3 hours ago, path_cobbler said:

 

 

Thanks to everyone for their comments - it's been really helpful.

 

I popped into my local authorised Skoda service centre to chat about the problem. I wouldn't say they were too helpful -- it was a case of "we can't say anything until you're booked in", which I understand but it would have been nice to chat to someone. Although I think they maybe did take pity on me -- I walked out to the car (locked, ignition off) and the radio was still on, so they suggested a reset which only seemed to involve holding the stereo power button down for 10 seconds. Not sure if that's real, or just a wee placebo to get rid of me.

 

Anyway, they've advised £115 just for an initial diagnostic, followed by any additional work. The chap suggested software updates might be 1-4 hours, and might be anywhere from £150 to £500. 

 

I wondered if those seem reasonable? Or, given I'm not under warranty, is there any real advantage to me going to an authorised Skoda garage, or would I be better at an independent? 

 

I'm in Glasgow if anyone has any recommendations, but I'll probably phone around next week and see if anyone sounds at all knowledgeable about the problem and can take me in a little earlier than next month.

 

My Skoda dealership, in London, have previously charged me £75+VAT to apply a firmware update - basically half hour of labour.

On 12/10/2024 at 13:29, path_cobbler said:

 

 

Thanks to everyone for their comments - it's been really helpful.

 

I popped into my local authorised Skoda service centre to chat about the problem. I wouldn't say they were too helpful -- it was a case of "we can't say anything until you're booked in", which I understand but it would have been nice to chat to someone. Although I think they maybe did take pity on me -- I walked out to the car (locked, ignition off) and the radio was still on, so they suggested a reset which only seemed to involve holding the stereo power button down for 10 seconds. Not sure if that's real, or just a wee placebo to get rid of me.

 

Anyway, they've advised £115 just for an initial diagnostic, followed by any additional work. The chap suggested software updates might be 1-4 hours, and might be anywhere from £150 to £500. 

 

I wondered if those seem reasonable? Or, given I'm not under warranty, is there any real advantage to me going to an authorised Skoda garage, or would I be better at an independent? 

 

I'm in Glasgow if anyone has any recommendations, but I'll probably phone around next week and see if anyone sounds at all knowledgeable about the problem and can take me in a little earlier than next month.

 

Sounds like an rip off attempt, just run the USB Update and the reboots will disappear. 

On 08/10/2024 at 18:31, TheWanderer said:

I've got my car going in for module replacement on Thursday morning, £864 for it, but done under warranty. Hopefully this should sort out my virtual pedal as well.

What year is ur car? 

 

I seriously thinking about getting a skoda but the new 2024 face lift too looks great so might haven to wait another yr but I probably won't. 

I really don't want to get the pre 2023 face lift 😞

2023. It has been a very odd one! Started off a bit wonky, got a few software updates and it settled down and was perfectly fine.

 

But then the side shunt and things have stopped working, infotainment system has been playing up and been into the garage 5 or 6 times.

 

It's now got to the point where a formal complaint has been lodged with Skoda UK regarding the competence of the dealer and the issues of the car. 

 

The dealer has had the car since Friday, no loan car, no news/information regarding the replacement of the infotainment system or any of its component parts.

 

The car went in working well, bar a the virtual pedal and a faulty module, it came back out with no infotainment system and different systems not working, so if they think that I'm paying for any of it, then I'll take legal advice. 

 

Don't get me wrong. Most of the time the car has been perfect. It's fast, agile and is brilliant. However it's all of the minor things that add up.

 

Now thinking about getting rid of it and getting a Peugeot 2008 hybrid.

Edited 15 October, 20241 yr by TheWanderer

6 minutes ago, TheWanderer said:

2023. It has been a very odd one! Started off a bit wonky, got a few software updates and it settled down and was perfectly fine.

 

But then the side shunt and things have stopped working, infotainment system has been playing up and been into the garage 5 or 6 times.

 

It's now got to the point where a formal complaint has been lodged with Skoda UK regarding the competence of the dealer and the issues of the car. 

 

The dealer has had the car since Friday, no loan car, no news/information regarding the replacement of the infotainment system or any of its component parts.

