Seat Arona FR - Popping sound coming from the front rear speaker

[Elijah_MK]

Hello everyone.

After spending days and days researching on internet and forums, including this one, I've decided to write my own tread.

I own Seat Arona FR 1.0 TSI (95Hp), 2020 built, first bought in 2021. I'm the second owner, having it for 3 months now, with 45,000 km.

I fell in love with the Arona and I wanted to get a brand new one. Unfortunately, in my country it was discontinued... for unknown reasons. And even after contacting the Porsche group and asking for a new shipment, they've said, unfortunately, there will be NO MORE Seat Arona here. What a bummer. So... I bought the newest I could find on our market, as I've mentioned, second-hand.

I love it! I enjoy driving it. Previously, I had Seat Ibiza MK3 and I've made 180,000 km with it, before selling it.

Initially, I wanted to get the 1.6TDI version... or even 1.0 TSI with 115Hp, but, as I've mentioned, this one was THE ONLY newest available on the market (MANUAL) at the time. But honestly, I'm surprised and pleased even with the 95Hp engine.

Now... let's get to the point

After I bought it, maybe I drove it 3-4 times in the first month. Didn't have time at all. Too much work. After a while, I've noticed THAT...

• When I open the door;
• When the passenger front door is opened;
• When I start the car on the START button;
• When it's OFF, but Hazard lights are ON;
• When locking / unlocking the car with the key (I was inside)
• When it's OFF, but I'm inside the car (and waiting)...

I hear a Sparkling / Popping sound! NOT always. From time to time.

I got really worried, thinking that it's a sparkling noise. So I took the car to the nearest Seat service.

The electrician heard the noise and said that it's not a sparkling noise, but a popping sound coming from the front rear speaker. It made sense because after saying that, I realized that the sound is coming exactly from there.

He said that it's nothing major or something that should worry me, as the sound was reminding him of the sound of audio jacks connecting.
Also, he said, it would be a shame to open the plastics searching for a problem, as there's no need, because there's also nothing on the dashboard.

So, I've continued searching for related threads to the speaker popping sound on the internet. Many suggest to error with the SOS module... but also many users confirm that they've had some error message shown on the dashboard, and updating the software should fix the issue.

After reading this, I remembered that the previous owner mentioned that once he also had a different problem with the SOS module... I'm not sure, but I guess... error message on the dashboard. And he said that he took it to Seat and they've updated the software and the problem was gone. Did he have or not such issues like me, I don't know.

Please, someone who had a problem with the SOS module, can confirm that this is THAT noise:

This was the best I could film with my phone.

Also, my current firmware version is :

Is updating the firmware by myself a bad idea... since there's no SD module in this version and I must do it through USB-C flash drive?

Please... every advice is welcome.

Thank you all

 

[Elijah_MK]

Anyone...?

 

[Tell]

If it was the SOS module then it's that, that needs changing not a firmware update. You might get that, but it's not the solution. @East Yorkshire Retrofits always says that. Basically all of them should have been sorted out four years ago. The name of that modules not spring to mind but it's the comms model associated with the SOS unit.

There must been many youtube SOS popping videos since it was very common post 2020. Seat was slow to call the cars in for a fix.

2 minutes in on this;

It's a beep and stab at the button to put it off. All VAG cars were doing that in the 2020 model range .

I dont have SOS unit on my car and never experienced the fault. But that sound on the video is the warning sound common to front assist when it's about to slam the brakes on when it's seen something on the radar. Suspect that's the common warning sound that the faulty SOS system puts up. But on the videos he is wrong it requires more than a firmware update... that's said but the data comms unit replaced.

So I don't think that's your sound and it might be a loose connection as the dealer said. Each speaker gets fed with its own wire these days. No crossover as in home sound systems. Could be a fault in the speaker.

Software updates. I wouldn't attempt to do your own with a USB. The firmware is knocking about on the mibsolution.one site but you might pick up the wrong one. You could try the one which has been reported where you put your unit onto receiving your home WiFi or mobile hot spot. After a time it's been reported that you may get offered a firmware update as if you are subscribing to connect services - assume you havent taken connect service out or not available in your country. Seems to be a feature not talked about much using the wifi to fish for firmware updates. That way you only get offered what is allowed.

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

Hello everyone.

After spending days and days researching on internet and forums, including this one, I've decided to write my own tread.

I own Seat Arona FR 1.0 TSI (95Hp), 2020 built, first bought in 2021. I'm the second owner, having it for 3 months now, with 45,000 km.

