JIMMK1VRS

Have you got a Haynes manual?

http://uk-trailer-parts.co.uk/7-way-universal-bypass-relay-wiring-diagram

Search octavia tow bar wiring in Google. The first image is a powered relay wiring diagram. The tricky but is finding which is which on your car.

Yes but if you don't use a powered relay the tow bar electrics will suck current from the cars wiring harness and your car will throw a wobbly as it will think it's got loads of bulbs out

I think I used a Haynes manual. Got it wrong so connected a light bar and sorted it out.

I'd suggest a powered relay so that you don't upset the car.

The repair kit cannot be used to repair every unit. It depends on the fault. The repair kit can't be used on every unit. It depends on the fault. My issue isn't really with the fault, it's the way that Skoda / VAG couldn't care less.

Car fixed, done a few hundred miles and it's as good as new.

Good rant. I hate visiting dealers. It's a nec custard evil though; I simply don't have the time to do it myself, especially when I'm not familiar and it also takes research. It does sound like average service though.

Chaps, I don't want to drag this out any more than required bit I would be interested on your opinions. I feel a bit hard done by here but I'm not sure if I should?! Skoda UK made the point that at some point they have to pass the responsibility of fixing things that go wrong onto the customer. I think this is a fair point in most cases. Where I disagree is when a part fails that is a known weak spot that they themselves know about and should have been sorted early on in the cars life. I don't think it should have left the factory with this defective part. However, I know that it's difficult to make each model perfect, which is why recalls occur. The fact that I am advised that my car has lost control on the ABS, ESP etc does not mean that this shouldn't have been recalled IMO. I had no speedo, no power steering, no abs, no ESP, a manual that confused the situation and a dash like a Christmas tree. I'll get over the hefty bill. As an honest person it doesn't sit easy with me that a company thinks it is acceptable to let owners drive around with this fault hanging over them, doing nothing about it, and then to add insult to injury charging them a fortune to get it fixed. .........or am I wrong?

Have you read about the ABS control module faults? Honest john website: Drab interior. Early TDI PD engines noisy. Plastic timing belt pulleys can fail early on 1.6-litre engines. Suffers from ABS/ESP problem. Air con problems common. 1.8 and 2.0 TSI engines can become oil burners. Mine is looking at an £820 bill for an abs control module......no more Skodas for me!

It case this becomes useful for people reading in the future. This abs problem is so common that the forum has a sticky for using the VAG repair kit! http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/190784-how-to-repair-espabs-fault-with-vag-repair-kit/ Hopefully the dealer may be able to use this kit and save me a bit of cash.

Well as expected skoda uk have nothing useful to tell me and won't be offering any cash (I didn't think they would but it's worth a try) I'm going to call the skoda dealer to get on with the work but ask them to have a close look at the connections. I'm not in a position to faff around. I just need this fixing. Unfortunately this will be my last Skoda. I think I've been pretty loyal but I guess they don't care. Skoda know that this failure is common and I believe it should have been the subject of a recall (apparently is wasn't due only to the fact that the car tells you that the abs has failed it's therefore not unsafe). The dealer do sound competent and have been helpful so at least that's something. I don't think that the VAG should be letting vehicles drive around with this safety related failure hanging over them.

I'm not too sure where to go from here. My symptoms were the same as this thread: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/155145-dashboard-lights/ My battery charger is a decent model which I have used for years on cars and my motorbike (it's currently plugged into my bike) and I've had no issues. It showed good charge and voltage and was brand new from halfords. Looking at the dates on it and dust I don't think it had been on their shelf long. I am inclined to belief the skoda diagnosis. Am I an idiot?! Maybe a check of all connectors is a reasonable shout.

Ian I am inclined to agree, however I'd rather sell the car on with a clear conscience knowing that skoda had sorted it out 100%.