 

The car went in working well, bar a the virtual pedal and a faulty module, it came back out with no infotainment system and different systems not working, so if they think that I'm paying for any of it, then I'll take legal advice. 

 

Don't get me wrong. Most of the time the car has been perfect. It's fast, agile and is brilliant. However it's all of the minor things that add up.

 

Now thinking about getting rid of it and getting a Peugeot 2008 hybrid.

Sounds serious 🙄

 

That's really about the only problem with it that I've had, no mechanical issues (engine or brakes), electrical issues (lights,HVAC), it's just this module, infotainment system and virtual pedal that's causing me grief. 

My vRS has behaved impeccably since the updates finally cured the most shockingly bad and constant infotainment issues that pretty much made the car useless. I mean it still drives of course but rebooting the system itself again and again, you lose your nav and any other controls, like HVAC, and yes the reboots are usually quick but they were often back to back. Thankfully I think it's sorted now, but I do not understand (I'm in IT I should point out) how any manufacturer, especially one under the VWAG umbrella, can drip feed update after update but still not nail the problem for so long, it's pretty shocking and honestly nearly put me off enough to trade it in. Unfortunately despite the waiting list still being a thing, and very few cars being out there, the trade in prices I was being offered were awful enough to make me thing again. Glad I did, it's still a superb car all round for me, just about sporty enough for todays roads and traffic to be ticking that box for me, as well as being really comfy and practical. I'd love a more appealing MPG average to be honest, my first VWAG 2.0l engine but having had BMW's 2.0's in many cars before now, I'd have hoped for something a bit less thirsty. I'm hard to please mind, ask the wife!

44 minutes ago, thommo41 said:

but I do not understand (I'm in IT I should point out) how any manufacturer, especially one under the VWAG umbrella, can drip feed update after update but still not nail the problem for so long, it's pretty shocking

Judging by the situation with other models of Skoda and VW, the problem with these cars made between 20 and 23 is that they also have a complete mess with hardware. Some modules may have been changed a few times per year for the same model. When they came to update software, they found out that they can't just roll out new software for all cars because it is conflicting with some of the hardware or it is just too weak to run it. I suspect our early Octavias may have fallen victim of the same issue. Mind you, they were swapping MIBs and screens to the same models until they ran out of stock, even though they knew these were faulty and no matter how many times they swap them, the problem stays the same. I was quite amazed to see how they were changing my MIB to run all the same updates and to have the same issue in the end, only to decide to repeat all over again.

For me I think that the only way to resolve the problem for me is to strip the existing system out and replace it with the most upto date modules & head units.

 

If you clean it out, start with all new modules & fresh soft/firmware, then I think it's going to cure a lot of ill's from the earlier models & variants.

 

I found it quite interesting to see that after the module was replaced that I had a range of 595 miles of fuel! Well that might be feasible with a diesel, but not with a petrol RS, I suspect that someone has coded F533 to a diesel model of car, rather than petrol & an older model of RS. Also it did show me that there was "Unknown" software in the two lines where it normally says 1941 & whatever the next one shows. It then showed me another screen asking me for FeC & other codes!

 

I mean WTF is going on with it? That an another engineering mode (no I didn't hold the menu button), at which point I turned the ignition off and rung Skoda Assist.

Just another perspective…..

 

I have Octavia 1.5TSI Octavia Estate First Edition, so one of the early Mk4’s.  When I got it a year ago the whole Infotainment system and connected modules made for a  very unstable system.   However, after updates to relevant modules and Infotainment system it is now rock solid - no hardware replacements were required.  Literally gone from almost unusable to completely reliable.

4 hours ago, spcdust said:

Just another perspective…..

 

I have Octavia 1.5TSI Octavia Estate First Edition, so one of the early Mk4’s.  When I got it a year ago the whole Infotainment system and connected modules made for a  very unstable system.   However, after updates to relevant modules and Infotainment system it is now rock solid - no hardware replacements were required.  Literally gone from almost unusable to completely reliable.

 

Sounds very much like we have been on the same road!

