DeeDah

Hi I'm new to in car infotainment system (2020 Superb SE) so bear with me if I sound a bit of a luddite. The Bolero of course does not come with a sat nav, so I have two options, my Samsung A11 using google maps or my trusty Tomtom, both having bluetooth and usb connectivity. Out of the two I prefer using the Tomtom. Is it possible to connect the tomtom to the Bolero screen and it's audio? The Skodas bluetooth finds the Tomtom but will not connect to it. If not, is it possible to connect the Samsung android to the Bolero, I have connected via bluetooth for the phone which works great. it was the maps on the screen I wanted. One other consideration is that if I use the phone, I only have a 2Gb data allowance, I don't often use data, and only switch it on when needed. Appreciate any advice, I have a feeling I'll be reverting to the Tomtom stuck to the screen, which I don't mind Cheers Terry

Hi, Getting to grips with the Superb, but as an older driver I have been used to handbooks giving a lot more information the Skoda handbook is woefully lacking in this respect, previously in a section called 'Specifications' this would contain technical information regarding things like 'Fluid levels coolant in pints/ltrs' 'Engine oil in pints/ltrs' 'gearbox oil in pints/ltrs', Wheel and tyre sizes, It would say what lamps were required and their codes, mine still has three different types of filament bulbs, plus a myriad of other sometimes useful and sometimes not so useful information, it didn't have to be a workshop manual but it was handy to know these things without scouring the web, the Skoda website is just as bad as I can't find this kind of information anywhere. It's possible that Skoda must think that as an owner you would not understand or want to know this kind of technical information, which if thats's the case is quite patronising. You may one day want to do your own oil changes and would like to know the oil capacity or buy some spare bulbs for emergencies without having to take one out for the correct code, this info should be in the handbook, and please don't say look on the web or ask someone on this forum, it should be in the handbook where it always has been, at least all the cars I've had, had this info in their handbooks. Does anyone know of a download either from Skoda or elsewhere containing such info? Cheers Terry

And that's why I would prefer to keep up my longed established rapport with Mike the mechanic we've been on first name terms for most of the years I've known him. I'm one of the lucky souls who found a trustworthy garage owner and his mechanics (of course the call them technicians now, yet another ploy to charge more). It's almost like finding a dentist who doesn't enjoy making you squirm as they inject you or give you a filling, once found don't lose them. BTW looked at your links, have been to Scotland for holidays and work many times, will have to do a touring holiday to the top end, Aberdeen's the furthest we've been, before I get too old to drive. Cheers Terry

Hi again, I wasn't complaining about the oil changes, or the quality or specification of the oil, it was the cost of the extended scope, it covers a most of the oil and inspection service, Including and I quote "Inspection of" "brakes/shoes/discs" they would have to remove the wheels to properly inspect the pads and disc, any garage that didn't remove the wheels would not be worth visiting. Your point of costs being high were the same for many many years up until 2003 with manufacturers having a dealer network that could tie you to their very high prices because it would invalidate your warranty using a non main dealer, but since October 2003 the law said as long as the schedules were maintained and approved parts including oils were used then any VAT registered independent garage, specialist or not could carry out the work. If someone wants to use a main dealer, that's fine, prices are a lot keener than they used to be purely because owners can and do use independent garages. Personally I have never used a Skoda dealer as I've only just got my Skoda, but I would rather use the garage that myself, my wife and my wifes boss have trusted used for over 20 years. If the car needed something that required more specialist treatment i.e. diagnostics, or where specialist tools are needed (another manufacturer/main dealer scam) then I would use a main dealer or specialist independent. at least we now have the choice during the warranty period. Cheers Terry

