PoloPaul

IV Generation 2020 -

Thanks Kenny R. My post is for the Octavia 5 with ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems). This is controlled by the camera unit (in conjunction with radar sensor on front bumper similar to yours) It regulates ACC and Autobraking as well as Lane Assist etc on cars fitted with ADAS.

Front Assist has been ‘unavailable’ in my car on several occasions during cold weather but has always corrected itself within hours. Recently I received an error alert ‘Front Assist is unavailable’ followed by ‘ Front Assist Sensor Impaired’. This was accompanied by an orange hazard warning triangle at the top of the screen and two orange symbols showing faults in both Auto Braking and ACC. This was the first time this had happened and it would not go away. But I found a very quick ‘fix’. It appears that Front Assist, which controls both Auto Braking and ACC, operates through what looks to be a small camera in front of the ‘Rain Sensor’ assembly above the rear view mirror, visible if you look through your windscreen from outside. This ‘camera’ can become ‘impaired’ through any dirt on the windscreen in front of the camera. Although everything looked spotless, I wiped the area with no more than my bare hand. Upon starting the car the persistent ‘fault’ which had irritated me for days had gone. It is possible that many users of this form know this already but many will not. If, like me, you find the Car Manual is un-useable due to being in tiny print and obscured by covering too many overlapping model specifications then I hope this post helps. Please reply to this post if you find this has helped you as the issue will then gain more prominence to be of help to others struggling with the complexities of the developments inherent in new car technologies.

Sorry to hear this stewartv It may help to know that you are not alone. Whilst I am not beset by that particular problem - although I have experienced it on three occasions - my phone still fails to auto connect and now I have a warning coming up saying that Front Assist does not work as the sensor is impaired. And all of this despite at least 4 warranty recalls for major system software upgrades and a further warranty ‘repair’ on the direction of Skoda Service U.K. regarding the phone auto-connect issue. So one begins to W order if the software systems and hardware developed by this automotive group is fit for purpose. I guess we all have to endure further days without transport as cars are taken in for service. One Service Receptionist commented to me when I sighed at the news of more warranty recalls “I guess our iPhones all need regular software upgrades and we just accept that” - “Yes, I replied but it does not mean that we are without our phones for a whole day each time while the systems upgrade”. Like you I’m not sure where to go next but ‘Skoda Service U.K.’ is currently asking for screenshots of the auto-connect issue so they can “inform the garage”………yet again!

Thanks Jack. So the SOS module was replaced. Interesting that keys needed recoding - probably tied in with the replacement SOS module. Despite having Skoda Service U.K. discuss my problems over Bluetooth auto-connect with the local dealer/ service partner, this fault still persists. Does anyone else out there have Bluetooth auto connect issues or is it only me !

'Replaced'. Thats interesting. By 'module' do you mean the entire screen that is integrated into the dashboard. Could you please tell me/us the story behind this?

Lovely car. I wouldn't disconnect battery. I would do this on earlier cars but with e-SIM etc you will very likely return infotainment, Users, bluetooth and others to factory settings which is a headache. Initiate a job number with Skoda Service UK. You may wait a few days but they will be thorough and may generate a warranty recall with your garage but with the benefit of all you have relayed at your pace over the phone. Skoda Dealers Service people can be rather dismissive and like to do vehicle upgrades at the same time as your own job which means that they have little time to be thorough for your issue - especially as it is intermittent. So my advice is to raise a 'Service Job/Code' with Skoda Service Uk as a very first step.

Morning Harrison A, I am really sorry to hear this. My car is a 1.5 and the transmission noise continues. Owing to Covid the local dealer would not let me test an identical model for comparison. Owing to Covid I couldn't demonstrate the issue with someone sitting in with me. The Service Manager observed and listened as I demonstrated on a short section of ramp. When I pushed the clutch in to 'coast' for a few feet ....he didnt actually confirm he'd heard it but said that I was driving in an 'unnatural' way to do 'that'. I mentioned the 'thrust bearing' and 'pressure plate' but he said that modern clutch systems dont work in that way!! He said 'And anyway, Skoda don't have a 'fix' for that. You have a 3 year warranty with plenty of time remaining.' So I've tried to see it as a quirk of the car But in 45 years of driving I've never come across this before. My iPhone will not connect automatically and I have tried everything to no effect. Apparently road crashes attributed to distraction owing to infotainment systems are soaring and I can see why So, I wish I had done what you are entitled to do under consumer law for, I believe, the first three months following purchase ie give the dealer an opportunity to fix the 'fault' to your satisfaction. If the faults remain you are entitled under consumer law to formally 'reject' the car owing to the faults. So let me know how you get on as you may be able to arm me with information for my local service manager.

