on Friday and Monday - yes and some of us are working full days on both of them and are on call Saturday and Sunday - hence why i need the car to organise people and resouces if we get a call out.

I was not going to name the garage but after the poor treatment I got today I am going to shame them - Sparshats of Fareham.

Worst of all she could not see what the problem was with bringing it in AGAIN after they had already had it twice last week.

Makes you wonder how skoda did so well in the recent survey??

Edited 18 April, 2011 by the chemist

[G.K.]

Does it need the master-tech to pop off a little bit of facia and take out 4 screws?

I have watched them replace one and it is a 5 minute job. It just takes a little while to upload the mapping, thats all.

[Guest]

Does it need the master-tech to pop off a little bit of facia and take out 4 screws?

I have watched them replace one and it is a 5 minute job. It just takes a little while to upload the mapping, thats all.

+1

[kgreenhough]

I was not going to name the garage but after the poor treatment I got today I am going to shame them - Sparshats of Fareham.

I tried to book my octavia into Sparshats for a service and when I called them they seemed to be completely disinterested in the work - like it was a lot of trouble for them to have to talk to me, so I went elsewhere.

I had the Octavia serviced a couple of times at Freeborn in Southampton (down by the football ground) - they are not Skoda dealers anymore, but they still have an authorised service centre so presumably could do warranty work. With the Octavia I found them to be helpful, interested, knowledgable and prepared to give me a good price.

I've also used Winchester Skoda for warranty work on my Superb - the heater fan packed up. I went there because it's closer to where I work. They were fine and sorted the problem although it took two visits as the "fix" on the first visit only lasted a couple of days. In fairness they replaced the unit without question after that though.

To cut a long story short, what I'm suggesting is trying another service centre as it sounds like you've been given the runaround...

[Guest]

My Columbus started playing up on Monday. Wife was looking at the time and the figures faded out and the screen was filled with vertical thin coloured lines. Did a reboot and worked for a few minutes, second reboot lasted 15 minutes same symptoms. Called dealer and car taken in for check this morning, as normal on trip to dealer Columbus worked o.k., no faults found. They thought it was possibly caused by my Tracker, strange as it has worked perfectly since November. As no fault showing not prepared to change under warranty in case it is not the Columbus. So just got to keep going untill it fails completely. Previously mentioned above slow start up, this has been happening right from new, my other MkII with Columbus only showed the welcome screen twice in two years and always seemed available in a few seconds. From reading this thread it appears that the latest Columbus has various faults although dealer says none are known, seems par to the course.

Today Columbus started after long delay, but Map of Germany appeared. Took photo for dealer, entered a destination and chose view position on map this was correct. Start route map changed to Germany again, enterd another destination again map of Germany. Switched off and on map of Germany, reboot map of Germany, long pause looking at screen and it changed to correct map, then would you believe it it went back to Germany sat reception checked and showed my normal reception. Turned off went and had a cup of coffee then switched on again worked perfectly, Tuesday phone call to dealer but as it is now working no faults will show again. When it played up first I emailed Skoda UK, after trip to dealer showed no faults, phone call next day from Skoda UK we have logged your fault any more problems get on to dealer AND phone me direct

[the chemist]

It is fixed, after a bit of a delay and another minor issue, the deed is done.

Updated software/maps as well which is good but still no full post code entry which is poor really from Skoda - every other sat nav for the past 5 years has it - why not skoda?

I was told it cost £900 to fix - glad it was on the warranty

[Bonerparte]

Well, same has just happened to me. Exactly the same symptoms as previously stated... Logo shows for 15 seconds, then goes of and system seems to try and reboot.

 

I'll call the dealers as I have a good relationship with them, but if as I suspect it's the HDD then I am going to have a good look and see if I can replace it.

 

If the unit is potentially knackered anyway then I guess it's worth a go...

 

Dan, Bedford

[simichoil]

Hi mates.....my unit has the same issue - continues restarting on the LOGO. I also think it is the HDD. Does anyone succeeded in changing the HDD ? Do i need something special or i can replace the hard drive with a regular one ? 

 

Thanks in advance for the support. 

 

p.s. The car is no longer under warranty - that is why i prefer to fix it by myself.

 

thanks.