PoloPaul

My Central Locking will not open the tailgate on my Octavia 4 Combi. I have accessed the internal manual opening latch through a very small hole on the internal side. Once opened I have sprayed in PTFE spray (maximum lubrication/minimal dust attraction). This has restored the remote locking function. Today’s heavy rain has brought the issue on again. I really need to get at the actuator mechanism to lubricate/prevent moisture ingress. I can not find a way of getting at the part. To go further than spraying broadly into a small hole in front of the mechanism I want to get to it properly. Does anyone knowhow to get at this part on the tailgate?

I have always suspected that this issue is caused by data transfer.

At the end of Year 2 my Online Communications Unit (the component that links to the Skoda network) was replaced. That improved matters greatly following two years of frustration with constant infotainment restarts. I suspect that the issue with the globe-symbol greying-out - with the red X beside it - is due to Skoda network non-connectivity. I base this upon finding that in ‘known’ telecommunications black-spots where cell-phone signals are unavailable eg in remote countryside areas that the Red X alongside the Globe occurs. Upon driving to an area with cellphone coverage the infotainment reconnects. SW 1941 ironed out several problems but without the new OCU I suspect I would have continued to experience what I believe to be network connectivity issues.

I’ve had a couple of ‘Pop Pops’ recently’- after a year’s respite - but no reboots…..so far. My wife bought a new Polo in June. The infotainment in her new model is fine.

I took the same path in September 2020. I traded in my Passat for an Octavia IV Combi. Mechanically the car is sound and I enjoy driving it. The infotainment System gave continual trouble for the first 3 years. Following the installation of a replacement Coms Unit and especially following software update SW 1491 - all is now good. My experience of Skoda Support over that period was ‘mixed’. It may come down to the quality of your local Service Agent. If you are happy with the deal offered it is advisable to check the service records to see which electronic components have been swapped out and also to check that the installed software is SW 1491 or higher.

Best done by your Service Partner’s in my opinion. Seems you may be out of your 3 yr Warranty Period. Skoda will probably do it for you free of charge as it ought to have been done before your warranty expired. I don’t think SW1941 can be installed ‘over the air’ as it is likely to be a very large update.

You are still under 3 year warranty. You can call Skoda UK and request that they intervene to direct your Service Partner to do the SW1491 upgrade.

Latest software that provides a fix for all those issues is SW1941.

Mine was upgraded from something like 1803 to 1941 back in September 2023. I have a strong feeling that SW1941 had to be done by a Dealer Service Department. However since SW1491 last year I now receive smaller OTA updates regularly.

3 years ago dealer service guy told me to have have only a single phone registered at any one time time to avoid problems. I was disappointed as this disadvantages a second etc user’s account. But I’ve stuck with it as it was one of the few issues I could control among the several I couldn’t back then. Don’t know if it is now unnecessary following SW1941.

Among the array of functions that are suitable to be updated OTA (Over The Air) via the Comms Unit the map-updates would appear to be among the most suitable. The methodology for SD Card or USB(C) pen-drive updates seems simple enough. However after three years of tolerating a dysfunctional Infotainment System, until stabilised recently by SW194, I am loath to tinker myself. I believe Skoda Garages will update maps, at an additional charge, beyond the 3 year warranty. But in fact Apple Maps and particularly Google-Maps, available through connected phones, are far superior to Skoda Navigation.

More feedback of that sort would indeed be helpful.

Yes, I had a series of updates recently. I was always driving at the time so the update couldn’t begin. Think the communication unit (eSiIM) has to negotiate with the Skoda/VAG servers and that takes a few minutes of driving or leaving ignition on. On my next few journeys the same, an update and number next to ‘info’ appeared. Eventually the numbers stopped appearing/ reappearing and I”ve had nothing further. A notification to indicate that all updates were now installed would be helpful but that doesn’t happen.

Yes on both counts. When the number in the ‘info’ window disappears then its done. Can take a couple of cycles to complete.

Good things come from SW1491. My Garage said a ‘Major’ update would come OTA before October and declined to update themselves. Reading the posts about the effectiveness of 1491 I contacted Skoda Service UK and registered a ‘Case’ telling them my car was going in for an MOT soon When my Octavia 4 came back it had 1491 installed. I have always got good results from raising a case with Skoda Service before my car goes in for any sort of service.

Go back to the garage and show this to them. Could it be that they serviced the car (After year 1 or 2?) but failed to update the Skoda online service database. They will surely correct this. The warranty software updates should similarly have been recorded over time.

Went onto the SkodaConnect Webpage (not App). Selected ‘Services’ and it only included online digital services. But among the features listed under the Skoda Connect subscription (£36/yr) was included ‘Digital Certificate’. I added Skoda Connect to the online shopping basket to see more. The options surprisingly showed ‘I month complimentary’ - free of charge. I added this. Received an email to confirm activation - went onto Skoda Connect and under ‘Digital Certificate’ it told me I have not yet added a digital certificate. I pressed the ‘miles to refill’ symbol and….there was the option to generate a Digital Certificate. This includes every service event from first registration. This I did and I have added a picture below. This ‘service’ expires in 31 days. So I have been able to ‘Try before I buy, which to be honest I will probably do now.’

My thoughts precisely

erWin can not be used without (someone in your case the garage) - paying a subscription.

Thanks SkOmk4 I followed your suggestion and you are correct. With the £36/yr for the package of ‘Care-Connect’ services you also get to view your ‘Digital Certificate’. I was hoping there was a way to see the service history that can be viewed other than by paid subscription. It seems that Skoda are finding creative ways to ‘Up-sell’ add-ons which I had no idea at the point of purchase would be chargeable. But thank you for that helpful tip.

I am surprised to learn that there is no online Service History for Skoda through the MySkoda App. There is paid access (£8 for 1 hour) to the erWin web-portal to view records by VIN. Has anyone used this? Is there any other way for Skoda owners to look at their own digital service records without paying? Thank you for any responses.

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Thanks SteveTheElder I have looked for but can not find any reference to buying years beyond the ‘one year’ with the simple warranty extension offer. However it has made me reexamine the breakdown of the ‘All in One’ in comparison to 2 x of single year extension - assuming the subsequent year is on offer. It may be something I consider but it galls me to throw away £220 already invested in my existing service plan. A compromise is to have the second service under the existing plan done now - even though it is not due for quite some time under extended service. That would however mean I will have extracted full (ish) value under my existing service plan and I am then at liberty to take out the “All in One” Thanks, this has given me food for more thought.

So I investigated the “All in One” extended 2 year warranty above. I already have a ‘First two Services’ costing over £400. I am on extended life servicing. My first service was in 2022 and with extended-life servicing I may not be due the 2nd service under the plan until 2024. Skoda Finance inform me that in order to take out the “All in One ‘ extended warranty (+2 yrs warranty, + 2 services + 2 years roadside assistance = £840) I can not have any pre-existing plan in place. My only option is to discard the over £200 I invested in the second service under my existing plan in order to sign up for the 2 year extended warranty. Owing to the continuous infotainment problems I have experienced over the first 3 years and in view of the fact that further SW updates will be chargeable I want to take out the £840 2 yr extension. But at the prospect of throwing away over £200 already invested in servicing in order to do this I feel I am left with no option but to dismiss the extended warranty plan. Only Skoda!!!

Have you tried a hard reboot. Keep infotainment ‘on’ button pressed continuously. If rebooted it will eventually come on. Take finger off ‘on’ button. Worth a try