I’ve just bought a 2012 Superb Elegance VR6 estate, and I’ve noticed that the car appears not to know that it has BlueTooth. I am assuming Elegance does have BT, right?

 

• The “Phone” button on the side of the Columbus unit does nothing (except muting and unmuting the radio). No screen comes up to invite me to pair my phone, as described in the book.

 

• The “Media” screen doesn’t have any indication of BlueTooth capability.

 

• The “Maxi Dot” main menu does not have a “Phone” sub-menu.

 

Does this mean that the BT module under the driver’s seat is the problem, since neither Columbus nor Maxi-Dot can see BT capability? I’ve tried rebooting the Columbus (holding <> and the top-right button) but as I expected this didn’t change anything.

 

I’ve read elsewhere on BRISKODA about disconnecting and reconnecting the BT module, and looking under the seat I can see a black unit attached to the bottom of the seat with a cable loom connected to it, but I can’t figure out how to release the connector. It really doesn’t want to just pull off, and I’ve tried squeezing the edges but it won’t unclip.

 

I’m sure there must be a knack to disconnecting the BT module; any tips? Or is there something else it could be? Is there a fuse that I should check?

 

Thanks!

hi i pair my phone through the mfd display between the rev and speedo dials

The MFD “Maxi-Dot” display has no “Phone” sub- menu on my car. That’s part of the problem!

11 minutes ago, Dr_Mike_Oxgreen said:

I’ve just bought a 2012 Superb Elegance VR6 estate, and I’ve noticed that the car appears not to know that it has BlueTooth. I am assuming Elegance does have BT, right?

 

• The “Phone” button on the side of the Columbus unit does nothing (except muting and unmuting the radio). No screen comes up to invite me to pair my phone, as described in the book.

 

• The “Media” screen doesn’t have any indication of BlueTooth capability.

 

• The “Maxi Dot” main menu does not have a “Phone” sub-menu.

 

Does this mean that the BT module under the driver’s seat is the problem, since neither Columbus nor Maxi-Dot can see BT capability? I’ve tried rebooting the Columbus (holding <> and the top-right button) but as I expected this didn’t change anything.

 

I’ve read elsewhere on BRISKODA about disconnecting and reconnecting the BT module, and looking under the seat I can see a black unit attached to the bottom of the seat with a cable loom connected to it, but I can’t figure out how to release the connector. It really doesn’t want to just pull off, and I’ve tried squeezing the edges but it won’t unclip.

 

I’m sure there must be a knack to disconnecting the BT module; any tips? Or is there something else it could be? Is there a fuse that I should check?

 

Thanks!

I occasionally have to reboot the Bluetooth module in my 63 plate facelift car when it stops communicating with rest of the car and gives symptoms you describe.  I always forget how the plug works due to gap between problems.  But if you unbolt the module (plastic cover slides forward and then few torx screws hold it to floor) it's easy to see how the cable connector releases when you have full access and clear view all around.  Really must make a note of how to release it next time I need to do this ;-). It could of course be your module has totally failed or there are wiring problems but the proposed reboot is definitely the first thing to try.

For clarity, here's what my main menu looks like - no "Phone" menu...

 

Edited 28 July, 20241 yr by Dr_Mike_Oxgreen
Trying to add a picture

30 minutes ago, DrCorbyLee said:

(plastic cover slides forward and then few torx screws hold it to floor)

 

Aha!

 

The above part of what you said now makes me think I've been looking at the wrong thing. I've been looking at something attached to the bottom of the seat, not something attached to the floor.

 

So I've slid the plastic cover forward, and lo and behold, there's nothing underneath but an empty metal bracket and a couple of electrical connectors dangling in the breeze!  Is this where my BT module should be?

 

Edited to add: You can see a bit of a "shadow" of cleaner metal in a rectangular shape on the bracket, implying that there used to be a module there, but it's gone AWOL.

 

Edited 28 July, 20241 yr by Dr_Mike_Oxgreen

34 minutes ago, Dr_Mike_Oxgreen said:

 

Aha!

 

The above part of what you said now makes me think I've been looking at the wrong thing. I've been looking at something attached to the bottom of the seat, not something attached to the floor.

 

So I've slid the plastic cover forward, and lo and behold, there's nothing underneath but an empty metal bracket and a couple of electrical connectors dangling in the breeze!  Is this where my BT module should be?

 

Edited to add: You can see a bit of a "shadow" of cleaner metal in a rectangular shape on the bracket, implying that there used to be a module there, but it's gone AWOL.

 

That might explain why Bluetooth not working 🙂

Sounds like someone removed faulty module, possibly .  If you can find the right revision of Bluetooth module on eBay then it could be a plug and play fix, plenty on their from £60 upwards.  Finding that revision might not be so easy.  Trick I've used in past is to ask Skoda dealership parts department for a formal quote for replacement module against your vin.  The part number should include the revision code.  Other threads here might give some guidance as to suitable revision numbers

21 minutes ago, DrCorbyLee said:

That might explain why Bluetooth not working 🙂

Sounds like someone removed faulty module, possibly .  If you can find the right revision of Bluetooth module on eBay then it could be a plug and play fix, plenty on their from £60 upwards.  Finding that revision might not be so easy.  Trick I've used in past is to ask Skoda dealership parts department for a formal quote for replacement module against your vin.  The part number should include the revision code.  Other threads here might give some guidance as to suitable revision numbers

Forgot to finish 2nd sentence, should have read "....... possibly to remove references to Bluetooth and phone from Columbus and maxi dot knowing that the module wasn't working"

I’ve been reading around this, and as far as I can tell I need a 3C8 035 730 X - where the X is a revision letter.

