Good Afternoon All,

 

My Columbus system on my 2011 Superb Elegance Estate has suddenly developed some issues.

 

After being parked all day in the sun on Saturday, I had to move it as we were having some people round. The radio came on as normal but after a little while I has a message pop uo on the screen to say the Optical Parking System was de-activated. This was followed by a message to say that the Bluetooth system was not operating. When I turned the car off, the radio stayed on and didn't go off until I opened the drivers door.

 

Yesterday when we went out, there was no Skoda Logo screen when I started it up, the screen stayed blank and there was no sound and no Optical Parking system. The radio came on after a few more minutes and the radio page was displayed. It then tried to connect the phone but then said it couldn't. Again it would not turn off when I removed the key and only when I opened the door.

 

This morning, I left for my 50 mile commute to work, the Skoda screen came up, the Optical System was back and working. However before I had finished reversing off the drive it went off to be replaced by the Optical Parking System Inactive message again. During the drive to work, the navigation system kept freezing and disconnecting the small screen between the speedo and rev counter, this also coincided with the phone trying to connect and then show a message to say the Bluetooth couldn't connect, this was really annoying.

 

I called my dealer and they told me they can do a diagnostic scan for £89 where they can also reload or update any software that may or may not help.

 

I've seen some posts that this is a system that does go wrong so I'm wondering if I have a faulty system?

 

I would welcome any thoughts you might have,

 

Thank you.

This sounds more like a problem with the cars systems rather than the Columbus. Try disconnecting the battery terminals and connect them together, then leave for half an hour and reconnect them.

When I started it to come home, no welcome log screen. After a few minutes the radio came on with the radio station display.

 

No control of the volume from the steering wheel control. Sat Nav worked but no display between the speedo and rev counter and no voice giving directions either. Phone would not connect and telephone not available on the drop down menu.

 

Sat nav has been on auto since I've had it and was very erratic, not seeing the motorway etc but was changing route due to traffic. A couple of times the display between the speedo and rev counter would go into nav mode and the auto map would close in on the location but then it would disappear again with the Bluetooth message.

 

On getting home the system would not turn off even with the key removed.

 

It has been completely fine until Saturday. All the issues seem to be connected with the Columbus system.

Bluetooth isn't part of the Columbus, it's a separate module. If you're having trouble connecting to Bluetooth, I wouldn't particularly think the Columbus would be to blame. But try the disconnect first and see if that helps. After that, you can try the dealers, but they'll charge you the earth and don't really get too involved with the inner workings of the Columbus unit. They'll most likely end up trying to sell you a new system so be sitting down when they tell you how much.

Or if you're convinced it's the Columbus you can send it to me and I'll run a check on it and see what's going on.

Hello Rustynuts,

 

Thank you for responding. I seem to have lost the Skoda welcome screen, cant adjust the volume via the steering wheel and the sat nav is not working properly either, oh and the Optical Parking System has gone as well.

 

Periodically it tries to connect the phone and sometimes it does, which is what leads me to thinking the issue is with the Columbus unit.

 

I don't understand it, on Friday night it was working fine and then Saturday all this happens!

My Skoda dealer, Mitchell can't look at it until July 7th.

 

Just called a specialist near me called Unit 20 in Neston. They tell me they have a Skoda Trained Mastertech and the OEM Diagnostic equipment.

 

They are looking at it on Saturday morning!

Out of curiosity, what happens if you try to access your phone through the Maxidot screen?

If it's the Columbus system that is faulty then main dealers (and Unit 20) won't have the diagnostics equipment to check over the Columbus unit. They'll have diagnostic equipment to check over the car and all the related systems which communicate with the Columbus, but I very much doubt they're going to get involved with the inner workings of the Columbus.

 

Optical parking system, Bluetooth, Maxidot, steering wheel controls etc. all have little to do with the Columbus other than the cars CAN system will send the Columbus relevant signals and data to tell it what it needs to display. For all those sort of functions the Columbus simply shows the data it's told to show. If it doesn't get the correct data signals then it can't do the job. The loss of the Skoda boot screen might be an indicator that the system has a fault, but then again it might be that the car isn't telling the system to boot up when it needs to.

 

Went to Unit 20 today. Plugged into the diagnostics which showed multiple failures but all related to the telephone. The disgnoses going forward is that the telephone module has a fault and this takes out other signals from the canbus which disable the Optical Parking System and remove the telephone and entertainment options on the Maxdot system.

 

Skoda want £1,185 for a new telephone module, any ideas where I can source a good working replacement.

 

 

Did they give you a copy of the scan log showing all the errors and fault codes, because this would also tell you which Bluetooth module part number is installed. Then a quick trip to Ebay should get you the right one for much less than £200 and it takes approximately 2 minutes to fit.

 

Edit: Or failing that, look under the drivers seat and disconnect the Bluetooth module, take it out and look at it, then search for one the same.

Edited 24 June, 20179 yr by Rustynuts

No, I didn't get a copy of the report.

 

I did go into the workshop to see the diagnostic screen with the car plugged in and all the red boxes before the faults were cleared.

 

It's been intermittent since the diagnosis, sometimes it works perfectly and sometimes it doesn't.

 

I've had a look at it and it is a Novero unit. It just has a VW logo on it and what looks like the date of 07/11

5N0 035 730 D here...

 

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/263056019191

 

Edit, You'll get all the loom etc. but you just need to change the actual box at a guess.

Edited 26 June, 20179 yr by Rustynuts

Thank you Rustynuts.

 

Much better than over £1,000 from Skoda!

 

Is there not any service for repairing these modules in the UK? Seems like an opportunity - well if you're good with electronics!

I think Skoda are well overpriced. Not checked the list prices of Bluetooth kits but the repair cost would need to be significantly less than second hand parts to be viable I guess.

I called my dealer Mitchell Skoda this morning for a price - wait for it - £1,115 + VAT - A Parrot kit is only £150.

 

What is annoying is that it can't be unplugged as it causes the other faults to occur and I think this is a problem that Skoda should address. It's the same with thye DRL, I had a bulb go on the way to the airpost last week, so turned them off on the Maxdot system but they still show as a light failure with the annoying warning light on!

 

Still, I have called Skoda and made a complaint, not expecting much if anything to happen but I think it needs to be said. I bet these modules cost them next to nothing to buy from their suppliers!!

Does anyone know if the later Novero HT-5 3C8 035 730 D is able to be fitted in place of the one I have?

BBTW Skoda called me yesterday.

 

First thing they told me that they were the importers and cannot give any financial help or assistance, it is down to the Skoda Retailer to help with the repair costs........

 

I think the "Between the Lines" meaning is don't expect too much!

 

Still the new problem of oil consumption increased to 1 litre every 500-600 miles and smoke coming from the exhaust on occasions will take my mind off the Bluetooth!!