Mel Amine

I went into the garage today. Bloke at desk again told me it was impossible for them to get wrong. However, when the bloke at desk was called outside a mechanic from the back who'd overheard the conversation sneaked out and told me it was possible (normal splined shaft as you'd expect). Though he did say that they (perhaps he) shouldn't have got it wrong because there are marks on the spline and the wheel which they are supposed to line up. He said if I brought the car back later he could misalign the wheel on the shaft in order to centre the steering. I declined, feeling that if this needed to be done it was probably wise to get the tracking checked, but then I wonder if this might have been his way of rectifying the problem without admitting their error. How easy is it for me to check the alignment of the marks? I am a bit nervous about messing with the steering wheel, given that it houses an explosive airbag.

Thanks guys. I've just called the garage. They tell me it isn't possible for them to have misaligned the steering wheel because if it was misaligned it isn't possible to fit the indicator stalk. Apparently it has to line up with a slot in the steering wheel assembly. Does that sound right to you? Does that mean they don't actually detatch the steering wheel? It's strange, because I don't recall the steering being off centre like this before, but it's a bit difficult to check on the road unless it is flat, without a camber.

I have just had the indictator stalk replaced on my Octavia II under warranty (a common problem). Since then I have noticed that the steering wheel is a bit off centre when driving straight. Is it possible for the garage to have refitted it off centre? Otherwise, I suppose it must have been like that before going in and I need an alignment check.

Thanks for clarifying that Lummox. By "lube" service you mean an oil change? In which case, surely my next service indication of 744 days is wrong, if I have been set to fixed interval servicing? Out of interest, if you are on variable interval servicing does the computer give you any estimate of when the next service may be due?

Sorry to be dense VRStu, but the car is capable of two fixed interval settings, 10,000m/12 months and 10,000m/24 months? What determines whether it should be set to 12 months or 24 months? Given that the free servicing is 10,000m/12 months shouldn't the service indicator have been reset to this?

Thank you for your help. This place brilliant - got a reply in 2 minutes - less than the time your spend waiting to get through to a telephone support desk, where they wouldn't understand the question, let alone know the answer. Are you sure that the fixed service interval is 10,000 miles/2 years? I wonder why the free servicing deal is at 10,000 miles/12 months. My manual indicates that an engine oil change fixed service interval QG0 and QG2 is 15,000km/12 months. If this is correct, why am I getting an indication for next service of 744 days?

I've had an Octavia from new for almost 12 months and it has done about 9,700 miles. It was supplied setup for variable interval servicing but came with the 3 years free servicing deal which covers a service every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whatever the sooner. Today I took the car to my local dealer, not the dealer I bought it from. They told me the free servicing deal covers fixed interval servicing only. They would therefore only use fixed interval oil and would reset the indicator to the fixed interval regime. After collecting the car I checked the service indicator and it says the next service is due in 9,300 miles, or 744 days. 744 days sounds a bit strange. Is this correct for fixed interval servicing, or has the garage forgotten to reset the indicator? Unfortunately I didn't check the indicator before taking it in for service. Also, I was a bit surprised that the garage didn't regard "lube" (this apparently includes the lubrication of the door mechanisms) or washer fluid top up as part of the free service. So much for "all oils and fluids required within the service". I bet they would have regarded them as part of the service had I been paying. Finally, the garage told me that I would need to buy a bottle of fixed interval oil as the (unused) bottle of variable service interval oil I bought from them a couple of months ago is incompatible with the fixed service interval oil, even when used under the fixed service interval regime. Is this correct?

Thank you VRStu. Sorry to be thick, but does that mean the self levelling is perfomed continously when driving, or only performed when you turn the lights on and are stationary? If on continuously, is it able to compensate for acceleration, braking, potholes and bumps, or is it only able to cope with slower variations in level?

Am I correct in thinking that the levelling calibration process only takes place when you turn the lights on and possibly only takes place when you are stationary? Is there supposed to be any levelling adjustment when driving, eg to compensate for acceleration, braking, potholes and bumps?

I don't know whether this is the right thread to join but I thought I'd ask about my Xenons. I've had an Octavia II since June. I noticed that when I turned them on the beam would drop then come up again, presumably the calibration process. However, yesterday I noticed this no longer happens. Could I have a fault? I also have beams setup like FatOldGit - they seem steady on the level but on hills they are apt to be too high and several times I've been flashed by oncoming cars.

I received the little booklet today containg the small print about the free service offer. Workman, I think you ought to receive it too, as you should be able to get the service through any authorised dealer, not simply the one you bought the car from. Nothing about £500 cashback though. Ah well.

Workman, have you received any paperwork yet regarding the free servicing? I've been chasing for two months and am often fobbed off with "end of this week". I wonder if we will also get the £500 cashback. That would be quite nice.

Workman, call Skoda UK about it, the earlier the better. I bought mine early in June, before there was any paperwork. I called Skoda UK and they said I could qualify. Mind you, in spite of chasing up for weeks I haven't received anything in writing yet - stuck at Volkswagen Finance apparently. Bear in mind that you have to be on fixed interval servicing, and I'm not sure how much, if anything, you get charged for consumables. When I finally do get to see the small print it may turn out to be worth less than I hope.

I think it depends upon the miles you do and the type of roads you drive on. My wife and I tried the DSG on an Audi with the 2.0TDI engine a couple of times. It is certainly a nice auto, but whilst I'm sure it's great for urban driving and motorways it didn't feel right for our country lane driving style. I sometimes like to drop down a gear ahead of a bend, if you try that with the DSG it does a quick, sporty change (with an attempt to rev match), which wasn't as smooth as you would achieve with a manual box and not so cool if you have passengers! On country lanes we ended up leaving it in Sport mode and hoping for the best. Also, I'm not sure I'd opt for 17" wheels if I did a lot of motorway and A1 driving, given the increase in noise and harsher ride. What are the benefits?

"Free servicing offer valid for 3 years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes sooner, and applies to all retail sales of new Octavia (A5) models registered between 1st June ad 30th September 2006, excluding vRS models." I called Skoda this morning and it sounds like they are going to honour the offer. Only possible downside is that I will have to go on to the fixed service schedule. However, in spite of my query, they insisted that I could be switched back to the variable service schedule after the three years. I had the impression that once you moved to fixed service the car remaimed on fixed service for the rest of its life.