 

Same model of car except mine was registered Sept 2020 (bought it as ex-management car March '21), potentially an even earlier build. At Škoda UK request my dealer had the car to use so they could diagnose faults, and then was a guinea pig for a fix(es). Thankfully Škoda UK funded a dealer provided loan car, another Octavia Estate, a 1.0 e-Tec SE FE which was faultless, for 5 1/2 months and 8500 miles! That, plus a few more updates on the way to Infotainment v1941 has given me a great car...

 

I feel for @TheWanderer. Sounds very much like the accident repair and/or the dealer have screwed up your RS. Your frustration must be nearly off the scale...

 

Edited 15 October, 20241 yr by SteveTheElder
added final para

It bloody well is! 

 

I've got a claim against the repairers for £324 for incorrect repair, I've got Skoda CS involved as I need a car as I have to go to the doctors to collect medication, my mum has dementia (I should've seen her at the weekend), I'm running out of animal feed, I've got an accountant meeting on monday, bank appointment on Tuesday, Hospital appointment Wednesday PM and no loan car!

 

5th time of asking for the virtual pedal to be replaced/repaired & infotainment system to be updated. Like I said I gave them a car with the infotainment system working and it booked in for F533 to be replaced and I got a car back in a worse condition than what it went in.

 

It may not be surprising that I'm looking at getting a different car, Peugeot 2008, Dacia Duster or Toyota Corolla.

5 hours ago, spcdust said:

Just another perspective…..

 

I have Octavia 1.5TSI Octavia Estate First Edition, so one of the early Mk4’s.  When I got it a year ago the whole Infotainment system and connected modules made for a  very unstable system.   However, after updates to relevant modules and Infotainment system it is now rock solid - no hardware replacements were required.  Literally gone from almost unusable to completely reliable.

I'm meant to be picking up a 2020 Octavia this weekend, tbh I wish I'd encountered this thread before I decided to pull the trigger on it. I still have a cooling off period mind you where I could cancel for a full refund, and I'm sorely tempted thinking of the prospect of going through all this. You think you could change my mind?

1 hour ago, scotthugh3s said:

I'm meant to be picking up a 2020 Octavia this weekend, tbh I wish I'd encountered this thread before I decided to pull the trigger on it. I still have a cooling off period mind you where I could cancel for a full refund, and I'm sorely tempted thinking of the prospect of going through all this. You think you could change my mind?

See my response on this thread.  If you can get the dealer to do the first three steps then good chance you will be good:
 

 

9 minutes ago, spcdust said:

See my response on this thread.  If you can get the dealer to do the first three steps then good chance you will be good:
 

 

Yeah I saw that earlier, thanks for that. I did actually book mark it as a go to guide should I encounter any issues. Just not happy at the thought that after splashing out on the car initially, I could then be soon shelling out again to have it put right? The fact that my nearest dealer is located over 80 miles away doesn't help matters much, would never have expected to need to take a car back to a dealer at this stage in its life tbh. Any idea how much those processes combined would set me back?  

Just now, scotthugh3s said:

Yeah I saw that earlier, thanks for that. I did actually book mark it as a go to guide should I encounter any issues. Just not happy at the thought that after splashing out on the car initially, I could then be soon shelling out again to have it put right? The fact that my nearest dealer is located over 80 miles away doesn't help matters much, would never have expected to need to take a car back to a dealer at this stage in its life tbh. Any idea how much those processes combined would set me back?  

 

This is where it's a bit of a lucky dip. I would say that the majority of cars are perfectly fine.

 

Others start fine but go wobbly, but correct themselves after some dealer TLC.

 

And then there are the others need some hardware & software updates (usually very early ones with low software revisions).

1 minute ago, TheWanderer said:

 

This is where it's a bit of a lucky dip. I would say that the majority of cars are perfectly fine.

 

Others start fine but go wobbly, but correct themselves after some dealer TLC.

 

And then there are the others need some hardware & software updates (usually very early ones with low software revisions).

Thanks for the reply. I'd figured that must be the case regarding the majority of cars being fine, otherwise surely skoda would have HAD to do something about these issues. 

