Audi ‘14 A3 (8V) stereo issues - running out of options?

[YpowT]

Hi all,

TL:DR; Having a reoccurring issue with my ‘14 A3 (8V) stereo system. Ideally don’t want to sell, but investigation by multiple garages and a private remote ex-Audi master technician has not provided a permanent solution. Don’t want to go directly to Audi as expect them to tell me a new MMI box required (~£3k). Inclined to ditch it to a car buying company, even though the car is mechanically sound.

 

Longer version

6 months or so ago I got in my car one day and started it up to discover I’d lost all sound output. This was a day or two after I’d just done a long distance journey where it was working perfectly normal. The MMI screen, centre console controls, car menu, radio options etc. all still worked, but there was just no sound output from any of the speakers.

 

On a couple of trips after this discovery, it came back to mid journey until I turned off the ignition. Upon restarting it was back to no sound. 

 

Went to a couple of Audi “specialist” garages to investigate (one of which managed to reset my MMI and wipe my Sat Nav…), neither managed to find a root cause as there was no error / fault codes coming up during any diagnosis they did. 

 

Ended up being pointed towards an ex-Audi master tech who now works privately as remote mechanic, who has been very helpful so far. He managed to find a ECU (?) company (apparently one of a small number in the UK who could repair the MMI box I have) to take a look at it. They assessed it and ended up replacing some “amp chips” on the main PCB, before returning it (~£550 in the end). 

 

When refitted, it seems to fix the issue and everything was back to normal. That was until about a month later when the same issue dematerialised. 

 

It was under warranty and such was sent back to reassess. Since then, it has been back twice to be repaired i.e 3 times in total (second time they mentioned a specific part of the board was causing the amps to break).

 

Since the last fix - it was again working fine until a slightly different issue arose. This time, lost sound in the front drivers side door / dash speakers, but all other speakers were fine. I double checked the mixer / fader in the sound settings to make sure something hadn’t been messed up there, but it was bang right in the middle where it needed to be.

 

Company are offering to take a look at it - but again discussing it with the master tech, who is acting as the middle man, he agreed that we can’t just keep going back and forth - and if I wanted he would refund me what I paid and reclaim his cost from the company. 

 

I offered to get it looked at one more time - and then in the event they could repair it - look to ditch it with Motorway or similar, as would not feel comfortable selling privately on the basis I know it may break again.

 

The other suggestion was to try and get a second hand MMI box to see if that fixes the issue, but again that’ll be ~£500 (if I can find one) on eBay, and there is no guarantee that it’ll work OR it won’t break in the same way - hence that will again be dead money.

 

Issue is - I like the car, I’ve not long had the cam belt replaced and ideally I’d keep it (especially given the used car market is so high at the moment), but I don’t want a car without a working stereo.

 

Having researched early on and spoken to a few family / friends (one of which is a mechanic), I suggested a few things to those I’d spoken to throughout the process, based on what I found / was told, such as:

• Checking the wiring in the door harnesses
• Checking the alternator was working properly and not causing a surge
• Inspecting the boot (albeit I don’t have the BOSE system so didn’t think there is anything there). 

The guy I’ve been dealing with has been great throughout, but I’m close to throwing up the white flag and taking the financial hit (albeit it I’ve been quoted £11k which is only £1k less then I paid for it 2 or so years ago), but this is a last ditch attempt to see if there is anyone has any other ideas or suggestions for where I could take it to be properly investigated (other than Audi directly). 

Any guidance or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. 
 

Thanks

Jon

[Steve Q]

My first thought bwas to try and buy a second hand unit but at £500 I can see your hesitation on this. If an electrical surge could be causing it then my port of call would be to get an auto electrician to check over the whole electrical system.  Not sure if this is the right part for your car, but if it is then it could be an option?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A3-8V-2013-2019-MMI-MULTIMEDIA-UNIT-PANASONIC-8V0035874B-/265412137681?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

[YpowT]

Yeah that was the other alternative that the master tech suggested. There was one on eBay a month or two back for ~£500 but doesn’t seem to be any at the moment. 
 

Thanks for sending that through, but the unit number for mine is different (8VO 035 020 C) and it is Harmin I believe.

Maybe an alternative opinion from an auto electrician would be good, although again the master tech suggested it is highly unlikely that the alternator is the problem.

Another suggestion given was, as currently it is just one corner of speakers not working, to see if the pins can be switched to replicate the issue in a different part of the car (I.e. does the fault move).

