I have decided to take pot luck and replace my Stream audio unit with a Chinese Android head unit mainly for the satnav function.

 

I have read on here that I will need to upgrade my Can bus controller to a later revision number to avoid the battery discharging because the new head unit will otherwise remain active.

 

My controller is 1K0 907 530 F and according to RossTech I need to upgrade to revision L or higher or have my unit reflashed to software version 0178, it also says to avoid revison L units as some may be problematic.

 

Most of the ones on Ebay are lower revisions, there are a couple of revision L or higher but they are a lot more money with big delivery charges, there are however a few revision P ones available for a reasonable price, what exactly is the problem with using one of these?

 

Is there anything else I need to know coding wise? I have a genuine VCDS hex can setup.

 

Also if anyone has done a similar upgrade can they confirm that teh display will show the parking sensors, the aircon info etc like the current unit and will it function with the existing CD auto-changer in the rear compartment?

No idea if the Chinese headunit needs an updated CAN-bus gateway, I know some stock headunits do.

 

I'd probably follow the advise here which suggests that a 1K0907530P isn't compatible.

 

Couple of cheap L rev:

- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303130385401

- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/303130573289

 

Assuming it's correctly coded, it should make no difference to how the car works. Guide here: https://www.my-gti.com/2296/can-bus-gateway-removing-installing-and-upgrading-volkswagen-golf

Thanks again to my guardian angel Langers

 

I will keep you informed, as its coming by UPS I should have it quickly.

 

Anyone know whether replacement units will work with the existing CD multi-changer, heating controls, parking sensors etc?

Head unit in, will see what the battery voltage is tomorrow. It seems to be turning itself on and off with the ignition but I know that does not mean that its not using power, the fact that it goes through a boot up routine with the pidgin English greeting "Easy rising amusement in your journey"   gives me some hope that it had been in sleep mode.

https://forum.xda-developers.com/android-auto/android-head-units/joying-android-8-1-intel-airmont-eight-t3897206/page29

 

The link above to xda developers contains a link for a workaround for VW/Skoda cars (Post 286) which might help. The whole thread contains some interesting advice for these Chinese head units.

 

The author apparently got some help from a thread by Fubar of this very forum

 

I've ordered a Joying head unit which has apparently just arrived in the UK. Looking forward to getting it and giving it a go. 

Thats brilliant, hope that it will work for mine that has an integrated canbus and not an external convertor.

 

seemingly it takes 2-3 days to discharge the battery so maybe I do have the problem, will keep checking the voltage each day.

Ashfan.

 

That would have worked if my unit had an external canbus decoder unit that then managed the switched &nd permanent 12V feeds to the head unit multi-connector but unfortunately mine is integrated.

 

I have tried temporarily cutting the switched 12v feed but it makes no difference, my unit is coded via the dipswitches for canbus operation and its waiting for the command that wont come, its not monitoring the now removed switched 12v ignition feed. Were I to change the dipswitches for non canbus operation then I could connect a 12v switched feed and it would shut down properly but then I would lose the door open alerts etc, sadly none of the other canbus commands like the Climatronic settings or the parking sensors are getting through to the head unit.

 

Its discharging the battery overnight, not enough to prevent starting and if I was not watching the battery voltage I would not even know that it was low but the Skoda electronics sure do, VCDS is reporting multiple fault codes, non communicating modules etc when the voltage drops further on start up.

 

Looks like I will have to buy a later revision controller.

That's a shame Jr. I don't understand all this canbus stuff so I'm hoping that mine just works. The one I've ordered is designed for VW/Skoda so fingers crossed

I have just connected a reversing camera to mine and in doing so have now got the parking sensors showing up on the display, they come up on the reversing camera screen but dont if its not enabled viw the dipswitches.

 

Overall very pleased with it, its got me the only thing that my vehicle was lacking compared to something 10 years newer, a built in satnav with a big screen that I can see, voice prompts from the Satnav that I can hear as the radio mutes, bluetooth mobile phone connection plus a lot more gadgets that dont really appeal to me.

 

The reversing camera (cost another £15 for the correct Octavia one built in to the number plate light) I find very usefull in conjunction with the parking sensors. Next up will be a dashcam which I think will be able to record onto the unit itself or onto one of the memory cards on the front.

 

Was concerned that it would not operate the CD multi-changer until I realised that it has a built in virtual CD player where you copy up to 10 CD's to the memory card (shame its not a lot more as there is plenty of space) and you can also use a memory stick or music stored on your phone but thats all beyond me, what it did mean was that I could remove the CD multi-changer from the boot (difficult) which has given me a second large storage pocket.

 

Looks like I will need to change the canbus gateway though, battery going below 12v although still plenty of grunt to start, dont want to get caught out or to kill my new battery.

Having replaced the controller with a revison L one and recoded it I'm not 100% convinced that it is actually turning off the background consumption of the unit, the problem I have is that the car is used every day at the moment.

 

I have a USB charging socket with an LED voltage display and on/off switch, driving the car is charging at 13.9-14.2 volts when switched off albeit with the initial parasitic consumption the voltage quickly falls to 12.4 - 12.6 volts, looking later in the evening its maybe at 12.2 volts, of course opening the door to turn the display on will drop the voltage, I leave it switched off in case the USB part takes current.

 

This morning like most mornings its down to 12.1 volts, other times it has been 11.9 volts.

 

The displayed voltage corresponds with a multimeter reading taken from the cigarette lighter socket that it takes its power from and a mesurement directly from the battery, it also corresponds with VCDS terminal 30 readings although the voltage shown at the rear parking sensors is shown as 0.5v higher.

 

Its a new battery and the weather is warm, just checked the 2 spare batteries in my outhouse that have been off charge for several weeks and they have about 0.5v more than the one on the vehicle.

 

I will pull the radio fuse later after driving the car to recharge the battery and test again but what should the voltage be after say 18 hours of standby consumption?

 

If I dont sort this now and have confidence it could bite me in the bum in the future when I have to leave the car somewhere for a few days like an airport or train station.

What Sat Nav / headunit did you buy in the end?

Edited 12 June, 20196 yr by 26DIPP

This one, I made an offer of €158.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DVD-GPS-Dab-Autoradio-For-touran-golf-5-6-passat-tiguan-Tiguan-jetta-Seat-Skoda/123042483679?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

 

Had not realised that it was a Windows and not Android operating system, not that it seems to be lacking anything.

Followed swiftly by this!

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/C7-AUDI-A3-8P-MK2-2003-2008-GATEWAY-CONTROL-MODULE-UNIT-ECU-TEMIC-1K0907530L/333100666650?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649