I just replaced my Skoda stream radio with a Bolero, and many of you guys said that it may drain the battery and a new module to fix this would cost me around 100€.. So an easier fix would be to install a simple killswitch somewhere in the dash, mainly I was thinking where the ESP OFF button is. Problem is, I cant find that type of switch anywhere on the internet and would need some help with it.

Or the best solution would be to make one for myself?

 

Thanks for reading

£100!? Probably closer to £20 for a used one from eBay or a breakers yard :)

Okay then, what is the module's name? And is there any other advantage with installing it? I'm still curious about where could I find that kind of a switch..

not 100% sure but wouldnt a killswitch just mean your bolero resetting to factory default everytime you cut its power completely?

 

It's a CAN-bus gateway or CAN gateway. This page from rosstech gives the basics: http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/Navigation_System_(RNS510)_Retrofitting It will need coding in after fitting.

 

The advantage is you don't need to mess with your wiring and create a custom switch.

 

The problem is that most (all?) the stock switch are probably push-to-make or push-to-break. This means they can't stay in both the off and on positions so won't work are you'd like them to and will need modifying.

 

You'd need a used stock switch with a random symbol (ASR, ESP, park assist, etc), take it apart and replace it's internals with a on-off switch that's capable of switching the 15-20A supply to the headunit. Otherwise, you can just grab a bog standard switch and hide it somewhere out of view. As memtioned by Mac11irl, the Bolero isn't designed to have it's power cut constantly so it might not like it.

I'm not convinced that it would even work.

 

Its my understanding that its not the radio itself that draws the standby current that flattens the battery but the canbus remaining awake and not going into sleep mode because it does not get the correct handshake or sign off from the replacement radio. I may be wrong, others will confirm.

 

I changed my Canbus gateway & it cost £20 ish for the correct revision number, during the standby current testing I found that my trailer electrics relay module had a significant standby current consumption, perhaps half that of the radio or Canbus, leter units consume less, the one I bought for the Yeti 50% less but I have now used on/off switches on both of them.

I believe it's the CAN gateway not sending a signal to the headunit to tell it to enter full standby. Instead it sits there booted ready to go :)

 

The newer gateways send the extra message to make sure the newer headuntis fullyenter standby.

Wouldn't bother with a kill switch, I tried the same, Found the earth wire and put a switch in, Didn't work because when the aerial is plugged in it uses this as its earth and still powers up regardless of the switch..I just pull the fuse for the radio, Its a faff though....

Never a good idea to switch on a return line.

 

If pulling the fuse gives you the result that you want then that is the line that should be switched, I would simply use a relay and then there is nothing to do and you would not know it was fitted.

 

Did it have any effect on your radio like losing presets, longer boot up time etc?

Okay, so I found a CAN Gateway here for 30€s, AH model, will it be compatible with everything else? The coding is not a problem, I can borrow an Autocom DELPHI (i checked, it can code the gateway just as the VCDS). 

22 hours ago, J.R. said:

Never a good idea to switch on a return line.

 

If pulling the fuse gives you the result that you want then that is the line that should be switched, I would simply use a relay and then there is nothing to do and you would not know it was fitted.

 

Did it have any effect on your radio like losing presets, longer boot up time etc?

No mate, Presets are ok, Just got to put the code in the radio every time i put the fuse back in.

Edited 2 August, 20205 yr by Doofy

At the end, if anyone is curious, I have bought a Gateway for 40€ and coded it with Autocom Delphi. No need for building a switch or anything like this. Only downside is that you will have to spend money and time on it. the model I bought is an AD.