Hi all, I have a strange one (I think!)

 

I have a '13 plate Superb with a factory fit Columbus Sat Nav. Over the last few weeks, the Sat Nav has started to play up. First the problem was very intermittent, then a little more frequent, until now it happens ever time…

 

My previous journey will have ended with me playing music from the SD card. At journey end I just turn the key and remove. Columbus goes off. Next time I get in the car, key in , engine start and the Sat Nav does the following:

 

1. Music starts playing from where it left off.

2. I don’t get the Skoda “welcome” splash screen. Instead I get a grey box stating “System Starting”

3. (two minutes or so goes by)

4. Music stops – screen still has a grey box stating “System Starting”

5. (a minute or so goes by)

6. Music starts where it left off - screen still has a grey box stating “System Starting”

7. (a minute or so goes by)

8. Music stops, screen goes blank, unit does not respond to any input / button presses etc.

9. Press the Sat Nav power off

10. (give it a few momnets)

11. Power on, normal start with splash screen, and all is well until the unit is powered off by me turning the key at the end of the journey.

 

I’ve done a full soft system reset, didn’t help.

Thought or ideas?

Sounds like a software issue. Whereabouts are you, if you're near me at North Yorks I'll run a diagnostics for you.

I'm just outside Preston, Lancs so not that close.

 

Not that I'm doubting you for a second, but why would a unit that's worked for 30 months suddenly develop a bug when no updates have been applied? Even Microsoft code needs an update to break

Have you tried powering it up with the SD card removed? My first instinct here is that there could be file system corruption on the SD card.

I'm just outside Preston, Lancs so not that close.

 

Not that I'm doubting you for a second, but why would a unit that's worked for 30 months suddenly develop a bug when no updates have been applied? Even Microsoft code needs an update to break

 

Things break, that's just what happens sometimes. However, try the sd card removed method as pointed out.

Yes, I've tried without the SD card. Only difference is the music stops much faster. I guess the unit caches some of the track?

Then I would suggest you need a software reinstall. Is the unit or the car still under Skoda warranty?

If not, then you'll need to pull the unit out of the car and read off the data label on the top what the software version is, and you might possibly need to reinstall the maps.

Not that I'm doubting you for a second, but why would a unit that's worked for 30 months suddenly develop a bug when no updates have been applied? Even Microsoft code needs an update to break

 

Don't forget there's a HDD or SSD in there so it's not that unreasonable to get some corruption on the drive as the unit has been accessing the system software. Mine must have become corrupted last year as we got to our holiday destination as it defaulted to German language with no audio at all. Once we got back home after the holiday I re-installed the firmware and all has been good since.

 

Only the same as your computer crashing and then finding errors / issues with the hard drive once it's restarted etc....

Edited 9 May, 201610 yr by WaveyDavey

I've similar issues with mine...it still works, BUT I'm as nervous as a giraffe on roller blades about my Columbus. I'm just waiting for the day it won't work at all then I'll have to splash out the cash for a new one. IF it does go kaput, I think i'll install a new android unit or something from kenwood for example. they've got some really cool head units. Good luck with it, sounds like a software upgrade alright as the guys have said. PS: anything Columbus related, Rustynutes is the guru and usually right.

Thanks all for the responses. I've no idea if it still under warranty, as the car is leased. It's due to go back in October, so may just live with it till then. No point spending cash on something that I'm going to hand back soon.

Warranty would be the years so should be covered.