Hello Sosemann Two Skoda dealers including the seller simply go through the motions with mine. They can hear nothing and say the car is 'lovely' to drive so enjoy it. I have been driving for 45 years and have driven goods vans, minibuses and all manner of cars. I have never heard any noise at all from transmission except a 'differential whine' on older vehicles showing wear and clunking CV joints wearing out. The noises I hear all have me thinking the same as you regarding gearbox issues in particular. Gearboxes are predominantly robust and reliable in my experience unless abused. Yet both you and I are hearing noises (in my case below 25mph - have never looked at rpm, but I will now) that simply shouldn't be present in a brand new car. I am waiting for Covid restrictions to relax so that I can insist upon a Skoda mechanic sitting in with me so that I can demonstrate. I have 28 months left of the 3 year warranty so hope I have time to resolve the issue. However Skoda dealers seem uninterested unless there is some physical breakdown of a component. If the car drives well which mine and yours seem to then that is it. Like you, I am concerned that the noises indicate premature wear of components that in due course I will become liable for after the warranty period has expired. I am assuming you are picking up this forum from Chile as you have a left hand drive Octavia? Keep us all updated in any progress you manage to make in Chile

Yes, Manuel-Syndrome afflicts Dealership staff. So I have the reference - many thanks. Agree with you about Google Maps and ApplePlay. Thought station Logos were transmitted with digital signal but not a deal-breaker. I have Columbus and its Ok-ish but several issues. Just pray that the CPU doesn't have a major fault after warranty expires but cross that bridge if I come to it. Many thanks once again. You are a mine of useful Skoda Info - more so than Skoda-Manuel staff 👍

Sorry to hear this Stewartv, You say Skoda consider this to be an issue effecting only a small number of cars when others on this forum have been effected, might it help to make a Freedom of Information Request asking for the Number of SOS calls generated by Skoda eSims and the number of vehicles involved over say, 2020-21?

Well done Stewartv. Do you by any chance have the ‘fault code’ as Skoda Dealers tend to do a ‘Manuel’ from Fawlty Towers stating .... “I know nothing”! Also can you kindly say which infotainment services will be lost after the first year unless the car owner pays for a (rather pricey IMO) monthly SIM contract with Cubic Telecom. Again, well done.

Just read the Newspaper Article you quoted. I'm speechless!

Hi Stewartv. Dont know about you but 'Ok Laura' seems a waste of time. I now manually input the destination. However to test I always enter areas in my familiar territory to check out the accuracy of the route. I regularly have to ignore and revert to my own local knowledge to avoid entering motorways in the wrong direction etc. I have checked and quadruple checked Navigation settings to eliminate user error but the only error is software or signal or both. Satnav announcement are drowned out by radio volume. Some times adjusting the Nav settings work, other times, not. I can not select miles over km so approaching turnoffs are displayed/announced in meters. I need to 'forget' then reconnect to bluetooth to use my phone all too often. If my phone IS available on the display I have to manually select it, often while driving. All told it is much easier to use Smartlink and Apple-play to use my phone. Siri is a blessed hands-free release from Laura. Following your theme, can it really be that Skoda is abandoning large numbers of buyers, who then tarnish the Skoda reputation of Skoda come car-sales upturn for the sake of a software upgrade? Might the answer lie alongside the attitude of holiday firms and airlines deferring refunds During Lockdown as a means of protecting their company from a downturn in operating revenue? As regards my mechanical woes - noisy clattery transmission - Owing to Lockdown can not get a technician to sit in with me to point out the obvious and they always report their own (brief) test drives as flawless. It IS a lovely car to drive, but will my not insurmountable issues ever be addressed within warranty? 🤔

..........and the local Skoda Dealer - who was going to perform the all-day software update for power steering - has just phoned to say he received an email from Skoda today saying that all power steering software updates are now ‘suspended’. No further information....Does anyone out there know more?

