On start up I get the usual "Welcome on board" screen...this remains on for a while, the screen then goes blank (ie black...looks like it looks when off), after a few seconds the "welcome on board" screen fades up once more, stays for a few seconds and then screen goes blank again...repeat ad infinitum. No buttons/touchscreen do anything except the power switch does switch off the welcome screen when on although it then comes back on its own accord.

I will book it into the dealers tomorrow but in the meantime am I missing anything obvious?

HDD failure possibly, as with any other computer component the Hard drive is the likely failure point.

HDD failure possibly, as with any other computer component the Hard drive is the likely failure point.

Thanks, I guess you're probably right....will have to leave it to the dealers.

It's making me feel like Dory from Finding Nemo as I keep on thinking "I'll put some music/the radio on" and then remembering that it's not working .....30seconds later i find myself thinking "I'll put some music/the radio on"........doh!

Also the welcome screen randomly appearing is surprisingly annoying!

Dan

Edited 3 October, 201015 yr by dan123

Just get the dealer to replace it . I had two replacements on my previous Octy. The first one lost all its bass response and kept having "black outs" and the second replacement did not work when it was fitted straight out of the box. Current example on the Octy working perfectly now for the last 2 years. (wife now owns my previous Octy). The Columbus on my current Superb has thrown a couple of "wobblers" but switching it off and switching it back on seems to have worked (touch wood).

I had to wait weeks for the replacements by the way.......

Thanks Simbo....I have now tried this but to no avail....GK I'll get it into the dealer this week.

Dan

A quick update (in case anyone is interested!). I dropped the car into Central Skoda in Birmingham today without an appointment and half an hour later I was driving away with a brand new Columbus unit fitted. I find it amazing that they held one as stock.

Fantastic service from Central Skoda.

Dan

I find it amazing that they held one as stock.

It makes you wonder if it had been removed from a new unsold car or they fail frequently enough to carry a spare? - I hope the former.

Either way it's a result .

A quick update (in case anyone is interested!). I dropped the car into Central Skoda in Birmingham today without an appointment and half an hour later I was driving away with a brand new Columbus unit fitted. I find it amazing that they held one as stock.

Fantastic service from Central Skoda.

Dan

Brilliant!! Your dealer has got his head screwed on . Or... as in the previous post the units are being troublesome enough to justify keeping one on the shelf (at considerable expense I might add).

What concerns me is the future when the warranty expires in our cars..

I know what you mean about the warranty expiring...they list at about £1400 AFAIK.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't out of another car, definitely brand new, I even removed the plastic sheet from the screen.

Does make you wonder about reliability if they're carrying stock, although I don't recall reading anything on here about them failing.

I asked what would happen to my unit, he said would likely be returned to the manufacturer...do you think they refurb and put it back in the system?

I know what you mean about the warranty expiring...they list at about £1400 AFAIK.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't out of another car, definitely brand new, I even removed the plastic sheet from the screen.

Does make you wonder about reliability if they're carrying stock, although I don't recall reading anything on here about them failing.

I asked what would happen to my unit, he said would likely be returned to the manufacturer...do you think they refurb and put it back in the system?

When you think about how many VAG vehicles carry this item then its highly unlikly that they wouldnt carry one !

they may list for 1400 but they dont cost anywere near that i would be susprised is cost price is over £300.00 when you look at the OEM v Aftermarket the only reason these sell for that price is that most people would prefare the OEM route as it gives you a sort of sense of security

look at the features a tom tom or the like gives for a fraction of the price

1400 verses a car at 24k nearly 7% of list price nah

rip off as uaual !

but what other options do you have and preserve quality

Ebay origional units for £500.00 ?

on another note i was under the impresion that the unit is useless as the code is stored in the instrument binicle and doesnt require a code entry as it picks this up via the CAN bus ?

Andy

When you think about how many VAG vehicles carry this item then its highly unlikly that they wouldnt carry one !

they may list for 1400 but they dont cost anywere near that i would be susprised is cost price is over £300.00 when you look at the OEM v Aftermarket the only reason these sell for that price is that most people would prefare the OEM route as it gives you a sort of sense of security

look at the features a tom tom or the like gives for a fraction of the price

1400 verses a car at 24k nearly 7% of list price nah

rip off as uaual !

but what other options do you have and preserve quality

Ebay origional units for £500.00 ?

on another note i was under the impresion that the unit is useless as the code is stored in the instrument binicle and doesnt require a code entry as it picks this up via the CAN bus ?

Andy

The Chinese units are better, and only £400 inc Nav and DVB-T, SD,USB,B-Tooth,remote,ariel

Yesterday I experienced exactly the same problem. Car went in for service, all fine, but on the way home the Columbus rebooted after failing to accept a voice command. After that all it would do it repetitively show the welcome screen and then reboot - dead!

