Long in the tooth

Have a 20 plate 1.5 SEL manual. The non-virtual instrument display 'glass' /plastic/perspex has what appears to be water marks on the inside surface; annoyingly they show up when sun catches them from above. It appears to be held in place by the black plastic surround to it. Anyone know how easy/difficult it is to unclip ? / remove it ? for cleaning on it's inside face. TIA for any useful help.

Hi RobGoch - this probably too late to be of help - and has been overtaken by events. It's simple job to release headlight cluster from each side - remove rubber cover, move a 'clicky' lever at the back of the dipped bulb mounting (can't remember the details as I type - but an illustration is available on-line if you Google around) ; then replace headlight assembly. It might sound a faff - but as a regular continental visitor it's a standard routine for me whilst queuing for ferry either side of the channel. All Skodas (VAG too?) seem come out of the factory with headlights needing setting up using these 'clicky levers' as part of dealer prep prior to customer delivery depending on what country the vehicle is being sold in. A quick way to check your headlight settings (for up/down and side to side adjustment is at evening time (use Allen Key to adjust - again info on-line is available) park car on flat surface about 20/25 feet away from a wall, switch on headlights - first of all you should see the right hand drive/left throw of the beam - plus it's 'kick-up which is the problem for continental driving. As is said above some drivers set their 'clicky' setting to be flat permanently - such that they don't have to bother about it again when driving abroad.

Hi langers2k : many thanks for your quick and reassuring answer : will await my car's auto up-date of info in due course. Yes - I get the Fixed Service interval choice re engine longevity ; in fact I'm an old fashioned traditionalist ! "Change oil and filter every 12 months - come what may!" Which is what I actually do - and have done - irrespective of what the MFD shows - since new!! I use Castrol Edge ; buy new VAG filter; go to a local 'back street garage man ; slip him a fiver whilst he puts car up in air to drain old oil whilst I replace filter. Then refill with new oil ; Job done But I've always kept the car set to Variable - so every 18 to 24 months it goes to Skoda dealer for it's next service - thus maintaining Full Service History - and getting the MFD re-set. As in my original post the car (according to both computer display and fill to fill mpg is the best in the car's life - averaging 42 mpg across all driving conditions vs between 38 to 40 mpg when it was younger !) I even change spark plugs at the 25,000 marker! The truth of the matter is that this way I save money by not having to go to the Skoda dealer every 12 months for them to do what I do - apart from the fact I don't have the kit to re-set the MFD Info. - but the Full Service History is kept should I wish to sell on - which even after 7 to 8 years I don't. !! Old old saying of "wiser as you grow older" (let's not get into any bigger debate !! ) Regards

Hi guys 2011- 1.4tsi Octavia Estate – Elegance+ - sole owner since new. (car has been brilliant in every way – family workhorse – short distance shopping vehicle – long distance overloaded comfortable cross Europe (Bulgaria and beyond) cruiser. Back story:- was set to Variable Servicing since new from the showroom: salesman said “the car will tell you when it needs a service”. Car and me have been happy with this since. 12 months ago at required service Skoda said we’ve changed car to Fixed Service. I didn’t understand why – but didn’t fuss too much. So 12 months later it’s just had it’s minor service – but I asked for setting to be changed back to Variable (Am getting more mpg than at any time in its life.) . No prob. They said. I can see from invoice that Long Life oil was used. Happy with that. Got home ; checked MFD Vehicle Info display - ; it said “service in 370 days/9,400 miles” ie in 12 months. I concluded that technician had just reset existing service schedule with his CAN device – without changing the Fixed/Variable setting. Took car back – Service Receptionist said “no prob. - to change ; will take 1 minute”. Car returned to me : drove home. Today I’ve checked MFD Vehicle Info – and what it says is in the photo. Can see that Service Interval has been changed to Variable as requested. QUESTION: Should the mileage and date values have been entered by the technician? Or does the car generate these values itself based on its assessment of how it’s being driven?

Hi - re puddle lights - am just reading through interesting posts . Have Octy 2 Elegance Estate with folding mirrors equipped with puddle lights ( tho sometimes you'd never know !!). Car is not with me at the mo. to check - but can't recollect seeing how to gain access should either or both bulbs need replacing. User Manual doesn't refer to them or list bulb type. Can you recall how you did it ? Many thanx in anticipation regards

Hi Longship = have you had the system diagnosed, or do you have a sense of the cause ?

