2024 DS4 loss of radio / telematics

[BusybeasDS]

Been very pleased with the DS4 over past 18 months.. its just turned 2 years old and had just its 2nd dealer service, 10 days ago.

As is usual with French Cars, ( I have had a lot them) there are occasional glitches with their software.. and in the past they sorted themselves.

Today, the radio is dead, no signal no radio stations showing, no sound
The sat nav display works visually, but the location is all wrong and its showing no signal, so pretty useless in truth.

The connectivity on board wifi will not connect to the Stellantis servers.. flipping the on /off switch it defaults to off.
It's not finding any wifi networks that it usually does.

Stopped and started the car numerous times today, radio still dead.

The settings screen displays 'One moment.... Radio antenna not yet available.Please wait.' See photo

So I reckon its the sharkfin aerial telematics unit thats kapput?
There is just no signal at all.
There appears nothing that I can do.. so I will give it until Monday then contact the dealer as its only 2 years old.

The dash and IVI unit is visible and all sounds are there.. just no radio, no signal, no data exchange and the sat nav isnt getting anything.

I have only seen this issue mentioned on another forum and it was found to be the comms BSFR unit inside the sharkfin aerial?
Any thoughts ?

Thanks in advance

Steve

[mickthemaverick]

I know nothing about the DS series, but from reading your description I would definitely plump for a fault with the antenna unit. Either an internal fault or maybe a cable connexion between it and the head unit has gone awry Good luck tracking that down

[BusybeasDS]

As its the weekend, dealer suggested I try a BSI reset ( I followed Marcs instructions there) .

As I suspected, it didn't work so I reckon the antenna module is the issue.
It's not picking up any signal, radio or sat nav and wifi connections default to off no matter what so its kapput.

I will contact them again Monday and get it booked in... pain in the bum... but as its only just shy of 2 years old, it will be at DS expense under warranty

TBC
Steve

[Paul-R]

As it's still under warranty absolutely take it to a dealer.

On a related matter, if you have a shark fin unit on the roof then this won't be for the radio but for the telematics, GPS and phone (if fitted). The aerial antenna(s) will be either printed onto a rear side window or tailgate or, possibly, hidden inside a tailgate spoiler (if fitted).

Having said that it does sound like an electrical fault. Somebody else's problem!

[BusybeasDS]

Thanks Paul,

My understanding is the Sharkfin Aerial IS an integrated comms module for GPS/ GSM/ Radio.
All of which have ceased working during the last few days.

It would appear to be a very complex bit of kit, including having a cooling fan!

As may be seen by the PSA part I have now established, there are also a number of comms cables attached.
These must all be buried in the cars roof headlining...
They appear to be common parts in the Stellantis range, including DS, Opel, Vauxhall and Peugeot, and others !

My research also shows they need to be coded specific to the actual vehicle in France, so I may be in for a bit of lengthy wait ( assuming that's correct)

Googling comes up with this to support the above:

Just found a 2nd hand used ones for between £50 and £500 !+ fitting + coding !
Can just imagine the new cost from PSA !

https://www.autoparts-24.com/item/D_014 ... ktvo7kDwLQ


Agreed, the DS dealer can sort this out !

TBC ( to be continued... when I have an update)

Cheers
Steve

[Paul-R]

I can see that the information has been collated by an AI so I would look at the source that the AI has consulted. When I use my Brave browser it gives me the sources it's looked at so I can confirm for myself. I'm not yet convinced that the fin does contain an antenna for the radio. An amplifier can only do so much to make up for lack of metal in the air.

[Sloppysod]

I've heard of quite a few of these units failing. They units are a common for Stellantis cars manufactured around 2022/2023 and are multi function, GPS, OTA Updates, SOS.....but I would have thought they would have all been replaced by now, unless your car was built around this time.

As for having to be coded to your car, it's only so you buy OEM parts and not from the breakers or an aftermarket item.
My opinion this practise should have been referred to the monopolies commission when it first started!

[BusybeasDS]

Cheers Stu

You know, thinking about it, its always had a problem with OTA mapping, even when linked to house fast wifi, or tethered to my mobiles data.
Maps can only be updated via wifi..and that no longer activates .

