varaderoguy

You cannot generally go from 02xx series SOP2 variants to a 03xx SOP3 variant, although there are folk on here who say that you can hack the system to go from 02xx to 04xx firmware. Wouldn't recommend it, unless you are happy with a non-working MIB system.

The whole cambelt debate. Earlier Mk3 cars - definately do at 60k/5 years - waterpump. Later MK3/FL cars - you can leave it for 120k miles, but I wouldn't want to risk it.

The other option could be that you have a thermostat issue. Is the car taking a long time to warm up (failed open or failed closed with partial opening) and what is the heater doing - is it blowing up flucating air tempertures (signs that the car is running cold)?

Oh joy - so that sounds like the filing system needed to be properly unmounted before remounting it. Only one slot probably means a Bolaro system (most basic variant). All three MIB systems are present on the 2.0TDI engined cars (dependant on trim levels).

You need to find somebody with a VCDS or ODBEleven to read the errors on the car. It sounds like the INSP light is actually stating there is a fault on the car as opposed to a service is needed. Failing that, a VW specialist or Skoda dealer will read the faults for you.

@PetrolDave brill - okay. In that case, a 128G SD Card should be fine. It would be good for OP to tell us which system he has (either Bolaro, Amunsden or Columbus).

1) Sure you meant 54,060 miles not 540060 miles :-) . Its 5 years or 60,000 miles for a cambelt change. 2) Yes, the TDI engines are interference engines. Bend valves will occur. That will kill the engine. 3) It will be a VW Part - not necessarily a Skoda part. A VW Group 2.0TDI engine is generic across the range and frankly a job that can be done by either VW, Skoda or Seat dealers. In terms of how crucial, its all peace of mind. Genuine hardware is better made and will be made to last another 60,000 miles / 5 years. Patented parts are not going to give that same guarantee. Its peace of mind. 4) Ouch - nope - too expensive. Independants charge between £300 and £500. I wouldn't want to pay any more than £550 for the job. Somebody is taking the P***. 5) Yes, it is crucial if you want the life of your car to continue and not expect expensive bills further down the line. Go and have a chat with Darkside Developments. They are top guys! https://www.darksidedevelopments.co.uk/ They quote £405 for genuine cambelt and waterpump change out....

Yes, temperature flutuations is sign of the waterpump failing. Get it looked at now before it completely fails.

Not necessarily the MIB that is at fault here. SD Cards can and do fail (at regular intervals). A PC can manage a failing SD card better than a Skoda/VW MIB system. Memory locations on the SD Card become unavailable or corrupted. My advice, before blaming the car and the MIB system, go get yourself another proper SD Card. I think the maximum size of partition on the MIB1 systems was either 16G or 32G for the SD Card for music, and the MIB2 systems can read up to 64G if memory serves me right. Finding genuine SD cards is hard work these days - so many fake SD Cards out there.

@AGFalco Thank you for your input. I think I am just annoyed that Skoda make it such a horrible job - for something that should only take 5 minutes. They make the slots very hard to get at - which takes away the ability to do simple lightbulb changes - and in my book, makes it not a user replacement job. I liked your tool for replacing the headlight bulbs , but it goes to show that the original design principles were flawed. Might tackle it another day when my hands heel up from all the cuts and nics.

I think that will be very hard to enforce. I wasn't planning ultra bright just slight brighter bulbs (still Halogen). The current bulbs are very yellow.

Please tell us how you did it..... because I am interested

Two things: 1) This sounds like a firmware issue with the MIB system. Can you send us a screenshot of your system (Part number and firmware version) [press/hold Menu -> Show Firmware] 2) When you get that screenshot, tag pab567 with the '@' symbol and ask if you have the latest firmware. 3) Update your phone - make sure you have the latest Android patches and firmware installed on your A21 - make sure that all Play Store apps are all up to date.

To understand why KESSY keys fail with their battery, you have to understand that the key fob itself transmits every couple of seconds to the car. Compared to a normal car with a keyfob that just gets inserted into the ignition (which the car reads the internal chip once to get the approved code for starting the car and disabling the immobiliser). KESSY whilst in the car is still transmitting that it is close by; most batteries will try to hold their voltage as high as possible until all their chemical is utilised, then they will just die). This is why you don't get much / if any - notice that the KESSY keyfob is failing. This is also why you should not put both KESSY keyfobs together; each keyfob will try and out-do the other (from an RF perspective) and completely flatten the battery.

