Rob_Quads

My parents have in the process of replacing the key battery take off the rubber cover off the opposite side does anyone have a diagram showing how the rubber/silicon cover can be refitted. It feels like the key would come apart to then allow it to be fitted

Made sure the ignition was on, checked all the permissions on the account and all looked good. Couldn't see anything strange in the nav settings, It was able to show the current position OK and I could also send it a destination so the online part is also working fine. Looks like they will need a trip into Skoda as this should "just" work. Frustrating as I keep telling them to just use Sat Nav and stop using the paper atlas but looks like they will need it for a bit longer

My parents got a 71 plate Octavia a month or so ago but have not really used the gizmos in it at all. Today I was trying to get the satNav working bit no matter what I did it wasn’t able to route just giving “unable to calculate route”. Any ideas what might cause it? Interestingly i wasn’t able to find a local postcode or zoom in on the map and it show the local roads but phone signals in the area are all ok. I checked and they do still have the intro period of online services as well so should even do the online routing from what I have read.

I am sure my neighbour will know but I only get to speak to him every so often so was hoping to get all the information I can. I'm going to be doing all the donkey work prepping the engine and he will be doing the actual cam-belt swap. It also helps me plan how long this is going to take. (I've gone engine conversions on other cars, condenser replacements on mine etc so far from a novice)

Is there a good/recommended/easy way to flush out the coolant system. Going to be doing my cam belt / water pump soon (well my mechanic neighbour is) but wondered if there is a good way to flush the coolant system i.e. remove pipe X and Y and then connect water hose up to pipe X and let the water cycle round?

your best bet is to try the local scrapies. Your may well find one that is the same colour and is just a straight swap. Getting a brand new one will be much more expensive and then will also need painting which may end up with it looking very shiny in comparison to the rest of the car (depending on how its been kept etc.

I would agree with what has been said, if it can be repairs for a few hundred I would go that route. You might be able to find a replacement bumper from a scrappy and get someone to fit it for much less than the insurance will cost (specially depending on your excess) The insurance companies are not thick, even if you have protected no-claims etc they still know you have had an accident in the last year so will bump up the price for a few years

I don't think its replaceable Unfortunately to replace the condensor, its a front end off to get to it due to the way its blocked in. I did mine (once it had been de-gassed) in a few hours, not tricky at all just a case of going step by step

Its the effect of having twins and loosing all my free time. At long last managed to do a bit of a tidy up of the garage and found this so thought I would try and see if i can sell it. Open to offers

Still available now £50 delivered

You - its possible to remove it without taking off the front end. You need to move some of the pipes around to squeeze it out but its possible. Replacing the condenser - now that really is front off stuff

Sorry but I can't find the pictures locally that the guide would have been referring too.

Took around 3 hours which I did not think was too bad considering I had not had the front end off before. Not an overly complicated job but one where you just have to be methodical. I did look at the moving the rad out the way but I could just not see how it would be possible due to the gab behind the rad being smaller than the thickness it needed to be brought back before moving it up. Just need to get the aircon charged up now.

Yeah I have a couple of axle stands and don't need it de-gassing as its well and truly done that by it self looking at the readouts in vag-com lol I think the tricky bit will be the passenger light. I am sure the last time I had to replace the bulb i ended up doing it in situ as it was a complete arse and would not come out.

So this weekend I have the lovely task of replacing the condensor on my aircon as its now leaking lots of air. I've read that its possible to replace it by removing the lights, removing the bumper, removing the crash bars and then replacing. Any thought on how this compares to just removing the radaitor and doing it that way. Obviously it would need the rad re-filling and bleeding which I guess can be problematic.