I fell in love with the Arona and I wanted to get a brand new one. Unfortunately, in my country it was discontinued... for unknown reasons. And even after contacting the Porsche group and asking for a new shipment, they've said, unfortunately, there will be NO MORE Seat Arona here. What a bummer. So... I bought the newest I could find on our market, as I've mentioned, second-hand.

I love it! I enjoy driving it. Previously, I had Seat Ibiza MK3 and I've made 180,000 km with it, before selling it.

Initially, I wanted to get the 1.6TDI version... or even 1.0 TSI with 115Hp, but, as I've mentioned, this one was THE ONLY newest available on the market (MANUAL) at the time. But honestly, I'm surprised and pleased even with the 95Hp engine.

Now... let's get to the point

After I bought it, maybe I drove it 3-4 times in the first month. Didn't have time at all. Too much work. After a while, I've noticed THAT...

• When I open the door;
• When the passenger front door is opened;
• When I start the car on the START button;
• When it's OFF, but Hazard lights are ON;
• When locking / unlocking the car with the key (I was inside)
• When it's OFF, but I'm inside the car (and waiting)...

I hear a Sparkling / Popping sound! NOT always. From time to time.

I got really worried, thinking that it's a sparkling noise. So I took the car to the nearest Seat service.

The electrician heard the noise and said that it's not a sparkling noise, but a popping sound coming from the front rear speaker. It made sense because after saying that, I realized that the sound is coming exactly from there.

He said that it's nothing major or something that should worry me, as the sound was reminding him of the sound of audio jacks connecting.
Also, he said, it would be a shame to open the plastics searching for a problem, as there's no need, because there's also nothing on the dashboard.

So, I've continued searching for related threads to the speaker popping sound on the internet. Many suggest to error with the SOS module... but also many users confirm that they've had some error message shown on the dashboard, and updating the software should fix the issue.

After reading this, I remembered that the previous owner mentioned that once he also had a different problem with the SOS module... I'm not sure, but I guess... error message on the dashboard. And he said that he took it to Seat and they've updated the software and the problem was gone. Did he have or not such issues like me, I don't know.

Please, someone who had a problem with the SOS module, can confirm that this is THAT noise:

This was the best I could film with my phone.

Also, my current firmware version is :

Is updating the firmware by myself a bad idea... since there's no SD module in this version and I must do it through USB-C flash drive?

Please... every advice is welcome.

Thank you all

Your car will have a tonne of updates outstanding. Visit your local dealer or specialist, DIY isn’t an option for 95% of them, and the 5% isn’t recommended without the other 95%

 

[Tell]

Oh yes not forgetting your dealer or specialist.

 

[Elijah_MK]

Thank yoo everyone for your response, I do really appreciate it so much
Even thought I checked mibsolution.one, I don't think that I'll be doing it by myself. In the local dealership it will cost me arround 50 euros to do it, so I'll go with that option.
But, I'll update you for sure, once I do that.
Thank you!

 

[Tell]

Probably other system other than the infotainment unit may need updating. Depends how good the previous dealer / owner was. They effectively have notes on the system about what needs to be updated. With my eight year old Seat the dealer had an update of the Kessy to put through last year. Generally when you take them in for service they look it up and tell you. Please sign here or not. You get told. I hadn't found Kessy to be an issue myself.

 

[East Yorkshire Retrofits]

Probably other system other than the infotainment unit may need updating. Depends how good the previous dealer / owner was. They effectively have notes on the system about what needs to be updated. With my eight year old Seat the dealer had an update of the Kessy to put through last year. Generally when you take them in for service they look it up and tell you. Please sign here or not. You get told. I hadn't found Kessy to be an issue mys

Generally updates aren’t mentioned during services unless they’re part of a service campaign/recall, or unless the owner has mentioned issues with matching updates to fix them

The kessy update you had done was part of a campaign, the updates the OP requires should be too

 

[Tell]

Yes the Kessy update un did the coding I'd done to get one touch locking the Vag way. Yes you won't get infotainment updates or other things unless it's deemed that there is something wrong with the firmware. A look and feel change isnt regarded as something that is wrong, hence the annual update twigs to mib2 aren't applied and units hang about on old seriel numbers. Our Arona never got shifted to 516. Still on 513 or something. Don't use AA so wasn't bothered.

For mib3 does this mean like mib2 people are stuck on old firmware or does connect service lift them to the latest ?. Fixes put through but not improvements ?. Campaign read as fix. I know some mib3 updates had to be done in the dealers.