Hmm! The wording on the services are a bit ambiguous, the annual service (I'm going to be doing a lot less than 10k) says "The oil and inspection service is your annual SKODA service" wheras the Extended service says "The extended scope service is recommended at" blah blah blah years miles etc, note the word 'recommended' which implies it is not mandatory, otherwise they would have put the word 'due' instead. I think the VAG use these terms so they can possibly fool some owners into having the extra service and get another £60 for doing very little extra. As I mentioned before if all the items mentioned in the Extended scope which are included in the annual service are taken away, your'e left with, check the aircon and check/replenish the gearbox oil for £60, "what !!! SIXTY QUID, get yer hands outa me pockets" us Yorkshire folk don't like being ripped off. By the time my car gets to the Extended scope inspection it's out of warranty at the same time. I'll be using a bit of common sense when instructing my local garage to do it's serviceing, I intend to look after the car as it may well be the last one I buy, I'm 65, so doing around 3-4k a year, it should last me till I hit the sod, cheerful bugger aren't I Regular oil changes are the secret to an engines longevity and willingly spend that on a good quality motor oil. Cheers Terry

I'm new to Skoda as you can see from my profile, so I'm working my way through a few things as I get used to the car and Skoda as a company. My car is a 1 year old Superb 1.5tsi manual by the way. One item that I would like a bit of input on from new and long standing Skoda owners (not just Superbs by the way) is servicing. Looking at the Oil and inspection service against the Extended scope service, the majority of the items in the Ext' scope are already in the Oil service. The only items I can see extra is checking the heating and aircon (it says check not service the aircon ) and top up the gearbox unless it's a DSG. £60 I believe is the dealer price, £60 for NOT having to do most of the items because they are done on the Oil service which are mainly checks anyway. Is the Extended scope service mandatory to maintain the warranty? If it is I'll have it done, maybe not at a dealer though as the garage I have used for the last 20 years are trustworthy and will do whatever is in the service schedule to maintain the warranty including using VW branded oil I have always had a distrust of main dealers who want to maximise profits at the expense of keeping a customer loyal, I get a far better service from my local garage who will tell me straight whether something needs doing or not. Cheers everyone Terry

I would think the temp was around the 40-50 °C range when I originally posted my concerns, although probably unfounded, it's always possible that a manufacturer in any industry can get their sums wrong and upgrade a device and find they have to issue a recall, or at least a software update. Tthe automotive industry is renowned for it, some of them very severe safety items and with more and more of a cars sytems being controlled by vehicles ecu, including safety systems i.e. cruise controls, lane assists, and emrgency braking etc, it is essential that the ecu is as infallable as possible. I'm not saying that the temp of up to 60 °C is wrong but surely any electronic component has it's limits re temperatures and if the ecu ICs are made of lower temp grades then if they fail due to constant excessive temps at a critical moment, injury or even death is the result. I'm not entirely unfamiliar with electronics having worked for a software comapny for eleven years on software and hardware installations, and with the advent of processors running at ever increasing speeds, even with the lower voltages they run at, the heat generated requires lager and larger heatsinks and fans or even water cooling. At the end of the day I was just remarking how hot the ecu felt, I didn't realise it would cause such discussion, but that's the idea of forums is it not?

Hi xman, Just given everything a good clean, then a liberal dose of cockpit shine, I've no doubt my attention to cleanliness will diminsh over the years, just as it did with my previous cars. Didn't notice the battery getting warm but then most batteries do generate heat when charging, Hi D402, wow 105 °C thats mighty hot (above boiling water temp) Cheers Terry

Hi again xman, actually the original photo I posted came from the electronic pdf so is not the up to date photo of the engine bay from the 2020 owners manual, I used it just to show the position of the ecu, here's an actual photo of the ecu, it is the same as yours, with the steel cover. At least it's steel not plastic, aluminium with a few fins would be better, there are ecus out there which have aluminium bodies with cooling fins and after market heatsinks. Excessive heat is the enemy of electronic components, CPU's, IC chips etc. As Newbie69 has said, there are noreports of VW ecu's damaged by excessive heat build up. thank god, I've got to say your engine bay looks spotless, mines a bit grubby as it was first registered March 2020 and was sat until April 19th 2021 until I bought it with 73 miles on the clock. The trader didn't do a very good prep job, the exterior and interior was okay but they by passed the engine bay, obviously not a Skoda dealer, I'll give it good clean this week. Cheers Terry

