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amelielang87

VW Virtus Audio System Goes Silent, Complete Failure Fix

My 2018 VW Virtus has completely lost all audio output from the infotainment system. The screen works fine, but there is no sound at all, whether from radio, USB audio, or Bluetooth. I have tried adjusting the volume control and checking all audio settings, but nothing seems to work. The sound system was working perfectly until yesterday. Has anyone experienced a similar complete audio failure? Particularly interested in knowing what repairs were needed and whether this points to an amplifier issue or something else in the system. Looking for suggestions before taking it to a workshop. Side note: Basic checks like fuses and battery voltage are all good, and there are no error messages showing on the display.

4 comment(s)

anni_schwarz1

Having experienced a similar sound issue with my 2020 VW Polo GT, I can understand how frustrating radio silence from the infotainment system can be. After basic troubleshooting failed to resolve the problem, I decided to take it to a certified workshop. The issue turned out to be a defective bass speaker which was causing the entire audio system to fail. The complete audio loss was actually a safety feature preventing potential damage to other components. The repair involved replacing the faulty speaker unit, which cost 280€ including diagnostics and labor. Before you head to a workshop, it would be helpful to know: Have you noticed any sound distortion or unusual noises before the complete failure? Did the sound cut out suddenly or gradually deteriorate? Are you using the stock audio system or has it been modified? Does the Bluetooth pairing still work, just without sound output? Have you recently had any electrical work done on the car? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced with my Polo. With some car audio experience from previous repairs, I suggest getting it professionally diagnosed as these systems are quite complex and interconnected.

amelielang87 (Author)

I have the exact same issue. My Virtus just had its annual service last month and everything was working fine until now. I also tried the basic volume control adjustments and checked all settings multiple times. The Bluetooth connection pairs successfully but there is no sound output at all. Worth noting the problem started right after a particularly hot day, not sure if that could be related to any component failure. No sound distortion or warning signs before the complete failure, it just stopped working suddenly during normal operation.

anni_schwarz1

Thanks for providing those additional details. Based on what you're describing, this sounds nearly identical to what I encountered with my Polo's audio system failure. The sudden loss without prior sound distortion, especially after exposure to high temperatures, strongly suggests an amplifier issue rather than the speaker problem I initially faced. Heat can definitely trigger electronic component failures in the sound system. In my case, after further investigation, we discovered the amplifier had a faulty thermal protection circuit that was causing false triggers, leading to complete audio shutdown. Key observations that match our cases: Sudden complete loss without warning, All audio sources affected (Bluetooth, radio, USB audio), No error messages despite the failure, Timing related to high temperatures I would recommend focusing the diagnostic efforts on the amplifier circuit first. When I got mine fixed, the repair cost was around 420€ for the amplifier replacement. If you are planning to visit a workshop, make sure to mention these symptoms and the heat correlation, it will help them pinpoint the issue faster. The good news is that once the faulty component is replaced, these systems typically return to full functionality without any lingering issues. In my case, the sound system has been working flawlessly since the repair.

amelielang87 (Author)

Based on your experience and the key details you shared about the amplifier, I will definitely focus on that when visiting the workshop. The heat correlation makes a lot of sense, our temperatures have been unusually high lately. The radio silence issue is particularly frustrating since we use the sound system daily for navigation and hands-free calls. I will schedule an appointment with our local VW specialist this week and specifically request they check the amplifier and its thermal protection circuit first. I appreciate you sharing the repair costs too, helps set realistic expectations around the 420€ range for the fix. At least the audio connectivity and screen functions are still working normally, so hopefully replacing the amplifier will restore full sound system functionality like in your case. Will update once I get it diagnosed and repaired. Thanks for the detailed insights, really helped narrow down the likely cause of the problem.

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