GPS is off

[Ryan_R]

I've disconnected my battery plenty of times, some for quite a duration. Never been asked for it except for when I first retrofitted it (I have the code card with me delivered with the unit from ebay).

[Idle]

I've disconnected my battery plenty of times, some for quite a duration. Never been asked for it except for when I first retrofitted it (I have the code card with me delivered with the unit from ebay).

Mk 6 Golf and later can be disconnected without a problem, as can many other models — it should be mentioned in your handbook.

[PeteC]

Yeah sorry wrote it and changed some and didnt realise it was you I was replying to till later.

Sounds like either something has come loose or software has got its knickers in a knot

Strange that it can see the satellites but not lock onto them.

I downgraded the fw today to 3810 (GPS is still not working) and I have a strong suspicion that my antenna is disconnected at the antenna end. Now it shows 0/0 satellites so it doesnt see them, doesnt connect to them. That number of seen satellites previously was the last seen satellites when it was working. So if the unit actually doesnt see the satellites, means the highly likely the antenna is either faulty (factory sharkfin) or disconnected. The theory about the head unit sw has got "crazy" is not likely the case in my opinion, because the unit was working perfectly for a month.

I have a hypothesis: a week ago I pumped up the wheels to 250kPa, (usually it should be around 230) but then didnt carry anything heavy so the car became much more sensitive for road imperfections and therefore the bigger vibrations could cause my loose antenna connection.

I am pretty sure disconnecting the battery will not solve the problem as well so I am looking forward bringing the car to VW next week and they will tell me what is the issue.

Ps. I also went through the radios and some of the channels (like Nova), which were crystal clear before, now has a little bit of static noise in the background, which means possible antenna issue, because the radio antenna and the GPS antenna is integrated.

[PeteC]

So..moral of the story is...yes, I believe you will need the code.

Checked the manual of the RNS510 and on page 9 it says, you will only need the code if you put the radio into another car. It also says if you disconnect the battery and reconnect it it would not ask for the code. Anyway I will not do this as I think it will not help.

[wandersen]

Um...just putting my experience in....


So..moral of the story is...yes, I believe you will need the code.

That shouldn't happen. The RNS remembers your car (by an ID number of some sort) and it's only if installed in another car that the code is required.

[FJ Steve]

That shouldn't happen. The RNS remembers your car (by an ID number of some sort) and it's only if installed in another car that the code is required.

I know it shouldn't happen. But it did, and I felt the thread needed the experience from the other other side of the argument

[buzuki]

ill put my money on a failed shark fin.

[Guest001]

It could be you disturbed the wires in the plug that goes into the headunit.

Much more likely than problems at the aerial end which wasnt touched.

I would carefully check all of them. before attacking the aerial end

[FJ Steve]

It could be you disturbed the wires in the plug that goes into the headunit.

Much more likely than problems at the aerial end which wasnt touched.

I would carefully check all of them. before attacking the aerial end

OP stated in post #10 that he checked the rear of the RNS and all appeared ok.

[Guest001]

OP stated in post #10 that he checked the rear of the RNS and all appeared ok.

I was thinking more of where the wire goes into the connector Have seen more than one like this when pulled out incorrectly has either fractured or bent and separated the wires from the connector Would need metering out for connectivity Only takes one strand of a shield on coax to short it out as I have found to my sorrow

[PeteC]

I checked the connectors when I pulled out the unit last week and haven't seen anything out of extraordinary. Having said that I will recheck again, I ordered a cheap GPS antenna with FAKRA connector from eBay, when it arrives I will do a quick test with it to make sure the unit is ok. My service is not up till 11th of June anyway.

[PeteC]

Eureka! I found the issue and fixed it!!
Yesterday evening I was thinking about this issue again and I told to myself: there is no way that the GPS and antenna cable is continuous from the head unit to the back of the car to the antenna, there should be one (or more) connection point somewhere and maybe that's what became loose. So today I checked under the drivers seat, because I remember I saw there many cables running and some connections and when I touched it, I felt that I could push it inside. After that I turned on the GPS and voila! 6 out of 12 GPS, fixed, all working!! P.s. I think it was the yellow connector, on the second picture.

[FJ Steve]

well done.

there is a lot to be said for perseverance.

[tonymy01]

often yellow is reserved for air bags..I guess not in the Golf.

[Buckets]

Glad it is sorted Pete. Steve's right, there IS a lot to be said for perseverance!