Skyline pop top & SOS fault

[Drebin]

Hi all, hope you can help.

I have a t6.1 with a skyline pop top, as part of this they relocated the aerial to the back of the pop top.

Recently I've been getting the sos fault and to take it to vw. When I rang them they immediately said it just needs the update.

However after them having it for most the day they said that they would not do the update as a fault code was coming up saying that the aerial was not connected (something along those lines). I asked how this would be possible if my radio works fine, phone calls etc as well as the sos intermittently. But they blamed this for the sos and not the required update.

Has anyone had this issue or can help? Feel like I'm just being fobbed off by them. I spoke to skyline and they said its literally just a plug in adaptor so not sure where I stand.

Thanks in advance

 

[drinfinity]

I’m afraid I would take the VW view here. If the SOS is showing as not connected, and Skyline have relocated it, then Skyline need to fix it.

The radio arial and SOS are different things, and I would expect phone calls are using Bluetooth/CarPlay to your phone rather than roof arial (again very happy to be corrected here).

 

[Drebin]

What I can't understand is how it sometimes works and others times doesn't. You would think if it was disconnected it just wouldn't work

 

[Chuffern]

Hey, I’m currently looking into getting a pop top for my 6.1 and was considering skyline. Has your issue now been resolved? If so how was it fixed?

 

[lauraj]

Hi all, hope you can help.

I have a t6.1 with a skyline pop top, as part of this they relocated the aerial to the back of the pop top.

Recently I've been getting the sos fault and to take it to vw. When I rang them they immediately said it just needs the update.

However after them having it for most the day they said that they would not do the update as a fault code was coming up saying that the aerial was not connected (something along those lines). I asked how this would be possible if my radio works fine, phone calls etc as well as the sos intermittently. But they blamed this for the sos and not the required update.

Has anyone had this issue or can help? Feel like I'm just being fobbed off by them. I spoke to skyline and they said its literally just a plug in adaptor so not sure where I stand.

Thanks in advance

Hey, did you manage to solve your issue? In same position, am likely going to contact skyline as well.

 

[S90MRJ]

Hello everyone, I’ve the same problem - intermittent issue with SOS warning light. Anyone get an resolution?

 

[lauraj]

Hello everyone, I’ve the same problem - intermittent issue with SOS warning light. Anyone get a resolution?

Hey I have the same problem. Pop top was done summer of 2022, had an intermittent fault for the last year or so & now every time you start the van it’s a fault. VW won’t touch as diagnostics said it’s the aerial not connected fault. I’m tempted to get a new aerial & plug in at the connectors at back of pop top & see if it’s that end, or try and find the other end in cab to connect there. Let me know if you get to the bottom of it!

 

[Deviant Tubs]

Interested to find this thread...

Experiencing something similar.

Was ast Skyline Somerset on Friday. I had my 160w semiflexable solar panel replaced by Skyline on a warranty claim (they installed the OG panel when the Skylow roof was installed in 2022).

Shortly after collecting the Van I had the same "SOS Emergency Call Restricted" message. I didn't think too much of it, assuming it had maybe accidentally been pushed by an engineer when the work was done. It was only when I got home I realised it was actually registering as a Fault.

As it was Saturday by this time, I called VW Roadside Assistance - they gave me the spiel about 'Software Update' although they did advise me I had the latest software according to their system.

Monday, today, I called my local VW Stealership (who I despise because they are beyond useless) they advised it they had a three month wait on appointments... Yes that's right... A three month wait

So out of desperation I took it to a trusted independent garage this morning and they ran diagnostics. They could see that the Fault on their system and despite trying to clear it, it just came back straight away.

Initially I thought it could have been an intermittent malfunction with the Ghost Immobiliser as they do sometimes generate random fault codes.

But thinking about it (and reading this Thread) I'm begging to suspect that when the solar panel was swapped and the cabling adjusted, either the antenna wasn't connected up correctly or something has been damaged in the process.

I'm gonna call Skyline tomorrow and make my case. They've always been very fair in my experience. It seems highly likely this is the root of the issue - I hope they agree

 

[lauraj]

Interested to find this thread...

Experiencing something similar.

Was ast Skyline Somerset on Friday. I had my 160w semiflexable solar panel replaced by Skyline on a warranty claim (they installed the OG panel when the Skylow roof was installed in 2022).

Shortly after collecting the Van I had the same "SOS Emergency Call Restricted" message. I didn't think too much of it, assuming it had maybe accidentally been pushed by an engineer when the work was done. It was only when I got home I realised it was actually registering as a Fault.

As it was Saturday by this time, I called VW Roadside Assistance - they gave me the spiel about 'Software Update' although they did advise me I had the latest software according to their system.