Yup : did a while back : didn't reveal any 're-portable' discrepancy/inconsistency in a/c system : but system still has an annoying problem : all's well for 30 to 45 minutes then a/c output fails - fan output fails across all vent outlets (suspect evaporator is frozen up?) : switch off for 5 to 10 minutes then all's well for the next 30 minutes or so until problem repeats itself. Car has recently had refrigerant top-up/refill : new heat exchanger radiator.

Hi guys My Climatronic a/c is poorly : have reason to suspect evaporator temp sensor is faulty and sending wrong info. I believe evaporator itself to be behind dashboard ? (true or false?) In any event can anyone help with how best to access the temperature sensor as I intend to replace it. Many thanks in advance

To all 3 of the above - belated thanks to the 3 of you; it was only earlier this Sunday afternoon that I was able to follow up on your suggestions/information. It was indeed the outside temperature sensor - and on a closer inspection there is a small bracket about 1/4 to 1/3rd distance along the front of the condenser and radiator, below and partly hidden by the LH high pressure headlamp washer hose; this small bracket has a hole exactly the correct size to take my 'right angled' dangly thing ( :clap: ). Thanks for your help guys.

Hi Guys I've a 2011 1.4 TSi (brill engine) Elegance + estate with Climate Control. Earlier this year I had to have the ac condenser replaced (by an indie garage; needs must!) Air conditioning has worked fine ever since - but here's the 'but' ! After a while it (maybe an hour or so; sometimes less) it stops working; it doesn't appear to be blowing air. Switch it off for 10 minutes or so and it starts working again/blowing cold/cool air. Have made a mental note to look closer at the problem when I have time. Separate issue: Today I pulled out the LH Fog/DLR pod in the front bumper to replace a blown bulb. When releasing and pulling out the lighting fixture - something else came out with it!! See attached photo. (it's the small black angled item dangling on the end of the wiring loom to the left hand side of the pic) It looks like it might be a temperature sensor of some sort - and is part of the same wiring loom that supplies the lighting fixture. It's a black plastic right angled fitting about 7 to 10 mm diameter. At the end are some moulded 'prongs' and ridges that suggest it's a push fit into a round opening. Within the 3 'prongs' is a smaller black bulbous looking feature - which might suggest it's a thermistor or other sensor (am trying to make a semi intelligent stab at what it might be - but could be wrong !!!) WHAT IS IT ? AND WHERE DOES IT GO ? Could this be the source of the climate control problem - having been removed/dislodged by the guys who replaced the ac condenser earlier, and inadvertently not put it back when reassembling the front end of the car. Have looked closely and stretched it to the limits of its made up length within the condenser/radiator/front bumper area and can't find any obvious mounting hole or point ! Help please to establish where I should refit it.

Hi guys (and others !). I've a 2011/ 60 plate 1.4 tsi (brilliant engine) Elegance estate; had its second variable service yesterday at 35,000 miles; had hoped a spark plug change was included - but discover they're not scheduled until 3rd service (at about 54,000 miles). Why? I know ultra long life platinum tipped plugs are fitted as standard and generally speaking I have no issues with that - but occasionally, just occasionally, the car catches me out when taking off from cold and either misfires a couple of times (enabling me to feed in extra revs), or actually stalls. As I say - it has only happened occasionally - but did it once at a roundabout recently. The memo to self was "Check and possibly fit new spark plugs" - as a set of 4 they're cheap enough via eBay (NGK PZFR6R5758). Yesterday evening removed engine cover (easy enough - 4 Torq screws) to discover that the coil packs probably need a special tool to prize them up away from their clipped in location on top of the engine and to remove from the wiring loom. Have searched Interweb thingy - and can't find any info. or videos. Anybody out there got any experience/comments/suggestions/ideas etc. Grateful for any meaningful observations.

This seems pretty stupid to me - haven't the plods seen their own vehicles fitted with DRLs??? New Police vehicles have them fitted as standard as they come off the production line. Have seen several in the SE Hampshire area in recent days (OK - so maybe sometimes it might have been the the same as one seen previously!!??) - but the point that no one seems to have grasped yet is that any new police vehicle will have them as standard too!!.

Hi Guys - a Newbie here Ordered Petrol 1.4 TSI Elegance Estate ( + Metallic Storm Blue, + 4 spoke s/wheel with Maxidot, + Elec. adjustable heated wing mirrors, + space saver spare wheel) on 15th Sept 2010. Dealer has just emailed me to say assigned build week is 48 - but adds "... I believe this is due to change; will keep you posted."