Hi, this is my first post. About a week ago I bought a fabia estate tsi 105 model 2010 year. Have been happy with the car, but a fault occured with the Columbus radio. It was working fine until a couple of days ago when it asked me to enter the security code. Now everytime I switch it on, it asks for the code, rendering it useless. I took it to Skoda and they extracted the code but told me that although the code was correct, the unit didn't accept it and now I have just one more try. The guy at skoda mention he did have a similar problem in a Superb with the Columbus unit which was replaced under guarantee, but since I bought the car used, I'm not sure if the radio was bought new with the car. Any ideas on what could be the problem with the radio?

If the radio didnt come from the factory fitted in your car, then the code could have been changed.

Your dealer should be able to check if it was a factory fit. If not then you may have problems getting the code easily.

If the radio didnt come from the factory fitted in your car, then the code could have been changed.

Your dealer should be able to check if it was a factory fit. If not then you may have problems getting the code easily.

ok thanks, if the code was changed who would have changed it and why? Maybe theres a sticker with the new code on the radio, I dont think the dealer removed the radio just connected it to diagnostics. Is there anyone that can change the code again?

Does this mean the radio is useless? Sorry for all these bullet questions but not had the car long and looked at prices for these radios and even used ones cost a fortune :(

First step is check with the dealer if Skoda supplied it fitted to the car from the factory.

If not, then using the serial number they can track the radio and try the code it should be.

First step is check with the dealer if Skoda supplied it fitted to the car from the factory.

If not, then using the serial number they can track the radio and try the code it should be.

skoda told me it had been recoded and there was nothing they could do as far as guaratee was concerned since the radio wasn't fitted as standard when the car left production and I didn't have a receipt for the purchase of the radio even though technically it was under guaratee due to a Jan 2011 production date. They even told me they didnt realise the fabia could take the columbus board or something to that effect. I did manage to find a guy who set a new code and its working fine. Stuck a paper copy of the new code in with the registration documents! Cost best part of a hundred quid for a 2 hour job, but it was either that or have a usual columbus unit sitting in my fabia. Big business apparently doing these new radios, the guy has a month long backlog.