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Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2020 7:14 pm
by monkeyhanger
I deactivated the soundaktor on both our GTI+ today, thanks to a bit of advice from Mike 222 in the "What did you do to your Polo today" thread. You don't need any tools, everything comes off and reattaches with hands only.
First, pop the bonnet, then pull the rubber/foam tubing off the leaf guard, starting at the right side) as you're looking at it, and stopping about 1/3 the way from the left end of it, you only need to get into the RHS of the underside of the leaf guard:-
Next pull 2 metal clips out:-
Pull up the right side of the leaf guard from the centre to gain access to the Soundaktor controller:-
The large red circled area is the controller, the small red circled area is the locking grey clip you've got to pull about 2mm before pulling the plug off. The blue circled area is the soundaktor itself.
Closer look at the controller:-
Unplugged controller with taped plug:-
tape up the open connector and socket so they don't deteriorate in future. Refit the leaf guard, pressing down on the rubber top edge to lock it in, put the 2 metal clips back in, tuck the rubber /foam tubing back on the ridge it came off and the job is done.
Re: Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2020 7:40 pm
by OomStu_ZA
nicely done!
Re: Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:16 pm
by iichel
I think you should also be able to do it with VCDS, in the adaptation channels of the engine somehwere.
Re: Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:51 pm
by OomStu_ZA
iichel wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:16 pm
I think you should also be able to do it with VCDS, in the adaptation channels of the engine somehwere.
VW disabled mine for me, easy peezy
Re: Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2020 10:04 pm
by S_94
What are the pros of disabling this?
Re: Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2020 10:18 pm
by OomStu_ZA
S_94 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2020 10:04 pm
What are the pros of disabling this?
In my case the device caused a nasty dash rattle when hoofing it on the throttle.
Re: Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 5:53 am
by monkeyhanger
S_94 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2020 10:04 pm
What are the pros of disabling this?
No fake noise. I don't mind genuine noise. For the GPF equipped GTIs, almost everything you hear from within the cabin is fake.
Re: Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:40 am
by l3rady
Might give this a go. I've disabled the soundaktor via obdelevn but I'm sure when I put it into sports mode the soundaktor re-activates.
Re: Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 9:44 am
by S_94
Thanks both. Yeah might give this a go myself.
Re: Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:35 am
by stuartrendall
I'm pretty much sure if you set engine sound in individual it turns the soundaktor to 0% because in every other setting I can here a very quite buzz when the cars electronics are on except in the setting I mentioned above. It's not very noticable but once you hear it you can't unhear it.
Re: Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 12:10 pm
by monkeyhanger
stuartrendall wrote: ↑Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:35 am
I'm pretty much sure if you set engine sound in individual it turns the soundaktor to 0% because in every other setting I can here a very quite buzz when the cars electronics are on except in the setting I mentioned above. It's not very noticable but once you hear it you can't unhear it.
For the 2019/2020 model with GPF, even with the engine sound in Eco, there is some fake sound being generated. The difference between soundaktor controller connected and disconnected on the wife's car yesterday (which is individual with everything in Sport except engine noise (Eco) and Suspension (Normal)) was very noticeable.
Maybe the milder Eco setting isn't enough for yours to buzz?
On mine with no GPF, if there's any difference between Eco and disconnected then it's tiny, presumably because the non-GPF version creates plenty of natural noise. The GPF seems to mute the exhaust hugely.
Re: Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 12:17 pm
by stuartrendall
monkeyhanger wrote: ↑Tue Jun 02, 2020 12:10 pm
stuartrendall wrote: ↑Tue Jun 02, 2020 11:35 am
I'm pretty much sure if you set engine sound in individual it turns the soundaktor to 0% because in every other setting I can here a very quite buzz when the cars electronics are on except in the setting I mentioned above. It's not very noticable but once you hear it you can't unhear it.
For the 2019/2020 model with GPF, even with the engine sound in Eco, there is some fake sound being generated. The difference between soundaktor controller connected and disconnected on the wife's car yesterday (which is individual with everything in Sport except engine noise (Eco) and Suspension (Normal)) was very noticeable.
Maybe the milder Eco setting isn't enough for yours to buzz?
On mine with no GPF, if there's any difference between Eco and disconnected then it's tiny, presumably because the non-GPF version creates plenty of natural noise. The GPF seems to mute the exhaust hugely.
You may be right there. In my opinion if I don't think I can hear it then it's quite enough. I plan on getting an exhaust within the next 2 months anyway so it will definitely be unnoticeable then.
Re: Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 12:44 pm
by monkeyhanger
stuartrendall wrote: ↑Tue Jun 02, 2020 12:17 pm
You may be right there. In my opinion if I don't think I can hear it then it's quite enough. I plan on getting an exhaust within the next 2 months anyway so it will definitely be unnoticeable then.
