knarf

For those who want to know I found out that the manuals on erWin are more up to date than the ones found scattered around the 'net. This leaves the question why these updated versions have not appeared on sites like https://procarmanuals.com/ (which is but one of many similar peddlers of outdated but still useable manuals). To those running erWin a tip: allow potential users to see what information is available - i.e. show the front page of all manuals with their publishing dates for a given VIN - without having to buy time. It seems to be possible to download all you need for a single VIN in about 30 minutes (source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1hnOxlVbuU 'If you only need info for 1 car, you can find all you need in 30 min.') so a 1 hour subscription (€7 excl. VAT) should be enough but maybe it is worth spending €25 excl. VAT to peruse the site for a whole day and pull off everything of interest - not having been there yet I can't tell.

FYI, I found at least a wiring diagram for the 2017+ facelift version: https://fixmycarinfo.com/skoda/octavia-3/

Now that we just added another Octavia to the 'collection' (one MKII (1Z5) and the 'new' 2018 MKIII (5E5 'Scout') I'm collecting service manuals for the thing. Since Skoda stopped using ELSAWIN (which I used for the first Octavia MKI and still use for the MKII) I'm looking for downloadable manuals of which there seems to be a plethora available at places like https://procarmanuals.com et al. There is also the 'official' way of buying a 1-hour subscription for erWin and slurp down whatever material is found there but I'm left wondering whether there is any difference between the (clearly official) material found on the various sites on the 'net and the manuals downloaded from erWin. As an example the most recent version of the 2.0l/110kW TDI CR engine manual I've found is the 'edition 07/2014', is the manual found on erWin newer and if so why is it not found elsewhere? I don't mind paying for an hour or a day but if all I find there is the same I already downloaded elsewhere I may as well save the time and effort in subscribing to yet another site and paying for access. So, is the documentation on erWin the same as the stuff available on https://procarmanuals.com (et al) or is it significantly more up to date? It is rather surprising that there does not seem to be Skoda-related material newer than ~2015 on those download sites so I can but assume that erWin does not offer newer stuff either - but what about the facelift in 2017, that should have led to an updated body work manual at least?

Ribbon with attached connectors. You need 60 cm of ribbon cable to repair this model. Make sure you attach the connectors in the correct orientation, one facing up, one down.

In the intervening years the clockspring broke twice, at different locations. I managed to repair the stricken ribbon cable but the thing is at its end now so Aliexpress to the rescue in the form of 10 m of ribbon cable:

(of course the ribbon should be capable of carrying the airbag igniter current, something to keep in mind)

Yes, repair is often both quicker as well as just more convenient than replacement, not to mention a lot less expensive. In this case it would be possible for the purveyors of clocksprings to sell that ribbon cable as a spare part, given that the thing is totally separate from the rest of the assembly. Maybe this is possible, maybe not, I do not know. It would be an option for clocksprings which are broken in the middle or burnt by some short-circuit condition. Of course it is also possible to just replace the ribbon with a new one after soldering the connectors to a fresh piece of ribbon cable, assuming that this can be acquired somehow - an old inkjet printer might be a good source since these often use similar (albeit wider) ribbons.

Here's the verdict: ETKA is wrong, ELSA is right, the car uses the combined module. Bummer... or? Hrere's the problem: The ribbon is broken in the shape of the plastic thingy which holds it in place - not the best design here. The copper traces are spot-welded to contact pins on the plastic widget which in turn plugs into the controller (4 pins) and leads on to the airbag connector (2 pins). A new controller is both expensive as well as in need of coding, it also takes a fair bit of time for things to be delivered here in the Swedish countryside. So... ...I just cut the ribbon straight, carefully cut out the 6 traces at a length of ~5 mm, removed the insulation with a torch and some fine sandpaper and soldered the ribbon to the contact pins after first removing the spot-welded remains. After that I replaced the plastic fastener (the white vertical piece which holds the ribbon in place and offloads the welds) and for good measure added a piece of builders tape on the first few cm (not visible here) to avoid the thing breaking in the same location. Ready for closing, the lid and spool top snap in place. The horn now works again, I'll have to find a way to reset the airbag lamp but that can come later. The whole operation took about half an hour.

