Nimby

Mine has done under 20k and at the last service (December) they said the rear pads were 80% worn. Strangely the front pads were only 20% worn. I will check once the weather improves...

I don't think the OP's 2018 Kodiaq has USB C sockets.

I guess you could pull off the connector to the motor (not sure how fragile the clips are) rather than disconnect the battery, but then you may as well use the 12v method as per Youtube.

It sounded like the motor ran for some time engaging the handbrake; normally you don't hear it as the engine is running. So I'd just assumed it was fully retracted. I'd disconnect the battery or pull a fuse to stop anything happening while the caliper is off the disk. @Summerhillred - when you say "wound the piston back" do you mean push back with a lever or clamp? I know some designs do have to be wound (ie rotated) back with a special tool but not VAG ones? Anyway if it doesn't work it's still a lot cheaper buying pads + OBDeleven than paying a garage. It just seems wrong that you need a special tool to replace a consumable item when they could so easily add a retract function as standard.

Yes I know the official way to release the electric handbrake to change rear pads requires a VCDS or OBDeleven (expensive) or there's the 12v battery / remove motor and unwind the Torx head method, either of which seem a bit of a faff. But I just tried something that seems to work - if you have a level driveway and plenty of room: - turn off auto-hold - drive very slowly along driveway, turn off engine and roll to a standstill - engage Park / low gear You are now safely stopped and the auto handbrake is retracted (proved by pulling the manual lever - you hear the handbrake motor engage the pads). I'll attempt the actual job when the weather is warmer.

I recently updated maps from 2023/4 to 2024 - no problem using a 64GB NTFS card, and I'm on (what I think is) the latest firmware (MH12-ER_SKG13_P4526). .

The OP will struggle to format his 64GB card using FAT32. NTFS works just fine - ignore anyone who says it doesn't.

I am being practical. I got the low AdBlue warning, which said add minimum 1 gallon maximum 3 gallons. I bought a 20l drum (cheapest by far per litre from Amazon) and added roughly 10 litres. That's when it said unhelpfully the level was now minimum 1 maximum 1 gallon. I didn't want a quite large, half-empty drum hanging around for 6 months or so to the next top-up. By changing the display to litres I found I could safely add another 5, put the remaining 5l or so in a smaller container, and get rid of the drum. I guess the problem is that it only displays in whole gallons but gives litres to two decimal places, and there are dire warnings about overfilling.

Well that was easy - Settings / Units / Volumes and change to litres. Consumption still displays as mpg but the AdBlue topup screen is now a much more helpful min: 3.5l / max: 5.25l

I don't suppose there's any way to change the AdBlue top-up display from gallons to litres while keeping everything else imperial (ie mph, mpg). Currently I get "minimum 1 gallon, maximum 1 gallon" which is a bit silly. What happens if you put in less than 1 gallon? Why is there a minimum anyway?

I've always changed disks and pads myself previously, but never had an electric handbrake until now. Presumably the front brakes are "normal" but retracting the rear pistons puts me off somewhat. Do you have to buy an appropriate OBD2 tool or can you just stick 12v across the actuator, as some (generic) Youtube videos suggest?

May be of interest: https://www.calpaclab.com/polycarbonate-chemical-compatibility-chart/ Methanol seems to be OK.

It's not too difficult running a power lead up from the fusebox. See the Guides section for excellent instructions. I can confirm the author's comment that the only (slightly) tricky bit is getting the glovebox fully open to access the fuses. Not a job for this cold weather though!

I have exactly the same model, same year, same Columbus, but no cruise control problems. OTA map update has never worked; I always download to an SD card. I did once get an "SOS Activated" flash up while cruising on a motorway - no idea why and nothing else happened subsequently. I have had spurious engine management warnings when starting in very cold weather and the battery low.

From other threads I thought towbar prep was required to get the towing weight details stamped on the specification plate on the door pillar. Without that on the plate it's illegal to fit a towbar.

I had two X-Trails form new (the original T30 for eight years, and the facelift T31 for six) before my Kodiaq. Don't think I'd go back to one, though the new hybrid looks interesting. The Kodiaq is much more refined and (so far) more reliable. Maybe not a fair comparison though as the X-Trail is now a big Qashqai rather than the boxy 4WD softroaders I had. I'm in no hurry to change though a hybrid Kodiaq would be very tempting.

Tell's PDF says "You will need an SD card with a minimum of 32 GB of storage". So clearly it can be bigger, and would then have to be formatted as NTFS. That works fine (as I point out twice a year!)

Thanks - yes that's what I thought but the dealer said the first MOT cannot be dated on. Thanks for confirming they are wrong. Anyway it doesn't matter now as I've changed the MOT date to the day before the car's third birthday.

My query is expiry of the first MOT. We all know 2nd, 3rd etc tests can be done within a month of the current one's expiry and dated on (ie up to 13 months ahead). But when is the expiry of the first test? Fourth anniversary of the car's registration (if done within a month of three years old), or a year from the test date? I'll ask about testing the brake fluid and the Haldex filter - thanks!

I'm on variable service but the car is coming up to 3 years old and the first MOT is due. Obviously want that done at a main dealer before the warranty expires just in case. Dealer says a regular service not needed but brake fluid change and Haldex oil change are, as they are based on age not mileage. Brake fluid I get, but why Haldex? It's barely done 13k miles. (They also said the first MOT cannot be dated on but I'm sure that's wrong unless the rules have changed in the last 10 years or so).

Just curious - to cause the dash warning does the car detect a weak signal, or does the fob send a "low battery" message?

My Dec 2019 model only came with one umbrella so it's not a 2022 change.

I think mine takes about 20 minutes.

These days car manuals are increasingly unreadable; maybe 80% is country or option specific, and working out what does/doesn't apply to your model can be really tricky, particularly if you're not the original owner. Rather than a generic paper manual, it should be possible to compile a custom PDF which only includes features on your car, based on the VIN.

For any other DIYers - you can just fit 2.4 metre (nominal 8-foot) architrave or similar thin, narrowish items diagonally. Must have been really tight getting 2500 boards in. (I thought 2400 was the standard length for most sheet material)