Fitting an RCD510

[Steve in crete]

Hi guys,
is there any issues with battery drain with this unit, I have been reading about problems when fitting the satnav unit to older cars, mines a 2006 GTI ?
Thanks    Steve

[JamieBiz]

I need to hear this... i want to do the same to a 2006 aswell

[samiul11]

Mine is 2006 and i had to replace the canbus when fitting an RNS510 cos of battery drain 

The canbus is a pain in the arse

[millar95]

I had to change my can gateway too its pretty straight forward just in a really awkward place ! Mine is an 05 so its right up behind the steering wheel in the dash



Thats it on the left hand side 

[danfalcon]

im sure with the newer firmware that is installed onto the units it stops battery drain being a problem

[ReflexRob]

I did mine on my 05 recently.

You have to upgrade the canbus to a newer one (think revision L onwards) and it is an utter ball ache to do. I've swapped gearboxes, whole suspension setups etc etc easier than this. It is so high up above the clutch pedal you can't grip anything properly as you hand always has to be bent whilst you are on your back like a high jumper bent backwards over the sill. You also bruise yourself every time you try and get your hand in to access. Took me about an hour and a half of swearing to replace such a simple part!

[Beeps]

Do the fuse box mod as mentioned elsewhere, it cured the battery drain from my RCD510 - the only snag is it takes 5 seconds to warm up each time - better than a flat battery and dead easy to do.

[Degudodger]

Yes it does. Replace the Gateway - less hassle. Trust me :)

[Steve in crete]

Thanks for your input guys, sorry for the delay my daughter has taken three weeks so far to send the conversion lead for the ariel ! Kids who would have them ! My car looks as though the stereo had been robbed !
Right back to the plot, does the RCD510 drain the battery like the RNS510 satnav unit does or not ?
Second, I really want the radio to go off with the ignition don't really need to be turning it on and off manually every time I get out do I ?
Third, does the fuse box mod. Solve both problems ?  Is so can someone link me into the description of the mod please.
Thanks again for your help, she does assure me its in the post now !

[Shoduchi]

1st: Yes, it also drains your battery.
2nd: It's an OEM radio, it behaves just like any other OEM radio. It will turn off when you remove the key.
3rd: Get an updated CAN Gateway to sort the battery drainage problem, like previously advised.

[Steve in crete]

Thanks Shoduchi, the Kenwood I took out did not turn off with the ignition, when I stripped out the wiring nothing extra was there, the Kenwood connected somewhat 1990 style into the standard VW connector, no other cables existed.
From your info it appears that someone may have modified the live feed to the radio at some point ?
I will have to wait till I get the unit connected and see what happens.
What on earth does the can gateway do ? Certainly seems to cause a few heartaches ? It's only a radio after all ?
So being an aged simpleton, if I run the live radio feed to an ignition controlled live, like in the old days and the radio is dead when I park the car how can it drain the battery ?
Sorry but I am struggling with all the seemingly unnecessary complication here.
Thanks    Steve

[Barry1602]

Just to clear up for a few people here.

The factory wiring to the back of the radio has no ignition feed, depending on year I believe it either has one or two permanent lives and then the radio communicates over the can network to tell the radio when the ignition is on.

If your radio and can unit are in-compatible the can network is kept 'awake' with the ignition off and this drains the battery.

Long story short: if you're upgrading your radio to a later VW unit, change the can module too!

If you're changing it to an aftermarket radio you will need to get an ignition live from somewhere. (Fuse box!)

[dronners]

My 2008 gti being a late car has had no issues