I bought a Skoda Octavia Greenline TDI CR at the end of November. Only just out of warranty, but had been owned by someone who – despite spending a lot of money – hadn’t past his driving test, hadn’t used the car, and decided to sell. Documentation missing, and I suspect it hadn’t even had a single service. Various odd parts missing / not working – but then only 7k on the clock, and a couple of grand cheaper than I’d have paid at a dealer. I’m lead to expect high mpg - and paying £30 for a year’s road tax was a delight!

Servicability appears an issue though, and the suspicion is that it’s not designed to be DIY-friendly – umpteen fasteners to remove sub-engine guard. And using Torx tools ….and 3 of them really didn’t want to come out (long steel screws into alloy!). So my first oil change (and probably the car’s first) took hours.

It’s my first diesel, and my first turbo. I often stall it at low revs, and believe that’s a question of me needing to get accustomed to it. The first my wife and I tried was at a dealers, and that too was a real struggle for both of us.

Major issue is electronics. I cut my teeth on Morris 1000s 40 years ago, so have some basic capability. My experience is that cars have become much more reliable and components more durable over the years, so there’s less need to get hands dirty, but of course the routine jobs and odd failures need to be addressed, and I don’t want to save on fuel just to pay dealers their rates to do (what should be) simple jobs. I had a Nissan Primera GT SE from new up to 136,000 miles over 10 years. I believed that the only noticeable impact of electronics on that was to ‘keep the engine tuned’. It was still on the original battery, plugs and clutch when I sold it. The only failure was the starter at 60k miles.

My Skoda has a more sophisticated display and EMS. When the driver’s door is open it wants to tell me about it – but illustrates front passenger door open. It also flags up a warning seconds after starting: ‘Engine Failure – Workshop!’ which soon goes off again. [it doesn’t do this if engine is started with door open]. I’ve now driven 1200 miles and have no other indication that anything is amiss.

Went to garage (Fast Fit at Shiremoor- not dealers) diagnostic m/c flagged up:

• Cruise control not working (it was)
  
• Cannot communicate with TCU
  
• EMU incorrectly programmed.
  

They couldn’t tell me any more than that – or resolve the issue. Maybe someone has been fiddling?

I subsequently removed glove box in order to access and replace heater resistor card. This necessitated unplugging airbag on/off switch. Oddly, there was a 20p coin in the switch housing! Having tested heater was working correctly I replaced glovebox (which it turned out I need not have touched anyway). Heater is now working; switch in glovebox works turning airbag on/off – but the airbag warning light is now on all the time.

Part of me is quite happy to ignore spurious warning signals; part of me is irritated; part of me would be happier to get these sorted out, so that I’ll not be tempted to ignore future warnings of real problems. Maybe I need to ad computer gadgetry to my toolbox nowadays. Any advice very welcome!

Welcome to the forum,

Take it to either Skoda or a reputable VAG specialist and get them to

do a proper fauly code scan and take it from there. Or alternatively there

will most likely be Briskoda members on here in your area who can do this for a

few beers Also the main dealer should have some record of any previous servicing

carried out on your car. They can sort you a new service book and manual as well

if need be.

If you really want to get the right kit to scan/diagnose/alter settings yourself then

you'll be needing a laptop, and some vagcom diagnostic software and a lead from

these people. http://www.ross-tech.com/

Don't be tempted to get a cheap non genuine lead as you will receive no support

from Ross tech if you do, but they'll happily help anybody with

the genuine stuff.

Welcome.

I can't help with the issues you have, but suggest you post in the relevant section, as you will get more people seeing your post.

Also, find somebody who has VCDS who can plug into your car and check it over.

I have given up doing any servicing on my CR140 DSG diesel.

I think the most I would do is change oil and possibly filter, but I have no idea where to look for them. Whilst it is under warranty I will use a main dealer. After that I might use a VAG specialist if I can find one I trust.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi and welcome aboard.

Welcome.

As Mr "grr666" says, you're best bet is dealing with someone who knows VAGS. It really will make your life simpler and quicker in the long run.

There are exceptions though, as I've got a Fiat, and even Fiat don't know what they are looking at!

Thanks for your comments. I guess I'll take a trip to the dealers on the chin and see if I can get the vehicle 'reset'!