Central Control Panel issues

[Stewart MCG]

Hi, it may be worth contacting VWCS to submit your concerns and get a reference number for future control unit issues, the more concerns raised the better chance of an improved unit or recall.

 

[campbellious]

There's certainly a letter winging it's way to vwcs with a list of issues to date, and hopefully highlighting the control issues may influence an improvement in design, essentially robust enough to fulfill it's purpose

 

[tommy2ties]

Newbie here - we collected our 2011 T5 three weeks ago out here in Geneva....... Second outing and we encountered all of the problems listed below ....... except we had our roof up when the button on the control panel stopped working.......thank goodness the manual showed how to take roof down, but we could not change the fridge level in the blistering heat ( or see how much battery we consumed ) !

We are under warranty, so took it in to the local dealership in Switzerland. They say there is a known problem with this part and they need to order a new one from the factory in Germany. A quick follow up call ( with my limited french ) I have been informed that VW stopped making this part and they are now waiting for it to be put back into production and we could be in for a long wait - cannot believe this is the case. I guess this could be lost in translation that VW are modifying the box due to issues - but who knows

Any moderators or dealers out there who could shed any light on the official VW line ?

overall love the van, just such a disappointing start :rain

 

[Tammy]

We are just in the process of having our central control panel replaced by Auckland NZ dealer. Under warranty as our California delivered new in September 11. We are told this is an NZ$1800 part and will take about 10 days to arrive from Germany. I am seriously hoping that the new panel is the revised version. Ours failed whilst the vehicle was sitting unused for about 6 weeks in our garage. Does anybody have definite news of an upgraded panel being available ? Thanks, Tammy.

 

[robinf]

Another central control problem here too, this one re the LCD display. I posted this as a separate topic 2 days ago but there may well be crossover to some of the problems mentioned under this one. A week ago the LCD display became corrupted by showing the left hand side correctly but the right hand side from a different screen, with random icons. The split was exactly down the centre so I could still see the menu on the left hand side for 'clock', 'pop-up roof' etc. However, having taken advice from other members and disconnected and reconnected it, it is now inoperable (nothing personal guys - you were only trying to help!!). It now shows the flashing clock characters but no way of inputting the current time or anything else for that matter. I found out yesterday that the cost of replacing the unit is £606 (inc VAT). Although the Cali is 4 and a bit years old, it's only done 13,000 miles and my next port of call is VWCS in Leeds. I will also be looking at a component repair (thank you Stu), if that draws no goodwill. As irony would have it, the selector knob works perfectly. Robin.

 

[Californiaman]

Robin, do you have the multi function steering wheel? I'm not 100% sure but I think I've set the clock via the display on the dash and buttons on the steering wheel. I wouldn't be surprised if it wouldn't allow any input until the clock is set..

 

[robinf]

Robin, do you have the multi function steering wheel? I'm not 100% sure but I think I've set the clock via the display on the dash and buttons on the steering wheel. I wouldn't be surprised if it wouldn't allow any input until the clock is set..

Hello Californiaman, and thank you for your suggestion (by the way, was your name lifted from one of Roy Wood's song titles, or is it just coincidence?). However, my Cali being a 2008 model does not have a multi-function wheel. it's just a single function wheel, and a very important function that is too! I'm also sure that I can't set the clock in any other way, so I'm currently awaiting a callback from my local VW Dealer to see what they suggest re a goodwill claim on the factory and when I receive a response, I will update everybody. I can't believe VW HQ does not know about this by now. Regards, Robin.

 

[Californiaman]

(by the way, was your name lifted from one of Roy Wood's song titles, or is it just coincidence?).

I have no idea who that is. Far too young.

It is from a movie based in California where teenagers unleash a defrosted prehistoric caveman 'Californiaman'. Very silly but definitely about my level..

 

[Andrew]

Found you all by looking on Google to find a solution to this problem and so glad I found this website.

I have a 2012 Berghaus with only 4,500 miles and we are currently in Sweden and last night our dial failed on the control panel when we arrived at a camp site and we can no longer raise the roof or adjust the fridge, we are totally gutted as the kids now need to sleep downstairs with us which is not ideal. We still have another week of our holiday left and VW Assistance were not very helpful and I am still waiting for a call back. I keep trying the dial in hope it now works but it just goes round and round and will not click in.

Booking into a hotel tomorrow night

 

[calikev]

Welcome Andrew. Sorry to hear of your woe.s. it looks like there could be a real problem with the control panel. At least you can get it replaced under warranty when you get back. Not ideal though. Keep us posted

 

[Californiaman]

Andrew,

What a pain. I'm very sorry to hear that.

