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I have a different problem with mine! I have the Virtual Cockpit, and so normally resetting the trip odometer needs a trip into the settings menu... but twice now, it has reset itself! Each time I have only driven around 300 miles since it was last reset, and I haven't noticed any other software updates causing it. But it's annoying as I use it to record my mileage each time I fill up with fuel (luckily I record the total mileage as well so my records are still correct.) Chris

Can you see the files on the TV still? If not, it sounds like you removed it before the files had been closed by the TV. Chris

Hi DaniC, There is no way that I have seen for the Amundsen to format a USB disk. Instead, it will read files on any USB disk that has been formatted already using the VFAT, FAT16, FAT32, exFAT or NTFS file system. Details were in my digital owners manual, in the Amundsen / Media / Supported Sources and Files section. Presumably the web-based owners manual for your newer car will have the same details somewhere. Best Wishes, Chris

Makes me glad my 2.0 TSI has a cam chain instead - or so I'm told!

Agreed KaroqCZ. This is a long-standing design fault that has been affecting many VAG cars and not just Skodas. My previous Golf Sportsvan sounded an alarm when it thought I wasn't turning the steering wheel often enough - and so gave false alarms on long straight motorways. So I'd hoped the capacitive sensors might be an improvement. But now it's looking like we were all mis-sold a feature that hadn't been designed properly. Perhaps we are due a refund of the money we paid for this option?? Chris

Thanks for the info. My car had been silent for the last few weeks, until I used the heated steering wheel this week. It was OK when first switched on, but the TA warning came up shortly after turning it off. Now one of the sensors required by the TA is the capacitive sensor in the steering wheel that ensures you have your hands on the wheel. I now believe that using the heated steering wheel affects this sensor (through expansion?) as when not using it, I do not get the TA warning. So perhaps the other solution is to get my driving gloves out again rather than lose the Emergency Assist function?? Chris

Correct. My copy of the owner's manual states "To complete the activation it is necessary to have two original vehicle keys with you." (Page 159 in mine, under Online Services, User registration and activation of the Skoda Connect services.) Chris

The built-in SIM? It should be automatically connected, unless you have redirected it to your home WiFi, but you can check via the Menu / Settings / Data Connection / Integrated data connection (eSIM) settings. I was able to set mine up by following the Online Services section of the owner's manual carefully, But I didn't already have a Skoda ID etc so was doing it completely from scratch. Chris

No, Skoda provide a restricted data plan for you. It's required to provide online updates for the maps and some software in the car, and to keep the SOS function working. The only need I've found for an extra (and expensive) dataplan is if you want to use the Web Radio - which you can also access via your mobile phone if you really want to. Chris

It might be worth trying to connect via its inbuilt SIM out in the open air. That's how I did mine. But this really emphasises that sales people need to give their customers more support in using the software built in to modern cars.

The software update has to be done by a dealer, and takes quite a time to download. Generally it will only be done if you report a problem which can be cured by the update, and not as standard. (Despite the annual service apparently checking to see if the software is up to date!) For registering as the primary user, have you deleted any previous registered users from the car? Chris

It was an option on my car, which seems to turn on the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Lane Assist. I often use Lane Assist but prefer to use the Speed Limiter function instead of Cruise Control for most journeys. The Travel Assist also seems to use the capacitive sensors in the steering wheel to detect if you have removed your hands from the wheel - and I now suspect that if these sensors are playing up, you get the 'Travel Assist Not Currently Available' warning. It is more prevalent in cold weather I find, but is not linked to whether I have turned on the heated steering wheel or not. Chris

Deleting Travel Assist also seems to remove the Emergency Assist feature - which was an option when I bought my Karoq, and one I had added for its safety implications. Over the last two days, the Travel Assist not currently available warning has re-occurred repeatedly, usually disappearing again after a few miles. This fault is being reported over a wide variety of Skoda, VW and SEAT models, so I am disgusted that VAG have sold such an unreliable feature to so many owners, and can't work out what's wrong with it.