Monday, today, I called my local VW Stealership (who I despise because they are beyond useless) they advised it they had a three month wait on appointments... Yes that's right... A three month wait

So out of desperation I took it to a trusted independent garage this morning and they ran diagnostics. They could see that the Fault on their system and despite trying to clear it, it just came back straight away.

Initially I thought it could have been an intermittent malfunction with the Ghost Immobiliser as they do sometimes generate random fault codes.

But thinking about it (and reading this Thread) I'm begging to suspect that when the solar panel was swapped and the cabling adjusted, either the antenna wasn't connected up correctly or something has been damaged in the process.

I'm gonna call Skyline tomorrow and make my case. They've always been very fair in my experience. It seems highly likely this is the root of the issue - I hope they agree

View attachment 262570

Keep us updated! I too will be ringing Skyline shortly. VW don’t want to know for me as the aerial has been relocated but did say they’re diagnosis code was aerial connection.

I’ve thought about how to test it at home with getting a new aerial then connecting at connector at back of pop top to see if that fixes it. The other end of cable is behind the dash I think but I’m not that brave!

Interestingly someone on Facebook had a similar problem but his was intermittent & faulted when road was bumpy for example. He ended up with a new extension cable put in.

Mine produces the warning from the get go and like yours instantly pops back up once I clear the warning.

Like you we have a solar panel with the cabling for that going through a rear grommet. The aerial cable is very thin, I wonder if it’s being pinched too much through this.

 

[Deviant Tubs]

I suspect you're right on that one - I wasn't aware that the cable was on the flimsy side - that would explain it for sure.

Not surprised that VW didn't want to know - whilst I on the one hand understand their reluctance given it's aftermarket mods, generally I've never known such an unhelpful company! They continue to shock me.

I'm going to have a good look tomorrow at the loom to see if there is any obvious issues with the connections. The problem might be staring me directly in the face.

Now I've spent the day thinking about it logically - I'm shocked that I didn't connect the dots on this one!!

 

[Deviant Tubs]

Question for you @lauraj

Assuming your SOS button on the roof of the cab has the Red light illuminated (not green as it should be) are you still able to make SOS calls?

My SOS light is Red but if I press the button it starts the process of making the call (you have the opportunity to cancel for 10 seconds) Which suggests that despite the Error message on the Dash - there is still enough reception to make an SOS call

 

[lauraj]

Question for you @lauraj

Assuming your SOS button on the roof of the cab has the Red light illuminated (not green as it should be) are you still able to make SOS calls?

My SOS light is Red but if I press the button it starts the process of making the call (you have the opportunity to cancel for 10 seconds) Which suggests that despite the Error message on the Dash - there is still enough reception to make an SOS call

Hey sorry didn’t see this post. Yes I think it still goes through, will double check tomorrow though. Have you had any lucky with Skyline?

 

[lauraj]

Hey sorry didn’t see this post. Yes I think it still goes through, will double check tomorrow though. Have you had any lucky with Skyline?

Question for you @lauraj

Assuming your SOS button on the roof of the cab has the Red light illuminated (not green as it should be) are you still able to make SOS calls?

My SOS light is Red but if I press the button it starts the process of making the call (you have the opportunity to cancel for 10 seconds) Which suggests that despite the Error message on the Dash - there is still enough reception to make an SOS call

Yep starts making emergency call once pressed, I manually stop before connection but light still says red afterwards

 

[Deviant Tubs]

Hey sorry didn’t see this post. Yes I think it still goes through, will double check tomorrow though. Have you had any lucky with Skyline?

Yes all good news!

I called them and discussed the issue. They said it was more than likely a loose connection or possible but slightly less likely, that the Antenna was no longer earthed.

I took it back down to Somerset last week, parked up at the Industrial Unit and within 10 mins it was completely sorted. As expected it was a loose connection that was repaired very easily.

Absolutely faultless service from Skyline. My only complaint is that I had to repeat the 3 hour round trip just for a few minutes of work. That said I'd rather it be a simple fix that's done in no time than a major job that requires some serious repair work.

Very happy didn't have to get VW involved, that would have been heartbreaking

 

[lauraj]

Yes all good news!

I called them and discussed the issue. They said it was more than likely a loose connection or possible but slightly less likely, that the Antenna was no longer earthed.

I took it back down to Somerset last week, parked up at the Industrial Unit and within 10 mins it was completely sorted. As expected it was a loose connection that was repaired very easily.

Absolutely faultless service from Skyline. My only complaint is that I had to repeat the 3 hour round trip just for a few minutes of work. That said I'd rather it be a simple fix that's done in no time than a major job that requires some serious repair work.

Very happy didn't have to get VW involved, that would have been heartbreaking

Excellent news!!! I will get in contact, they have been excellent in repairing some minor niggles (cam lock creaking when cornering and pop top shifting forwards out of alignment).