Audi Concert volume SUDDENLY VERY LOUD!!!!

[wanstronian]

Hi all,

Sorry to drag this one up again... but is there actually a fix for this problem? Has anyone tried pointing out to Audi that this is an obvious design flaw and therefore a potential candidate for recall???

[wanstronian]

I'll take that as a 'no' then.

[Huweth]

Why not give some more explaination of the problem, then maybe people could point out some causes/solutions...
"Suddenly very loud" doesn't say anything about the circumstances.

[wanstronian]

Well, it's a well-known problem, so I didn't think I needed to spell it out. But for those who aren't aware:

With the slightly older Audi Concert stereos (mine's a '99 model), the volume control has a known fault whereby, after a certain amount of time (a few years), a slight nudge of the volume knob (in either direction) causes the volume of the stereo to go to maximum. As the unit warms up over 10 minutes or so, this ceases to be a problem.

It's apparently a problem with an internal buffer, to do with it storing each incremental change of volume and eventually filling up. I've heard that the chip can be replaced, but don't know if this is true.

Just wondered if anyone else out there had had their unit repaired, who did it, how much did it cost etc.?

[dai mason]

did you solve your radio problem dai

Hi all,

Sorry to drag this one up again... but is there actually a fix for this problem? Has anyone tried pointing out to Audi that this is an obvious design flaw and therefore a potential candidate for recall???

[wanstronian]

No, I still get the problem. Much worse now the weather's turned cold!

The only thing I've ever seen is the website of a Romanian electronics company that claimed the chip inside the radio can be replaced.

Other than that, the only advice I've seen is to ditch the radio and buy a different head unit/CD changer, complete with ugly blanking plate.

[dieselmonkey]

Why don't you just ditch the unit and get another on ebay:

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/sear...ert+&category0=

Just confirm with the seller that the fault is not present beforehand.

[gazza57]

I have a 2001 A6 2.7T with a concert radio which also gave the same problem. A Russian Website mentioned in another thread here led me to an exact diagnosis of the problem.
The volume setting is stored in a chip in the unit at switch off so that this setting is applied again when the unit is switched on again.
The original software supplied when the unit was new had a glitch in it whereby the setting was also stored in the chip every time the volume was altered as well as every time the unit was switched off.
This meant that the chip very soon filled up and defaulted to either zero or maximum volume and hence the fault described.
There is a solution, I sent my unit to a company called OE Electronics of Calne near Swindon. They have a website just type OE on google and you will find them.
They replace the Motorola Micro Controller and Memory chip, and update the software to solve this problem. The cost was £80 inc VAT and PP.

Now any reasonable person might think that as the faulty software had been in the radio since manufacture and therefore had been originally supplied in a substandard condition that Audi UK would accept some responsibility for meeting at least part of the cost of correcting an inherent design fault.
I wrote to Audi outlining the facts above and received a letter from them today stating that basically any contributions toward repair of components outside of the 3 year warranty are purely made as a gesture of goodwill.... and yes you guessed it there wasn't any!
I don't know why I expected more from them, they are just reverting to type.
My experience of Audi is a relatively short one but seems to be the same as many other Audi owners, the cars are wonderful but the dealers and the parent company....oh dear.
I have my car serviced by a local garage who is thorough, professional and places a high value on customer service, I don't think I need to elaborate further.

[Froggy]

I hope this doesn't break any forum rules, but to save people looking other sites up etc.

I work for the firm concerned, our details are as follows;

O. E. Electronics Ltd
6 Fourbrooks Business Park
Stanier Road
Calne
Wilts
SN11 9PP

For the Mk I Concert's, if you mention these forums in a covering letter, we will do the processor replacement for you, for £68.50 + VAT, (£80.49p inc VAT) this includes return carriage. (this is our normal trade rate). If the problem is caused by anything else we will supply you with a estimate.

I am a VW/Audi fan so if I can help with any other Audio related issues please post in these forums and I'll try and help.

[KEVMAC]

I hope this doesn't break any forum rules, but to save people looking other sites up etc.

I work for the firm concerned, our details are as follows;

O. E. Electronics Ltd
6 Fourbrooks Business Park
Stanier Road
Calne
Wilts
SN11 9PP

For the Mk I Concert's, if you mention these forums in a covering letter, we will do the processor replacement for you, for £68.50 + VAT, this includes return carriage. (this is our normal trade rate). If the problem is caused by anything else we will supply you with a estimate.

I am a VW/Audi fan so if I can help with any other Audio related issues please post in these forums and I'll try and help.

Froggy,

Would you consider looking at my stereo, the fault started with a crackling left front speaker and now no audio output at all, all I get is a high pitched whine when engine starts with occaisional bangs and bumps from the speakers.
I have confirmed the head unit is faulty by
1)removing the front speaker wiring block from the back of head unit - strangly enough non of the above indications
2)fitted my unit in mates car - same fault
3)fitted mates unit in my car - audio system works perfectly.
Is this a known problem? and how much to fix? (if at all possible!)
Regards,
Kev.