Soundaktor advice

[Mjukes]

Hi. Looking for some advice. I have a 2020 passat GTE with Soundaktor in GTE mode. It’s 100% in VCDS but is almost silent. Sometimes i don’t hear it at all. Every now and then it’s very briefly loud. there are no errors It will not perform an output test.

Vw don’t want to know. Most forums don’t care for the Soundaktor.

Are there any common issues I could test without pulling the scuttle apart?

should it be able to do an output test?

Any advice is great appreciated.

Thank you.

[jilleb]

You can run a test in OBD11, and it will play a WHOOP sound on the speaker.

[Mjukes]

You can run a test in OBD11, and it will play a WHOOP sound on the speaker.

It doesn’t work. It fails. Should it always work? Does it need to be in the right mode or any other stipulations?

[jilleb]

Good question. Are there no error codes? On my GTE it always played the whoop-test. However, on my external soundaktor, it doesn't play either. Weird stuff. You can try to flash the unlocked GTE firmware that's on this repository and see if it helps.

Or this very loud one made by @NumberOneBot : https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NumberOneBot/mqb-soundaktor/main/firmwares/gen2.5-to-gen2/FL_8W0907159D__0006.URURURUS.odx

[Mjukes]

No error codes at all. The external e-sound is fine, I assume that’s a difference source. so are you saying you can or can’t test your internal sound?

[jilleb]

On my car, internal soundaktor is testing fine. External soundaktor isn't giving any test sound, except for a short static blip sound.

But I suggest flashing one of the firmwares I wrote, the internal soundaktor should by very clearly heard then.

[Mjukes]

Thank you. I’ll have to find someone with ODIS

[Mjukes]

Quick Q. I can pick up a used module For under £20. Would this have component protection or could I swap it without any issue?

[jilleb]

It has no component protection, but the firmware has a setting that limits it to be used with only a specific car/engine. You can unlock it by flashing one of the unlocked firmwares from this repository

[Mjukes]

Cool. So no value there. Thank you. I’ll locate a local ODIS user and see if I can get a flash.

thank you again.

[Mjukes]

So here's a question. OBDeleven shows the details of the module, not the "speaker" as it were. Can you see the serial number of your module in OBD11, as you can see above mine is missing. Secondly, if the speaker was faulty, but the module was fine, would that throw an error? i.e. if you unplugged the speaker should it throw an error code? I've found an ODIS guy, just waiting on a price, so want to cover all bases.

Thanks for your help again.

[jilleb]

Yes, that would throw an error. When I unplug my speaker, i get an error saying there's an open connection. Something like that.

[Mjukes]

Ok, cool. I've found someone willing to do it, so I'll pop there tomorrow to give it a go. I assume the first GTE firmware with FPA (which i have) is the one?

[Mjukes]

Also, just did another output test and the failure message is

"Function cannot be performed, Mess. length or format incorrect"

So maybe an OBDeleven issue for that.

[Mjukes]

Hey, so I have some progress and would love some insight. Got the car on VCDS and the output test worked (Whoop!)

So, flashed the module with the first GTE file - FL_3G0907159___0006_UNLOCKED_1.odx - flashed no problem, but test driving, it's the same. Having spent some time testing whilst driving, I'd already established it was working, just very quiet (to the point of being imperceptible).

So, we decided to flash another firmware - FL_5E0907159___0003_UNLOCKED_1.odx - which was listed as being very loud AND had a number in the GTE column.

Test drive and there's no sound in GTE mode.

However it HAS applied sounds to the driving modes, and they are LOUD. Sport is as loud as my old GTE and what I was expecting.

So, I need a firmware that works with GTE mode, I don't need the other profiles, but clearly it needs to be a lot louder than it is at present.

Are my only options the Firmware's with a GTE number on the table (even though this Octavia RS file didn't work in GTE?)
Is there a louder version of the standard file?
The loud one you shared is 404ing, and I don't know if it has a GTE mode.

Any suggestions?

Thank you again

Mike

[NumberOneBot]

here is the right link, I renamed it some time ago: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NumberOneBot/mqb-soundaktor/main/firmwares/gen2.5-to-gen2/FL_4ML907159C__0005_GEN2_UNLOCKED.odx

[Mjukes]

thanks Alex, that will work with GTE mode?

[NumberOneBot]

thanks Alex, that will work with GTE m

I don't remember, but its only one byte change. Could you test the sound in other drive modes and tell me which version (volume) you want to hear for GTE? I don't think it's a good idea to enable "Sport"/"Race" sound for GTE profile

[Mjukes]

Thanks Alex So I’m relying on goodwill to flash these so won’t be able to test and provide feedback. I could always turn it down via VCDS if it’s too much?

Would there be any chance of making me a GTE mode only version with one of the higher volumes? Happy to send some beer tokens.

In terms of the sound type, I only use GTE for spirited driving so a sport/race sound would fit.

[aa13380128143]

谢谢亚历克斯，这将适用于 GTE m

我不记得了，但它只有一个字节的变化。你能在其他驾驶模式下测试声音并告诉我你想听到 GTE 的哪个版本（音量）吗？我认为为 GTE 配置文件启用“Sport”/“Race”声音不是个好主意 Hello, how do you calculate the CRC efficiency of 02DATA?

[Mjukes]

So. I'm still struggling with this. As the GTE mode lives outside of Driver profiles, the only software that works as designed (soundaktor only in GTE mode) will be the Golf GTE software. Which I've flashed and is also too quiet. I know the soundaktor works as other files make it make the sound, just not in the right modes.

So I am looking at hardware now. I swapped out the speaker for an earlier one (albeit same part number) but no success.

I'm wondering if the modules could have different software even if the software number is the same? I.e there are 3 Golf GTE ODX that match my current software version.

Would buying an earlier module potentially have a different software despite the numbers being the same?

Finally, is there any physical adjustment I can make? The bolt is tight but could I bend or adjust any of the brackets, or add spacers or anything that might enable it to resonate more?

Any suggestions welcomed, this is the last piece of the puzzle in getting this car the way I want it

Thanks in advance

Mike

[jilleb]

GTE isnt outside driving modes, its in essence the profile after snow, and all soundaktor firmwares can be configured to work with it.

About physical adjustments, I have no experience with that.

[Mjukes]

GTE isnt outside driving modes, its in essence the profile after snow, and all soundaktor firmwares can be configured to work with it.

About physical adjustments, I have no experience with that.

My bad. I assumed it was.

I cannot fathom why it's so quiet. It just shouldn't be.

I can't use the Hex code thing. I just want a standard GTE profile with the Volume turned up 😫

[Mjukes]

As before I'm happy to pay for a solution.

[Mjukes]

@jilleb a question. Is there any other adjustment in the gateway or central electrics that is assigned to volume? I've got A9 at 100%. Hardware is fine. Various Software has been tested. It's almost like the car isn't applying enough 'signal' to GTE mode?!?