JamesK

I’m not convinced the early Mk IV Octavia infotainment has the ability to apply such a large update to itself. It may not have enough local storage to download the 10gb compressed files and then extract them internally and apply them. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve not seen anyone on here with an early car reporting that their infotainment has upgraded OTA from 1941 to 1969. I’ve deliberately left my system at 1941 to see if it will update OTA, and so far there has been nothing apart from a couple of minor app updates. If the early units DO have the ability to perform that size of update OTA, it may be Skoda that are not releasing it. Given the number of software issues with the early cars over the past 3 years, Skoda may be concerned about creating more. Given many early cars are now coming out of warranty, perhaps there is a concern of “what happens” if an infotainment unit bricks itself performing a large OTA update. I think it would give rise to an interesting discussion at a dealer as to who pays to rectify it.

I would escalate to the Skoda UK Executive Office. This is a typical example of dealer not carrying out any investigation. They've attached it to a computer which has returned saying no updates required. It's pretty much a "Computer says No" response. It's saying no updates are required because Skoda have never acknowledged the issue here. The reality here is that Skoda need to acknowledge the problem and issue a TPI. I guess I was lucky because my dealer acknowledged it wasn't the correct behaviour, especially when compared to 2022 Octavia which worked correctly.

Have you tried removing any fuses? Nearly 2 weeks to see a dealer is a long time to be without your infotainment screen. I know in the past some people have had success with removing fuses for a few minutes and then replacing them. I can't remember which fuses people were removing, but I'm sure a search of the forum would point you in the right direction.

The car was under warranty so I didn't have to pay for it. However, it is demonstrably not functioning as it should, therefore they should fix it free of charge - especially if they've had your car for 2 months! I'm surprised they've had your car for so long. They had my car in there for 4 weeks in January last year as Skoda UK wanted a car an early car to work with for them to understand all of the issues the "First Edition" vehicles were having related to software, and why some software updates were being applied but not fixing issues. Given the issues I was experiencing I was more than happy to hand it over in exchange for a new Superb, and they could've kept it for as long as they liked. I was just happy to be driving a car that just worked!

It’s the climatronic module that needs a firmware update. The issue in getting it done is that Skoda have never officially acknowledged it’s an issue, even though on later vehicles the issues is resolved. You will probably find your unit is at the following version: Getting it upgraded to version 0440, 0531 or anything later resolves the issue. The problem you will have is convincing a dealer that it is an issue and getting them to do something about it. I had to produce a video of the behaviour of my car compared to a 2022 loan Octavia which worked as it should. Here’s a link to a forum thread detailing the issue: Link to forum thread if you’re still taking the car for work at Marshall Letchworth, it was their lead technician, Mick, that finally managed to get the relevant update applied to the unit. So this is definitely a dealer that has seen and dealt with the issue previously. it really needs Skoda to formally accept this as being an issue and releasing a TPI.

I just took a video of starting the car, activating the sync function. Then turning the car off and and on again, and showing how SYNC had disappeared from the left control, but the left control would work to control temperature on the left and right side of the car. Finally followed by changing the right control which would then immediately break the sync and the controls would then operate independently. Then, when I had the loan car I took another video of activating sync, then turning the car off and on again, and SYNC still being active on the left control.

My local dealer initially said this until I showed them a video of the behaviour of my car, and the 2022 loan Octavia they had given me. They did eventually get directed by Skoda to update the climate control unit, but it took far more effort on my part, and in fairness the dealers part to get this update 'approved' by Skoda. It seems too much these days that dealers blindly look at their computer systems and if it says there are no updates available, then that is the absolute truth. They seem reluctant to report these issues back to Skoda, and if the dealers don't report the issues, then Skoda won't know. In this case though, they clearly do know, as there have been a few of us on this forum that have persisted with our complaints and got the necessary update applied.

