CJJE

I bought the Duracells at Boots, all with a decent life left, so would hope they're not pirated ones! I've been looking for Panasonics today since that's what came out of the keys, but the only ones I've seen are short-lifed ones in Amazon. Chris

Well OK, I've now seen this message for the first time today. While driving home from the shops I got a 'Software Update' message which I ignored as it wouldn't update while I was driving. Then I got the dreaded 'SOS Error' message and lost the internet connection (no green light). The radio and map in the virtual cockpit were still fine though. When I got home, I turned the ignition off and then on again. Infotainment system was now dead while it tried to load my user profile. No green light, and still the SOS Error message. After leaving it for an hour, reset the Amundsen infotainment system by holding down the power button for 10 seconds. Came back to life after a delay, user profile now loaded, radio and nav maps now working and SOS Error message cleared. The notification screen said I had a software update waiting, but when I pressed Update, I was told the software was up to date! My car's already booked in to have its steering wheel changed to 'cure' the messages about the Travel Assist, Lane Assist and Dynamic Road Signs not being available, so I'll add this to the list for them! Life was simpler BEFORE we had online cars wasn't it! Almost makes me want to go back to the 60s with SU carburettors, 5,000 mile services, and dodgy Lucas electrics Chris

Knowing the problems owners have been having with KESSY keys, I replaced the batteries in my 3 keys on the car's first birthday, (Panasonics out and Duracell in). All 3 Panasonics were showing low on my battery tester while the new Duracells were fine. But today, I got a warning message from the car telling me to change the key battery! Do I need to hunt down some Panasonic 2025s?? Chris

Is there a plastic protective film on the sliding cover? I can't remember if mine came with one or not, but if there is perhaps that is marked? Chris

The Cross Climate+ has of course been replaced by the Cross Climate 2 now (which is reviewed as being much better) but I don't know off-hand if this has rim protection too. If it has, it'd be my preferred replacement on the basis that the Cross Climate SUV has better off-road ability but less road ability. Chris

From Honest John: If you want summer tyres - we hear the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 are very good for alloy protection. For all-season tyres, the Michelin Cross Climate + also offer this protection. If you find tyres you like and want to know if they offer any kind of allow protection, look out for these symbols (which are used across a range of manufacturers): - RFP (Rim Fringe Protector) - FP (Fringe Protector) - MFS (Maximum Flange Shield) - FR (Felgen Ripen) - FSL (Felgenschutzleiste) - ML (Mit Leiste) Chris

I've heard of tyres suffering from sunlight (and heat?) if left exposed, but thought that applied to the sidewalls rather than the tread. (I think this was probably in the context of caravan tyres.) I guess the danger is if the treads should start delaminating at speed. Chris

The Skoda fixed price servicing chart does indeed only start after 3 years. But my first service a few weeks ago was the Oil & Inspection service and performed for £185 with a free courtesy car thrown in. I was on the fixed time regime, but I think the variable regime also just has an oil change as the first service. It includes: • Oil & filter change (premium synthetic oil) • Full car road test – which includes checking steering operation, clutch and braking operation, engine performance, suspension noise and driving controls • Inspection of all lights, instruments, bodywork, glass, locks, battery, drive belts, suspension, steering, fuel lines, brake pads/shoes/discs, hoses, wash/wipe system, exhaust system, engine components, fluid levels and tyres • Diagnostic check and visual health check including reports • Wash and vacuum Chris

One possible work around is to save artists, albums, genres etc as favourites and then you can always jump to a particular section without the music files starting at the first one every time? Chris

I bought the factory 5 year warranty with my Karoq purely as insurance against any expensive faults in the DSG/Haldex system. But I drove a Golf Plus TDI DSG for 3 years, and then a Golf SV TSI DSG for 6+ years, both without any problems whatsoever. The extra warranty gives you peace of mind, and the value of it depends on how you value that:) Chris

I've reported my experiences with my previous Golf SV and my Karoq, and my only complaint about my Karoq has been about the occasional software problems. But as it was in my first year I couldn't comment on its servicing at that time! Chris

I can understand your concern... but as I don't drive that often at night nowadays, I haven't experienced the same situation. I know that if the Stop/Start is activated, the engine will restart if the battery voltage drops too much, and will do that in daytime if the aircon is running for instance. So presumably your car was seeing the battery voltage dropping because the alternator at tick over wasn't generating enough power to match the load of the headlights, radio, heater etc. Perhaps you were using more accessories such as heater, heated seats/windscreens etc than you were in the summer? Otherwise I suppose it may be an early warning that your battery is holding a charge as well as it used to?? Chris

I think I've seen this when I returned home at night and was sitting on the drive with my headlights on (Auto setting), the engine still ticking over and the gearbox in Park. In my case the headlights were turned off for me! Chris