An excellent summary of issues facing us in our ever-developing, digital, motoring world. My Octavia goes in for its second major software update 'recall' tomorrow. This time it is for Power Steering. Once again I shall be without the car all day. I assume that such recalls beset the entire VW/Audi/Skoda/Seat group who surely share software development...... Am I correct in these assumption or are major software update recalls to e.g. Power-Steering exclusive to Skoda?

Does anyone know of any successful similar infotainment systems in cars made by other manufacturers or has ŠKODA/VW over-reached in an effort to gain a marketing edge?

Had no idea there was this level of satisfaction with Skoda. As a near lifetime VW man I changed to Skoda because of reviews. Price was less than for a new Golf (with which - I understand - my Octavia shares the same chassis and running gear.... please correct me if I have that wrong!). I got a full bells and whistles SEL FE model in the Combi (estate) version. So in summary 1. Reviews were excellent 2. I thought I was getting a ‘Golf in Octavia clothing’ 3. My model was loaded with bells and whistles at a very attractive price. Have I been ‘had’? Does anyone know if the equivalent Golf has ‘kangarooing’ and dodgy-infotainment. Or ... is it just that software teasing prior to release was inadequate. Any views gratefully received. Thank you.

Yes. I.5 SEL FE - They clicking and clacking from the transmission - two main dealers ‘can not replicate’ and I can not demonstrate. Had my car in for the 3 hr software update on the ‘back-of’ MY request to investigate transmission noise. Used the My Skoda App to track the ‘test drive’ it was for 90 seconds and exclusively on the garage premises. I hear nothing but noise under 25 mph - so am incredulous as to how the dealership can’t hear! To be honest the Infotainment and low-voltage driven SOS ‘shocks’ .... I can live with. Problem is....... as regards noise.... since we’re still in lockdown, I can’t demonstrate. Any suggestions please.

How do you formally reject the car and what happens after you’ve done that? Do you need to have a documented list of faults or just say ‘I’ve had enough’? I bought mine in September 2020 - can I still, like you, formally reject? Thanks

Yes - I believe mine connect automatically at first. My Octavia had a three hour software upgrade before Christmas and so I assumed infotainment was up to date. Did your dealer accept this as a fault and corrected it with no hassle? Thanks

Hello everyone Is this a glitch or just the way the Columbus Infotainment works. My Octavia 2020 FE only connects to my phone if I select ‘Home’ then ‘Phone’ on the screen - this then takes me to ‘ApplePlay’ which I ‘click’ and then my phone connects. I get Apple Maps, Siri (much better than Laura) Messages, WhatsApp etc all through ApplePlay. What if I didn’t have an iPhone! For my previous car, a Passat - my phone connect seamlessly, automatically when I started the car - great! Do I really have to go through the process of initiating ApplePlay through Phone- ApplePlay- Select (whilst driving!) in order to simply connect my phone to Bluetooth. Have I missed something? Thanks.

Hi, I have had two SOS faults. On both occasions, both of which have been during ‘sparse-use’ in lockdown, I get an SOS alert accompanied by an internal alarm sounding loudly. On the first occasion the loud alarm would not stop even when I tried driving a short distance. Skoda person at main dealer declared that she knew of nothing that brought on an internal alarm but did mention low-voltage gremlins ( wonder what the internal alarm is then 🤔). On both occasions it reset itself after a ‘rest’. So a concern at this point is that with such a technologically advanced car and with so many issues requiring CPU processing - wilI I end up paying out of the warranty period to ‘repair’ these technology issues inherent through poor research and development from the start?

Hi Stewartv Please do let me know, my Octavia had a 3 hour! Software update when I took my car in - December time. Took car in for investigation of rattles and whine but sadly only 90 seconds (tracked on Skoda App) given to my own issue before being declared ‘perfect’. Lots of ‘software upgrade’ talk I’ve heard has been around correcting the 1.5 “kangarooing” effect when setting off from cold start. Skoda media claimed that the last major software fix had corrected that - however lots of owners including me have not noticed any improvement. I’m afraid the sensation of having a drive shaft in the process of clacking around before it gives in engages my attention more! Yes please do let me know how extensive your upgrade is and what it delivers Thank you PoloPaul

My apologies Kertulli - I am PoloPaul.! 😂