Hi I'm just embarking on the journey of installing cruise control to my fabia mk2 2013 se. I have manged to get a kit off the bay which I believe to be correct was advertised as for a roomster but so far it's all fitted OK I do have a 87 M Bcm available if anyone needs one as it came with the kit and I luckily do have a 87 m bcm already. 

 

I have installed the new stalks and installed the 6 pins on the connector behind. I have checked and all the original functions work so that's a bonus. I have added the 4 pins to the Bcm those wasn't too bad once I worked out how to split the connector. 

 

Now I moved to removing the clutch switch terminal from the connector. For the life of me I cant get the terminal out of the clutch switch connector. If anyone knows the way to get these out please help I have a few sets of removal tools but they are cheap Chinese ones and they don't seem to be able to get it out. 

 

Then I have to run the cable to the engine ecu does anyone have a good way of running this though? 

 

Lastly I have to program the modules to allow me to use it all. I have Vcds just not 100% sure on the parts to program. Does the login code 11463  work with the fabia? 

 

Any help will be much appreciated and hopefully help those embarking on the same journey. 

@Eddie-NLis your guy

 

From a recent retrofit adventure, it seems there is a rubber seal directly under the wipers motor. That can be used to pull more wires through. Alternatively, the hole for the bonnet release cable is a good candidate, and is right next to the ecu

Ah thanks for the comment yes it does say in the destructions to pull the wiper cowling off I was hoping that wasn't needed. I'll pull it off and have a look. 

 

I'll have to send him a message and see if he can help. 

Try the bonnet release grommet first, might be easier if you don't plan more retrofits

Ahh OK I did read about running the cable behind the stereo so that would make sense for the bonnet release grommet.

 

Im not sure what other retrofits to do I'd love auto lights I have found a post on another forum about a Chinese switch which has a sensor found one in ebay for about £40 so I might grab one of those. I am going to fit an aftermarket stereo too as I have one laying around and I want bluetooth for music and calls so that will going in soon. 

REF cruise cable, its easy enough to remove the windscreen wiper scuttle panel, then the wiper motor etc for access.........then.....

 

Run the cable through the bonnet release cable grommet, along under the scuttle panel, cable tie neatly to the main loom already in there and then into the car through the main loom connection panel at the drivers side, you have to drill a new hole obviosuly, check on the inside for anything behind, it should be clear, you can easily feel the location up behind the pedals.

 

Images from mine when I did a few years back

 

Edited 29 July, 20232 yr by UrbanPanzer

That's great thank you, The pictures help alot. I wasn't too sure on what people were saying when mentioning the bonnet release cable but I see now. Its to get it though from the scuttle area it makes sense now. I think I'm just gonna solder the clutch switch cable in as I'm not going to be taking it back out. I'm hoping to get some time on Monday so fingers crossed it get it all in. Then it's just the programming. 

Programming is just 1 tick box for the central electronics if it'm not mistaken.

For the bluetooth i recommend going the oem route. A bluetooth module and a used columbus unit may end up cheaper than a proper (non-android chinese crap) navigation unit and you get integration with the instrument cluster this way.

Overall i can say after i had a top spec kenwood unit with wireless android auto, it sits too low into the dashboard to be useful as a navigation aid and everything else costs too much for what you get/miss out on.

 

And for the light switch, do it! Get a bluetooth one to program the coming/leaving home stuff as it will not talk to the rest of the car unfortunately. The app is a bit buggy and not even available on the play store for some reason. It's called "cfa light" for likely 99% of the switches out there

Oh right that would make the programming pretty straight forward. I did read that you can use a login code 11463 I believe but I think that's for earlier cars. 

 

I have a pioneer single din I brought years ago. I only use the bluetooth for calls and listening to music from my phone occasionally. I'm really not bothered about inbuilt sat navs as I have found the get out dated way too fast to be relied upon. I just use my phone in a holder and Google maps. 

 

I had a look they do a switch without the bluetooth for about £5 less which they said can be programmed manually which I'm sure will be alot of fun. I do miss the auto lights the wife's car has all the toys but I can't justify the expense on the work car well she won't let me justify the expense lol. 

Vcds will give you the login codes if any are needed. Pioneer would be aftermarket, require an adaptor loom and fascia and not show up on the instrument cluster (but only cost about £40 more for adapters as you already own it).

