johnrr

The sunroof on my Mk1 Octavia has recently started opening by itself as I drive. It's only done it a couple of times so far, although I don't use the car every day, so it might do it more frequently if I did. I've had the car about 10 years and this has never happened before. Any ideas as to the cause?

I have a very similar problem on my y reg elegance estate. If I disconnect and reconnect the battery the fault clears. Once the key has been turned the drain is back on; 2 to 3 hundred milliamps - enough to flatten a good battery in a couple of days. Once the fault is present the door open warning light fails to work ( it works after the battery has been disconnected and reconnected) Another couple of problems which may or may not be connected: isthe courtesy light stays on for about 5+ minutes after the door is closed although it goes out when the car is locked or the engine is started, and the sunroof no longer closes with the windows when I hold the remote lock button down or hold the key in the locked position in the driver's door. I have had the car into two dealers, one franchised and one non-franchised, each having the manufacturers diagnostic equipment but neither has been able to fix the problem. Couls it be a fault in the convenience control unit? Any more ideas anybody?

Thanks everybody for the response. Will have to do some checking to see why door open and audible temp alarm are not working.

Hi all, can anyone tell me if the following are, or should be standard features on an 01 Y reg (registered august 01) Octavia elegance: Door open warning light Bulb failure warning light Brake pad warning light Also does anyone else notice when switching off engine, all the door locks click as though locking or unlocking but they're not actually doing anything!

You are not alone! I have had exactly the same thing happen with my Y reg 01 Octavia TDI I have another odd thing occur, the door open warning light only works after either the battery has been disconnected and reconnected, or the 5a fuse (no 15 I think) to the instrument panel has been removed then put back. The light then works until the engine is started, after which it stops working again! Also when I switch off the engine, all the door locks click as though locking/unlocking but they don't actually move. Is this a normal feature on MK 1 Octavia's?

Thanks guys, took the car to a local auto electrician last Sat. They reckon there was around quarter on amp drain with everything switched off, doors closed and locked. Wasn't interior light, hands free holder or glove locker light. Suggested bring car back monday for further tests. Monday they found only about 30 milliamps (0.030) drain well within spec. Did all the obvious things to reproduce the fault without success. Did some testing of my own with borrowed fluke meter and found that opening and closing any door left current drain of arounf 0.08 amps. Disconnecting and reconnecting meter and battery resets something and current drain returned to 0.030 amps! Also noticed that 'door open' warning light only works after battery reconnected. Once I've turned the key to start or even just to 'lights on' position, the door open light no longer works. Pulling out fuse 15 - instrument panel and replacing it seems to reset something and the 'door open' warning works again! Could the problem be something to do with the convenience control unit?

Thanks guys. Lummox do you mean 0.2 to 0.3 amps or 2 to 3 milliamps?, because The reading I'm getting is around 15 milliamps. ie fifteen hundredths of an amp. The battery was replaced at my local dealer about 16 months ago, its the so-called magic eye type, although I have removed the cell caps and checked the water level. The battery capacity of 72AH is the one specified for the car, and with the engine running and everything switched on there's around 14 volts across the terminals so it seems to be charging on the car. Another strange thing I discovered while doing the testing, after i'd removed the 5amp fuse which protects the instrument panel, the warning light for door open started working for the first time! However it stopped working again after I turned the key. It seems to re-set itself every time I take out, then replace the fuse!! Everything else appears to work properly.:confused:

Does anybody know what a 'normal' current drain on the battery should be on a 2001 model year Octavia TDI? My battery went flat after about a week of not being used. If I use it every day it's fine. The battery was replaced about a year ago with a 72AH Varta. When I connected an ammeter between the battery negative and the disconnected negative battery cable there was a current draw of about 15 Ma with everything switched off, doors closed etc and after a couple of minutes when everything had settled down. Is this a normal sort of current? Surely a good battery shoudn't go flat after 7 days? There's no information in the Haynes manual on this, but the manual I have for another car suggests a max current drain with everything switched off of around 2or 3 Ma! Any ideas anyone?

Gala reverts to position 5 in my 01 octavia TDI every time I turn it off and on

My '01 octavia used to give an audible warning, a 'ping' (same as low fuel) whenever outside temp went below 5 degrees, and the display went to outside temperature. This bit still works but there is no 'ping' noise. Strange, as the pinger still works whenever fuel or screenwash become low Also interior light stays on for 4-5 minutes after switching off engine if car is not locked - goes out immediatly if car is locked. If i unlock car without starting engine, light comes on and fades out after about 25 seconds as it should. I am sure both these faults did not exist before car went into dealer for service but cannot prove otherwise and dealer not interested now. Any ideas anyone?

I've just had my '01 octavia TDI in for its annual inspection service and asked the dealer to change the brake fluid as per the manufacturers recommendations. A day or two later I had to change a wheel and noticed that the bleed nipple on the brake caliper showed no sign of having been touched - no spanner marks and no trace of brake fluid. On checking the other brakes I found them all the same. When I contacted the dealer to enquire how they managed to change the fluid without bleeding through each caliper I was told oh we use a vacuum system! Can anyone enlighten me on how it is possible to ensure that no old fluid remains trapped in brake calipers using this method? Incidently they charged me for approximately 3/4 hour to do this job! Any comments please. :confused:

Thanks very much chaps, will have a bash this weekend weather permitting

can anyone talk me through removal and refitting of the front bumper on a 2001 octavia please?