Since the last 3 days the Columbus unit on my Superb MK2 Elegance 2010 is  possessed. After a few minutes driving the screen and lights for volume and small buttons on the Columbus unit switch off by themselves, and return to active within a fraction of a second.  When this happens, the music (from any source) stops, the screen goes blank and any information from AC/heating also disappears. It is as if the entire unit looses power. Within a fraction of the second the unit then switches on again, and music resumes (no welcome screen from system starting)..After about 5-10 secs the whole lot goes offline again.  When the unit is switched off and only the clock is displayed, the screen + lights continue to flicker...  The effect is the same as in this video (not my car)..Unfortunately the  poster of that video did not find a repair, but replaced the whole unit.: 

 

The unit was flashed with firm 6272 about 9 months ago, without any problems in the last 10k miles, apart from a USB crash once a month.

 

What have I done so far:

1) being puzzled

2) replaced fuses for Radio (15 amp) and amplifier (30 amp). No effect, apart from dashboard clock and distance reset (...more puzzled)

3) switched off/on engine instantaneously. No effect

4) switched off/on engine after few hours. Unit works again for a few minutes, then the possession returns.

5) removed unit from front dash to check cables visually.  Nothing found.

 

I am trying to find out what the problem is, or could be, and if the problem is repairable,...My gut feeling says there is a capacitor on the Columbus PCB on the way out but secretly I am hoping it is  loose wire somewhere..Is this a known problem with the mk2 Superb/Octi

 

Cheerio,

Derecho?

 

 

 

your theory is possible, I guess you have some repair knowledge of switch mode power supplies? however i would be looking for  a bad connection on the pcb or a failed transistor.

however you will not get a circuit so any repair is unlikely. 

if a capacitor was faulty you would expect the cycling to be more uniform, ie every X seconds but that inst a hard and fast rule.

As you dont get the startup screen each time you can assume it is not an external supply issue surely?

Get your car scanned with VCDS or similar.

 

I had similar symptoms when my ignition switch was failing. Once the switch was replaced, everything was fine again.

 

 

11 hours ago, superbdreams said:

your theory is possible, I guess you have some repair knowledge of switch mode power supplies? however i would be looking for  a bad connection on the pcb or a failed transistor.

however you will not get a circuit so any repair is unlikely. 

if a capacitor was faulty you would expect the cycling to be more uniform, ie every X seconds but that inst a hard and fast rule.

As you dont get the startup screen each time you can assume it is not an external supply issue surely?

thanks for the extra ideas guys...I haven't got much time the next few weeks, but will keep you posted about the developments...

1) Plan for now is to check ODB or VCDS read out (if I find a user in Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire)...

2) connect multimeter at battery and unit to see if there is an issue there.  I would not be surprised of electrical leak currents...Every now and then something electrical fails or just stops working temporarily....I.ve had moody bulbs, temporary faulty park sensors,  malfunctioning 12v sockets, and now the Colombus

3) reflash the Colombus with latest firmware (if I am able)

4) last/least preferred:  detach Colombus and open up the shoebox....

 

TBC

I would skip (3) and (4) for the moment as both carry some risk.

 

I expect (2) will show the battery is healthy. If the battery was getting low, it would cause the Columbus to reboot which takes much longer than the short outages you've described.

 

I'd definitely stick with (1) to start with

 

Have you checked the VCDS owners list and map? Otherwise, it might be worth considering purchasing something like OBDeleven as that should be suitable to show any error codes.

@Rustynuts will know the answer to this i am sure.

11 hours ago, langers2k said:

would skip (3) and (4) for the moment as both carry some risk

QUite!

you should not try updating a unit that is powering up and down. doubt it would work and almost certain to brick it.

@Derecho

What hardware model is your columbas ?

You can look here and find out the latest firmware that your model can accept

I always thought that you couldn't put anything with a 6--- on our kind must be mistaken😵

On 24/10/2019 at 18:28, DEL80Y said:

@Derecho

What hardware model is your columbas ?

You can look here and find out the latest firmware that your model can accept

I always thought that you couldn't put anything with a 6--- on our kind must be mistaken😵

Good morning,

 

Quick update. Ever since I started thread, I have barely used the car (change of lifestyle, ).  I still have not come around to look deeper into the issue, looking at January now.  For now I have bought a small portable bluetooth speaker to have some music while driving.

Anyway:  DEL8OY: you are right, I was mistaken...I am running version 5238.

About the flickering/blinking unit:   the issue appears to be correlated to temperature..On days with temperatures above 10 degrees the flicker appears from a cold start after 15-20min, but on a cool day (near freezing, yesterday) the flickering starts at 30min only.  

 

Will keep you guys posted.

Hei,
The Columbus on my 2012 Mk II Superb has resently startet loosing power, very short 'flickers' (0,5seconds), with different intervals (anything from 2 to 30seconds), but sound and picture reappears instantly without the standard powerup. Temperature has been subzero Celsius, not sure if the frequency changes with temperature. Fuse(s) seems ok.
Any news on this?

My Columbus on 2012 superb started to do exactly the same. Thought it was power supply. Satnav systems repair changed the power supply board. Cured so far . Happy now.