A little while ago I posted about my electrical gremlins on 2014 Octavia 2.0 diesel elegance with DSG box.

Just to recap, with some more additions:

• Low key battery message still showing despite changing batteries in both keys and the old batteries showing 3.2v each.
• Boot lid frequently not opening with key - Intermittent.
• Key memories often fail to adjust seats- Intermittent.
• Gearbox occasionally changes down to 3rd gear at 48mph when coasting downhill- Intermittent.
• Radio changes FM channel on its own in poor signal areas - does not hunt for same channel on another frequency.
• Satnav zooms in and out, despite the auto zoom box being unticked.
• Headlights refuse to dip auto, then start to dip auto, then fails to turn on full beam- Intermittent.
• Headlights do not auto turn on in bad light (i.e. garage) - Intermittent.
• Car would not start on just one occasion, no response at all.  At other times when cold, takes a long time to engage starter. 
• Error message flashes up something about leaving workshop when in park, but disappears before message can be read - Intermittent.

So, I took it in to Murrays Skoda in Plymouth under warranty and they said they cannot find any faults and if I could catch the problems on camera, that could be helpful to their technician.

They did put another new battery  in my key fob and valeted the car, so not all bad news, however, I have now ordered an OBDeleven Pro to try some self diagnosis.

BTW, on my way back with the car last night, headlight, radio and satnav faults were still there!

As per my advice on an other thread recently, when you replace the battery, once you have removed the old battery, you need to press one of the buttons on the fob prior to inserting the new battery.  This resets the fob and allows the key to recognise a new battery. This should resolve a number of the key related issues.

 

The gearbox changes down when on an incline when coasting (same sensor as hill hold) - this is to provide optimal control of the car using engine braking (there are a number of speed / inclination sensors that detect this).

 

The auto-headlights can be adjusted in the vehicle settings menu; if they are coming on too late for you, then change from late/medium to early - this will make them more sensitive.

 

If trying to start a diesel on a cold morning, you need to turn ignition on and wait for the glow plug symbol to extinguish before trying to crank the engine - if you try to crank immediately the car will only start when this is achieved hence the delay.

 

Error message - have you applied handbrake and left vehicle in P before switching off? If not an error screen appears.

 

This may sort a few of the issues on your list.

Edited 27 November, 20187 yr by Black_Sheep

As Black Sheep said the gearbox will change down when going downhill particularly if you apply the brakes and or have cruise set.

The car starting is controlled by electronics on modern cars. Turning the key is simply the same as pressing a button and the car then goes through a sequence to prep and then start the engine.  If the engine is particularly cold or has been sat for a while it may take longer to process this sequence for things like fuel pressure, glow plugs, voltages, to get within preset parameters.

 

 

1 hour ago, Black_Sheep said:

As per my advice on an other thread recently, when you replace the battery, once you have removed the old battery, you need to press one of the buttons on the fob prior to inserting the new battery.  This resets the fob and allows the key to recognise a new battery. This should resolve a number of the key related issues.

 

The gearbox changes down when on an incline when coasting (same sensor as hill hold) - this is to provide optimal control of the car using engine braking (there are a number of speed / inclination sensors that detect this).

 

The auto-headlights can be adjusted in the vehicle settings menu; if they are coming on too late for you, then change from late/medium to early - this will make them more sensitive.

 

If trying to start a diesel on a cold morning, you need to turn ignition on and wait for the glow plug symbol to extinguish before trying to crank the engine - if you try to crank immediately the car will only start when this is achieved hence the delay.

 

Error message - have you applied handbrake and left vehicle in P before switching off? If not an error screen appears.

 

This may sort a few of the issues on your list.

Thanks for your input, however.

 

Key fob - Did all of that.

Gearbox - I knew about auto change down, but to 3rd gear at 48 mph?

Headlights - On the late setting they came on much earlier than I would have manually turned them on. But on the same setting when entering my dark garage, they often do not come on.

Will see how I get on with starting. But the occasion when it would not start at all cannot be explained by waiting for glow plugs.

Error message - Don't think this is the cause as it occurs when well into a journey.

In your garage do you have any IR lights (for a security camera) or black light etc ?

I know its not quite the same technology but in our baby room, the light sensitive background light wont come on at all if the baby monitor (with built in IR lights for night vision) is active.

 

for starting, you just need to "flick" the key to the start position & release.

If you hold the key in the starting position, it will override the glowplug sequence & start to crank directly.

5 hours ago, Gabbo said:

In your garage do you have any IR lights (for a security camera) or black light etc ?

I know its not quite the same technology but in our baby room, the light sensitive background light wont come on at all if the baby monitor (with built in IR lights for night vision) is active.

 

for starting, you just need to "flick" the key to the start position & release.

If you hold the key in the starting position, it will override the glowplug sequence & start to crank directly.

No lights of any kind in my garage.

As to starting, holding the key in the start position still results in a delay. Sometimes s to 4 seconds.