 

Don't bother with the no bluetooth switch. Timers and such can be set and forget, but the light sensor sensitivity is a bit hard to get right even with the app

I think I have managed to program the cruise control on vcds using the included pic. 

 

I think the aftermarket would sound alot better than the oem stereo well they normally do. I'm not worried about the instrument cluster as I have the basic one and it doesn't show it anyway. The facia and adapter harness were £25 from the bay. 

 

Ahh OK ill get the bluetooth one thanks. 

Yep, that seems to be it. If all the wires are there, get it above 19mph and see if it works.

For the bluetooth switch, make sure it matches your plug. It's either absolutely huge or pretty small, but for fabia it's almost guaranteed the huge one. Turn yours off, press in and spin towards sidelights to remove and check

Yep have checked its the larger connector. I'm just waiting on a pin fro the ecm to arrive as the kit I got had been fitted before and they removed the pin I need. 

On 05/08/2023 at 12:15, Carlitoe said:

I think the aftermarket would sound alot better than the oem stereo

 

mmm not so sure, depends on what unit, the RNS 315 in my Fabia is brilliant, knocks the socks of my 23 plate £40k comp car.

I can agree and disagree at the same time. My old swing unit sounded really good once i got the bluetooth going, like it was perfectly tuned for the car's speakers. Then an aftermarket expensive kenwood unit sounded pretty meh out of the box, but with more settings than i know what to do with, i eventually made it sound better than the swing unit.. then i got a columbus and i had to fit a boot sub to make it sound acceptable again. If he has the time and the right ear for it, aftermarket will sound better in the end

8 minutes ago, Athrx said:

I can agree and disagree at the same time. My old swing unit sounded really good once i got the bluetooth going, like it was perfectly tuned for the car's speakers. Then an aftermarket expensive kenwood unit sounded pretty meh out of the box, but with more settings than i know what to do with, i eventually made it sound better than the swing unit.. then i got a columbus and i had to fit a boot sub to make it sound acceptable again. If he has the time and the right ear for it, aftermarket will sound better in the end

 

I agree and disagree, I to bought a columbus to "upgrade" the Amundsen, but that was a big mistake as no matter what settings I used it had no depth or bass (hence you needed a sub) so to satisfy my curiosity I bought another Amundsen, plugged it back in and boom (literally) sound is superior to the Columbus in the Fabia, so stuck with the RNS 315, even the Mrs could tell the difference was amazing.

Edited 9 August, 20232 yr by UrbanPanzer

You sir just saved me from buying another, newer, more expensive columbus just to see if there's something wrong with this old one. You described it perfectly, all the frequencies are there, as demonstrated by a frequency generator, there's just no "depth" once they're all together. As i only really need the upgraded version to skip tracks from my steering wheel, i'll buy a rns/rcd315 as well. Thanks!

2 minutes ago, Athrx said:

You sir just saved me from buying another, newer, more expensive columbus just to see if there's something wrong with this old one. You described it perfectly, all the frequencies are there, as demonstrated by a frequency generator, there's just no "depth" once they're all together. As i only really need the upgraded version to skip tracks from my steering wheel, i'll buy a rns/rcd315 as well. Thanks!

 

Yes I doubt there is anything wrong with your unit, they just sound crap in the Fabia, I tried ALL settings in the unit and with VCDS, still no depth. As I say I bought another 315 with DAB (that was my upgrade wish with the columbus as my first 315 was not DAB)

Do you know if they take mfsw inputs from a facelift 2013 fabia? Already started doing my homework and people seem to be split on this one

6 minutes ago, Athrx said:

Do you know if they take mfsw inputs from a facelift 2013 fabia? Already started doing my homework and people seem to be split on this one

 

If "they" meaning what ??

They as in rns310 and rns315. So far seems like my car is safe, only pre-fl ones have issues with seeing the maxidot and steering wheel buttons

Mines a facelift, steering wheel controls work 100% with RNS 315

I would also be interested if the mk3 mfsw would work in a mk2. I did read somewhere that they don't work as they are totally different. I was surprised thay the fabia doesn't have steering wheel controls but I guess it's money saving. 

I got into a rabbit hole regarding this recently. The steering wheel itself is easy, buttons and airbag loom need to be from another pq25 platform car to fit

 

I will soon have a full steering wheel with the buttons available as i'm upgrading to the dsg paddles stuff