I have my 2014 Octavia 4x4 maintained by a Skoda specialist ( main dealers until 20 years ago). When it went in for the 40,000 service and cam belt/water pump swap I asked them to change the Haldex 4x4 Clutch oil as well. They said it was part of the service anyway. I knew the oil in it had never been changed before.

 

Now I apologise if this is already common knowledge and I'm teaching people to suck eggs, but the service manager told me that the gauze in the haldex was well clogged up when they changed the oil and that the Mk3 Octavia Haldex  is a simpler device without a dedicated filter, and that set my internal warning lights flashing a bit !  My thinking now is to have the Haldex fluid changed every 20,000 miles, and I'd go as far as to suggest that anybody who has not had the Haldex fluid changed in their series 3 4x4, or is not sure if it has been changed should have it done and make sure the strainer gauze is cleaned properly. It might just save people from 4x4 failure and dare one say it...expensive and possibly needless repairs.

 

I'm sure somebody must have covered it before, but a reminder can do no harm, so indulge me please.

Well, depending on whether you want to believe the internet, you'll find claims that cleaning said gauze isn't a standard part of the service routine for Gen 5 Haldex, they'll simply replace the fluid and be done with it. 

1 hour ago, Kenai said:

Well, depending on whether you want to believe the internet, you'll find claims that cleaning said gauze isn't a standard part of the service routine for Gen 5 Haldex, they'll simply replace the fluid and be done with it. 

Which is one of the reasons I don't use the main dealer. The independent is more conscientious. I've dealt with them since 1990 when we bought a brand new Favorit LX. The garage is no longer a main dealer and two owners down the line , but the ethos of doing a good job and being open to discuss stuff seems to have survived....thankfully.

Take a look through this thread on the Golf R forum - re Haldex filter

 

https://www.vwroc.com/forums/topic/24283-and-the-filthiest-haldex-filter-award-goes-to/