Operating and display unit for camping equipment E153

[Jan DH]

We are from Bruges, Belgium, flemish.
I am not used to use the English language in my life, so this membership is an opportunity to brush up my English. I'm the owner of a Cali march 2010 Facelift, 180 DSG, Olympic Blue.
With the help of internet-translaters, it takes some time to drop some lines.
So, sorry for my "school-language English".

I have a technical problem, out of guarantee.... with the "Operating and display unit for
camping equipment E153".
The turn/press-button E153 of the display gives no good contact anymore. This means that it can take a long time to give a command to the processor, as the button does not work properly.
The button is like a joystick ... and this is not what it should be!

As my Cali is out of warranty and as I am a technician, I'd like to fix it myself.
My question to you, does anyone has some experience with this matter?
The more information I can get the better it will be.
Thanks for helping me.

Jan DH from Bruges, Belgium.

 

[Californiaman]

Jan, I bet your English is better than my Flemish so it's good to have you onboard. No worries!

I have not heard of anyone havinh this problem with the button on the control unit before this week and all of a sudden, lots of people seem to have the issue! It isn;t something that I have experienced though. I am not sure how 'user serviceable' those units are but it sounds like a mechanical problem with contacts not being made or similar.

It is a long shot but if anyone has an old control unit that has failed, we have some really good technicians at work that could potentially take a look and see if a repair or replacement is possible. Anyone have a failed unit? (I'd like to see if the button could be made remote control so I can operate the roof from outside the van where it is easier to see the roof folding in correctly!

So, as you speak fluent Flemish, can you tell me - Plastic Bertrand and his famous 1977 hit "Ça plane pour moi". What does it all translate to in Flemish - as all the translations I have heard have been gibberish. It may be an urban legen that this is actually recorded in Flemish...

 

[Andy]

I'd like to see if the button could be made remote control so I can operate the roof from outside the van where it is easier to see the roof folding in correctly!

Brilliant idea Mark. Just need to get hold of a failed unit !!

 

[Stu]

I had a look around for some info on these last night pretty much to no avail.

Having looked at mine when it was removed for Bluetooth install my thoughts are that these are a third party small batch manufacture so it might be a help if we could identify the maker. Perhaps if yours is broken Jan you could have a look inside for clues.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if that operating knob unit is a commercially available part and could be sourced it an electronics specialist such as RS.

I think the units are circa £500 from VW.

 

[Jan DH]

Thanks for the reaction, Californiaman.
My answer .... I looked it up .... (nl.wikipedia)
Concerning Plastic Bertrand (Roger Jouret) , the song "ça plane pour moi" , means "I'm in higher spheres". The lyrics of the song was actually an accumulation of all kinds of absurd incoherent affairs. It's gibberish French, and as I am flemish and not in higher spheres, I do not understand it completely. The legend is that a person named Lou De Prijck (Frenchman), the singer and songwriter is and not Roger Jouret!
http://www.muzikum.eu/nl/123-734-11132/ ... tekst.html

Now about the Cali... and the knob of the operating and display unit E153
How 'user serviceable' is this unit, that's the right question I'd love to know before starting. I can take my time, because it still works with some patience and magical fingers (and I finished my holidays in Spain, Portugal and the South of France)
Of course, I'll keep you informed whether the repair of the unit will be successful or not.
I'd try to set the new button by wire (from RS-catalog indeed) a little further (glasses-stockroom). I prefer to see the roof operate from inside the van to see the roof folding in correctly.
Thanks Stu, thanks everybody!

Jan DH from Bruges (B)

 

[Stu]

If you do open it up Jan make sure to take plenty of pictures and let us have a look.

I read some stuff on the German T5 forum where a guy said he knew the manufacturer but I couldn't find the details. Maybe you could try there.

Anyway keep us posted on how you get on.

 

[Jan DH]

Dear Stu,
Thanks for the tip what the German forum concerns.
I found a person on a German forum who had the same problem (at least I think it is the same problem).
He solved it by replacing "the knob" by a new one.
He has let manufactured it by 'Rapid Prototyping' and has made some extra for others.
I contacted him and hope this will be the way to solve the problem.
Wait and see .....soon, I hope.

Thanks.

Jan DH, Bruges (B)

 

[jamie]

I had the same problem, you will find the spline on the button will probably be cracked.
I temporally repaired mine by cutting a small piece of plastic to to fit between the slot in the button and the slot in the splined shaft of the button.
This needs to be rigid enough to transfer the force of pushing the button, i used the lid from a plastic takeaway container. cut approx. 10mm X 12mm

 

[Stu]

Hmm, that's interesting Jamie, thanks.

