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.

I see that Skoda are running an advertisement saying they offer free servicing on new Octavias (excluding vRS) registered between June and September. Funny, my new Octavia was registered on 5th June and the best the dealer offered me was a 3 year servicing deal for

I used the rain sensing wipers for the first time yesterday, and I didn't like them. Even with 5 position switch in the least sensitive position (left side) they wipe too frequently in light rain. I notice that just after a wipe the screen looks greasy, but that soon fades. I wondered whether the greasiness might be fooling the sensor into thinking the screen is still wet, hence the unnecessarily frequent wiping. Does anyone know if this is important? When I got home I tried to clean the screen. I also wiped the wiper blades with a damp cloth and noticed the cloth got very black from the rubber - is this normal? Is it possible to have the sensitivity of the rain sensors reduced. Failing that, is it possible to have the car programmed to standard intermittant wipe, with the wipe delay set by the 5 position switch?

What sort of warning indication do you get when the tyre pressure is too low? The manual says the warning light lights up, nothing about an audible warning or any message in the information display. If it's simply the switch lighting up then I imagine it's easy to overlook. A ping with an appropriate message would be useful.

I can use any Skoda dealer. I believe it's a Skoda offer. I'm thinking it may be an incentive to get more people on to fixed interval servicing, so boosting business for the dealers after 3 years. The first three fixed interval services are included. ie 12 months/10k miles, 24 months/24k miles and 36 months/36k miles. Brake fluid is changed at the second service. Wear and tear items include brakes and clutch. Wipers are changed if required. Electrics are included, even xenons apparently. Whilst initially the offer may seem attractive, I have to be on fixed interval service, which may be a downside if I end up keeping the car for a good many years.

I was told they'd be Continental tyres, but I suspect they may be at the discretion of the dealer at the time. I don't plan to take them up on the tyres as I'd like control over what is fitted, and I might prefer to rotate them. The 3 year service offer also includes consumables like brake fluid.

I don't have the details in writing yet, but I know I was told it included oil, wipers, bulbs, brakes, even clutch (wouldn't that be a warranty job anyway?), and remote control batteries (big deal!). For a bit over another

I've been offered 3 years servicing on a new Octavia 2.0TDI Estate, which includes many wear & tear items (but not tyres), provided I opt for the fixed interval service regime, for

I have ordered a new Octavia Elegance estate which will be ready for delivery within the next couple of weeks. I believe that there are options which the dealer can be program to define the way in which the central lockng system operates, as there are with Volkswagens and Audis. I mentioned this to the salesman today and he was unaware of them, but said he'd get back to me. He told me that the car would normally be delivered such that it automatically locks all doors when the speed reaches 8mph, and will automatically unlock when the ignition key is removed, or in the event of a collision. He also told me that a single press on the remote control will only unlock the driver's door and that two presses will unlock all doors. Basically I don't want the car to automatically lock above 8mph, instead I want to have manual control of the locking as I do on my current Audi. On my current Audi I can lock all doors using the lock button on the driver's door, then if I wish I can just unlock the driver's door by a single pull on the driver's door handle. When I test drove the Octavia at another dealership I'm sure this is the way they had their cars setup. Please could somebody tell me what options there are for the central locking system so that I can spell out my requirements to the dealer.