My 4x4 can only take a spacesaver as boot floor is higher up and there's no room for the full size spare. But it is really only an emergency option designed to let drive (slowly) to get the original tyre replaced or repaired. I've use mine once to drive for a couple of miles to my local tyre repair shop and the car's handling felt very odd! I can quite understand owners wanting a full size spare that they can leave in place after changing over, especially if the puncture happens on a long journey, or in a remote rural area. Chris

It's not free, but the ERWIN system lets you buy a short trial access to the VAG database pretty cheaply. See for details Chris

For my MY21 Karoq, I find the Travel Assist feature does no more that the Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Assist do anyway. (Note, my Lane Assist only gives a gentle nudge into the centre of a lane, and the Adaptive Cruise Control doesn't reduce speed as you approach corners unlike the version fitted to newer models such as the Octavia (I think).) I have Traffic Sign Recognition in my car, which in theory displays the current speed limit on the digital instrument panel. However it gets confused when I pass junctions where the speed limit refers to the other road, or when the sign is hidden by overgrown trees and bushes. When I first got my car, it also seemed to be reacting to speed limit information on the map database, as it would occasionally switch to the metric equivalent as if the map data was wrongly coded. (For instance I could be driving down a street with a 30 limit, and it would suddenly display 50 instead! And this happened regularly at the same place each time.) I haven't seen this for months, so has probably been cured by either a system software update or navigation database update. My car's menu system lets me set up the Traffic Sign Recognition system to give an audible warning if I exceed the current speed limit (as seen by the car's software) but I turned that off because there were too many false alarms. I certainly wouldn't trust it to brake or accelerate to what it believes to be the correct speed! I seldom use the cruise control, but use the Speed Limiter function instead. That lets me change the maximum speed as required by flicking a stalk in 5 mph increments as the limits change, and spend less time scrutinising the speedometer. Another problem is that many people have found they get warning messages saying the Travel Assist is not available - even when it is not being used. I used to get this regularly, with the warning only going when I stopped and restarted the engine, but an update to the system software and change of steering wheel seems to have cured the problem for me. Others though find they still get the warnings several times a day, and apparently VAG are no longer changing steering wheels to solve the problem Instead (in Germany at least) owners are being told that there will be another software update where owners will be given the choice of disconnecting the Travel Assist and Emergency Assist, or putting up with the false warnings! You seem to be seeing Travel Assist as a halfway step to an autonomous car. My experience is that the hardware and software is nowhere near that functionality, and won't be for years. Especially as the system can't cope with hidden speed limit signs, and those referring to adjacent roads. Mine even ignores half the overhead signs on motorways! Chris

I renewed my Škoda Connect licences last July for £36 (Remote Access) and £44 (Infotainment Online) last July. I think that was at a 35% and 30% discount respectively. Both were added on to my existing licences so they now expire on 19/11/2023. Chris

It sounds like you have a MIB2 Columbus system, and I believe their maps are updated by loading the new maps on an SD card then inserting this into an SD card slot so they can be transferred to the Columbus's built-in memory. (Does the owner's manual cover the procedure perhaps? Or is there a help file on the map update webpage?) The MIB3 systems were introduced for the MY21 cars from August 2020, (with an 'M' as the 10th character in the VIN.) Chris

If your car has the mini USB-C sockets and no SD card slot then you have the MIB3 system. I tried a manual update to the maps years ago, but never got the maps to load. Instead I buy a Skoda Connect licence each year when they're on a special offer, and find the maps are being updated automatically every month or so. I also find the traffic updates and warnings of delays invaluable. Chris

Prices are the same as the October 2022 brochure, so presumably the option prices or availability have changed? Chris

I had a warning on my car yesterday, which disappeared again after 10 minutes or so with no action by myself. As I had the steering wheel replaced last year to 'cure' this problem, I was interested to read in the Australian media than Skoda are now looking at a software update to solve this annoying problem. (It of course affects a wide range of Skoda and VW cars.) As I never use the Travel Assist feature, I'd be happy if they just deleted it! Chris