Skoda octavias mk4 r very popular looking at auto trader 

Volkswagen golf more same infotainment system

I'd honestly say its pretty normal not every1 is complaining about it. Only the early versions. After the softwares updates and reading the forum. alot say it's fixed. I hope 

I would be worried about the 2020 and 2021 cars with the old modules

. But could be fine only skoda will know 

 

One of the issues that people have is that the Infotainment system does download software updates by itself in the background, I've had several where they've downloaded themselves and I and other owners then unwittingly accept them and problems start!

 

Most of them apply themselves without any issues whatsoever, but one or two have caused significant problems for some owners. But you won't know until the wretched thing has installed itself.

I have Octavia IV mk2024, which I bough 2 months ago (pre-facelift model). I have experienced infotainment crash several times (Columbus went into restarting loop, most of the sensors became faulty until I restarted the car). I can't be 100% sure, but I think it is related to overheating. This summer was really hot in my country (more than 35 C during the whole summer), for a last few weeks temperature wasn't above 25 C and I had zero issues with infotainment in this period. 

12 hours ago, TheWanderer said:

I would say that the majority of cars are perfectly fine.

It is definitely not the case with 2020 Octavias.

If you'd follow other boards and social media groups, you'd see there are a lot of troublesome cars and still (4 years later) a lot of cars with old software (even pre 18xx).

14 hours ago, scotthugh3s said:

I'm meant to be picking up a 2020 Octavia this weekend, tbh I wish I'd encountered this thread before I decided to pull the trigger on it. I still have a cooling off period mind you where I could cancel for a full refund, and I'm sorely tempted thinking of the prospect of going through all this. You think you could change my mind?

 

If you're buying through your local(ish) Škoda dealer then all the software updates should be applied, plus a bunch of other stuff...

 

Being armed with the info as to what updates to expect is important. The post from @spcdust in the thread about red flags is a good resource.

3 minutes ago, SteveTheElder said:

 

If you're buying through your local(ish) Škoda dealer then all the software updates should be applied, plus a bunch of other stuff...

 

Being armed with the info as to what updates to expect is important. The post from @spcdust in the thread about red flags is a good resource.

 

 

While that is meant to be the case my experience, and many others who have bought "Skoda Approved Used" cars have found that they don't bother and, if you ask, will tell you that everything is up-to-date or you will receive any updates OTA.  That's what is good about these forums, get informed, and then you can specifically nail them down on the updates required.

16 minutes ago, Edela said:

It is definitely not the case with 2020 Octavias.

If you'd follow other boards and social media groups, you'd see there are a lot of troublesome cars and still (4 years later) a lot of cars with old software (even pre 18xx).

 

This is the problem, there are a whole host of different updates out there that will make these car's systems very stable and reliable but Skoda will only update components if you report a specific issue.  It's a shame that you can't just take your Skoda to the dealership, they connect it to the diagnostic computer and it applies all the latest updates relevant to your vehicle.

I have begrudgingly paid for the climatic control module to be updated as it never retained the Sync setting between journeys, I could have lived with it and, I guess, many owners don't even know that the system should remember the Sync setting between journeys.  It's a bit rich that you then have to pay for it to get a proper working firmware version installed when the module had shoddy firmware out of the factory.  Fortunately, I was just within the manufacturer's warranty to get the Telematics module firmware updated along with the Infotainment system.  It's very telling that, outside of the original manufacturer's warranty, all other Skoda warranties, such as Skoda Approved Used, don't cover software.

3 minutes ago, spcdust said:

This is the problem, there are a whole host of different updates out there that will make these car's systems very stable and reliable but Skoda will only update components if you report a specific issue.

This is a part of the problem. Perhaps, the biggest part. Another problem is there are many HW faults, too. Apart of buggy MIBs and overheating screens, there are coolant leaks, faulty gearbox selectors, 12V drain, etc etc.
 

 

5 minutes ago, spcdust said:

It's very telling that, outside of the original manufacturer's warranty, all other Skoda warranties, such as Skoda Approved Used, don't cover software.

That is UK specific, by the way. Here in Spain, extended warranty covers SW and electronics, too. Otherwise I'd went bankrupt or just burned the car 2 years ago.