I think the issue with this is that it's never officially been recognised by Skoda as being a problem. It's not helped by it only affecting right hand drive cars. It took for me to take a video of the behaviour of my car, and another video of a 2022 Octavia I had as a loan vehicle, where the climate sync function worked correctly for the dealer to truly understand the problem. Even then I was told the update had "come direct from the factory". I'm not sure why Skoda are not acknowledging the issue formally, as it very clearly is a problem, even if it is only a minor one with a workaround. I know of dealers that are adamant that this is how the unit is intended to function and therefore not a problem.

My 2021 First Edition is now completely fine. It has been a difficult journey to get to this point with the car going into the dealer numerous times and many conversations with the Skoda Executive Office. All of my issues were fixed by software updates, and Skoda investigating different methods of applying those updates. Unfortunately it seems all dealers have to go through the same process involving running a diagnostic, sending it off to Skoda Technical, then awaiting a response and being told what updates they can / cannot apply. It's frustrating as Skoda UK know exactly what the issues are, and what software versions are required to take an early car from having many software issues to no issues at all. Yet it still seems owners are having the same issues with the dealers. We've seen a few members join recently who've purchased 2nd hand early cars, where the issues have not been resolved by the previous owner who are getting the same run-around by the dealers. It does seem the dealers hands are tied on the process they have to follow. It is a shame that lessons aren't being learned by Skoda UK on this particular problem. I think if you're looking to purchase an early car I would have a read through the forum on the common threads regarding the "Pop, Pop SOS" issues, infotainment issues and climate issues, etc. All can be fixed with software updates. If the car is on early versions of the software insist it's updated before taking delivery.

It definitely doesn't crash. It pauses and continues when the car is next switched on. I had a similar thing with an update last year. If you press "more info" it tells you there that power cycling the car, and moving away from the update screen won't affect the update and it will continue. I've not been offered 1969 OTA yet. In the last week I've had a couple of app updates, but nothing else.

Completely agree with @spcdust. My SE L First Edition was an utter nightmare. All of the issues were (eventually) fixed via software update, and now the car works exactly as it should. Every Skoda main dealer in the country must be fully aware of the issues, the relevant Skoda Technical bulletins, and the required updates to resolve them as so many cars have the issues. The dealer doesn't really need to do a diagnosis, as they will be aware of what the issue is. If the dealer refuses to back down, maybe try another dealer or raise the matter with Skoda UK Executive Office. If they're doing updates, it's worth getting them to update the climate control module if your car is affected by the climate control SYNC issue. Details here: Forum Link In reality the dealers should have a package of updates available that can be applied to early cars in order to bring all of the modules with known issues to versions that are known to be good. Another forum member has recently had a bad experience with a used purchase, and that includes issues with old software: Forum Link

I had a 73 plate Octavia SE L as a loan car from the dealer a couple of months ago. The infotainment was running on version 1941. The car was completely fine in the time I had it. You shouldn't have any issues or anything to look out for with it.

The issue is detailed here, worth a read: Climate SYNC issue forum link

@sam8520 If the dealer deny there are available software updates, direct them to the lead technician at Marshall Letchworth (Mick). He sorted out all the issues on my SEL First Edition. If you use the Climate control SYNC feature, check that it retains the setting after turning the car off and on. If you find it doesn't hold, then that module also needs a firmware update. Again, Mick at Marshall Letchworth got that sorted out for me.

Hi @SteveTheElder Is your SE L FE running on the 17" wheels? My car was a dealer management car, so they ordered the upgraded 18" wheels, full leather and some other bits. I assumed with the 18" wheels they just put on whatever tyres they had in the factory. I think V rated tyres are the perfect rating for the 1.5 engine.

Thanks @petrolcan. I hadn't actually looked at W rated tyres due to the car being supplied with Y rated tyres. I wasn't sure if there was a potential insurance if I fitted tyres at a speed rating lower than was originally supplied by the manufacturer? Admittedly I think the chances of me getting my 1.5 SE L to 168mph are pretty slim!

