I'm about to have my new Octavia delivered in the next 2 weeks and the only thing that annoyed me when i test drove one was the beltminder (the pinging when you don;t have your seatbelt on).

Now I wear my seatbelt most of the time, but I spend a lot of time driving around airfields and the like at 10mph and wearing my suit, where wearing a seatbelt is just inconvenient.

Does anybody know how to turn it off? I asked the dealer and he said you couldn't, but Ford said that about my Mondeo and when you read the handbook it said that they could. It turned out to be a combination of clipping and unclipping the belt whilst turning the lights on and off at the same time.

Plug the passenger seatelt into the driver seat clamp?

I was looking for the real way. I could always buy another clip and leave it clipped in all the time.

You could, but it would cost you the price of a new seat belt reel.

Scrappy would be the best bet.

No - I want the 'real' way of turning it off.

The dealer must be able to do it. If not, then it can only be a matter of making a connection of 2 wires under the seat.

The dealer cant 'turn' it off no. You may well be able to bypass the light by bridging out the switch in the buckle but good luck in finding a dealer willing to do it. I certainly wouldnt because of possible legal implications. You should see all the red tape we have to go through to disable an airbag if it doesnt have a deactivation switch.

I can't believe its not possible, though.

I mean its not illegal to not wear a seatbelt in all circumstances, eg. during pregnancy (I doubt I could ever use that excuse), or whilst reversing. Can you imagine if your wife was 8 months pregnant and she wanted to go shopping? She'd be mad by the time she got to Tesco !!

It can be turn off with a vag-com if I'm not mistaken.

It can be turn off with a vag-com if I'm not mistaken.

Great. For a newbie can you explain what that is? Is it an ecu diagnostic program? Do dealers have them or specialists or is it something that I can get for my laptop ??

dont the pings stop after 10 or so pings? or is that just old octy??

I can't believe its not possible' date=' though.

I mean its not illegal to not wear a seatbelt in all circumstances, eg. during pregnancy (I doubt I could ever use that excuse), or whilst reversing. Can you imagine if your wife was 8 months pregnant and she wanted to go shopping? She'd be mad by the time she got to Tesco !![/quote']

What about Taxi drivers! I can't see them putting up with the pings as they seem to be exempt from wearing belts!!!

dont the pings stop after 10 or so pings? or is that just old octy??

On mine they stop, then restart after a few seconds, and just keep doing that. Doesn't bother me, but why not find what does the pinging and cut its leads or something? Or would that immobilise the engine?

BTW checked my warning lights and there isn't one for front fogs, only when the rears go on. [2.0 FSI Elegance]

They might be able to be recoded via the dash insert with delaer diagnostic equipment through VAS 5051, but you wont be able to switch it back on without going back to the dealer. With this in mind check with your insurance company as your car has a 5 star crash rating, one of the requirements for this is a belt warning.

Also I if remember rightly, dont you have to be medically exempt from wearing a seat belt & have a docs Certificate ?

I think the taxi drives sit on the belt not in it.

Also I if remember rightly, dont you have to be medically exempt from wearing a seat belt & have a docs Certificate ?

Not if you are pregnant or reversing.

But if all that was needed was a doctor's certificate to allow Skoda to turn it off, I'd happily get one. :P

But if all that was needed was a doctor's certificate to allow Skoda to turn it off' date=' I'd happily get one. :P[/quote']

Then im sure a dealer would hapily go through the recoding procedure to remove the belt warning from the dash code.

Then im sure a dealer would hapily go through the recoding procedure to remove the belt warning from the dash code.

Ah, so they can do it. Thats all I needed to know !!

Taxi drivers push a peice of cardboard down the belt catch, this seems to work.