Hello folks,

happy with my 2006 octavia 4x4 1.9tdi estate so far.

but i got no manual with it, so stumped on a couple of things -

1/ the car is fitted with rear parking sensors and a towbar

rear sensors don't seem to work, so I'm presuming that this was perhaps switched off somehow by default when the towbar was fitted?

there's no lights, no sounds etc, but on moving gear lever FROM reverse, a quick plan diagram of car does appear on screen

Is there anyway of knowing whether rear parking sensors are either switched off or broken?

2/ Removing towbar - I don't need a towbar, and I KNOW I'm going to forget it's there, and bash my shins on it.

I understand that fitting a towbar can be a long job; but how about removing ?. Surely, I don't need to remove any cables and can simply insulate those and tuck them safely

out of the way. That being the case, could it lead to electrical problems elswhere, and is removing the physical towbar itself a mission ?

3/ Can settings be changed for lights, beeps etc ? Car currently beeps when i get in to tell me to put my seat belt on. Would love to switch that off.

Thanks for any help you can give !

Edited 13 October, 201015 yr by Monkeyboyo

1 - Sounds broken to me, mine did that for a while and a broken wire was replaced under warranty. If the towbar was fitted with the CANBUS loom then parking sensors are only disabled when a light board is plugged in - should work as normal the rest of the time.

2 - Do you have the old impact bar still? Otherwise you'll need one as the towbar replaces it underneath the plastic bumper. Removal would be quite a job involving bumper off, rear wheels off, etc. All a lot of hassle thats probably not worth going through. You can use a towball for carrying bikes as well as towing so you may find it more useful than you think?

3 - Seat Belt beep can't be disabled to my knowledge, those with VAG-COM may know otherwise.

Hope this helps

Niall

but on moving gear lever FROM reverse, a quick plan diagram of car does appear on screen

Do you mean moving the gear lever TO reverse?

The seat belt chime can be turned off either with VAGCOM or by your dealer.

I'd get your local auto electrcian to take a look.

Do you mean moving the gear lever TO reverse?

No, I mean moving the gear lever FROM reverse - thats the only time there's any display on screen - although it disappears immediately

Ta for your input on the other issues

1 - Sounds broken to me, mine did that for a while and a broken wire was replaced under warranty. If the towbar was fitted with the CANBUS loom then parking sensors are only disabled when a light board is plugged in - should work as normal the rest of the time.

2 - Do you have the old impact bar still? Otherwise you'll need one as the towbar replaces it underneath the plastic bumper. Removal would be quite a job involving bumper off, rear wheels off, etc. All a lot of hassle thats probably not worth going through. You can use a towball for carrying bikes as well as towing so you may find it more useful than you think?

Hope this helps

Niall

Thanks a lot Niall. Thats all really useful to know.

Haven't got the old impact bar, so like you say, its more hassle than its worth !

I figured that when i sell the car on in the Spring (bought it specifically for getting me into and out of the Scottish Higlands every week over the winter), a towbar is something that devalues a car in other people's eyes - i.e, unless you can prove to the contrary,

the presumption would be that the car had a hard life. Like you say though, towbars are used for all manner of stuff now, like bikes. So not necessarily a negative

cheers

peter

Edited 13 October, 201015 yr by Monkeyboyo

3/ Can settings be changed for lights, beeps etc ? Car currently beeps when i get in to tell me to put my seat belt on. Would love to switch that off.

You can disable the beep by pulling apart the switch that's under the drivers seat - this makes the car think that you've fastened your seatbelt.

pmc

3/ Can settings be changed for lights, beeps etc ? Car currently beeps when i get in to tell me to put my seat belt on. Would love to switch that off.

You can disable the beep by pulling apart the switch that's under the drivers seat - this makes the car think that you've fastened your seatbelt.

pmc

Great ! Ta very much