Suppose I just want to avoid spending much more if I can, given I’ve spent £60-100 on diagnosis already and £550 on a repair job for the MMI.

 

[Steve Q]

No probs, I feel.your pain. I'm chasing an issue with my central locking, alarm. It's been to an auto electrician and mechanic and they've fixed some fault's with the system but not all. I think I've diagnosed in it as a failing ccm. But it's an expensive gamble. 

I always guess there might be by aftermarket headunits available which could be an option. 

[YpowT]

Ah yeah that’s not ideal, does take its toll on the mind eventually. 
 

I did think about aftermarket but given it’s so integrated into the dash I wondered how many options there would be available, if any. 

[SFIRTH]

Hi YpowT,

Did you manage to solve this problem as I have exactly the same issue with my 2014 A3 Cabriolet. 

My Audi main dealer wants £165 + vat per hour to diagnose the fault. 

[YpowT]

1 hour ago, SFIRTH said:

Hi YpowT,

Did you manage to solve this problem as I have exactly the same issue with my 2014 A3 Cabriolet. 

My Audi main dealer wants £165 + vat per hour to diagnose the fault. 

Hi SFIRTH.

I did in the end! As I mentioned in my previous post I was working with a private ex-Audi master tech / mobile mechanic, and he managed to find a company to take a look at it who ultimately fixed it.

I believe it was Hazzy Days, would suggest giving them a try directly.

https://www.hazzydayz.com/

Essentially, mine went back and forth a few times to repair blown amp chips two-three times, but the same reoccurring issue kept blowing them, hence concluded it wasn’t just the chips.

Eventually it went back again and they had a senior engineer look at it, and while I can’t remember the exact reason, it sounded like that there was some unwanted contact with the top of the MMI metal case and the PCB which was causing the issue?

Not sure exactly what they did, but my understanding was it wasn’t something they’d ever come across before, hence they took a note for future repairs.

I am making an assumption that you have the exact same MMI unit as me, but even if not I’d recommend trying them anyway. 

 

[Jarred]

hi there YowT names jarred, im having the exact same issue as you are no sound at all with bt or radio i saw that you mentioned above that you managed to get it fixed " it sounded like that there was some unwanted contact with the top of the MMI metal case and the PCB which was causing the issue?" 

 

I would very very much appreciate it if you would find out what exactly this problem is and how they did it as im not located in the UK im in New Zealand and have tried multiple places in New Zealand but no one can seem to fix this issue, i have seen repair websites and adverts on google and eBay for MMI A3 repairs but just shipping is super expensive now and would rather not pay an arm and a leg for a repair.

If you could get back to me on this with a more accurate solution that would be awesome! 

kind regards, Jarred 

[YpowT]

18 minutes ago, Jarred said:

hi there YowT names jarred, im having the exact same issue as you are no sound at all with bt or radio i saw that you mentioned above that you managed to get it fixed " it sounded like that there was some unwanted contact with the top of the MMI metal case and the PCB which was causing the issue?" 

 

I would very very much appreciate it if you would find out what exactly this problem is and how they did it as im not located in the UK im in New Zealand and have tried multiple places in New Zealand but no one can seem to fix this issue, i have seen repair websites and adverts on google and Ebay for MMI A3 repairs but just shipping is super expensive now and would rather not pay an arm and a leg for a repair.

If you could get back to me on this with a more accurate solution that would be awesome! 

kind regards, Jarred 

Hi Jarred, I’m afraid the above was about the most technical description of the issue I got!

 

It probably didn’t help that I never interacted directly with the company above, but via a third party (who I know longer have contact details for).

 

You could maybe try emailing / contacting someone at Hazzy Dayz? I will try contact them but can’t guarantee I’ll get anything!

[Jarred]

12 minutes ago, YpowT said:

Hi Jarred, I’m afraid the above was about the most technical description of the issue I got!

 

It probably didn’t help that I never interacted directly with the company above, but via a third party (who I know longer have contact details for).

 

You could maybe try emailing / contacting someone at Hazzy Dayz? I will try contact them but can’t guarantee I’ll get anything!

Okay no problem appreciate the reply back though still helps heaps and will email them now 

 

thank you, Jarred

[jrn]

Hi guys,

Did anyone get some more info on the problem?

I think I might have the similar problem as my RHS speakers are not working and it is not due to the speakers itself.

[jrn]

Thank you Jasonj.

You are the absolute legend.