Filled up with petrol last night and noticed a burning smell when I drove off. Seemed to have gone when I got home so I thought nothing off it. 
 

Opened the car up this morning and there was smoke inside. 
 

My initial thought was the fuel pump but there’s no smell there having lifted the back seat. The smell appears to be more from the dash area. It’s certainly inside the car anyway and the heater motor is noisier than it should be, perhaps it is that?

 

Anyone any similar tales of woe that can offer any advice on where to look?

Is it possible to turn down the fan speed?  Or is it effectively stuck on full?

 

If the resistor pack / regulator for the fan burns out then you will typically get a burning smell along with a fan running at full speed.

 

I've no practical experience, but a quick google suggests that the regulator on a MK3 Octavia is located in the fan unit itself, and if it is this you're likely looking at a reasonable amount of labour to get to it.

 

It this is the problem, it seems to be #4 in the image linked to below - part number 5Q0907521D

https://www.ilcats.ru/skoda/?function=getParts&market=CZ&model=OCT&modelcode=805&group=8&subgroup=819&part=819020&pid=54655&language=en

Problem solved. 
 

It was a phone charging cable that was smouldering at the connection end. It had fallen down onto the floor so I didn’t notice it. It’s also burned a hole into my rubber foot mat. 
 

I was about to charge up to the dealers as well and have a moan. 

54 minutes ago, gm73 said:

Problem solved. 
 

It was a phone charging cable that was smouldering at the connection end. It had fallen down onto the floor so I didn’t notice it. It’s also burned a hole into my rubber foot mat. 
 

I was about to charge up to the dealers as well and have a moan. 

Note to self. Unplug charging cables in future🙂

3 hours ago, gm73 said:

Problem solved. 
 

It was a phone charging cable that was smouldering at the connection end. It had fallen down onto the floor so I didn’t notice it. It’s also burned a hole into my rubber foot mat. 
 

I was about to charge up to the dealers as well and have a moan. 

 

Glad it was something simple!