GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk5 => Topic started by: FroGTI on 06 July 2010, 14:26
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I recently retrofitted an RNS510 to my Mk6 GTI with no problem at all, but the guy who bought my 'old' RCD510 for his Mk5 is having problems. He had a VW dealer fit the unit, but it was draining his battery, so they fitted a new battery but the problem remains. His car is 5 years old.
Are there any known compatibilty issues with the RCD510 on 5-year-old cars?
TIA :smiley:
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Yes he might well have issues if his car is an earlier model (and still quite possible on later ones up to 2008). The battery gets drained via the CANBUS Gateway which connects to the headunit (this gives it all the info like when the lights are on to dim the HU lights, when you speed up to increase the volume etc etc).
The solution is to replace the CANBUS Gateway with a newer version and get a firmware update (a bit of internet hunting came back with CANBUS Gateway version B and firmware version 1200). The dealers should really know this (but am not surprised they dont).
I would be asking for my money back on the new battery if he paid for it as there was no need for one.
HTH.
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Thanks for your quick reply, Alan. I will pass on your suggestions and hope he can get something sorted.
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The dealer has replied that the CANBUS can't be changed on pre-2008 models :huh: Is this correct?
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I just didn't bother using a CANBUS when I changed my headunit as it was about £100 for a little adaptor. Mine is an Alpine one so didnt NEED it to work. I therefore haven't personally changed one but from reading a post over on R32OC someone on there has updated theirs. I would bet a fair wager than the electrics in the R32 will be identical to that of the GTI.
Take a quick look of this thread from this website:
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=134756.0
Might be worth just upgrading the firmware and see how it goes (although it sounds like a pain having your battery die all the time :undecided:)
So have the dealers just said "No, you cant do it, not our problem" ?
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I am fitting a RCD510 that I got from Gizzy in the MK6 section of this forum, and I too was worried about the battery drain problem. Done a quick google search and found this
http://www.my-gti.com/1101/upgrading-2nd-generation-radios-rcd-300-rcd-500-to-3rd-generation-rcd-210-rcd-310-rns-310-rcd-510-power-drain-issue
Which suggests to me that it can be updated, so I don't know what those stupid stealers are on about??
I have managed to get a new CAN BUS Gateway from someone in out in Canada, very nice guy and at a cool price, and Steve in the MK6 section is helping me install it all.
I will let you know how it goes, but I wont be getting it fitted untill the end of July, sorry.
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Interesting. I will pass on all this very helpful info to my buyer and see if he has any luck. Thanks, guys, your help is much appreciated :smiley:
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Sounds like the dealers are trying to fob him off :rolleyes:
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I'm no expert on this but isn't it also possible to 'downgrade' the firmware on the headunits to an older version to prevent this battery drain issue without changing the gateway?
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^ I can see your logic, but it doesnt quite work like that.
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Like I say, i'm no expert (having never done it) but I seem to recall reading something about people installing the '1100' firmware onto the RNS510 - apparently you can download it of of the net then burn it to CD and install it? This is the thread:
http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,16495.0.html
I realise we are talking about the RCD510 here (and the thread related to the RNS) but I thought the units were very similar apart from the Nav aspect?
It's all very confusing, but I have been making some attempt to understand it as I want to fit the RNS510 to my car at some point.
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See I have heard that downgrading the firmware will not stop the battery drain issues, but then when I asked these guys http://www.primeprestige.com/oemretrofits/satnav-vw.shtm they said it does stop it????
I got so confussed I thought it best just to upgrade the CAN BUS gateway just to be on the safe side.
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Cars running a CAN Gateway of Revision "L" or older, will potentially suffer from battery drain issues with RNS-510 units with a firmware of 1200 or newer.
Solution, if it's an A or B rev RNS, stick to a frmware 1200 or 1100 and you will have no issues. You do loose out on a little functionality and a tiny bit of speed that the later firmwares brought to the RNS, but to be honest, it's nothing to really worry over unless you want voice control etc. which can only be had with the later firmwares.
Option 2, upgrade the CAN gateway. It will be positioned either up above the clutch pedal (an absolute b*tch to get at) or behind the ashtray in the centre console. Be sure to get a genuine European version. The new CAN gateway will need to be recoded with VCDS (VAG COM) using the same tick list you took from the old unit. Basically, if you take away the time to actually reach the damn thing, it's supposed to be about 45 mins to swap and recode. The lastest revisions of the CAN Gateway are approximately "AD". The basic part number is 1K0 907 530. So if you currently have say a revision "E" unit, the part number will be 1K0 907 530E etc.
I have a Rev "E" unit in my car and couldn't be bothered in changing the gateway, so downgraded my firmware to 1100 and have never had any issues with battery drain. have left the car for well over a week as well.
If he wants to go ahead with upgrading the CAN gateway, quote the above part number to the stealer and he should be able to tell him the latest revision for his car. Will cost approximately £150 new from teh stealer.
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So a downgrade of firmware WILL stop the battery drain. Well my bad then, I didn't realise that was the case. Good work that man ^
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sh!t are you telling me the CAN BUS I just brought from a guy in Canada wont work? This is the part I brought and it is the right part number??
http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=125347
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Mate, to be honest I don't really know the answer to that one.
The reason I said this in my earlier post was that another member (on another forum) who had investigated this and actually done the CAN Gateway upgrade, had advised me to make sure it was a European version ?
I'm a little unsure as I though it was only the CCM and CECM modules (think those ackroynms are correct ?) needed to be European, something to do with immobilser frequencies being different on that side of the pond to here.
Maybe someone with a little more experience can help ? I can however stand by my earlier statement that downgrading the firmware to say 1100 does definately solve the drain issue. Be aware of the usual risks of messing with firmwares though, as it's not for the faint hearted as there is a small percentage chance that you can "brick" the unit (i.e FUBAR it and turn it into a brick).
I didn't have the bottle to do mine, so enlisted the help of a friend of mine whos an RNS expert. It took about an hour but all went well.
Cheers
Andrew
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Ahhhhh balls.
Thanks for the info mate.
As for the firmware, does downgrading the firmware on the RCD510 solve the battery drain issues?
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Absolutely it does.
As I said, mine is a 2005 car with a revision "E" (AKA bloody old) CAN Gateway fitted. My mate Darren downgraded my REV B RNS before I fitted it to FW 1100. Had it installed now for over a month, and have left it for over a week without so much as unlocking the car, let alone starting it. It started first time on the button.
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Ahhhhh balls.
Thanks for the info mate.
As for the firmware, does downgrading the firmware on the RCD510 solve the battery drain issues?
what year is your car?
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His sig has an 05 plate on it . . . . .