marineboy

I’ve just made an appointment with Skoda dealer for my first service, which will be at 10k miles and 2 years. I was asked re pollen filter and brake fluid change and declined both. Pollen filter you can change yourself in 5 minutes. Re brake fluid, I had my previous Golf for 9 years from new. When the warranty expired I got it serviced at a long established and well respected independent garage. I asked re brake fluid changes and the proprietor said he would do it if I wanted but he had never changed the fluid on all the cars he had ever owned and regarded it as unnecessary. When I sold the car after 9 years and 70k miles the brake pedal feel and braking performance were as good as new. But it’s your money and your choice.

I thought this would be the case. Started the car this morning and no issues. I knew it was unlikely to be a sensor cleanliness issue because I’d just spent 3 hours washing it 😀

Gave the car a thorough wash and wax this morning. Got back in, ignition on, warning light and message. “Front assist unavailable, sensor impaired” None of the front assist systems are working - ACC, front assist, lane assist. Any ideas whether this is a software glitch which will clear itself eventually, or a hardware fault in either the windscreen camera or the radar sensor? Or something else?

I have the Kamiq with DSG. I never use the handbrake, just leave the car in Park. Being DSG means hill starts are a doddle. Though I do apply the handbrake on-off every week or so to stop the mechanism from seizing up.

I couldn’t link to that site but having found the armrest too low for me shortly after buying my Kamiq I made my own solution. Ok, it’s a bit Heath Robinson - a bit of softwood with a layer of rubber on top, fixed with double sided tape for easy removal if I sell the car - but it works and you can’t see it when the armrest is down.

Interesting comments re the amount of pressure drop needed to trigger the warning, ie 6 to 8 psi. The fact that my offending tyre was only 3 below the others (and possibly a bit less than that), and there has been no further reduction in pressure over the last few days, leads me to think that the warning was triggered either by a bit of debris on the tyre or sensor or a software glitch.

Yes I did check the other tyres. All at 36. And I’ve just checked the suspect one and it’s still 36. I’m thinking perhaps that it does have a VERY slight leak and over the last few weeks since I checked all the tyres its pressure has reduced to the point where it triggered the sensor.

Yes I get that but why just one tyre? Or did you mean the sensor on that axle?

Out to shops today and shortly after setting off got message ‘front right tyre loss of pressure’. Stopped and checked the pressure, 33psi (normally 36). No obvious nail/damage. So continued (carefully) to shops and back home when I jacked the car up and had a good look all round the tyre. Again, nothing to see. So I inflated back to 36 and left it. Just checked it again after 3 hours and no change. It’s possible that since I last checked it the tyre has lost pressure as they often do over time. Re the TPMS, I’ve had one or two false alarms in my Golf over my 11 years of ownership. I think that it works via the ABS sensor and can be activated if a tyre picks up some mud which alters its rotation characteristics but there was no evidence of that. Has anyone had a similar experience?

+1 for the DSG, particularly with the 1.5 engine. So relaxing and comfortable to drive. As for rear legroom, I would say it’s surprisingly roomy for a car of this modest size. I’m an old geezer and had cars since I was 17 - my Kamiq is the best I’ve ever had.

To my mind it makes sense to warn a driver that he or she is leaving the car with the engine running. No doubt complaints about nanny stateism were made when seat belts and air bags were introduced.

The only advice I’d give, if you have an iPhone, is to ditch the Skoda nav for Apple CarPlay and Apple Maps. Updates continuously in real time, shows traffic holdups etc.

AFAIK Apple Maps in the car uses its own GPS. Won’t be affected at all by any car issues other than if the link from the phone to the infotainment isn’t working properly.

I would say mine is more rubbery than plasticky or foamy. I doubt it would stand up to having builders’ rubble chucked in the boot but for normal domestic use it’s perfect.

Not got round to taking it to the dealer, I’ll leave it till the next (first) service in June and mention it then. But the duct tape bodge is working fine.