Hi, I have just checked out the website for Haynes Manuals and it tells me they do not plan to do a manual for the Octavia! I have written to them to ask if they were referring perhaps to an earlier Octavia and await their reply. If I get the "wrong" answer, it might be worth a few more of us wrtting to Haynes!

Now the warranty is out, I have just started to do my own servicing of my VRS and have got hold of the interface and software from Ross-Com in the states. This allows me to read fault codes and do a whole host of things similar to the VAG-1552 and then some. However, without the detailed manuals it is difficult to even change the rear pads!

I have bought the engine and engine management elements of the official Skoda manual but just those bits have cost me in the region of

Welcome to Briskoda, Toolkit. I can't recall any other member having managed to buy the official Skoda manual - or even parts of it - so you are way ahead of the rest of us. Have you got the prices for the various sections which make up the full manual? Perhaps a Haynes manual for an equivalent Golf would give good enough DIY info to get by on.

Warning re rear pad changes..

Don't attempt it without the correct piston winding tool. Fronts are easier with this tool too

As for Haynes attitude to the Octavia, i still don't understand this, as there's plenty of them on the road...

I too looked into this, this week (had a couple of issues with my Octy vRS).

I also had a look at the other VAG car manuals which might substitute for an Octy/vRS (Golf, A3, leon, TT*, A4*), and out of all of them, the MKIV Golf was the only one available, only upto 2000 (the vRS was released a little later I believe) and there's no mention of the 1.8t (although the 1.8 20v turbo-less engine is mentioned). Haynes say the A3 (of which a 1.8t or S3 variant might help) is under 'consideration'.

I hope haynes can pull there finger out soon, I'm certain there are THOUSANDS of taxi drivers, in England (and Spain), who'd love one of these manuals.

Rich

Ok, thanks for the info, I'll have a look at the Vdub manuals. Now then, don't be put off when the Skoda dealer tells you they can't supply the official manuals even if they are expensive. I met a stone wall the first time I tried so I contacted Skoda direct. They told me I could purchase them and to tell the dealer that!! I did and the dealer checked it out with the visiting Skoda field engineer. He wasn't sure so double checked and found out I was right. The original engine manual was part no: S0051000020 and included the engine info and engine management info for the 1.9l/81kW TDI and the 1.8l/110kW petrol engines. It cost me

Are Haynes Mad?

Look at the pool of Octavia SDi cab drivers out there who will be minimising running costs !