Hi newbie69, I wasn't worrying in as much I was surprised how hot it got, and if you look on the web there are instances of ecu's getting very hot and reducing their life span, not necessarily a skoda one, but does happen. If the temperature is suppose to be that high then so be it, newer cars ecu's have a lot more work to do than my old Honda Accord ecu which used to get slightly warm. Thanks for your input on this, but not knowing my new car and how things should be, I thought it prudent to ask the question even if my worries are unfounded. better safe than sorry eh! Cheers Terry

Yes xman, there is quite a bit on the web for may ecu's getting hot, some even getting fried and going in to limp mode. Where it is positioned it can't get much air around it, you'd think they would put a heatsink on it. I have a multimeter with a temperature probe on it and then ask the dealer what kind of temp is considered normal. At first I thought it was some kind of heat exchanger Cheers Terry

Okay here's a photo, Mainly should it get hot ?

Hi everyone, new to Skoda my first one a Superb 1.5tsi and like most new owners I like to have a good nosey around the car. Having a look in the engine bay I wondered what the component is between the battery and the fuse box, pretty sure it's some electrical device! Whatever it is it felt quite warm, bordering on hot, without a workshop manual I've no idea what it's purpose is and whether it's suppose to get hot. Anyone any know what it is?

Hi Angelo, that's another good alternative, only 4mm smaller diameter than the standard 215/55r17. a new tyre Only the same as running a old worn tyre with a set of newish ones. The online wheel and tyre calculators are great for comparing different sizes. https://www.rotawheelsuk.com/tyre-size-calculator/width/6.5"/rr-offset/et30/rr-diameter/16".html By the way Donald, if the Superb came with an inflator kit, I think the latex has a shelf life of 3 yrs, then they advise throwing it and buying another bottle, My wifes car also had a latex bottle of gunk (out of date) and it was cheaper to buy one of the aerosol repair cans at around £7-£8, but did eventually get a second hand full size for her. Cheers Terry

Dead right mate, as a Yorkshire man, we are second in line to the Scots for being tight fisted and wanting value for money. I'm sure you've seen the Plusnet adverts, eh up. BTW the 1.5tsi is a revelation after having driven a diesel for the last 13 years, thought I'd gone deaf so quiet pulling up at lights, (I'd switch off the stop/start) and the Adaptive Cruise is great, I'm sure you'll love the car. Cheers Terry

Hi, Donald1 it's me again, Yes Gizmo is right, I have just took delivery of a 2020 Superb SE and it came with an emergency spare wheel, it's not one of those skinny narrow tyres, it's almost full size. But what is puzzling me is that the Superb as standard comes with 215/55R17 wheels and tyres but the spare is a 205/55R16, with different diameters, I queired this on Monday afternoon with Skoda Sheffield, and they confirmed it was the correct wheel and tyre. I'm not saying it won't get you home, but there is a difference of 36mm in the diameter of the tyres, which is why it is limited to 50mph, not sure of any distance restriction. If it was on an Octavia fitted with the standard 205/55r16's it would be classed as a full spare with no restrictions. obviously a cost cutting exercise as the two tyres have a rough price difference of £40, I'm hoping never to have to use it, especially on the front axle, I'd rather have a 17 inch steel wheel with a cheap 215/55r17 tyre on it. But yea, save your money and fit the Octavia wheel just remember the 50mph limit because of the different diameter and tread patch size, you'll see why if you ever have use one on the front. Cheers Terry

I'm not sure if Gizmo is correct, most tyre inflation kits where some kind of latex is put into the tyre to seal it before inflating requires the wheel to be removed. Usually the kit includes a bottle of latex, a valve core remover, and a compressor. My old honda had the same junk, never used it bought a second hand full size wheel and tyre second hand for £20, no brainer. Anyway back to the procedure, you get a puncture that hasn't wrecked the tyre, the car is jacked up and the wheel removed, the valve core is removed and the latex is squezzed through the valve stem, the wheel is then rolled about to distribute the latex, the valve core is then replaced, and the tyre inflated to it's normal pressure. It is only a get you home fix with speed limited to approx 40mph and a limited distance, can't remember how far. There are instructions in the owners manual under "Puncture repair kit" slightly different procedure but basically the same. Yes you do need a jack and a compressor. Hope this helps