I don't just remove the steering wheel for lack of time and access to the car... if I can find out which part to order beforehand I only have to remove it once, on a day the car is not in use. Otherwise I'll be wrenching on the thing at some time I'd rather do something else... ...but I'm afraid there is nothing else to it. ETKA and all other parts catalogues I've got access to insist this car contains the "dumb" clockspring (a much better design in my opinion since it keeps the consumable (clockspring) separate from the electronics). Thanks for the replies, I'll have to find some time to get the wheel off when the car is not in use (i.e. after 21.30) ...edit... Here's a bit more to add to the confusion: This is when ETKA claims the combined module is in use, cars before this MY are shown as being equipped with a separate control module. Clearly this is not true given the scans posted by @langers2k and @TheClient . My wife's car does not have extraneous buttons ("MFSW") on the wheel but the thing does have cruise control...

I don't just remove the steering wheel for lack of time and access to the car... if I can find out which part to order beforehand I only have to remove it once, on a day the car is not in use. Otherwise I'll be wrenching on the thing at some time I'd rather do something else... ...but I'm afraid there is nothing else to it. ETKA and all other parts catalogues I've got access to insist this car contains the "dumb" clockspring (a much better design in my opinion since it keeps the consumable (clockspring) separate from the electronics). Thanks for the replies, I'll have to find some time to get the wheel off when the car is not in use (i.e. after 21.30)

Thanks for the list, the nearest to me is either one of the Swedes or Norwegians (I live in Sweden). I stuck a borehole camera into the bottom of the steering assembly and found some electronic bits mounted under the steering column, near the steering wheel. Not having disassembled this part of this car yet I do not know whether the board-with-yellow-plug visible here is either the separate steering control unit (J527) or at least indicative of such being fitted or something totally different. Anyone here recognise these parts as such? Seen from the slot next to the steering column height adjustment handle, under the steering column assembly, looking "up" towards the steering wheel: A bit closes to the yellow plug: This is what I want it to be...

I'll try to stick a borehole camera into the steering column assembly to see whether the electronics module is situated underneath the column. If it is there I assume it will take the separate clockspring (1K0959653C), if not I'll have to either see whether I can rig up my old VagCom + cable for this car (it worked in her previous Octavia (MK1 facelift)), find a way to convince any of the Android apps to work together with that Chinese ELM327 plug I have hanging around (it works with simple apps like Torque but it doesn't with things like Carista) or find some alternative to getting VCDS. Buying VCDS is not really an option given that I don't expect this car to be here for more than a few years and not knowing whether the replacement will be a VAG product. Maybe I should write my own diagnostic system and put it on Github, it is annoying to see something like this treated like magic pixie dust while in reality it is just a relatively simple collection of serial protocols with a bunch of data tables.

Given the symptoms - air bag lamp on, signal horn not working (no honk and no audible relay click under the dashboard) I suspect the clockspring on my wife's Octavia 1Z5 is broken. Perusing through ELSA I find that this model is supposed to have the clockspring integrated into the steering column control unit ("Restoring ring with coil spring - F350 - with integrated steering column electronics unit - J527) but according to ETKA I can use part number 1K0959653C ( https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/octavia/oct/2011-663/9/953-953050/#4 ) on this vehicle. I have not yet opened up the thing since she is using the car more or less constantly (she's a vet) so I do not know which of these sources to believe. Not having access to something like VCDS for this car I can not use this to find part numbers either. If 1K0959653C fits in this car the job is cheap and easy, if I need to fit some combined module which needs to be coded for the car I'll have to a) find that module and b) get access to a working VCDS (or similar) system (and pay a whole lot more for the part...). Anyone here who knows who to believe, other than my own eyes when pull off the steering wheel? I'd like to order the parts before I do that as that both saves work/time as well as gives less downtime on the vehicle. The car is made in december 2011 but is reported as MY2012, nr TMBHT61Z0C211XXXX It has a normal steering wheel, no spurious buttons.