Autopolar FIS+ Advanced Install

[The_Hawk]

I'd love to see some extra customisation in how things are displayed. It would be good to have only two things on screen... But bigger like how the stock speed looks but with two things... If that makes sense.

[boltor]

I'm thinking of going for (1) Real Speed, (2) Boost pressure (psi), (3) Gearbox torque (nm), (4) Coolant temp but I haven't had the chance to look through it all yet so don't quote me on that. I already know that going light on the gas pedal reduces fuel consumption so seeing a number isn't going to make too much of a difference. I would like to know when/how often high amounts of torque are used so that I can reduce those situations.

You get 4 or 6 screens, each with 4 elements on each ... Right?

[jamesatfish]

Okay - so the good news is you can install the unit in a Golf R from within the cabin, without needing to pull off the wipers etc from the engine bay. I didn't take photos along the way but will have to dig in there again later (see the bad news) so will update the post with pics then.

1. Pull off the fuse panel cover (driver's side).

2. Pull out the cubby box to the right of the driver's knee (under the headlight switch). To do this, open it fully, squeeze the sides at the top and the top of the box will open even further. From there simply pull out from the bottom and it will slide off the hinges.

3. Move the large relay panel out of the way. Undo the clip to the left and the panel will swing towards you. Use 2 long cable ties to hook around the relay panel and pull it up out of the way so it sits above the gap opened up by the cubby box. You can hook the cable ties through the top frame of the fuse panel.

4. You will see a small plastic box with a single hex screw on the right and a browny/yellow connector on the top. Undo the screw and pull that plastic box out towards you. There is plenty of length on the cable for you to pull the box out without undoing the connector on the top. You will need to jiggle the box to squeeze it through the space to the left of the screw but it will come out.

5. The magic red plug gateway box is now visible. From here you can either try to unplug the connector with the box where it is, or if you jiggle the box itself you will find that it comes away from the two plastic clips that hold it in place. Once loose you can pull it out of the same space to the left of that screw you undid in step 4. Again there is enough cable to pull the box out to where the cubby box lives.



6. Connect the FIS+ unit, test and confirm everything is OK.

7. From here you have 2 choices - put everything back as it came out, or put the browny/yellow top box back in first so the gateway box remains more accessible. I chose to do this, which means that the two boxes I pulled out of that space aren't clicked into the original mounting spots. They are however jammed in pretty tight in there so I can't see that being an issue as they're certainly not going to move around.

8. If you want to keep the FIS+ unit accessible, run the cord over the top of the relay box when you put it back in place. The relay box is shaped like an L so there's room on the top for the FIS+ cable to run past.

9. Put everything back together in the reverse order from above.

[jamesatfish]

The bad news is that my box didn't work.

Once the gateway unit was exposed I disconnected the battery, connected the FIS+ unit as per instructions and re-connected the battery. The RNS unit took about 30 seconds to boot, then dropped into Radio Code mode, and I scored a ESC Error Code to boot. Switching ignition on and off a few times didn't make any difference.

I disconnected the battery, removed the FIS+ unit and reconnected the battery, and the RNS unit went back to normal.

So I tried a second time to connect the FIS+ - this time the RNS stayed operational but the MFD didn't display any of the RNS menus (nav, phone, media etc). Pulling it out again returned everything to normal (except the ESC code which I'll need to get cleared).

I've performed another software update on the unit to make sure that it is configured correctly, and I'll try the install again in a few days when I have time again.

[Transporter]

You may have a faulty one but make sure that the connectors are fully pushed in, so you have the good connections.

[jamesatfish]

You may have a faulty one but make sure that the connectors are fully pushed in, so you have the good connections.

Will be sure to do so when I stick it back into the car tomorrow.

On a related note - does anyone know what the actual latest firmware is? The AutoPolar website lists 0.3.0b0 on their updater page, 0.3.0b1 on their Latest News page, but the Windows .exe updater (not the ActiveX version) has 0.3.0b6 dated 16/11/12. I don't know what version I had installed with my first test (I used the ActiveX installer to perform the update and it just lists 0.3.0) but I now have 0.3.0b6 for when I try again.

[Ryan_R]

I used the ActiveX version today and while I think my unit was already 'up to date' I decided to click Update anyway, I was then presented with 3 options, 2 for the Red MFD and one for the White MFD... so it's entirely possible that your unit is up to date but has the red MFD firmware installed I guess.

Remember you have to use IE (not Chrome or FF) and adjust the security settings as per the instructions on the website: Autopolar Official Web site

[tigger73]

Yes as Ryan said make sure your FIS+ is up to date for the correct format MFD (red/white) - obviously white in your case. If it's the wrong format it won't work.

Second when installing the box, make sure that nothing is connected to the OBD port in the car (other diagnostic tools, digital gauges, etc) and the Polar FIS+ is not connected to the USB port. Having he USB cable attached shouldn't be a problem, however try disconnecting the cable just in case.

If you're still having issues post an autoscan before and after.

[readerr0r]

Edit: Sorry misread a section

[jamesatfish]

Success!

I ended up fully erasing the firmware using the downloadable Updater exe, then updating back to 0.3.0b6. Tested this morning and it works as it should.

Now to configure and sort out what data I want to display.

What I'd really like is actual speed plus distance to empty on the same page, but it doesn't look like the fuel data can be displayed?