PetrolDave

No, some mods don't affect certification but others like removing the cat do.

Not a very bright dealer, as that's the map SD card for a MIB1 Amundsen as fitted to an early Octavia 3. I suggest you post in the Octavia 2 forum and ask how map updates should be done https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/28-skoda-octavia-mk-ii-2004-2013/ *Edit* Some surfing shows that if you have an Amundsen it will be an RNS310, so you need an SD map card for an RNS310 not a MIB1.

The likelihood of passing an MOT with a decat is very low, and removing the cat on a car certified to need one (which a Mk1 Octavia is) then using it on the road is AFAIK a moving traffic offence which is why plod would be 'interested'. We're not trying to make you a nervous wreck, just making sure you understand the legal niceties of deleting the cat on a road car.

What sat nav system do you have, the SD card requirements vary? Is the SD card for your system not a later MIB1 or MIB2/2.5 system as fitted to an Octavia 3 (a 2011 Octavia is an Octavia 2) - the maps are different between them all.

It the VAG naming convention: In late Spring they issue maps that cross over 2 years, so this year it's 2023/2024 maps. In late Autumn of the year before they issue maps for the next year, so in Autumn 2023 they will issue 2024 maps. The year naming of the maps doesn't indicate when the map data is frozen, for example I moved into my house on my new build estate in April 2022 (other residents moved in nearly a year earlier) but the 2023/2024 maps still don't show the road that I and nearly 60 other houses are on!

I've been using the 2024 maps with my MIB2 Amundsen for a couple of weeks and it's made no difference - TMC is still crossed out.

VAG no longer issue map updates for the MIB1 systems fitted to the Octavia until 2016, when questioned they admitted that they only issue map updates for the MIB (and similar) systems for 5 years after they are no longer used in production. It is the MIB systems that they class as end-of-life not the vehicle. If they follow the 5 year rule then map updates will no longer be available for the MIB 2 and MIB2.5 systems after around 2025.

Correct, I took my MIB1 Amundsen equipped Octavia 3 to France many times and each time it picked up French TMC data and displayed it correctly - even if the data was not totally up-to-date (on one road it was a year out of date!).

Is it an AGM or EFB battery, and has the car been coded to tell it a new battery has been fitted? If not it could still be load shedding to protect the old battery!

IIRC the Octavia 3 1.5TSI was only ever sold as the ACT version, but as you say toot it's very important to mention it's the ACT version especially when talking to a non-Skoda dealer.

French TMC data will only be looked for when the GPS signal shows the vehicle in France, so I think this was an interesting but ultimately pointless test.

TPMS analyses the pattern from each WSSS not just the speed, so something on the rear hub is causing an irregularity in the WSS signal - like stickig caliper, failing wheel bearing, etc. You say you swapped the tyre, I'm assuming wheel and tyre not just tyre?

A different MOT tester might not even mention them... Unnecessary "upselling" of replacement discs and/or pads has been commonplace for many years.

This is the way things will go long term, especially with the (often delayed) plan to turn off FM radio completely and only have DAB and DAB+ transmissions.

They have different engine ECUs, so coding, adaptation and measurement blocks aren't going to be the same. Hopefully someone with a Mk3 vRS will chime in with the correct channel to log.

What engine? Depending on the engine the cost can be anything upwards from £500.

There's a pad wear sensor on the front brake pad.

Without a fault code scan to understand what is causing all those warning lights all we can do is a blind guess in the dark. Get someone with e.g. VCDS or OBDeleven to scan your cars and post the results here. List of VCDS owners on Briskoda

Many of the card sold in online auction sites do not have the latest maps installed, so what you're downloading is the latest maps - which can be installed on an existing Skoda SD card after removing the older maps on it (either by deleting the files or quick formatting the card).

Multimeter on battery terminals is the best way. "Battery starting to be sluggish" on a 2015? Is this the original factory battery, if it is then it's due to be replaced IMHO.

... and what are they doing to restore RDS-TMC to their customers?

Many of the systems now have their own independent Sport mode - DSG being one of them, but AFAIK that's not linked to DCC mode?

Physical size, flow rate, diameter of pipes, position of differential sensor ports, ....

Taken in Clanger Woods near Trowbridge on Saturday

Either SD card slot can be used for maps or music on an Amundsen unit.