I reckon it was probably duff/ failing from the outset.
The other thing is, I noticed it getting really warm to the touch recently.. and now I have seen images of the part, it has an integral cooling fan.
There is also a internal vent in the headlining below it , above the back seat inside the car.
It's clearly failed.. and possibly even overheated at some point.

Car was built end of 23 , registered April 24, so falls within the timeline you mentioned.

Google brings up loads of similar used / breakers units for all types of Stellantis vehicles, both here and in Europe.

I will speak with the dealer tomorrow.

Cheers
Steve

[Djandree]

Try to reset the radio. long press on phone icon

[BusybeasDS]

Try to reset the radio. long press on phone icon

Tried that first, nothing happened.. DS Dealer it is.
There is nothing in the radio settings at all.. no radio icons.. all settings are blanked out, as if it never had a radio

Sat nav is now around 30 miles out with location.. just shows a static map and the arrow doesn't move
The last time it all worked ok was 22nd April..
The Apps not picking up anything either as there is no GPS to pin to..

It needs DS intervention now..

[BusybeasDS]

Booked in with DS dealer in 2 days time, which is much quicker than I expected.
They will do diagnostics to confirm, but I can’t see them arriving at any other conclusion.
Then order the required parts as necessary.

They did say that they had replaced ‘quite a few’ antenna modules on DS and Citroëns!

I have also asked them to look into why the front radar system has disappeared since the battery/ bsi reset.
I had a single error pop up saying "Collision risk alert/ active safety brake malfunction."

The error disappeared , but so has the function in ADAS !
It just doesn’t exist in the menu !

[Djandree]

Yeah. In Diagbox they can check for some telematics errors. I had something similar, but long press on phone button helped

[BusybeasDS]

All sorted, DS dealer was excellent.

The BFSR unit has ceased communications with other modules including the shark fin telematics. They said they purged the system, then rebooted it.. something a basic BSI reset will not do at that level..
Needed doing electronically with data from lap top.

Everythings come back, radio, sat nav, radar the lot..
Sadly now the stop start even works ! ( not bothered about that one though)

So it's all resolved... no idea why it occured.. so I shall monitor it going forward.

The cars got another years warranty left anyway.. and all the work today ( 2 hours) was done under warranty...

Happy with my DS4 again ;o)

[Paul-R]

The BFSR unit has ceased communications with other modules including the shark fin telematics. They said they purged the system, then rebooted it.. something a basic BSI reset will not do at that level..
Needed doing electronically with data from lap top.

I'm very curious to know what they did without any change of parts. Any chance you could get the info from them?

The cars got another years warranty left anyway.. and all the work today ( 2 hours) was done under warranty...

Happy with my DS4 again ;o)

Excellent news.

[BusybeasDS]

When I went to collect the car, they had the boot open and roof lining down and a laptop / data cable plugged into the aerial module.
They then put everything back together.. no parts replaced at all, just through diagnostics.

They told me they had to purge the unit, drain the power from the unit, then reboot it.. and that cannot be done via the main battery and BSI reset.
Seems the aerial module had stopped communicating with the main radio / head unit and the unit that's in the SOS system at the front.
So they reset and everything came back to life!
I am assuming the aerial unit has some sort of reserve battery and they flashed its memory.. dunno tbh.

All my saved locations in Sat Nav are back as are all the radio stations.
Front radar system now working , with anti collision and active safety brake.. ( both these disappeared)

Clearly some sort of software / comms glitch that they appear to have sorted.

25 mile return journey and everything worked as it should ( even the piggin stop start - which I hate)
That hasn't worked for months, so they certainly did something in the 2 and a bit hours they had it.
It stopped and started every time the car stopped.. !

Even the My DS app has recorded the return journey and when they moved the car after the repair!
It hasn't communicated with the car since the fault happened on 23rd April.

They even washed it after, so I am delighted with their efficiency/ service
( BTW its WR Davies DS Store in Stafford) nothing but praise for them!

I shall monitor it, but pleased its done..