508 Volume Restriction

[PC2CV]

I bought a 2015 508 SW yesterday, so far did about 520 miles to get it home, really nice car.

One quirk it has is that the infotainment system puts up a message that the system temperature is too high, restricting volume. The volume is then restricted to 15.

Yesterday was a cold day so the interior heater was at HI and the message came up, did it today as well.

Just wondering if anyone else has experienced this, is there a software/firmware update that can solve it, or what tells the system what temperature it is?

[GiveMeABreak]

It's perfectly normal and does this because the system is overheating.

The trouble is that there is little room for cooling in the Head Units and especially behind the console. So once you whack the heating up it has to cope with all that too. It reduces the volume as the internal amplifier causes much of the heat, so by restricting this is it one of the few things it can do. the next stage is that it will shut down temporarily.

If you can, use the climate control and set the controls to about 21-22. That is a recommended comfortable temperature for driving, but if you like to cook, then be prepared for it to do the same again.

[white exec]

You really couldn't make this is up! Speechless.

[GiveMeABreak]

The more they cram in, with less room, more computing power , more funtionality, more heat, less cooling ability. It’s bound to happen.

I was running a rather graphics intense programme the other day and my PC went into overdrive, opened all the vents up and started increasing all the fans - sounded like a 747 taking off!

I opened up the side panel and actually put another small fan aimed in toward the radiator tubes of the graphics card and that helped cool it down, although I could fry an egg on it!

[PC2CV]

It seems a bit unfortunate
Most cars you dont have to make that sort of compromise between heat and enjoying some music, certainly not required on my old 406.
It also cuts the phone Bluetooth volume down to 'too low for a clear conversation'.

You mention computer cooling systems, i was thinking about how to run some ducting to the headunit that supplies cool air (on the first day of owneship)

I wonder what about the JBL system these cars had as an option does that move the amp to the boot where in theory it might be cooler?

[white exec]

It sounds like the sort of crazy problem that might have hit the web, courtesy of frustrated owners.
Wonder whether there was a service bulletin covering this? Must have arisen as a warranty issue.

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes, the optional amp was usually fitted under the passenger glovebox with the subwooder in the boot!

As for wiring any additional ducting - the problem is there is no air supply behind the dash, so you would just be recirculating hot air that's being heated by all the electronics. Just as well I like icicles on the nose when I'm driving.

[white exec]

Since main cabin temp will almost never exceed, say, 25°C, 'ducting' some air from the cabin might be worth looking at - assuming, that is, you can ever find exactly where it needs to be directed. Behind-dash temps might get very hot, but cabin temp won't.

No half-decently designed audio should be upset with these sort of temperatures, unless the heat-sink arrangements are particularly poor. (It has been reported on another Pug forum (in 2017), but contributors there seemed more interested in blame allocation, rather than a solution. There you go.)

If you can locate the hot-spot, and provide ventilation for it, it could solve the problem. A lot depends on access to behind-dash. This would drive me nuts if the problem were mine!

[xantia_v6]

The 58 has a cooled glovebox where there is a vent delivering chilled air from the A/C into the glovebox, maybe that can be diverted to the head unit?