Resolved 5f Module faulty? (2014 A8)
- Thread starter Bazza
- Start date
Resolved
I got the new 5F module coded and programmed by an independent VW Audi specialist yesterday.
Unfortunately, when driving, the same issue of ACC unavailable is still happening. It is not all bad news though, the errors I now have are only for the GPS and telephone antennas and they will clear but return randomly and not necessarily at the same time.
It has been an expensive fault finding exercise but the 5F module had an EEPROM error so I believe it needed changing anyway.
Next step is to test the cables going from the 5F unit to the shark fin and the shark fin itself but I need decent weather before I can work outside on it. I have ordered a cheapo GPS antenna to plug into the 5F for testing purposes in the meantime. Who knows, it might work and become permanent. If I have to buy a new shark fin then so be it, I just hope it is not the cables that need to be changed.
I will keep you informed as and when I manage to get anything done.
Bazza
Unfortunately, when driving, the same issue of ACC unavailable is still happening. It is not all bad news though, the errors I now have are only for the GPS and telephone antennas and they will clear but return randomly and not necessarily at the same time.
It has been an expensive fault finding exercise but the 5F module had an EEPROM error so I believe it needed changing anyway.
Next step is to test the cables going from the 5F unit to the shark fin and the shark fin itself but I need decent weather before I can work outside on it. I have ordered a cheapo GPS antenna to plug into the 5F for testing purposes in the meantime. Who knows, it might work and become permanent. If I have to buy a new shark fin then so be it, I just hope it is not the cables that need to be changed.
I will keep you informed as and when I manage to get anything done.
Bazza
I think I am getting somewhere at last.
I tried the cheapo GPS antenna form Ebay but this made no difference.
What has been puzzling me from the start is that the Sat Nav works as it should and shows that it has fixed satellites etc. Anything I found on the internet referring to a faulty aerial described a lack of fixed satellites and the Sat Nav showing to be in the wrong place and this made me sceptical about an aerial fault. However, I decided to order a new genuine roof aerial from Ebay.
In the knowledge that I had a new aerial coming, I was willing to remove the original shark fin to see if there was anything obvious. On this car, it would be useful if my eyes were situated on the top of my head like a frog so I could see what I was doing. ( if you have done this yourself without removing the head lining, you will know what I mean
)
The underside if the shark fin ( the part inside the car was in perfect condition but when I removed the cover, there was moisture and parts of the circuit board looked dodgy so I removed the screws holding the circuit board and when I tried to prize off the board, I found that it was also being held by the centre pin of the GSM aerial connector and started pulling it through. The pin for the GPS aerial had not done this. De-soldered the pin for the GSM, removed the circuit board and gave it a bit of a clean up before repositioning the pin and resoldering both GSM and GPS pins. (The solder point for the GSP pin was not in very good condition but still worth a try)
Reconnected the leads without refitting the aerial and I was able to clear the codes and all seemed to work.
Unfortunately, once I fitted the shark fin back on the roof, and went for a test drive, the warnings came back but not as frequent.
Yesterday, I took the car out for about half an hour and not a single warning so I am quite optimistic that a new shark fin unit will cure it for good. I may leave it as it is for now and change out the shark fin when it starts playing up again.
I would like to thank all who responded and helped solve this problem and hope that my experiences with this issue will add to the knowledge base of all on this site and may help anyone else diagnose and fix a similar issue.
I will update this thread if I have any relevant changes. I have another problem that I think I caused while investigating this but that is for another thread.
Bazza
I tried the cheapo GPS antenna form Ebay but this made no difference.
What has been puzzling me from the start is that the Sat Nav works as it should and shows that it has fixed satellites etc. Anything I found on the internet referring to a faulty aerial described a lack of fixed satellites and the Sat Nav showing to be in the wrong place and this made me sceptical about an aerial fault. However, I decided to order a new genuine roof aerial from Ebay.
In the knowledge that I had a new aerial coming, I was willing to remove the original shark fin to see if there was anything obvious. On this car, it would be useful if my eyes were situated on the top of my head like a frog so I could see what I was doing. ( if you have done this yourself without removing the head lining, you will know what I mean
)The underside if the shark fin ( the part inside the car was in perfect condition but when I removed the cover, there was moisture and parts of the circuit board looked dodgy so I removed the screws holding the circuit board and when I tried to prize off the board, I found that it was also being held by the centre pin of the GSM aerial connector and started pulling it through. The pin for the GPS aerial had not done this. De-soldered the pin for the GSM, removed the circuit board and gave it a bit of a clean up before repositioning the pin and resoldering both GSM and GPS pins. (The solder point for the GSP pin was not in very good condition but still worth a try)
Reconnected the leads without refitting the aerial and I was able to clear the codes and all seemed to work.
Unfortunately, once I fitted the shark fin back on the roof, and went for a test drive, the warnings came back but not as frequent.
Yesterday, I took the car out for about half an hour and not a single warning so I am quite optimistic that a new shark fin unit will cure it for good. I may leave it as it is for now and change out the shark fin when it starts playing up again.
I would like to thank all who responded and helped solve this problem and hope that my experiences with this issue will add to the knowledge base of all on this site and may help anyone else diagnose and fix a similar issue.
I will update this thread if I have any relevant changes. I have another problem that I think I caused while investigating this but that is for another thread.
Bazza
Sorry it has taken so long to complete this story but I did something stupid.
While waiting for the shark fin to arrive, I thought I would try swapping the hard drives between the 5f units thinking that it would either work and save the hassle of loading all my music etc and have reasonably up to date maps or it would give me an error.
I swapped the hard drive and plugged everything back but when I started the car, the unit was completely dead. Not what I expected but hey ho, just swap it back again. Unfortunately, the unit was still dead! When I removed the unit from the car, I could hear something rattle.
Took the cover off again and shook it upside down and a small MLCC capacitor fell out. I inspected the board, found where it came from and there was another half detached as well. Obviously mechanically damaged while removing the hard drive. I did attempt the solder them back but this is not part of my skill set and gave up.
To cut a long story short, I refitted the original unit and the new shark fin when it arrived and all worked apart from the music system due to component protection. Arranged another visit to get the component protection removed from my original unit and finally I have my car back working as it should.
While waiting for the shark fin to arrive, I thought I would try swapping the hard drives between the 5f units thinking that it would either work and save the hassle of loading all my music etc and have reasonably up to date maps or it would give me an error.
I swapped the hard drive and plugged everything back but when I started the car, the unit was completely dead. Not what I expected but hey ho, just swap it back again. Unfortunately, the unit was still dead! When I removed the unit from the car, I could hear something rattle.
Took the cover off again and shook it upside down and a small MLCC capacitor fell out. I inspected the board, found where it came from and there was another half detached as well. Obviously mechanically damaged while removing the hard drive. I did attempt the solder them back but this is not part of my skill set and gave up.
To cut a long story short, I refitted the original unit and the new shark fin when it arrived and all worked apart from the music system due to component protection. Arranged another visit to get the component protection removed from my original unit and finally I have my car back working as it should.