Infotainment Issue

[GFunk78]

Hi there everyone - I hope you’re all well!

I have a 2016 Leon 1.4 EcoTsi which I love but something strange has happened to it recently.

Everything was fine yesterday, but today I got in the car and the infotainment system doesn’t seem to boot up properly! The ‘SEAT FR’ welcome animation appears and disappears every 20 seconds or so - but the radio, Nav and full system doesn’t seem to want to come online!

The dash readout for ‘audio’ just continually says ‘searching’ with a circular kind of ‘loading’ icon!

I’ve tried to reset by holding the power button down for 30secs but that doesn’t seem to help!

Has anyone come across this issue before?
Any tips as to a fix?
I’m crossing everything that I go out tomorrow and it’s fixed itself

Many thanks everyone!!

 

[GFunk78]

Hi everyone - just by way of an update (hate to leave these things unresolved!)

A day at the SEAT dealer later and they conclude that my 2016 Leon FR 1.4 ECOTSI needs and new 5F Control Unit at the ripe cost of £1600 fitted!!

To say that I am shocked is an understatement! My car is not even 6yrs old and has only done 27.3k miles with partial SEAT history (only 1 stamp is not SEAT which was for an oil change service at a local place as we were coming out of C19 lockdown)!

Does anyone have any experience with this ‘5F Control Unit’, know what it is or if it can be fixed for a more reasonable price?

Surely something so integral to the car (Nav, Radio, Bluetooth, Driving modes, tyre pressure reset) should last longer than 27k miles! Doesn’t seem fit for purpose to me!

Thanks in advance!!

 

[black_sheep]

Based in the UK? Got any free legal advice via your insurances, bank etc?

How did you buy the car? New/used, main dealer/other dealer/private?

Have you ever re-coded the car in the past?

Depending upon above, you could probably consider a claim under the consumer rights act.

Another option would be to obtain a second opinion via forum sponsors @East Yorkshire Retrofits or similar.

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

Hi everyone - just by way of an update (hate to leave these things unresolved!)

A day at the SEAT dealer later and they conclude that my 2016 Leon FR 1.4 ECOTSI needs and new 5F Control Unit at the ripe cost of £1600 fitted!!

To say that I am shocked is an understatement! My car is not even 6yrs old and has only done 27.3k miles with partial SEAT history (only 1 stamp is not SEAT which was for an oil change service at a local place as we were coming out of C19 lockdown)!

Does anyone have any experience with this ‘5F Control Unit’, know what it is or if it can be fixed for a more reasonable price?

Surely something so integral to the car (Nav, Radio, Bluetooth, Driving modes, tyre pressure reset) should last longer than 27k miles! Doesn’t seem fit for purpose to me!

Thanks in advance!!

Give us a message, we can further investigate/replace for a fraction of the price

 

[GFunk78]

But more info: the part number they have quoted me is: 5QA035858

This appears to be the Easy Connect box in the glove box.

Could it be that if I can source a second hand one of these in working order, I could swap out and get my system working again?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!

Give us a message, we can further investigate/replace for a fraction of the price

Message sent - thanks EYR!!

 

[GFunk78]

Give us a message, we can further investigate/replace for a fraction of the price

Based in the UK? Got any free legal advice via your insurances, bank etc?

How did you buy the car? New/used, main dealer/other dealer/private?

Have you ever re-coded the car in the past?

Depending upon above, you could probably consider a claim under the consumer rights act.

Another option would be to obtain a second opinion via forum sponsors @East Yorkshire Retrofits or similar.

Thanks for the advice Sheep! I have messaged EYRetro!!
I must admit I nearly fell off my chair when SEAT delivered their verdict!

 

[GFunk78]

Update to this thread - I feel a ‘Shout Out’ is due:


Just back from travelling from Bristol to see Kieran at East Yorkshire Retrofit who sorted a problem with the infotainment control unit in my 2016 SEAT Leon.

Understandably it felt a bit risky travelling all that way (450 mile round trip) - but I can honestly say it was well worth it! Kieran was professional, punctual and sorted the issue with minimal fuss! I was amazed by his knowledge of VAG group cars and in under an hour, the unit was replaced, everything was coded, set up with no error codes and Apple CarPlay activated!

If you’re looking for any retrofit tech for your VAG car look no further! Kieran at EYR sets the standard!!! Highly recommended!

Cheers Kieran - top man!!