Not sure whether it's sheer.boredom during lockdown, the fact that I've hardly spent anything during lockdown, or that I really miss driving (driving to an empty office once a week currently)...but I am tempted by a res delete. I don't want to have to replace the whole stock system, just replace the middle/front end to be rid of the middle box.
Will have to spend some money at some point soon - I have my first bit of whiteworm. Given VW's recent history in claim refusal, I'm probably going to have to get the wheels powder coated (£300) or buy a single replacement wheel (£250) to make the current one a full size spare and wait for the inevitable to happen on the other 3, or get a refurb done on the wheel (probably £110 inc postage) and again, await the inevitable on the other 3. The lacquer around the whiteworm had an odd halo effect near the rim when new as if it had hairline cracks in a rounded rectangle pattern. I was told to leave it by the dealership. 2nd service due 1st Aug or thereabouts. Might wait until then, get the dealership's opinion whether VW would refuse and make the decision to powder coat then. What colour though? I could save £50 on paint because I had to buy a batch of custom paint for my R's Pretorias when one was refurbed - it is a slightly bluish bright silver. Or I pay for some new stuff like anthracite/gunmetal grey.
Re: Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 1:16 pm
by SRGTD
monkeyhanger wrote: ↑Tue Jun 02, 2020 12:44 pm
Will have to spend some money at some point soon - I have my first bit of whiteworm. Given VW's recent history in claim refusal, I'm probably going to have to get the wheels powder coated (£300) or buy a single replacement wheel (£250) to make the current one a full size spare and wait for the inevitable to happen on the other 3, or get a refurb done on the wheel (probably £110 inc postage) and again, await the inevitable on the other 3. The lacquer around the whiteworm had an odd halo effect near the rim when new as if it had hairline cracks in a rounded rectangle pattern. I was told to leave it by the dealership. 2nd service due 1st Aug or thereabouts. Might wait until then, get the dealership's opinion whether VW would refuse and make the decision to powder coat then. What colour though? I could save £50 on paint because I had to buy a batch of custom paint for my R's Pretorias when one was refurbed - it is a slightly bluish bright silver. Or I pay for some new stuff like anthracite/gunmetal grey.
Red car + anthracite wheels = great combination!
IMO if car manufacturers persist in fitting diamond cut alloys as the standard fitment on the majority of their performance cars, it would be good if they offered the option of painted / powder coated wheels as well - like they did on the mk7/mk7.5 Golf R (standard 18” diamond cut Cadiz, Optional painted / powder coated 19” Pretoria). I’d always go for the painted / powder coated option; it’s a much more durable finish and stands up well to the UK winter weather, and you don’t get white worm corrosion issues with a painted / powder coated finish either.
VW readily replaced two of the diamond cut alloys on my mk6 GTD because they’d succumbed to white worm. That was 7 years ago though and times have changed, so if their approach to warranty claims on alloys has changed, they may be less willing to readily replace them.
Re: Soundaktor deactivation guide
Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2020 1:53 pm
by stuartrendall
monkeyhanger wrote: ↑Tue Jun 02, 2020 12:44 pm
stuartrendall wrote: ↑Tue Jun 02, 2020 12:17 pm
You may be right there. In my opinion if I don't think I can hear it then it's quite enough. I plan on getting an exhaust within the next 2 months anyway so it will definitely be unnoticeable then.
Not sure whether it's sheer.boredom during lockdown, the fact that I've hardly spent anything during lockdown, or that I really miss driving (driving to an empty office once a week currently)...but I am tempted by a res delete. I don't want to have to replace the whole stock system, just replace the middle/front end to be rid of the middle box.
Will have to spend some money at some point soon - I have my first bit of whiteworm. Given VW's recent history in claim refusal, I'm probably going to have to get the wheels powder coated (£300) or buy a single replacement wheel (£250) to make the current one a full size spare and wait for the inevitable to happen on the other 3, or get a refurb done on the wheel (probably £110 inc postage) and again, await the inevitable on the other 3. The lacquer around the whiteworm had an odd halo effect near the rim when new as if it had hairline cracks in a rounded rectangle pattern. I was told to leave it by the dealership. 2nd service due 1st Aug or thereabouts. Might wait until then, get the dealership's opinion whether VW would refuse and make the decision to powder coat then. What colour though? I could save £50 on paint because I had to buy a batch of custom paint for my R's Pretorias when one was refurbed - it is a slightly bluish bright silver. Or I pay for some new stuff like anthracite/gunmetal grey.
I have already ordered some new alloys for my car. I ordered the car with the stock alloys with the intention to replace them. Got a set of Borbet Y's, which seem to be a popular choice for the Polo.