I suspect that the updates won't be as wide reaching as you hope for. I read some time ago that new VAG cars were getting an improved MIB3 infotainment system, but that it would also include new more powerful hardware to improve its response times. And I also rejoice to see VAG abandoning its touchscreen controls to return to physical buttons, but the article only mentions changes to the steering wheel buttons which are fine on my Karoq. As a side-issue, I have been experimenting on using the voice control today, and find that I can use it to control the radio, media player, satnav and telephone, but not the climate control or heating systems as more recent cars are said to be able to do. Even so it can be a usable compromise. Chris

Assuming the 2021 Sportline has the same Bolero Satnav that mine has, the maps are updated through the online data connection and stored internally. Some people have succeeded in updating them via a USB-C port, but after some initial concerns I've never found the need as mine are updating quite happily every month or so. (Note you need to have a live Skoda Connect subscription to get the updates though.) I've ever had any problems storing my music on a tiny USB-C chip, ad leave it plugged in under the sliding phone socket all the time. It's one of these which can be plugged into a PC to add music files, then plugged into the car: MyMemory 256GB Dual USB-C & USB 3.1 Flash Drive - 200MB/s £38.98 - Free Delivery | MyMemory Chris

I'm looking to replace my 2 year-old original with a 13" Bosch A3331H, but my local Halfords doesn't have one in stock... so I'll probably be buying one from Amazon. Chris

Updated for MY23 cars and non-European cars (with thanks to Varooom). All cars have a unique 17 character identity code – their Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. For Karoqs this is displayed at the bottom lefthand corner of the windscreen, on a sticker at the base of the middle body pillar, and stamped into the righthand suspension turret under the bonnet. It takes the form: TMB LJ7 NU 7J5 012345 and can be decoded as follows: The first 3 characters are XW8 for cars made in Russia, or TMB for cars made in other Skoda manufacturing plants. The 4th character tells you the chassis type: J = left-hand drive FWD, K = right-hand drive FWD, L = left-hand drive 4x4 and M = right-hand drive 4x4. The 5th character tells you the engine: C = 1.4 TSI 150 PS, E = 2.0 TSI 190PS, F = 2.0 TDI 115 PS, G = 1.6 TDI 115PS, H = 2.0 TDI 140 PS, J = 2.0 TDI 150PS, M = 2.0 TDI 190 PS, N = 1.6 MPI 110 PS (Russian market), P = 1.0 TSI 115PS, R = 1.5 TSI 150PS. In Europe, the 6th character tells you how many airbags the car has: 2 = 2 front airbags, 4 = 2 front and 2 side airbags, 5 = 2 fronts + 2 sides + 1 knee airbag, 6 = 2 front airbags + 2 sides + 2 heads, 7 = 2 front airbags + 2 sides + 2 heads + 1 knee airbag, 8 = 2 front airbags + 4 sides + 2 heads, 9 = 2 front bags + 4 sides + 2 heads + 1 knee airbag. (However in India, this character is used to show the month of manufacture: A = January. B = February, C = March, D = April, E = May, F = June, G = July, H = August, J = September, K = October, L = November, M = December.) The 7th and 8th character tell you the vehicle model: NU = the Karoq (2017 on). The 9th character is a check digit to validate the code. For European cars, the 10th character tells you the car's model year: J = MY2018 (ie manufactured between summer 2017 and summer 2018), K = MY2019 (ie manufactured between summer 2018 and summer 2019), L = MY2020 (ie manufactured between summer 2019 and summer 2020), M = MY2021 (ie manufactured between summer 2020 and summer 2021), N = MY2022 (ie manufactured between summer 2021 and summer 2022), P = MY2023 (ie manufactured between summer 2022 and summer 2023). (However in India this character tells you the year of manufacture: J = 2018, K = 2019, L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023. The 11th character tells you where your car was built: 0 to 4 = Mladá Boleslav, Czechia; 5 = Kvasiny, Czechia; 7 or 8 = Vrchlabi, Czechia; B = Solomonovo, Ukraine; C = Brataslava, Slovakia; H = Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; J = Osnabruck, Germany; K = Kaluga, Russia; N = Mladá Boleslav, Czechia. Then finally the 12th to 17th numbers are the unique production number for that production line and year. If anyone has a character in their VIN not listed above, please tell me so that I can update this guide. Thanks Chris