The car's back with the dealer in Warrington today and they had an initial look at it - they are 95% sure they need to replace it, but here's the bad news - units are on 'back order' and it could be ten days before they can get one. They are in the process of getting approval from Skoda UK Technical dept to order replacement and I get the feeling I am going to be driving my lovely Superb Elegance Estate up and down the country for the next few days with no entertainment, phone, satnav, parking sensors display etc etc ... what a disappointment!

I love the car, but it's my 'office' for a lot of the week and not right now it only hindering me (even worse right now, it's off the road). Skoda UK customer service have been as helpful as possible so far - they are trying to work with the dealer to fix my unit, plus they are going to looking into how soon they could secure a replacement (if needed) ... ho hum!

By the way - the dealer told me the unit lists at £2,500 and Skoda UK customer service said it was a £1,700 item ... not sure who's correct.

Disappointed of Warrington.

By the way - the dealer told me the unit lists at £2,500 and Skoda UK customer service said it was a £1,700 item ... not sure who's correct.

Disappointed of Warrington.

Neither are correct... according to Skoda accessories website anyway.... it's listed at £1,583.99

http://www.accessories.skoda.co.uk/productdetail.aspx?p_no=AAN800001A

So where can you get them repaired once out of warranty, and what cost

The Chinese units are better, and only £400 inc Nav and DVB-T, SD,USB,B-Tooth,remote,ariel

What one have you got, and does it go strait in and it works without the ignition being on

Just got the same problem.

Unit ok for 20 mins this morning. Parked for 15mins. Started car, media was still playing from SD card but blank screen. No buttons working. Drove 15 mins. Parked for 45 mins. Started car. No music but welcome screen came on for 2 seconds, off for 30 seconds and now repeats this cycle..............

That's going to be great driving the 180 miles to Stansted tomorrow (and back in a week's time). And as we're leaving early I can only report the fault by phone.

There is an update covering a lot of issues for the Columbus. But it's not suitable for all versions, let's hope they tried it or they might end up with the bill if they haven't read the bulletin.

There is an update covering a lot of issues for the Columbus. But it's not suitable for all versions, let's hope they tried it or they might end up with the bill if they haven't read the bulletin.

Can you be more specific?

"Update" - where? Who are "they"?

Thanks

Dealer has an update CD for the headunit that covers a multitude of sins, by they I mean the dealer. If there is a bulletin and they haven't followed it Skoda will reject the claim.

Newbie to Skoda here:

Just joined the forum as I am thinking of buying a Superb Combi Elegance but this type of problem is very common on all VAG autos.

I had an Audi A4 which was a nightmare on the electronics front the most amazing problem being the front passenger window which if down would only go back up again (it was electric of course) if the car was put in reverse gear and moved back about 1 meter. It was never resolved !

Edited 10 October, 201015 yr by Stormbird

Dealer has an update CD for the headunit that covers a multitude of sins, by they I mean the dealer. If there is a bulletin and they haven't followed it Skoda will reject the claim.

Thanks Tech1e.

My vehicle is 5 weeks old. I'll ring dealer tomorrow to report fault and inform them of the 2 other posts. Went in today but only sales staff around, of course. 3 identical faults posted in one week. Not good. And that's just the ones noted on here.

Good job we're flying to France instead of the usual drive. 2000mile round trip with the screen flashing on and off would have sent me insane. No doubt there's a way to disable the unit.

Update.

Columbus came back to life 30 miles from Stansted after 2.5 hours flashing on and off. Hopefully will be ok when we get back from France but will report to dealer and see what happens.

Update 2.

On return to car after 1 week away, Columbus working ok and hasn't thrown the fault again.

Reported fault to dealer on Tuesday to be told that they have the update and car is booked in next Wednesday.

Now, if they know about the problem, why aren't we being advised??? Obviously hoping that most affected units make it through to the next scheduled service.

Pearl Wilson, Mechanic's Assistant

Welcome! What's going on with your car?

 

Hi, my Karoq has just gone in for the oil/ service at Skoda West Yorkshire, Once again I'm still having issues with the Columbus infotainment system, (stops working, freezes, phone wont connect, occasionally switches from phone to the sim on it's own Etc). When I bought the cat new in 2019 no issues, then they recalled it saying there was an issue with the PS door system, which affects the Columbus??? (I'd not noticed anything at that point), all done under warranty. in approx 2nd to 3rd year I started having issues (stops working, freezes etc). they checked it and said they had looked at the door system, which is a known issue connected to the Columbus? which they say they'd fixed, however I still kept getting issues. Shortly after warranty expires (3 yrs) they then started to agree there were still issues and said I needed to have both door systems replaced and if I contributed to cost (£600+) they would do it... Staggered by this I said no to paying and they refused to fix it. As I say, it's now gone into garage to do service, I've listed every fault on paper and said I will contact Skoda HO if this is not fixed, quoting that they knew there were issues before the end of warranty. I've now been looking online and see there are a lot of people experiencing same issues and this is not the "one -off" situation the dealership had led me to believe, Where do I stand 

I've loved Skoda's for many years having bought a Favorit many many years ago, I've had 2 Superbs and now the Karoq, but this is seriously making me think of changing to another brand