Decided to take a chance as recovering what I paid should not be an issue. It is stuck in a reboot loop, logo then shutdown restart. Its model: 3t0 035 680 HW H11 SW 1104. Can anyone advise if I should attempt firmware upgrades or send it in for repair?

Cheers

It might be a failed HD, try another one? You can try a hard reset <> and speech button? Long shot I know. Otherwise firmware disc, I would get a factory version than one of the many custom firmwares out there. Check internal connections are correct?

Cheers m0bov, tried a reset but I am not that lucky Will skoda sell me a firmware DVD or must I pay them to carry it out? I have seen lots of firmware on a site when I was researching the columbus but they look like they may be risky as I am not sure what version I would need.That said its already broken so...

There are lots floating around, there is a golfgti website with lots of info. Try to get version 2xxx. Sounds like someone has bricked it.

Thanks will look around

Ok update done and working but now saying insert navigation cd. Guess this is the money now lol?

You can download the maps from the same website you got the firmware from. Burn at the slowest speed you can

Sent from my Galaxy S5

Thanks the software version I used shows as 3814 should I go to newer firmware or stay there. My audio menu on Maxidot says VolksWagon navigation so think I may have used the wrong one

I have a software recovery disc that I burnt from the mygti website.  This enabled me to restore what I thought was a bricked unit into a unit I could then add firmware to.  I am no expert and this maybe a long shot but for free, is certainly worth a go?

It's working to a point to now thanks anyway. I got some software off one of the sites mentioned. I now have the canbus drain issue to deal with. I initially had no sound as my car only has front speakers but resolved this in vcds. I also have to work out maxidot display, I used an update mentioned on here which gave me audio and navigation menus but it says vw navigation. I'm reading lots so as not to annoy people more than necessary. I am guessing I need to find the latest firmware I can use, latest maps and a canbus upgrade. Should keep me busy for a while!

A firmware won't make it worse. Go for a modified 3180 or 4020 for older units and you won't need a CAN upgrade.

PM Rustynuts (on here), he knows quite a lot about failed units.

Or send it to HazyDayz (company in Cardiff) for a repair.

Not sure I need a repair as such, the radio and sd card are working fine (funnily enough from a 32gb sd card though I read there was a 2gb limit) I think all I need is maps which I am trying to find now. Will look for a version that avoids canbus drain. Thanks for help folks

A firmware won't make it worse. Go for a modified 3180 or 4020 for older units and you won't need a CAN upgrade.

PM Rustynuts (on here), he knows quite a lot about failed units.

Or send it to HazyDayz (company in Cardiff) for a repair.

OK just installed the 4024 (that was all I could find) that was supposed to fix canbus drain but when I turn ignition off I can still hear what sounds like a fan. Should i expect a flat battery tomorrow?

The fan will continue to run for a while until the unit has cooled down. Nothing unusual there.

 

If it is still going 30 minutes later, then there is a problem.

Thanks @KBPhoto, I found a map but typically it needs a dual layer disk and I don't have any, maplins want £20 for 10 so ebay it is...I don't mind paying but that is daylight robbery

Thanks @KBPhoto, I found a map but typically it needs a dual layer disk and I don't have any, maplins want £20 for 10 so ebay it is...I don't mind paying but that is daylight robbery

Check out maps tool - http://christian-jeanin.ro/blog/software/maps-tool-en/

 

It should allow you to either fit the maps on a single layer DVD or put them on SD card with a single layer DVD to start the process. I've done the latter without any issue.

Cheers will give it a go

Have tried a couple of different firmwares now and it seems the fan wont go off so expecting a flat battery in the morning. Not sure its worth the hassle in my car as likely needs a lot of upgrades to get it to the spec I want (bluetooth, rear screens mic) and of course more money. Think I'll just get myself an all in one Android unit

If the price was good then stick with it. Bluetooth isn't expensive to add.

 

Have you installed the modified battery drain fixed firmware?

 

The fan doesn't switch straight off. When you turn the ignition off the unit actually stays booted up and on for a while then shuts down after about 30 mins.

 

It starts up again as soon as you open the drivers door.

 

Phil

As Phil said, it's normal for the fan/hdd to stay spinning for some amount of time after you take the key out, mine certainly does.

 

It's because although the unit is 'off', it hasn't actually turned off completely so if you were to try and turn it on or put the car in the ignition it would be ready for use immediately rather than taking a minute or so to turn on. Give it a chance over night and see if it's the battery is still happy, assuming you've installed the fix firmware I'd be very surprised if it wasn't, otherwise a new gateway is trivial to fit and only cost £20 or so.

 

Having seen one android HU in action, I wasn't convinced with the integration with the rest of the car so stuck with a OEM solution.

Hi Phil, I am struggling to understand what I need to do to be honest. I think I opened the door a few times so maybe that did reset it.I downloaded firmware from rnsfirmware and they all seem to work but some have a clock some don't, some have an audio menu that shows on maxidot some don't. I fear I am skating pretty close to the edge here and am likely going to break it! If anyone could point me at a guide I would be very grateful, I am going to have to remove it tonight as I have a job tomorrow and have to drop my boy off at preschool first so could do without a flat battery.

 

 

Having seen one android HU in action, I wasn't convinced with the integration with the rest of the car so stuck with a OEM solution.

I really wanted it as I know a lot of the guys on here who's opinions I value speak highly off them and the lack of in maxidot directions on all other head units bothered me as i think its an awesome feature. I just don't want to damage it as although cheap it certainly wasn't free.

Car started this morning thankfully. I'm still going to go for an android unit though I think, I like the camera input for dash cam, reversing camera built in Bluetooth and screen mirroring for my m8 getting this unit to the spec I want is going to cost a fair bit of money that I am reluctant to spend on such an old car. Not to mention all the sourcing , coding and fitting. Lovely bit of kit just not for me.

If the car is old it probably will need a new CAN gateway to avoid battery drain issues - I haven't yet seen a non-OEM unit yet that looks anything but 'cheap', but good luck if that's the way you decide to go

As it stands the Columbus is probably worth a quarter of the price of the car seems a bit silly really . Have no other cables for it so would need all them for reversing camera, Aux in, Bluetooth and then any modules I may need which I can't even find part numbers for. It seems to get quite complicated with a pre fl and retrofit maxidot.