 

[Jan DH]

The cause of the problem is the faulty plastic button.
If you have a button, you can replace it yourself.
If you don't have it, no problem, use a normal screwdriver to do the steering!

Removing the unit and opening it, is very easy. The manual shows it early.
Once in your hands, the plastic box can be opened very easily.
You have to remove four small screws with "a precision tool Torque 06x40" and the knob becomes free.
In the absence of new knob you can close the plastic box, called Operating and display unit for camping equipment E153 again, plug the wiring back and finally plug the plastic box back into its place. Time and date have to be set again and you are ready!

It works perfectly without any cost if you use a normal screwdriver instead of the knob.

For those how wants to change the control into a remote control, it is not impossible.
If you can use a thin soldering iron well, you have some work to do with five contacts.
Good luck.

PS I made several photos of the removing of the knob, but I can only show two of them.

 

[Stu]

I think all this talk has jinxed me, my control unit is about to give up on me I think.

 

[tommy2ties]

Rather than all the phaff to remove unit ---- would it be possible to cut the top of the knob off with a small hacksaw and use a thin screw driver down through the button ???

All makeshift - while we wait for a new control panel to come in under warranty.

 

[Californiaman]

Whilst on the subject, has anyone on here actually raised or closed their Cali roof manually using the screw behind the control panel?

 

[calikev]

We are looking for someone brave enough to have a go and make a video of it
Brave enough mark :rofl :rofl I only got as far as the sunglasses holder and thought better of it :rofl

 

[ABILLY]

Bonjour,
pour information :
http://www.t5calif.info/forum/viewtopic.php?p=37096#37096

Salutations

 

[Calincolnshire]

With the button removed Epoxy putty shoved into the back of button and then replaced would have sorted this issue.As the putty is soft to start with it would have made an exact mould of the splines. Removing the button and waiting for the putty to go hard would stop it bonding to the actuator shaft. Epoxy putty can be sanded / drilled even threaded. Great for repairing all sorts of stuff.

 

[shambly]

If anyone has an undamaged knob to hand it would be great to borrow it for a couple of days to get a 3D scan of it. (Or even a damaged knob and the rotary encoder shaft it fits to).

Then I can design and print a replacement knob...

Simon

 

[Bleur fleur]

Mine has done exactly the same during our holiday in France. It works, but doesn't make contacts unless you fiddle around gently. My warrantee ended at the end of May :cry: does anyone know of someone in Yorkshire who would tackle it?

 

[Andresz]

http://wimkoelman.files.wordpress.com/2 ... nopf_2.pdf

 

[Stu]

I would suggest contacting your local dealer and VW Customer Services. This is a known issue and I would hope they would replace it for you as a gesture of good will.

Outside of the included warranty the Sale of Goods Act allows for things where it should have an expectation of acceptable lifetime.

It is important to remember that a guarantee does not replace
or limit a customer’s rights. Customers are entitled to raise
a problem with you regarding a product for up to six years
from the date of purchase (five years from the discovery of a
problem in Scotland) regardless of the terms of any guarantee.
Customers are entitled to rely on the remedies available to
them under law (outlined in this guide) rather than their rights
under a guarantee, if they wish.
This means that if a customer complains to you about an item
that is not fit for purpose, does not match the description, or is
not of satisfactory quality, you must deal with their complaint –
you cannot force them to use their guarantee.

OFT Website

 

[Bleur fleur]

The local dealer is quoting £653 to repair, ie replace the control panel!!

 

[Stu]

The local dealer is quoting £653 to repair, ie replace the control panel!!

Of course they will, but you need to pursue VW CS for a goodwill repair.

 

[ABILLY]

Bonjour, in GB, is the 7H7906453C available? If yes, at what price and who is the vendor?
Thank you. Here in France (Gard) it's not available and the price is 1000€.

Envoyé de mon VOG-L29 en utilisant Tapatalk

 

[yossarian]

Verotronics

Ils vont le réparer.

 

[capt kirk]

If anyone has an undamaged knob to hand it would be great to borrow it for a couple of days to get a 3D scan of it. (Or even a damaged knob and the rotary encoder shaft it fits to).

Then I can design and print a replacement knob...

Simon

If you go on thingyverse they have a model for the knob , just download and go