Hi, I'd like some advice on repairing of the above. My 2010 Superb TDI elegance with 76k on the clocks has started to play up, the instrument cluster started flickering but works fine, but now the LED's have failed on the speedo & rev counter back lights, & the speedometer needle, everything else works.

 

The Columbus head unit radio sat nav etc has also started to fail by turning off and booting back up repeatedly. I took the car to the skoda dealer who plugged it into the computer, they removed the instrument cluster and then admitted it had failed, cost of new £1200. They then uploaded new software onto the columbus unit which they said failed, so they tried again and it was successful. But it failed again after a week. I called the dealer again who said all they could do is re-install the software and it would probably fail so they said I would need to replace it at a cost of £1700.

 

These quotes are far too much and I can't afford to pay that. I have called a few companies who can repair the cluster for around £150 with a lifetime warranty was the one i found best, has anyone had this done and who by?

 

As for the head unit I think I need a new one or replacement motherboard, does anyone know anyone who does this and how much, the only quote I have was £375. Ebay seem to have some on for £400 with all the new maps and software but I'm doubtful of these.

 

Any help or advice would be appreciated thanks

If the Columbus fails your best value solution is to go for an Android car radio, which you'll get for less than the quoted repair cost. The Columbus is a pretty old design at this stage, so it's fine while it's running, but it's not worth throwing that kind of money at for a repair that's not certain to work as you can do a lot better for a lot less money at this stage.

 

Something like this looks good (First thing to pop up when I searched for 'Android car radio Skoda Superb'), though getting it from a UK supplier would make any warranty issues a lot easier if they arise: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quad-Core-Android-4-4-4-OS-8-Car-DVD-Player-GPS-OBD2-Stereo-O-for-VW-Skoda-Seat-/181857352845?fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda%7CModel%3ASuperb&hash=item2a578afc8d:g:XZ4AAOSwqv9V6ULh

 

As for the cluster - getting it repaired professionally with a warranty sounds good. Usually it's just bad solder joints, so the repair isn't too difficult with the right equipment.

There is a Columbus for sale in the for sale section here. I think it was £450?

Get the cluster done first as that's the most important thing.

I think some people on here have Columbus spares.

As you've found out a main board replacement is nearly as much as a replacement unit. Not worth the replacement really. The main boards are the only part which when fails will render the unit as scrap, simply because of the replacement costs.

When you say the replacement board at £375-400 is the price of a replacement unit do you mean a new alternative unit or a second hand used columbus? Are there any of units to replace it, £1700 is ridiculous for a cd radio with built in nav. My worry is that I buy a used one and then that is ready to fail too because it seems quite a popular fault.

 

The dealer reloaded new software which wiped the maps off and they wouldnt replace them. They said I should have a disc but the original buyer said you don't get one with my year. They checked the computer and he was correct but the dealer still wouldn't replace the maps after they lost them.

If the Columbus fails your best value solution is to go for an Android car radio, which you'll get for less than the quoted repair cost. The Columbus is a pretty old design at this stage, so it's fine while it's running, but it's not worth throwing that kind of money at for a repair that's not certain to work as you can do a lot better for a lot less money at this stage.

 

Something like this looks good (First thing to pop up when I searched for 'Android car radio Skoda Superb'), though getting it from a UK supplier would make any warranty issues a lot easier if they arise: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quad-Core-Android-4-4-4-OS-8-Car-DVD-Player-GPS-OBD2-Stereo-O-for-VW-Skoda-Seat-/181857352845?fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda%7CModel%3ASuperb&hash=item2a578afc8d:g:XZ4AAOSwqv9V6ULh

 

As for the cluster - getting it repaired professionally with a warranty sounds good. Usually it's just bad solder joints, so the repair isn't too difficult with the right equipment.

 

Sorry I missed this reply, thanks I will check it out. Just need to make sure it has the features to display the parking sensors and hands free bluetooth

When you say the replacement board at £375-400 is the price of a replacement unit do you mean a new alternative unit or a second hand used columbus? Are there any of units to replace it, £1700 is ridiculous for a cd radio with built in nav. My worry is that I buy a used one and then that is ready to fail too because it seems quite a popular fault.

 

The dealer reloaded new software which wiped the maps off and they wouldnt replace them. They said I should have a disc but the original buyer said you don't get one with my year. They checked the computer and he was correct but the dealer still wouldn't replace the maps after they lost them.

Your dealer sounds like an arse, and an incompetent one at that. £400 will get you a replacement second hand unit. They don't often fail really, just that when they do it's generally the main board and it's terminal. Any other faults can be repaired.

 

Check your messages mate.

If the Columbus fails your best value solution is to go for an Android car radio, which you'll get for less than the quoted repair cost. The Columbus is a pretty old design at this stage, so it's fine while it's running, but it's not worth throwing that kind of money at for a repair that's not certain to work as you can do a lot better for a lot less money at this stage.

 

Something like this looks good (First thing to pop up when I searched for 'Android car radio Skoda Superb'), though getting it from a UK supplier would make any warranty issues a lot easier if they arise: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Quad-Core-Android-4-4-4-OS-8-Car-DVD-Player-GPS-OBD2-Stereo-O-for-VW-Skoda-Seat-/181857352845?fits=Car+Make%3ASkoda%7CModel%3ASuperb&hash=item2a578afc8d:g:XZ4AAOSwqv9V6ULh

 

As for the cluster - getting it repaired professionally with a warranty sounds good. Usually it's just bad solder joints, so the repair isn't too difficult with the right equipment.

 

Hi Physolist,

 

thanks for the link to that android head unit. I have the columbus unit in my car at the moment and i've seen it do some strange things also around powering down? If the time comes that it does give up, i'd rather a different unit completely, like the anroid one. the columbus unit is pretty poor, the useless SD card (2BG) and the terrible HDD.....