Screen at fault for Mr A’s Golf
Performance hot hatches began with the Volkswagen Golf. After being unveiled in 1976, VW upgraded the look and performance of their standard family hatchback. Since then, it has undergone a few size and design changes. More importantly it now looks, handles, and transports you in a safe but exciting manner.
As the recent editions of the Golf are filled with the latest tech, there is a host of wiring, modules, connections and more that can sometimes go wrong. This was the case with Mr A’s 2017 Golf GTI, which is our latest case study at Links Automotive, your Audi and VW Specialist. Mr A came into our workshop with a faulty infotainment screen on his Golf GTI. There was simply nothing displaying on the screen, the radio wasn’t working, nor were any of the features that this unit houses.
This is a real issue in today’s world as owners like to use navigation, change vehicle settings, listen to their favourite podcasts, radio stations and playlists whilst they link up their smartphone. Unfortunately for Mr A, none of these features were working, and all he could do was listen to the sound of that rumbling GTI powerplant.
The infotainment screen is also linked up to steering wheel controls, dashboard functions, reversing cameras when manoeuvring in tight spaces, and is a very complex part housed in a single unit. Meaning only VW specialists can work on identifying the fault.
Today’s connected world means we also need to answer the phone for important business or personal calls and multitasking on the go. Mr A couldn’t do any of these in his Golf, rendering his ‘car office’ useless until Links Automotive stepped in. Being a VW Golf specialist, we were able to sort his faulty infotainment system out.
Our vast industry knowledge in repairing VW-Audi group vehicles meant our technicians know how to fix any fault. Being VW specialists, we fix anything from electrical to mechanical, braking to suspension, bodywork to lighting.
Finding Mr A’s GTI Screen Fault
Duncan Conway was our VW specialist technician working on this troublesome case. With Mr A’s VW Golf in safe hands, we knew Duncan could get to the root cause of the problem and fix it with his vast knowledge in all VW servicing and repairs.
Firstly, Duncan hooked up the ODIS VW specialist diagnostic tool and cross referenced the error code that displayed. The error code U1123 showed something wrong with the Data bus connection. Then Infotainment communication errors in the Gateway control
Unit came up with a U1054 error code, which was no communication in control Unit for Information electronics 1. Which essentially meant that the infotainment unit was dead.
Duncan tried to fix the issue with the screen without having to suggest a replacement. As we pride ourselves in being a VW specialist, we dug through bulletins, trying out repair methods and everything else possible to fix the faulty screen. He could not find a way to get the ODIS dealership tool to communicate with the infotainment unit which housed the dead screen, therefore no-fault codes were appearing for the specific unit.
The infotainment unit was removed by Duncan to investigate the wiring and signals to the module. The live and earth feeds were investigated and found to be working. Then the oscilloscope was used to identify problems with the CANBUS network. With Duncan’s advanced electrical knowledge and at Links Automotive, being a VW Audi Specialist, he was able to work out that the CANBUS network was still operational too.
After visual, diagnostics and CANBUS checks, Duncan concluded that the problem could now only be from the unit itself. Internally there may have been a fault that prevents the unit from working as it should.
Replacing the Infotainment Unit
With a large 8-inch display, this unit is full of communications, receivers, data processing units and user controls. Which is why Duncan worked tirelessly to try and fix it without replacement. After consulting Mr, A on the issue with his Golf GTI, Duncan had permission to replace the entire unit to get it back up and running once more, safe in the knowledge that we at Links Automotive are VW specialists.
The new 5F Infotainment unit was ordered right away and Duncan was able to work on replacing it. Getting the genuine part from VW is part of what we do here at Links Automotive. Ensuring that our customers get the same quality part as if the car left the factory when new, with our bespoke VW specialist garage.
Duncan went ahead and continued to remove the rest of the infotainment unit. Installing the shiny new unit in what was a reverse of removing the old faulty one. But this time Duncan needed to tap into his knowledge of the dealership tool ODIS to re-code the new infotainment unit, allowing it to communicate with the Golf. As a VW Golf Specialist, we knew the parametrisations and basic settings needed to be integrated with the new unit allowing Mr A to get on with his day.
You’re in Safe Hands at Links Automotive
As the unit displays the parking camera, all the vehicle settings, radio functions as well as Navigation, it was vital that Mr A got these back as soon as possible. At Links Automotive, we are complete VW and Audi specialists. This includes being specialists in VW’s infotainment units. With Duncan at the driving seat of trying to fix these problems, Mr A was in safe hands.
Duncan was also able to tap into our VW specialist network of parts suppliers, including VW themselves to quickly get the replacement infotainment unit on our doorstep in a matter of hours. This enables us to charge less for an otherwise lengthy repair, as our expert technician, Duncan, was able to diagnose, replace and recode the infotainment unit in a matter of hours.
Without the VW garage dealer tool ODIS, the car could not be recoded either. Which is why at Links Automotive, we see hundreds of VW and Audi customers each month and have the knowledge to fix a host of vehicle faults, being your ultimate Golf GTI specialist. Each of our technicians are especially trained to strict standards and have the specialised knowledge of VW group vehicles that other garages don’t. This includes electrical, mechanical, engine, air conditioning issues and more.
Mr A was taken through what our technicians found out about his vehicle. Including which parts had been checked and replaced. Summarising the costs of the work during the repair process. It’s no wonder why so many of our customers come to us, the ultimate VW Audi specialists, to maintain and fix their vehicle.
If you need your VW Golf looked at because of a faulty infotainment display, or any other VW Audi vehicle serviced or repaired, contact us today on 01625 402262 to book an appointment. We have the best customer service staff here to help at Links Automotive, your VW Audi Specialist garage.