In summary, if you are mad enough to want to replace the bulb in your projector headlights, then I think this is what needs to be done: 1) Removal of the battery (Left hand side) 2) Removal of lower skirt 3) Removal of front bumper and grill 4) Removal of inner wheel arch liners (both sides) All this to replace 4 bulbs.... There are videos and links on this forum on how to do that.

2) As you canny see inside the holder, here is a photo of the mount inside the headlamp (main beam).

Some images that I took to assist. 1) wires at top, sticky out notch to the right. This is the way we found to reinsert the bulb and holder.

The title says it all. Like a lot of folk, found the H7 standard bulbs to be terrible (especially coming from LED headlights on an Octavia). Purchased £40 of PhilipsVision 130% H7 bulbs to improve the lighting. <rant> However, unlike the Octavia where upgrading the headlight is a piece of Pi**, replacing the headlight bulbs on our SE-L Fabia was not fun or good. In fact, that is 4hrs of my life I will never get back or nursing the cuts and grazes on the back of my hand. Skoda suggest that this is a user-replacement job. I would expect this to be a user-replacement job. Its in the manual - all innocent like - under Page 237. However, for the sake of your own sanity (and not causing further damage on your car), please don't upgrade your bulbs. They are not user-upgradable. </rant> Blind Alleys that I went down: 1) Found the three bolts holding in the headlight - using a magnetic hex driver, managed to get these out. Got off the top bar holding in the headlight. Found that the grill blocks off the headlight. No amount of jiggling will get it out - don't try it (our right headlight has the scratched top left corner where I've tried) (Right hand side) 2) You can disconnect the vertical holder for the washer filler neck - doesn't really improve matters that much (right hand side) 3) You realise that replacing the dipped beam is an impossible job - there is no room behind headlight unit to actually fit your hand in. (right hand side) 4) Its only when you look at left hand side bulb and also realise that it is impossible to get your hand in without removing the battery and that the bulb for the dipped beam is completely in-accessible do you realise this is not going to be a goer. Bulb Holder In another stunning piece of cr3p design, the bulb holders are very poorly made. There is a right-way and many many wrong ways to mount the bulb holder into the (main beam) bulb holder. If like me (and my husband) - you have spent too many hours trying to put back in the original bulb, here are some helpful tips: a) Remove the indicator bulb - its gives you an extra 5mm of space to work in. The Indicator bulb is on a long plastic stick and easy to remove and reinsert. b) Due to the stunningly poor design of the bulb holder, you need to aware of the following thing: pressing the bulb and holder fully home and with maximum pressure is not the correct manner. You will find that the bulb holder keeps on popping out on one side. My husband found the solution - was a light-touch press and turn (to the right/clockwise to insert). It doesn't tell you that in the manual. In summary, a complete **** show (sorry for being sweary, but REALLY Skoda......simply NOT clever).

Factory reset.... start again. Set up the primary user from the setup wizard. The firmware has got its knickers in a strop.

Oh, I know what that is. You will find that is the timing belt playing up and 'scruping' on the pulleys. Do you also occasionally hear a rattle from under the bonnet when driving along too? It did/occasionally still does that on my 2019 Tdi Scout. No danger. You need to go to the dealer and get them to replace the belt and belt tensioner (under warranty) or get them to apply a fix which is to apply a slipping compound on one side of the timing belt which stops this from happening. There was a duff set of timing belts that were installed on the Octavia's between 2017 and 2020. They were slightly out of specification, slightly too wide. Its entirety pot luck on whether this effects you or not. There is probably an advisory associated with this, as my dealer West End Skoda in Edinburgh knew about this.

I think that you have been considerably unlucky. Cracked cylinder heads are not a common issue. Options: they could re-sleeve the head for you (as long as the block isn't cracked to boot) or they could offer you a new engine if it has cracked, but ask you to contribute. Just out of interest, when was the coolant last changed? Did the Skoda Garage do a pressure test on the header tank to see if the system was holding or not?

Did you not know that almost all the Taxis in Glasgow are Octavias?? :-)

Could you link to that please?

Yes, its excessive condensation. Take her out for an hour or so (within the 5 miles of your house) and problem should disappear.

I think this is completely normal. Check coolant levels, but I think you will find that a good hot blast will fix your car (once it is warmed up). Just another thought - does the smoke smell oily or sweet?