 

I think i read that the later revisions are backwards-compatible, and I need one that does HFP (Hands Free Protocol) for iPhone compatibility as RSAP won’t play with an iPhone.

 

Can anyone confirm that it’s a straight plug-in? Is there any coding/pairing to the car or any other installation ceremony that you have to go through?

 

I’ve found this one on eBay, which is an E revision (fairly late I think) for £180. Pricey, will it work?

 

11 minutes ago, DrCorbyLee said:

"....... possibly to remove references to Bluetooth and phone from Columbus and maxi dot knowing that the module wasn't working"

Do you mean the dealer who sold it to me might have done this to conceal the fact that Bluetooth wasn’t working?

 

I don’t believe a used car dealer would be so underhand! 😜

13 minutes ago, Dr_Mike_Oxgreen said:

Do you mean the dealer who sold it to me might have done this to conceal the fact that Bluetooth wasn’t working?

 

I don’t believe a used car dealer would be so underhand! 😜

I wouldn't dream of suggesting that such a fine upstanding citizen would have done such a thing !!! But yes, suspect that is the case either with dealer or previous owner.

 

Caveat emptor applies but I'd certainly ask the dealer why standard feature for Elegance was not only not working, the hardware had been removed.

I called into a ŠKODA dealer today. They said it would be an hour and a half of labour at £324, and they were going to call back with a price for the module itself.

 

Not sure how it would take 90 minutes to plug a couple of connectors in and screw it down. Even if there is some kind of pairing ceremony to perform, that’ll only be 5 or 10 minutes.

 

According to this thread, changing from one revision of the module to a later one is a straight swap, so hopefully it would all just work if I plug a replacement module in.

 

So I’ve ordered a 3C8 035 730 E module off eBay. £180, but a lot less than the dealer wanted. Hopefully it’ll work, but if not I can always sell it again.

Well I only ordered it yesterday,but it’s just arrived.

 

And that job the dealer said I couldn’t do myself, and would take their guys an hour and a half and cost £324 labour (plus whatever the charge for the module) - it’s just taken me 3 minutes. I just need to figure out what screw to use to hold it in place.

 

Plug it in, switch the ignition on, pair my iPhone, et voilà!

 

The Columbus now has a working Phone screen, and the menu on the Maxi-Dot is there as well. It has all my phone contacts and call lists. I’ve even talked to my wife through it.

 

It can also play music, although I have to select it and start it from the phone. Should the Columbus be able to see and browse my music collection?

14 minutes ago, Dr_Mike_Oxgreen said:

 

And that job the dealer said I couldn’t do myself, and would take their guys an hour and a half and cost £324 labour (plus whatever the charge for the module) - it’s just taken me 3 minutes. I just need to figure out what screw to use to hold it in place.

 

 

I'd be soooo tempted to feed that back to the dealer and point out to them how ridiculous their pricing was / is...

I’ve screwed it down using just one M6 screw in the front hole (the rear ones being too much of a PITA to get to). I did stick a piece of self-adhesive neoprene to the rear part of the bracket to stop the module rattling where it’s not secured at the back.

 

On the subject of disconnecting and reconnecting the loom to the module, the plug has a white plastic lever. As you push the plug home, the lever flips itself over the other way. I’m guessing that removal involves flipping the lever back again, which probably ejects the plug from the socket.

If the rear holes are difficult to get to I bet the dealer was quoting for removing the seat to get at them and fit the screws...   can you reach them by getting the seat up to it's highest position and all the way back using a right angled or flexible shaft screwdriver?

1 minute ago, skomaz said:

If the rear holes are difficult to get to I bet the dealer was quoting for removing the seat to get at them and fit the screws...   can you reach them by getting the seat up to it's highest position and all the way back using a right angled or flexible shaft screwdriver?

You might well be right there - it’s the only way to account for 90 minutes’ work.

 

i might have a grope around and see if I could get the other two screws in, but for now it’s secure enough I think. The piece of rubber will stop it moving or vibrating, I hope.

 

Also, if this thing occasionally needs rebooting by disconnecting the loom then it might be best not to secure it too much.

On 30/07/2024 at 15:30, Dr_Mike_Oxgreen said:

You might well be right there - it’s the only way to account for 90 minutes’ work.

 

i might have a grope around and see if I could get the other two screws in, but for now it’s secure enough I think. The piece of rubber will stop it moving or vibrating, I hope.

 

Also, if this thing occasionally needs rebooting by disconnecting the loom then it might be best not to secure it too much.

I sit with seat at lowest position and fully back and the screws are then very easy to access with a 10mm socket and 1/4" ratchet handle or 10mm combination spanner. See attached, easy to see when kneeling by side of car.

 

I've removed and refitted module on roadside in past to get Bluetooth up and running at start of a long journey when can't remember how to unplug to reset, it's  that easy Not something that needs to happen regularly, I haven't had to do it this year from recollection so think best to have three fixings in place in case single bolt strains the plastic fixing lug and causes it to snap.