The roof can be raised manually, if you're happy to give it a go - it is covered in the manual. I haven't encountered anyone that has actually done it yet though.

One word of warning if you do open it manually. Once you have done so (and closed it manually) I believe you have to lock the roof down by hand to ensure it doesn't go up as you drive. You should have some straps to do this - they slide into the roof rails and awning rails I think.

Good luck & hope you can enjoy the remainder of your holiday!

 

[Andrew]

thank you for your replies, hotel booked and angry letter being written in my head to VW, seeing as this is such a common problem are VW sorting out how to fix it?

 

[Stu]

Wow that's not special. To be honest it's only a matter of time until someone became stranded with this problem.

If you haven't seen the posts already, we have a Berghaus and have had ours replaced too.

 

[Tammy]

Our central control panel was replaced today under warranty. Apart from it failing in the first place (just under 1 year old) the service from our dealer, Continental Cars Auckland and VW New Zealand has been excellent. Problem first diagnosed 30.08, panel arrived from Germany and replaced 06.09. Not bad going. I will have to rebuild my confidence now.

 

[calikev]

Glad you got it sorted tammy let's hope its ok from now on

 

[Thomash]

Just back from touring in Europe and had a similar or the same problem with the Central Control Panel - rotary knob / control panel failed whilst our roof was up and we were unable to select the close option. Had to lower it manually which was tricky and even trickier without breaking the seal on the control panel as you remove it to get to the manual screw for the hydraulic roof which is behind it (breaking seal invalidates warranty it says). Breakdown service and VW dealer in Austria were great (and didn't seem to care whether the seal was intact or not !) though it meant staying put for longer than planned and the British specific (?) part took longer to arrive. All done under warranty. Obviously a fundamental issue with the control panels.

 

[Iain&Shani]

Ours is booked into Listers Coventry to have this issue "looked at". We have one trip pencilled in between now and then...everything crossed!!
Will let you know what happens.

 

[campbellious]

Our berghaus is finally ready to have the control panel sorted after a month wait (two of which were whilst still in France), booked in for friday, so looking forward to haring into the new forest this weekend and popping the roof!! only hope is,is that its a modified design and a little more robust than a dunked rich tea. :headwall

 

[DavidofHook]

Hi Folks,
Having read this forum feeling really depressed.
Van is on the drive and we are packing for tomorrow for Devon. Stuff all over the drive. Roof went up fine but is now stuck and won't come down. The central control panel isn't clicking when you press it.

Have rung SMG who suggested Volkswagen Assist and they are due in 90 minutes.
Just hope that they can fix this as it is a bit specialised.

I'll keep you in touch

 

[Martin]

I hope they get it sorted David, I will keep my fingers crossed, let us know how you get on.

 

[Iain&Shani]

Van is on the drive and we are packing for tomorrow

We keeping everything crossed for this weekend. Ours is booked in on Tuesday so up and down once isn't too much to ask for is it!! We are not going far so trying not to fret too much.

Hope yours gets sorted asap David.

 

[DavidofHook]

Sorry top hear that yours is the same Ian.

Not impressed by this i have to say. Waht did I pay all that money for? I thought that it included peace of mind.

Only 12.10 so we are still waiting. Ever the optimist I'm going to fill the water tank while we wait!

David

 

[DavidofHook]

The man arrived at about 12.30 and after much analysis with the laptop feels that it is the central control panel that's at fault. He's taken it out and located a new one (there are only 19 in the country apparently) at Slough, not too far from us. He will be back after he's collected it tomorrow early (assuming he has no emergencies) and will fit asap so we could be on the road by 10 to 10.30 which is brilliant,

He said that their service is to get you road worthy. So far, impressive.
Oh the unit costs £600 he told me so I'm pleased it's under warranty.

The van is sitting on the drive with the roof up and all the Control Panel innards hanging down. I can't power up the frig and I'm not sure it's a good idea to connect to the mains anyway so it may be warmish beer tomorrow night. But at least we look as if we are going to get away

This is worth remembering. If the van is undriveable, even if it is on your drive, then you can use VW Assist.

Finally, has anyone noticed that the ads for the NEC caravan show use what looks like a Cali? Same colour as ours too!

 

[Californiaman]

If you have any freezer blocks, freeze 'em and bang 'em in the fridge. They are surprisingly effective in that fairly small space. Good luck with the rest of your adventure!

 

[DavidofHook]

Cheers,

Good idea I will speak to the Commander about it!

David