I took my Octavia Diesel for its first variable service today (2 years old 14,500 miles). After the service when I look at the “Service Due†readouts on the dashboard (by holding the trip reset when turning the ignition on) both the Miles left and days left show three dashes.

I queried this with the Service Manager at the dealer and I was told that this was normal when the car is set to variable service. I mentioned that when I had the car from new it was on variable service and the readouts counted down over the two year period, but I was told this must be a factory setting.

I have a feeling the dealer is making the answer up as he goes along, as they had initially managed to set it to read 370 days/9400 miles.

Has anyone had a variable service and checked these readouts immediately afterwards?

I took my Octavia Diesel for its first variable service today (2 years old 14,500 miles). After the service when I look at the “Service Due†readouts on the dashboard (by holding the trip reset when turning the ignition on) both the Miles left and days left show three dashes.

I queried this with the Service Manager at the dealer and I was told that this was normal when the car is set to variable service. I mentioned that when I had the car from new it was on variable service and the readouts counted down over the two year period, but I was told this must be a factory setting.

I have a feeling the dealer is making the answer up as he goes along, as they had initially managed to set it to read 370 days/9400 miles.

Has anyone had a variable service and checked these readouts immediately afterwards?

Strange one this, I recently had my Octavia serviced and asked for it to be changed to fixed servicing i.e. 12 months or 10,000 miles. Before I left the dealer I checked the service due date the same way as you did and I got the same figures you quote for the initial setting i.e. 370 days/9400 miles.

I wonder if they had initially reset your car to fixed and then back to variable when you mentioned it. Perhaps the three dashes is what the display shows until you have put a few miles on the clock and the sensors can then determine when the next service should be due.

Ian

Ian,

The 9,400 miles equates to the 15,000 KM oil change, and I guess 370 days gives a few days tolerance.

I've looked in my handbook and page 13 describes how to examine the distance and days to go until the next service and it does not say anything about it not being available on the variable servicing.

I'm sure the dealer doesn't know what he's talking about. You can imagine that quite a proportion of owners would not know how to check the service settings, and would end up paying for variable and only getting fixed intervals.

Hi, it might be worth getting in touch with Skoda customer services to see if they can give you a definitive answer to your question, | don't know if anyone else has checked their service interval immediately after a service, if you were to get in touch with Skoda factory then they will redirect you back to UK customer services.

Ian

I took my Octavia Diesel for its first variable service today (2 years old 14,500 miles). After the service when I look at the “Service Due†readouts on the dashboard (by holding the trip reset when turning the ignition on) both the Miles left and days left show three dashes.

I queried this with the Service Manager at the dealer and I was told that this was normal when the car is set to variable service. I mentioned that when I had the car from new it was on variable service and the readouts counted down over the two year period, but I was told this must be a factory setting.

I have a feeling the dealer is making the answer up as he goes along, as they had initially managed to set it to read 370 days/9400 miles.

Has anyone had a variable service and checked these readouts immediately afterwards?

Yes, have just had my vRS (petrol) first variable service done. Drove home, had a quick check on screen to see what was showing and it is 3 dashes as you describe. I suspect that after the reset it has a bit of time while it assesses what's what in terms of oil quality etc (which as I understand it is one of the factors that comes into play on variable), so I'll leave it a week and some miles and then check again. I honestly can't remember what it was like when I first got the car (with only a few delivery miles), but it may be that it only comes up with a figure in terms of next service within a certain time period (or likely milage) to the actual estimated date, but as I have the same as you I'm not worrying right now

Perhaps it does take a while to set, I'll keep checking it. That is not how the dealer explained it though.

I did check mine the first day I had it and it was reading correctly, but I suppose it could have been set weeks ago in the factory.

You would think it could put the "Days left" immediately.

I have e-mailed Skoda UK, I'll post any response that I get (which is usually "there is no known issues, please take it to a dealer!")

3 dashes is normal, it takes a while to calculate things so on variable straight after a service it always shows --- and for a period of time after. If straight after a service a mileage is shown and its less than 10K miles then you are on fixed servicing.

The car does not know days left or mileage till service as they are both variable. They have a theoretical max of around 18K or approx 2 years.

I had my 1st variable service 2 days ago at 13,500 miles. I have done 50 miles since then & the display is like yours, ---.

They stamped the book & it says next service is due in 2 years or 20,000 miles (or sooner if computer tells me). I intend changing oil at 7500 miles but thats a different story!

PS

I just googled it, a VAGCOM technician says:-

Note: It is normal for the display to show something like "--/--" instead of an actual distance/time to service after resetting until you have driven some distance.

Edited 12 June, 201016 yr by bucksoctavia

Do not worry, Its normal after a service to get three dash's , get a couple of hundred miles on the clock and you will get a figure.

3 dashes is normal, it takes a while to calculate things so on variable straight after a service it always shows --- and for a period of time after. If straight after a service a mileage is shown and its less than 10K miles then you are on fixed servicing.

The car does not know days left or mileage till service as they are both variable. They have a theoretical max of around 18K or approx 2 years.

Are the days really variable? Do you think the car checks the oil condition and extrapolates the rate at which the mileage is being covered to determine a new end date?

I don't think so, I think it simply counts down day by day until the two years is up, unless the mileage limit is reached first.

If the car covered something like 17,000 miles in the first 6 months, I would have thought the readout would say 1000 miles/550 days