The car comes from the factory set to variable servicing, but can be set to fixed term servicing instead by the dealer at its PDI, or indeed any later service. Variable servicing is generally reckoned to suit drivers doing lots of long journeys on motorways, but I prefer fixed term servicing as I was only doing around 10,000 miles a year (pre-pandemic) and very much less now. When my Octavia was set to variable servicing many years ago, I found it irritating that oil changes etc were only required every 18 months or so, but other items like brake fluid changes and MOTs were still required at fixed intervals. The variable servicing intervals are determined by software that measures the demands being placed on the engine, and hence the likely degradation of the oil. And lots of short journeys, where the engine cools down each time before being restarted are bad for engines! (It used to be said that cars used by doctors or practice nurses were bad news because they spent their life making such journeys!) Chris

The car will give you about a month's warning before it needs its first service. So if your car is set for fixed term servicing you should be getting the message about now! If it is set for variable servicing them it can be up to 18 months or so from its delivery checks. But if you look in the MySkoda app, the Vehicle Status page will tell you the mileage range and time left before your Oli Change service. The Skoda Approved price for the first Oli Change service is £185. Chris

My dealer has phoned to say they have received the replacement controller (apparently fitted inside the steering wheel if I understood them correctly). Car booked in to have it changed under warranty on November 29th/30th (delay due to the need to provide me with a courtesy car for 2 days). Chris

It does seem the standard response by VW and Skoda to these faults, but I was also told that the fault might also be in the 'controller'. Presumably the steering wheel is easier to replace first? Although they will still want my car for a day and half when they get one in stock! (I'll need to check with them that they've ordered a heated steering as I'm finding that very useful... I'm not as worried about the DSG paddles as I don't use them Chris

Click on the box and it opens. Oh I see you've been able to now Chris

There's an old thread which covered this at:

I've also had intermittent messages on my Karoq about the Traffic Assist, Lane Assist and Dynamic Road Signs being unavailable (which all disappear after a short while or when I turn the ignition off and on again.) I've also had the speed limit reminder showing metric speeds (45 for 30, 110 for 70 etc), but that seems to reoccur in specific places. Twice I've also had a message saying the headlights have been set for driving on the right too! When I reported these to my dealer at my first service today I was expecting to hear the system software had been updated, but instead they told me Skoda UK had told them to replace my heated steering wheel to cure the faults. When they get one, we'll see if it's the solution Chris

I've been getting this fault intermittently in my Karoq, sometimes coupled with a message that the headlights have been set for driving on the right! It seems to be linked to particular roads and I was thinking it was due to a bug in the mapping software, but Skoda UK say not. I've also been getting occasional messages saying the the Traffic Assist, Lane Assist and Dynamic Road Signs are not available and asked my dealer to investigate a possible software update when I had my car's first service today. But they say Skoda UK have told them the faults are being caused by the heated steering wheel and so have ordered a replacement for me to cure the faults. When they fit it, we'll find out if they're right Chris

Many years ago I was also puzzled why my turbo-diesel Citroen needed such a high speed rating for its tyres, and the service manager at my dealer (who I had dealt with for many years and trusted) assured me it was because the tyre's higher speed rating was needed to handle the torque from the engine, and not because the car could ever reach the speeds that the tyre was quoting. So I suppose the "speed rating" is actually shorthand for a more complex measurement of the tyre's strengths. I have also found the following statement on the Protyre website: "For most modern cars, the tyre rating is not the same as the maximum speed the vehicle is capable of. For example, most family cars will have a tyre speed rating that is higher than the car’s maximum speed. This is mainly for safety reasons and so that the performance of the tyres always exceeds the maximum performance of the car. A higher speed rating means that the tyre is able to cope with acceleration, braking, and high-speed cornering. Speed ratings are not exclusively about speed – they are also about ride comfort, tread wear, traction, and cornering ability. A tyre with a higher speed rating will give better grip and stopping power but may not last as long and may not perform as well in cold weather/winter conditions. V, Z, W, and Y-rated tyres, therefore, tend to be better suited to high-performance vehicles driven in warmer climates." Chris

When I come to change out the Bridgestone Dueler HP Sports that my Karoq came on, I was favouring the Michelin CrossClimates, having used them on my previous Golf SV. But I see the CrossClimate 2 seems to be generally better than the CrossClimate SUV. As I'm highly unlikely to take my Karoq any further off road than a grassy overflow car park, do I need to keep with a SUV tyre rather than than car tyre? Chris

OK, so today I drove another 8 miles to fill up (so 383 miles on a tankful), and refilled it with 50.5 litres. (4x4s have a 55 litre tank.) Car claimed 37.6 mpg, but calculated figure was 34.7. Chris

Nope, never use ACC, I have it set to the Speed Limiter instead. But I've got the front assist camera as well as the front radar sensor so it's one of those sensing the car in front of me moving away and restarting the engine for me Chris