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Yeti Off-road button retrofit?

youngbaz

By youngbaz
in Skoda Yeti

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youngbaz Enthusiast

youngbaz

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When we picked up our new Yeti Outdoor Drive SE 150 DSG 4x4 a couple of weeks back (wanted an SEL but nowt available) I expressed surprise and disappointment that there was no 'off-road' button as if read the owner handbook and concluded the benefits it offered were worth having. 

The salesman told us that, with the new Haldex, it was no

longer necessary.  I knew this was total B/S but chose not to argue. 

Now I look at the relatively low option price of this feature I can't help thinking that all it does is facilitate or enable access to functions that are already inbuilt to the 4x4 version anyway - ie it 'unlocks' them as it were. 

Does anyone else share this view or know for sure whether it's the case or not? It's just that, if it is, it should be possible for the dealership, with the right kit, to access whatever's necessary and then just stick the button on the dash. 

Am I being naive?

One other thing... The Skoda website seems pretty inaccurate as to what spec the Drive models have. Eg my SE has LED tail lights but these are shown as a £200 option. I certainly wasn't charged for them. 

In the meanwhile .... Slowly getting used to being a one - car family for the first time as we traded in our beloved Octy VRS and the Citigo 75.  Sadly missed but the Yeti I'm sure will prove itself. 

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Llanigraham Mentor

Llanigraham

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The first question I would ask is why do you think you need it?

 

My previous Yeti didn't have it, and as others will confirm I go off-road quite a lot, on rallies and as a NRW contractor. I never found the car wanting without having the system. My new Yeti has it and I think the only time I have switched it on was to try it out. If I am honest the only aspect I can see a use for is the Hill Descent Control but I totally hate the fact that it works in neutral, which I consider to be decidedly dangerous. 

 

Allegedly, someone in the Antipodes has been able to re-programme the car and make it work, but when pressed for the coding details in full became remarkable silent on the matter. Make of that what you will!

 

I will add I don't think your salesman knows much about off-road driving!

Edited by Llanigraham
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Upsidedown Contributor

Upsidedown

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Greetings  Youngbaz from New Zealand. I think I'm the one Llanigraham was referring to. So to clear up a potential misunderstanding ......

 

I can confirm that I had the Off-Road button retrofitted by a Skoda agent in NZ earlier this year. (I have a 2015, 125kw 2.0TDi 4x4) The cost was approximately 250 pounds. I can also confirm that all the functions work and that I have used it "in anger" several times already. I can't unfortunately confirm the coding change required as not surprisingly the agents are not prepared to give it out, but they did confirm that what they did was basically as per the instructions in the following video for a VW Tiguan:  http://www.stats.govt.nz/infoshare/SelectVariables.aspx?pxID=c2b029d2-b014-4818-b9e1-e327634a09df

 

Another Yeti owner in Scotland was going to try to get the button retro fitted following my experience. I haven't heard back as to how they got on but given your interest I might follow up.

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grayson Collaborator

grayson

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The HDC is terrific and I have used it many times on slippy tracks. Not sure what the rest of the ORB actually is meant to do- it softens throttle response but I have got a  reasonably well educated right foot anyway.  

Edited by grayson
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youngbaz Enthusiast

youngbaz

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Thanks for all the responses. Living in a rural village with lots of steep hills to get anywhere and with our new house set some 90m back from the road up a steepish drive I do think the OR button would have offered enhancements that would have added to our winter peace of mind, but there you go. 

Amazing the trouble and detail the VW owner went to to convert his car. I wouldn't even begin to go there I'm afraid.  

Perhaps I might just ask a main dealer whether they can do it. 

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wetflyingmonkey Rookie

wetflyingmonkey

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I would absolutely love to get the off road button retrofitted not only for being able to use it myself but also for when I sell it one day in the distant future.

 

Eddie-NL - knowing what is involved could you recommend anyone with the skills who could do this?

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Llanigraham Mentor

Llanigraham

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Posted
Just now, wetflyingmonkey said:

I would absolutely love to get the off road button retrofitted not only for being able to use it myself but also for when I sell it one day in the distant future.

