Hi

 

I own a Mk2 fl (2010) tdi cr octavia vrs dsg. 

 

It's due a service soon and wanted to ask about software updates when it goes to skoda. Some people on the VRS owners club Facebook page seem to be having problems after updating. Some other models such as the yeti are having problems. 

 

I'm wondering if anyone knows what this software update actually updates. My car is mechanically sound but has a few electrical gremlins which I've just lived with. The old saying comes to mind - if it ain't broken, don't fix it!

 

For information the problems I'm experiencing are:

 

Alarm going off randomly. Could go weeks / months with no problems. Had it going off in the work car park and in the middle of the night. Totally random. 

 

Bolero head unit has fits. Flickers on an off randomly. I believe this is linked to a switch on the ignition. Sometimes doesn't show the parking sensors screen when reversing. 

 

I did a search but the top results seem to be linked to the dsg box which I'm having no problem with. 

 

So does anyone know what is actually updated when taking the car in for a service? 

 

Thanks. 

I think you are referring to the emissions update on diesel cars? If I am guessing correctly don't have it done, it can lead to severe engine and MPG issues. Others who have a diesel can probably advise more

As yours is a diesel then DONT HAVE THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. It will ruin your car in so many ways and you will have the car in the garage for repairs every few weeks. In particular the EGR valve will fail at least once, torque at low revs will be down and fuel consumption will be worse. The good news is that VAG will cover your related repair costs for two years and provide you with courtesy cars under its Trust Buiding Measures. After two years or 160,000 miles you will be on your own and have a car with limited value.

 

Search on line for VW Emissions Update Scandal for more details. 

 

 

 

Edited 21 February, 20188 yr by pikpilot
Missing word added

The alarm going off is common once the siren batteries start to fail and the  module gets 5+ years old. It was specified as a year 6 replacement.  The batteries are usually pretty knackered by then.

 

Not sure what fault is with the Bolero unit. You could get a Bolero SW version update from a dealer which has fixed other problems in posts on here but it will cost probably something ridiculous.  Or get a used replacement unit (or an after market). If used,  you have to hope it doesn't have the same gremlins.

 

Rear PDC not displaying.  Could be do do with the reverse switch on the transmission. Do reverse lights always work reliably?

 

None of those will be changed by the emissions fix, which you have to make your own call on but some things to consider above by other posters.
 

Edited 21 February, 20188 yr by TheClient

I have the VRS cr, 8 years old and 80k on clock. Had the update about a year ago and have had no issues. So take all the doom mongering comments with a pinch of salt. I have had no drop in performance, no drop in fuel consumption and no breakages of components. Saying all 3 will happen if you have the update is just a lie.

 

Nobody says all will have a problem.

When less than half the 1.2 million in the UK were done, many owned by Lease / VW Group they said there were reports of 1%, then they said 2%, 

then there was more guesses, as more 2.0, 1.2 & then 1.6 TDI had the fix.

So even if it is 2 % of Skoda TDI's that have had the fix that have adverse affects, premature failures that is not nice for those in that 2%, 

or could it be 10% of those as time goes by.

 

The people not saying yet are Skoda UK as to how many that took in their vehicles for a Voluntary Recall Action have reported issues or needed work done, 

or how many put cars in for work and had The Fix carried out without giving permission to have it done.

There are some of those, they are member of Briskoda, not some mythical person on Social Media.

34 minutes ago, PSM said:

I have the VRS cr, 8 years old and 80k on clock. Had the update about a year ago and have had no issues. So take all the doom mongering comments with a pinch of salt. I have had no drop in performance, no drop in fuel consumption and no breakages of components. Saying all 3 will happen if you have the update is just a lie.

 

 

But then there are many thousands of people who are suffering from poor reliability (frequent limp mode) or have sold their car at a loss because it no longer drives as it did, or are having to take it back for Trust Building Measures every few weeks, or are taking legal action against VAG. 

It would be interesting to know if your car is mainly used on motorways or other roads where it can run at high temperature for a long time each day.

Many people who have problems should perhaps not have bought a diesel in the first place as they drive only short journeys. But the fact remains that a large number of people have lost confidence in their car since the voluntary software emissions fix was made, and it was reliable before the fix.

 

You have nothing to gain by having the emissions fix, but everything to lose, there's a group on Facebook of about 7000 people that have had problems. This is still a small percentage, but I'm certainly not having mine done.

My commute to work is 10miles with a mix of 20mph zones, 30mph zones, lanes, b roads, a roads and motorway all with traffic. So certainly not the ideal conditions for a dpf and no issues. Forums by their very nature attract people with issues so gives a false impression of how bad it is. Also who can tell if the failure would have occurred even without the update. My turbo actuators failed just before the update. Had I had the update a week earlier my actuator would have still failed but I would now be blaming the update incorrectly. Just because X happened does not mean it caused y. All these cars are of a similar age where failures can and do occur so may not be the updates fault. 

Briskoda is just another form of social media and we are all faceless as such so no different to hearing it on the lines of Facebook. Just because it is on here makes it no more right or wrong.

Only faceless if you do not go to Briskoda meet ups, or just know members and other real people with the cars.

Then you might actually believe what they tell you they are experiencing or actually see it when you see their vehicle.

 

So yes there do seem to be chancers wanting compensation for something that has cost them nothing, 

they return the car that they rent and no skin off their nose.

 

Sadly there are people that have purchased Used Cars that have had the Fix, and others that have had it done and are left in the lurch, 

having to go through the ringer.

 

As long as VW Group are paying out to rectify faults occurring after the fix then good, 

they are getting off cheaply with not having to pay owners time to take in cars just so that they keep EU Governments sweet.

 

If people are happy, & have no issues then good, but having the fix is doing nothing for reducing NoX on Euro 5 1.2, 1.6 or 2.0 TDI on the road.

If any are using more fuel, doing regens more often and requiring parts prematurely then they are more polluting or wasteful of fuel / parts.

Even visiting the Dealership is wasteful, but then VW are getting tax breaks anyway, declaring losses no doubt, but also providing employment.

Call Centre Handlers more than technicians though.