So the dealer reckoned he couldn't duplicate the buzzing and rattling faults at the first service. But it does happen regularly for me and spoils an otherwise decent sound system. The equaliser is pretty much on the middle settings (although I reckon I should be able to wind the bass up to max if I like without the speakers buzzing). I think the noise is only from the driver's door speaker but that one is so bad it might also be masking other noises.

This is the same dealer who thought worn out front tyres at 17,500kms was normal. And who told me I would have to contact Skoda Australia myself if I wanted to find out about the availability of variable servicing.

Do I give the dealer another chance or go direct to Skoda Australia? Or is this just a known design fault for which there is only a non-dealer fix?

Hi!

When I had that issue I've tried to find a song or a piece of music where this buzz could be reproduced. Then I showed the tech the problem by switching sides through the equalizer, it was quite evident then. Later when the car was fixed we could check the fix quite easily. The problem with the Sound system is that it cant quite handle the power from the amplifier. Mine start to loose quality around 65-70% of max volume. The bass is way too much even on "all alike" so I've turned it down a little bit to permit higher volumes...

/Superbjoser

Hi!

When I had that issue I've tried to find a song or a piece of music where this buzz could be reproduced. Then I showed the tech the problem by switching sides through the equalizer, it was quite evident then. Later when the car was fixed we could check the fix quite easily. The problem with the Sound system is that it cant quite handle the power from the amplifier. Mine start to loose quality around 65-70% of max volume. The bass is way too much even on "all alike" so I've turned it down a little bit to permit higher volumes...

/Superbjoser

Thanks for that thought. It'll be Lou Reed, Walk on the Wild Side when it goes in for the next service.

Common fault. Mine has been like that for 2 years. Apparently Skoda have issued a "fix" for it but dealers I have spoken to don't seem (or want) to know. Must be a tricky job to remove the door cards compared to doing oil and filters all day long!

Thanks for that thought. It'll be Lou Reed, Walk on the Wild Side when it goes in for the next service.

Yeah, OK. Mine had problems with Fugees version of No women, no cry. And a bunch of songs from Robyn. But it's all right now. Good luck with yours!

/Superbjoser

Common fault. Mine has been like that for 2 years. Apparently Skoda have issued a "fix" for it but dealers I have spoken to don't seem (or want) to know. Must be a tricky job to remove the door cards compared to doing oil and filters all day long!

Well, my guess is that it's more money in the oil-filters business than it is to fix sound problems. One tech doing, lets say, 5 cars for oil or maybe 1 car for the sound problem? Not so hard for the workshop owner to prioritize between these tasks. I'm not saying that this is the way it should be, but I guess that's the world we live in.

/Superbjoser

I had a similar problem with vibration and distortion (Bolero unit) - NZ dealer solved very quickly after I "pointed" them at Skoda service bulletin 2021846/2. It didn't take long, and I don't believe was complicated - and has worked fine since (around 9 months).

Try "Walk the Line" with Joaquin Phoenix. It's just the worst. Even equalizers and volume at half.

Mentioned it to dealer and they were happy to look into it in middle February, even though the was not familiar with the problem and didn't know of any factory note of it.

I had a 2008 Octavia and experienced the very same problem in that car, also with Columbus and upgraded sound system. They first tried to fix it with no success, but eventually late 2010 I got it fixed with regard to a service bulletin. Maybe the same mentioned here for Superb.

I'm a little disappointed that the factory didn't learn from the problems with earlier Octavias, it shouldn't be a problem anymore with a Superb built April 2011.

Maybe its just every other car with the symptoms, and I just got unlucky.

Anyway, I will send them the service bulletin number mentioned above, it should get them in the right direction at first try.

Thanks for sharing Kiwi.