Just wondered if anyone else had noticed/cared about the following things I've noticed in my 02 Octavia, after having it 3 months:

1. on my estate, the rear wiper doesn't make contact on the top part of the wiper arm due to the curvature of the boot glass.

2. the 'recirculate air' button is a little bit out of reach. i've found when you want to press it, you need to press it quickly, otherwise if you press it too late, you end up potentially trapping all the nasty air inside the car.

3. the seatbelt chime is really really annoying. i wish i could turn it off. I have VAG-COM, if anyone knows of a way.

4. only one rear foglight (always looks like one is broken, I reckon).

5. right arm rest/door controls a little too high up to comfortably rest arm on (need the seat low being a tall person).

6. on the occasion that I do rest my right arm on the door, i keep accidentally hitting the 'child lock' button.

On the plus side, (just to balance up), I really like the trip computer and climate control, adjustable headlight beam, traction control, ABS brakes, foot rest for left foot (yes I know many of these are on many modern cars, but none of them were on my 1996 Golf).

Anyway, overall, after 3 months, I do still look forward to getting into the drivers seat :-)

1. Mine doesnt seem to ahve this problem.

2. Or you end up being unable to shut nasty smells out (bonfire smoke etc)

3. I will be doing a VAG-COm how-to for this over the weekend. So its a good job you asked

4. Cant see rear fogs when I'm driving

5. Not noticed this but probably will now you've mentioned it.

6. You must have very long upper arms and very short fore-arms

Do you find the estate boot closes very loudly? Despite several attempts to adjust it mine is like a gun shot.

Cheers Goochie.

Yes, I did notice that about the boot. I thought there might have been something loose or slightly wrong with mine. Guess they all have that problem then.

Looking forward to finding out how to turn off the seat belt alarm noise - that will be a big relief!

I think I do have quite long arms, now you mention it. Think 'shaggy' from the Scooby-doo cartoon. Forearms seem in proportion though ;-)

The rear wiper blade should contact the rear windscreen properly. Maybe it is not the correct version or needs replacing with a new one. A second foglight is an easy DIY job and there is a DIY guide on this site for fitting one. As for the recirc function, I don't think I have ever needed to use it on my car. :shocked:

Thanks Denis

Ok, thanks for the rear windscreen info - I guess that one is just me then.

Ok, I admit it, the missing rear fog light isn't too bad after all. And I'm rubbish at DIY.

Goochie - did you get the VAG COM how-to guide written - I can't find it on the site?

The plastic surround for the front passenger leccy window switch is a loose fit. That annoys the bloody hell out of me for some odd reason.

The climatronic and factory HU don't light up during the day, the dash could use the same treatment too.

And yes, I KNOW the mirrors are supposed to do it but I hate the dual adjustment thing.

Thats all folks!

Your didnt mention rear door rattling. Apparently the latch on the car body needs constant adjustment to kep it from rattling. Only solution I know is to turn up the music volume

I managed to disable the light on the dash - but it still makes the chime.... I'm working on it

Have a read through this thread - EddyH has a very simple solution.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/t38688-help-with-instrument-coding-required.html

Thanks Goochie and EddyH - I managed to locate and disconnect the connector under the seat. EddyH was right, it was pretty obvious when you look. Slightly fiddly to unplug, unless you have tiny hand.

That's one very annoying problem fixed :-)

Oh, and I've realised that you don't need to slam/push the boot closed like you do on a lot of cars, you can just leave it up to gravity and it closes much more quietly.

Your didnt mention rear door rattling. Apparently the latch on the car body needs constant adjustment to kep it from rattling. Only solution I know is to turn up the music volume

Door catch for sure?

Would put my money on the rear seats myself, try it with them folded down.

Do you have a suggestion for curing rattling rear seats?

I cured rattling rear seats on my wagon after they annoyed the hell out of me - the rubber stop that the seat sits on (by the latch) is adjustable by turning it and it takes out the movement and stops the noise - worked a treat on mine....

As for the rear wiper - I brought a new bosch wiper and it missed the top of the screen - so went and got one from the stealers ( actually didnt cost much more than the bosch) and it works a treat - there is a very small amount of curve to the oem ones to deal with the screen curve !!!

Check out the front passenger wiper too as the oem ones have a curve in that gives a much better coverage on the screen - I won't be buying wipers from anywhere else now.

My boot lid also shuts with a hefty thud :(

Will be doing the fog mod soon..

The climatronic and factory HU don't light up during the day' date=' the dash could use the same treatment too.

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Easy fix for this run with lights on all the time - I do - you can see the dash better in all weathers and times of day - and you get less plonkas pulling out on/across you and cutting you up..