Just ordered a new Roomster for my wife in Corrida Red. She liked the black edition spec but not the colour. So I'm contemplating upgrading the stock Swing radio for either a RNS315 or a RNS510. I've read posts on the subject that talk about coding stuff after the install which is beyond me. So my question is if I simply swap head units and do nothing else what will or won't work. I'm planning on sourcing head units second hand.

Many thanks in advance for any advice.

It'll probably work OK without coding but will trigger lots of fault codes. However you'll not notice these in use, only when you scan the car (at service time).

You'll need a GPS antenna and the most obvious sign of it not working will be no integration with Maxidot.

For a couple of beers people in here with VCDS will code it for you in minutes and make any other personalisation changes you want as well. Is it worth NOT getting it coded?

Have a look at the VCDS owners map and PM someone near you and ask for help. If you are near Worcester / Hereford, I'll do it for you.

Okay well I have the car and have installed a RNS510..........but there is no sound. Gutted. I suppose its a code fix but don't know how to do that. I'm in Fife but can travel if anyone knows where I can get help please let me know.

Sounds more like an RNS510 fault mate. Usually it's a straight swap over and all works okay (bar little things which are non functional like steering wheel controls maybe).  I'd try the unit in someone elses car and make sure it's not functional, then contact the seller.

Seller suggests that my car may have active speakers and that the RNS510 needs to be coded for these. I'm in the dark

The speaker setup won't make much difference to the unit actually working. It will impact on sound quality and suchlike, but shouldn't make the unit silent.

If you can find someone local with VCDS then this is a list of possible codings to look at and adjust.

 

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/VW_Radio_Navigation_System_%28RNS510%29

I called my local Skoda dealer (not the supplying dealer) and they basically said they couldn't help and to try an auto electrician. I'll try and pm some nearby members on the VCDS map.

Have sent a PM to a member with VCDS not too far away.  Fingers crossed.

Hi Max, keep us posted about this cos I was thinking about doing the same radio swap with a Columbus.

Cheers

Hi Max, keep us posted about this cos I was thinking about doing the same radio swap with a Columbus.

Cheers

 

 

The install itself is easy:-

 

• Remove radio surround with plastic trim tool (or credit card if you don't have one).  It takes hardly any pressure to release;
• Next undo 4 screws securing factory fit swing;
• Pull out swing carefully - the cable to the block connector is not that long.
• Remove block connector first - locking lever is at bottom;
• Then remove twin antenna feeds which are in a single block connector - remove plastic security tab - it pulls up and out - then press exposed clip to release;
• Open top glove box;
• Remove 2 screws in roof of glovebox;
• Pull top glovebox forwards - it comes away easily from dash;
• Site GPS antenna on exposed roof of lower glovebox - I used double-sided number plate tape;
• Thread antenna feed through hole in lower right side panel and with a bit of effort and swearing get that through one of the holes in the top left of radio cavity;
• Connect feeds and block connector to RNS510;
• replace securing screws and radio trim;
• Switch on (crossing fingers at this point is optional);

 

Initial GPS fix is likely to show you in Czechoslovakia that GPS fix will change within the first 10 minutes of driving.

 

Test other functionality.  

 

Hope this helps.

 

  

If you can find someone local with VCDS then this is a list of possible codings to look at and adjust.

 

http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/VW_Radio_Navigation_System_%28RNS510%29

 

From what I can glean from the inter web and people who have encountered the same problem, their online posts suggest the problem lies in what exists at install in Byte 01 and Byte 02.  Posts suggest that these need to be set to:- Byte 01 00 - No sound system installed, and Byte 02 04 - Front and Rear Speaker Channels.

 

The company that sold me the head unit suggests that my car has active speakers - does that sound right folks?  How to tell?

Well, I've just been out to my car and played around with all the sound system / active speaker settings, and I can't make my RNS510 silent by any means of coding change.

I'm still going to have to pursue the coding option, if only to persuade seller that unit is faulty as it was supposedly bench tested before shipping.

Well, I've just been out to my car and played around with all the sound system / active speaker settings, and I can't make my RNS510 silent by any means of coding change.

Did you reset the Columbus between the coding changes or they don't take effect.

 

You need to do the 3 button press reset after each change.

Did you reset the Columbus between the coding changes or they don't take effect.

 

You need to do the 3 button press reset after each change.

Yes...

Odd, if you choose one of the Sound System options it normally results in no audio on a standard speaker setup

Odd, if you choose one of the Sound System options it normally results in no audio on a standard speaker setup

 

I've just said a little prayer to the Skoda gods, in the hope that this will fix my problem.  I just need to find someone (individual/company) who can make the necessary change.  

 

I feel bad because I persuaded my wife that I could fit the Columbus and that we could save a shed-load of money in terms of what it would have cost to have a dealer-fit. Also our car was a no-option pre-built car so any factory options were a no no.

I'm still going to have to pursue the coding option, if only to persuade seller that unit is faulty as it was supposedly bench tested before shipping.

Who did you buy the unit from?

Who did you buy the unit from?

It was purchased on Ebay from seller JRS-Tech.  It is a late model LED screen Columbus

Do the pictures of the pin outs on the label on the 2 units match up for the speaker wiring?

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

Do the pictures of the pin outs on the label on the 2 units match up for the speaker wiring?

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

Good point, I will have to remove the RNS510 to check but now you have planted that seed, I feel obliged to check.  I assumed they were the same.

Well, I've just been out and had another play. No settings for active speakers etc. make any difference to the sound function. I did find that changing the setting to DSP (Digital Sound Processor I presume) makes the unit silent.

On the subject of the seller, on the odd time I've messaged him about his advert he seems to be somewhat evasive. The pictures don't show the actual unit you're going to be buying, and usually show a high end DAB unit while the listing is for a much older none DAB unit. He didn't seem to think this was an issue.

 

On the subject of selling the units, I always ask the buyer what options their car has, and what protocols it uses etc. and I set the RNS unit precoded to suit their car. Essentially, this wouldn't happen if I sold you one.

 

So, get someone to code it first, then see where it goes. Stop down to North Yorks and I'll do it free if you want.

Thanks for the offer it's appreciated. I'm hoping to find someone nearer to central Scotland. If anyone knows of someone in this part of the country please let me know.

I've also asked the supplying dealer fof help, so that line of enquiry may yet be fruitful.

Meeting up with member Neil tomorrow to try some VCDS coding. Stay tuned to this station for further updates.....