 

Eddie-NL - knowing what is involved could you recommend anyone with the skills who could do this?

 

You do realise that Eddie is not in the UK?
And I doubt that a dealer would do it because I don't think their equipment would be able. 

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Upsidedown Contributor

Upsidedown

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All that is required component wise to make the change is the switch (about 20 pounds) and a couple of wires with connectors. Its an easy job to fit the switch in the dash by removing one of the blanks, a bit more of a fiddle to get the wires safely through the bulkhead and then gaining access to the ECU. The problem really is in finding out what the pin configurations are for attaching the wires at both ends - probably could eventually work that out through the use of Erwin or similar - and more difficulty the code change required for the ABS block in the ECU. The latter is where I got stumped despite much effort.

 

However I eventually managed to convince a Skoda NZ agent that it was possible to do despite what they were initially were told by Skoda CZ. As I noted the all up cost was approximately 250 pounds which included 4 hours of labour if I remember correctly. Given that this was the first time the agent had done the job they could no doubt do it quicker next time so its hardly a complex job. The most difficult bit for those wanting to do it will be convincing the agent that it can be done!

 

I have pm'd the person in Scotland trying to get the OR fitted after I did but have yet to hear back.

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Urrell Experienced

Urrell

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Posted
5 minutes ago, Upsidedown said:

they could no doubt do it quicker next time so its hardly a complex job.

 

Wiring extra wires into the ECU, finding out and doing the coding with VCDS not a complex job!

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Urrell Experienced

Urrell

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18 hours ago, Upsidedown said:

I don't think plugging two wires onto the relevant pins on the ECU and changing one line of code using as VCDS is complex - as long as you know which pins and which code of course !

 

So that just leaves popping the button into the dash as easy and most of the job as too complex for most others to do.
Unless you can say what terminals those wires connect to and what the codes need to be changed in VCDS.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Upsidedown Contributor

Upsidedown

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Wetflyingmonkey:   I understand that the person in Scotland has approached a number of VAG specialists who have undertaken to investigate the matter but none have so far replied. My suggestion therefore is to see if you can find somebody in your area that might be interested. If you have success you could pm me and I will forward you the contact details of the agent here who undertook the work for me. They may be able to provide your interested agent with details of who to contact in Skoda CZ for instructions.

 

Urrell:  For my sins I  am also the owner of a 1973 Morris Marina Estate, on which I have inevitably done a lot of work, In comparison to the Marina I guess anything to do with a modern car could be called 'complex'!

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Urrell Experienced

Urrell

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1 hour ago, Upsidedown said:

Urrell:  For my sins I  am also the owner of a 1973 Morris Marina Estate,

That's a miracle, my father in laws had rusted right thru above and behind both headlamps at just over 2 years old.

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Upsidedown Contributor

Upsidedown

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That'll be because of the ledge above the headlights, but under the wings, so cunningly designed by BMC 'engineers' to trap salt laden mud ! Fortunately the roads here in NZ aren't salted although we do have freezing conditions in some areas in the winter. See the following Youtube video.

The normal practice has been to spread unsalted grit however the roading authorities have been trialling CMA (calcium magnesium acetate) which is applied as a spray. It is supposedly environmentally benign, unlike salt, but I've no idea how effective it is or how it compares cost wise with salt. However, crucially from the Marina's point of view, CMA is not corrosive to BMC steel.

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wetflyingmonkey Rookie

wetflyingmonkey

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On 10/28/2017 at 20:50, Upsidedown said:

Wetflyingmonkey:   I understand that the person in Scotland has approached a number of VAG specialists who have undertaken to investigate the matter but none have so far replied. My suggestion therefore is to see if you can find somebody in your area that might be interested. If you have success you could pm me and I will forward you the contact details of the agent here who undertook the work for me. They may be able to provide your interested agent with details of who to contact in Skoda CZ for instructions.

 

Thanks Upsidedown, I'll chase down a few local VAG specialists to see if they might be interested in giving it a go - I don't fancy my chances though if I'm honest.  I really appreciate the offer, fingers crossed I'll be in touch.

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