Hi there, i have a Yeti fitted with  Bolero radio/CD player.

It has developed an intermittant audio problem. The volume either goes off completely or  reduces yo a whisper for a while and then comes back up. Can be ok for a few days then stafts again. Problem not there when using the CD. There is also an auxiliary Pure DAB connected and the problem is there when it is used. I believe that the Bolero manufacturer is Delphi, but i cannot find any contact details for them to enquire about repair sheets or advice. Any help appreciated.

Bolero P.No. 1Z0035156N
HE index 003
SW index 0013
AD version 20130219A
Boot loader version 2.00

 

Granddad Ken

Are you saying the problem only occurs with the Pure DAB?

Hi langers2k.

No, the problem is there with the fm radio and through the DAB when it is selected through the fm radio presets. I have had it looked at by my local car radio shop and they have bench tested it. Best they could come up with is a statement that the radio is faulty (very helppful). 

Sounds like a dodgy aerial or amplifier connection.

Edited 13 July, 20187 yr by Urrell

Hi Urrell, had the radio bench tested at local radio place. They say definitely  not an aerial problem and it is an internal problem. Why they couldn't fix it I do not know.. Personally, I've no idea where I'd  start looking inside the unit when/if I got it out of the dash.. I was hoping someone could advise where I could get hold of some technical repair sheets to get a heads up.

Essentially, the fault is likely to be on the pcb (given that's about the only component in there which could possibly fail in this way). Finding someone capable and willing to undertake pcb repairs for this sort of fault will be a hard ask, and even if you found someone willing to take it on then the resultant charge for diagnosis and repair would put it way beyond being financially feasible.

You'd be better off buying a second hand unit off Ebay or somewhere, provided that the fault is actually with the Bolero and not some other component in the car.

Hi Rustynuts, i agree w.r.t. possible costs incurred, thats why i was hoping someone out there could point me to some service/repair data sheets so I could have a go it fixing it myself (nothing ventured etc).

I can't even manage to find out how to contact the manufacturer, who I believe (from local Skoda franchise) is someone called. Delphi.

https://www.delphi.com/form/contact-us

 

There are no repair sheets I've come across for any VAG head units I'm afraid.

Best I can suggest is I have a Bolero in the Classifieds section here which has a screen fault but is otherwise fully functional. If you have the inclination you could take two and make one perhaps.

Cheers Rustynuts, I'll give it a bit of thought, but I think it'll be a step too far without the tech sheets.

You don't need tech sheets to remove a radio from the car, disassemble it, and replace a complete component. You'd need to be fairly skilled with a small screwdriver and a pair of pliers perhaps, but I doubt you'd need written instructions. At least, if you think you do, then I'd advise against going any further with this.

Got that Rustynuts, I meant once it was out. Thanks for the link, I'll try to get something from them.

I took my car back with a faulty radio, they found no fault. This the second time, I feel it is low battery

fault which turns off any unnecessary 12v usage. Urged them to test the battery but they say it is fine

my C-tek charger says otherwise.

I had a lot of problems with my last Yeti near the end of the lease. The radio reception just became awful in parts of the country.

I live near Leeds and often drive to the midlands, and there were sections of the A46 for example with no radio reception, whereas previously no issue.

 

Take car to garage, but no fault found, as very strong signal in Leeds.

 

I am sure the aerial was faulty,but unless you go to a Skoda garage in a poor signal area, the fault could not be determined

Thanks for the response Ken. I experience the problem all over the country and it is there when the radio has been bench tested with static aerial. If i cant get hold of any tech info from manf (no response from them to date) i think it will meed to be a replacement unit. 

Again, I'm not sure what you're expecting to gain from any tech literature. Inside the unit is the PCB, a cd changer unit, an LED touchscreen, and a PCB for the touchscreen and buttons. All linked together by various ribbon cables etc. (and possibly one or two other similar types of things).

Once you get past the point of working out which component is faulty, then you're stuck with either replacing the faulty component or looking for someone to repair the fault. So if you're competent at desoldering, flashing rom chips, resoldering, retracking failed PCB tracks, or suchlike then you might get somewhere with tech literature. If any of these stalls you then tech sheets will be no help at all.

Hi again Rustynuts, thanks for your reply again.

I do have some practical electronic knowledge (albeit from a very distant past burried in the mists of time when dragons roamed the earth).  I was hoping that Delphi would respond with advice regarding which pcb (or which chip or component embedded on it) is likely to be faulty and hopefully provide a replacement. But I don't really want to remove the unit and strip it down until I have some internal pictures/diagrams/data etc. to possibly identify the culprit.  Also I would like to know that I will be able to get the spares before I start.

Got to be worth a go if I can get the info. It must be out there somewhere.

Ken

ps - I lied about the dragons.

Had a similar problem on a domestic Roberts radio last year. Rang them (Roberts) up at their tech desk and spoke to an engineer. They were very helpful. Suggested which chip it was likely to be. Got a cct diagram and layout (from them if I remember correctly) identified the chip he suggested, part number in the parts list. Next step ebay for new chip. Fitted it and hey presto new radio. Like i said Roberts Radio extreemly helpful. But so far nothing from Delphi and i would expect the car radio to be more packed and fiddly. I live in hope

I'd suggest that as a consumer product, a Roberts radio would be supported by the manufacturer to the customer as the end user. However, Delphi manufacture the Bolero (and other head units) for VAG who are their customer, not you. I'm not sure you'll get much from Delphi with this, as there's little mileage in doing so for them. They'll have some contractual responsibility to their customer which prevents them from supplying spares or suchlike outside of their contract to VAG, and I suspect any reply will simply be "You should contact Skoda who are the suppliers of the product.".

As regards helping with an intermittent fault on a single unit in a car remote from them, they'll be unable to tell you what the problem would be anyway. Definite faults, perhaps they could assist, but again I'm not sure they would for the reasons above.

 

Anyway, I took the top off my Bolero and removed the cd changer carriage, and this is all that's left inside. There's two pcb's sitting piggyback, and some connections to the screen unit. Getting to this stage took 5 minutes (including getting the Torx drivers and unit from the workshop) and involved removing 5 screws. Disassembly isn't hard, and further work to remove the actual pcb would be another 10 minutes at the most I reckon. After that, you'd need to work out what the fault is and how to repair.

 

Or just drop in a complete pcb, or replace the unit completely.

Edited 17 July, 20187 yr by Rustynuts
Added image.

Thanks again Rustynuts, butif the Delphi route pans out as you suggest it will (you'll more than likely be right) I'll notbe able to source a pcb.

Think new unit will be the end result as you also suggested. Anyway, thanks for all the feedback.