Is there any test you can do to confirm that a GPS antenna has failed? My Columbus is registering no satellite reception (A more common thing seems to be where it gets 0/X satellites and X>0, but I get 0/0) and the car thinks it's heading for Prague when I look at the map... Replacement GPS antennas are cheap on ebay (Less than €10 for the non-sharkfin version), but I'd like to be sure I'm replacing the right part before I go ordering. I've had a look at the connection at the back of the radio and at the sharkfin, it all looks perfect. Haven't continuity tested the wire between them though, no multimeter handy.

 

The Columbus unit is a 3TO 035 680 A with HW: H42 and SW: 2724 in case there's something particular I should watch for with this model and firmware. Is it worth upgrading the firmware from 2724? Are there any new features available? Maps are a couple of years out of date too, but the most up to date version the dealership had.

 

Also when looking under the roof lining to physically check the connection there I spotted rolled up material hidden above the rear doors. Are these rear curtain airbags? I didn't know I had them...

https://goo.gl/photos/QbBj9yQ4NJbwVHvB9

you need to find if the columbus was factory or retro fitted, the under dash gps aerials work fine,I've used one for years however I'm just about to swap to a factory roof mounted combined gps & phone aerial / ref the firmware & maps v12 is the current version with v13 due to be released any time now, the firmware id always say update to the latest poss 

It's an OEM fitting. I mostly want to get the GPS to work again as I'll need it for a trip across the UK next month. It lost all satellites for a day or 2 a couple of times before now, but has got nothing for 2 weeks at this stage. I'd just like to be sure the GPS antenna is at fault before spending money on replacing it.

 

If I could get the innards for the sharkfin and replace those that would be very nice, but the only options I've seen are complete assemblies, which  would need to be painted to match the car and cost nearly 10 times as much as the dashboard antenna.

 

Firmware and maps are acceptable for the moment, though the v9 disk I have (Which the garage I bought the car from assured me was the most up to date, and officially I think it was last year when I bought the car) is missing the odd feature, such chunks of the M7 motorway across Ireland - but it's pretty hard to get lost on that route.

 

Is the firmware update process straightforward? The map update was just a matter of sticking the DVD in and leaving it.

Edited 17 June, 201510 yr by psycholist

Have you checked the connection into the back of the unit and not just the roof area?

 

If you have curtain air bags it will be marked there some where as so.

The connectors look to be mechanically perfect at both ends and there's no sign water or anything else has got in there either. I'll do a continuity test on the wire at the weekend when I have a multimeter handy, but this failure seems unlikely too as the wire is pretty heavy tough looking and doesn't pass through any moving parts between the roof and the radio.

 

This should do the job - I asked them whether it'll get reception using the magnetic base to attach it under the headlining in the roof but no reply yet unfortunately, with the panoramic roof on my car I expect it'll do better than models with an all steel roof though:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SAT-NAV-GPS-ANTENNA-FAKRA-MFD2-RNS2-AUDI-RNSE-MFD-2-VW-RNS-315-RNS510-RNS-510-/111687204311

 

As for the curtain airbags, I thought they were an optional extra in the rear, even on an elegance, so I was surprised to see them.

Mine came with curtain air bags though I paid extra for the rear side airbags.

That would explain it - I thought the rear side airbags and the curtain airbags were the same thing.

Hi,

 

Hope it is okay to drag up an old thread.

 

My antenna has just gone, and need to replace it. Tried reset, and removed unit and cleaned connection without any success. 

 

My Columbus is factory fit. Am I best off just replacing antenna behind the dash, or to replace at arial base?

 

Should the below do the job??

 

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/GPS-antenna-3M-cable-Fakra-C-blue-connector-for-for-MFD2-RNS2-RNS-E-VW-AUDI-NEW/332777479478?hash=item4d7b155d36:g:zlMAAOSwf8Fbl4M1:rk:10:pf:0

 

Many thanks.

I used a similar one when my OEM antenna failed - works fine.

 

Drefaldwyn

Thanks.

Yes, I used something similar when my Columbus lost it's satellites (water ingress in the shark fin) and has worked fine since

The OE sharkfin aerial is pretty easy to fit if you want to keep everything original. The downside is that it costs about €80.

Hi,

 

Just to update, got an antenna on amazon for less than a tenner, installed this morning in a few minutes. All working just fine.

 

For once a cheap and easy fix.

 

Thanks to all for the advice. Briskoda is a great resource, which once again has saved me time and money .

 

Thanks.