Hope this isn't the start of something big as they say, but needed to use the rear wiper today; pushed the control switch forwards and......... Nothing.

The wiper works when the front wipers are working and reverse is selected, (as it should) but not with the switch:confused: ! Could this be a software issue as all the other functions work on the control switch, ie computer, front wipers/washers?

Had the cruse control retro fitted the other week and some settings altered by the dealer (anti-hijack, alarm beep and 2nd rear foglight enabled) The latter doesn't work either:confused: !

Any one had similar problems and got it fixed? I dont want to have to do the usual 2 visits to get things fixed if I can help it so if you've got some pointers it would help!!

Sounds like a dud stalk, no?

I like the sound of some of the altered settings, 2nd rear foggie? you would think that would be by default.

Was the boot closed properly?

Well I'm back from the dealers! Having called by to book my car in they had a 3/4 of an hour look and came up with the answer......... "no idea whats going on, it's going to be complicated!" this was followed by "the motor has probably packed in." I had to point out that the wiper worked when reverse was engaged and the front wipers were switched on. This caused a long pause ".......don't know....":(

Don't have that warm feeling of confidnece that this will be easily sorted!

Just wonder if this and the none working 2nd rear foglight are symptoms of something?:confused:

I only have one rear foglight working- the offside one, this as far as I know is normal.

I only have one rear foglight working- the offside one, this as far as I know is normal.

That's true, however the nearside one can be "enabled" by the dealer or by using VAG-COM. I guess it was personal taste to ask to have it enabled as part of the deal, however despite the computer being set (and there was the correct bulb already in the socket), it refuses to work!:confused:

Just hope that all this can be sorted as I don't like the thought that I could be a victim of "early adopter syndrome"!

In that case I will be seeing my dealer soon as cars look rubbish with one fog light.

Based on what you have said it could well be a wiring issue or software not enabling the fog light and wiper.

Best of luck with the dealer, I hope they can sort it quickly.

Is it not worrying, the number of threads that involve malfunction of often "unnecessary" electronics? From the engine point of view it is great to get rid of points and chokes etc, but I have a feeling we would be better off with simple on/off switches for each ordinary item of kit, like lamps and wipers. Until they can make the stuff totally foolproof, at least.

If the rear foglight is the same as the mk1 then although the bulb socket is present and you can put a bulb in. The wiring to the bulb is however not present. On the mk1 you had to run a wire from one cluster to the other to get the bulb to light up.

There are so many electrical gadgets and electronic gizmos on a modern car that if every device had its own individual switch, relay and wire, the car would be a bundle of cables and nothing else. The onset of the CAN-BUS and such like solves this problem and will also create problems too.

Cars were once dependant on nothing but hard wiring but thats impossible now.

On the grand scheme of things, modern cars do damned well but yes, there is room for improvement.

If we stuck with hard wiring today, we wouldn't have all the goodies we are used to.

If the rear foglight is the same as the mk1 then although the bulb socket is present and you can put a bulb in. The wiring to the bulb is however not present. On the mk1 you had to run a wire from one cluster to the other to get the bulb to light up.

But it isn't the same as the Mk 1 - Both the dual filament bulb and the socket are present, and as has been mentioned time and again you just need to enable it!

Why don't ALL octavias come with both fog lights enabled? surely 2 are safer than one?

Probably some litte Eurocrat in Brussles.........

With the Fabia, however, the bulb IS present but you have to run a wire from the lowest wire on the connector block to the other side to get both lights working.

..Dead easy tho'!

Rear wiper now working! turned out to need a software upgrade! Will have to check the rear fog light later as there was no mention of it having been fixed!

As already said, it's a worry about just how much control is taken up by software! But guess we have to get used to it!!

As I understand it the reson for 1 foglight is that when they are combined in the same unit as the breaklight, if both fogs are working it makes it harder to see the breaklight come on! Anyway thats what the dealers tell me, so someone might know better!!??