Thanks @SurreyJohn for this. I actually had not considered all season tyres before. I had a quick look at the prices, they certainly seem to command a price premium for the all season tyre! 😒

Hi All, At my recent service the dealer pointed out a couple of cuts in the tyres. One in one of the front wheels, and a couple in one of the rears. The dealer went on to say they couldn't see the cords in any of the cuts. The first MOT is due mid-May, so I'm now wondering if the cuts will cause an MOT fail. I'm thinking I may need to replace all 4 tyres. My SE L has got the 18" Perseus alloys on it, and currently has the factory supplied Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 tyres. I could get the newer Asymmetric 6 fitted, but was wondering if anyone on here had any 18" tyre recommendations? Many Thanks...

Excellent news. Did you have to really push them to perform the update, or was it something they are now updating as standard?

Just in case you're not aware for doing a manual update of the maps, the on-line portal speaks of using an SD card. There is no SD card reader on the Octavia IV, so you'll need to load the maps onto a USB-C memory stick instead. I quite like these memory sticks as they have both USB-A and USB-C connectors built in: Link to Amazon On a side note, hopefully your supplying dealer updated the cars infotainment software to 1941, as that's the big update which gives a far more stable Infotainment experience.

It does show it in the car. If you go Settings > System Information, look for the Navigation database version. It's basically a date, YY.MM, so my maps were updated December 2023 as I have version 23.12. I still have an active Infotainment Online package, so for me the maps automatically download to the car.

I've not had it at all since I had the firmware updates on my car, but I'm also aware on my car they effectively re-coded the entire car after the updates were done - which may make a difference.

I had all of these issues with my 1st edition. All of the issues are now resolved, and I was told that they had not replaced any hardware, and only software updates were applied. However, they told me that Skoda Technical had asked them after the updates to effectively 'factory reset' my car and 're-code' the entire car. This happened during a 3 week period where they'd asked to have my car, as Skoda Technical were trying to get a full understanding and resolution of the issues with early Mk 4 Octavia's. When I got the car back the issues POP POP did cease completely, along with the satnav offsetting my position. It wasn't until 1941 came along that the other infotainment issues were completely fixed though.

Climate Control SYNC feature The climate control SYNC feature would only remain active while the car was running. If the car was switched off and on again, SYNC would no longer be displayed on the left temperature indicator. A workaround was to use the left climate control and it would also update the right side as well. However, if the right temperature control was used, then the sync was broken, and the controls would be working independently, and SYNC would need to be re-established from the settings screen. I eventually managed to get an update to the climate control unit to fix the issue from the dealer, but I do not believe this has been pushed out OTA to other affected users. My dealer would also not provide me with further information on the fix to share on this forum. Matrix Lights I had two issues with the Matrix lights dazzling oncoming drivers. On my first visit to the dealer I was informed the matrix system was set-up for a left hand drive car, and they had changed it right-hand drive. However, the issue persisted. Re-calibration of the camera at a VW dealer was required to resolve fully. Bluetooth In addition to CarPlay not auto-connecting, I also had issues in general with Bluetooth not automatically re-connecting. Several times a week I had to manually select my phone in the Bluetooth settings screen. A software update resolved this issue. I also had issues with Adaptive Cruise Control, SOS errors, Auto-reconnect CarPlay which were resolved. The Skoda Connect App is also not fully functional in the same manner mentioned by @SteveTheElder. I was told by the dealer the app would be fully functional if I had my identify 'verified' by a Skoda dealer, but even getting that done didn't change any functionality within the app.

Take a look at my thread on this issue here My car is finally sorted. It required re-calibration of the camera, and that has to be done with specific equipment that many Skoda dealers do not have. Marshall Skoda Letchworth had to take it down to their Volkswagen dealer which does have the equipment, but for some reason they have use the equipment with a laptop loaded with Skoda software. I think the Skoda dealer in Milton Keynes is also Marshall. If you get any trouble with them, or get fobbed off about how they took it to an MOT testing station to check the levels, insist they get the camera re-calibrated, and to call their Letchworth branch for details on getting it done. The dealer commented yesterday that they've had to do a few re-calibrations on cameras recently.