Hi, I bought my 2021 MK4 Skoda Octavia in April this year and for 5 months i have had no problems (well once the system was updated to 1985 in May, as the infotainment system was glitchy as hell and i had to have 5 various updates, 2 of them major and 40 gig of data) until the last 6 weeks. I started getting the PDC error that others had but that seems to have stopped and now it comes up with manoeuvre braking currently unavailable this only happens once a day when it comes on, sometimes a week or more can go by without it sometimes everyday for a week and when it does come on if i turn the engine off and just press the button to start the electrics only and then start the engine the errors go away. I took it into my local dealer as my warranty from Arnold Clark doesn't seem to be worth the paper its written on and my local dealer says there's no evidence on the cars memory of a problem even though i have provided them with photos and videos of it happening and they have recommended replacing my 4 sensors at a cost of £971 + VAT but that's just to see if it will clear up the problem with no guarantee it will do so. I cant say if the stop start is working as i always turn it off as well as the lane assist when i start up as some have asked on here. I did ask if could it be the battery as i have read on here but they are insisting the sensors need to be replaced first even though there technician says there's no problem showing on the system with them. Is this a worthwhile route to go first? i am inclined to do the cheaper route and replace the battery rather than fork out a grand for the sensors as the battery is the original one. My sensors were cleaned by the dealers but the problem still persists intermittently.

I had the PDC issue and it was fixed by the dealership in January 2025 with a TPI software patch that was released in December 2024. This work was carried out before the OTA 1985 software update was done. Maybe worth asking if your vehicle has had this TPI implemented before replacing the battery or sensors. Prior to the TPI being actioned the dealership was chasing (for several months) a poptentially high current draw from the battery, which was suspectedly caused by the infotainment display not going to sleep when the vehicle was switched off. The battery, alternator and infotainment display were all changed to reduce current draw but this didn't help the PDC issue. I believe my PDC problems started with a previous software update (1981 from memory), but the dealership didn't wan't to consider this. Switching on the ignition a few seconds before clutching and cranking the engine also worked for me and others. The dealership's technician told me that the TPI mentioned this sequencing. If all relevant software patches have definitely been done and fault persists, then I'd personally be checking the battery condition or battery current draw in standby mode (if possible), before replacing all sensors. Has a load test been done on the battery? Might not be of any help, but the attached scope plot shows my new 59Ah battery terminal voltage dipping to around 8.3V from 12.2V during cold cranking. I only experienced the PDC issue during colder conditions.

26 minutes ago, ANALOGUE said:

I had the PDC issue and it was fixed by the dealership in January 2025 with a TPI software patch that was released in December 2024. This work was carried out before the OTA 1985 software update was done. Maybe worth asking if your vehicle has had this TPI implemented before replacing the battery or sensors. Prior to the TPI being actioned the dealership was chasing (for several months) a poptentially high current draw from the battery, which was suspectedly caused by the infotainment display not going to sleep when the vehicle was switched off. The battery, alternator and infotainment display were all changed to reduce current draw but this didn't help the PDC issue. I believe my PDC problems started with a previous software update (1981 from memory), but the dealership didn't wan't to consider this. Switching on the ignition a few seconds before clutching and cranking the engine also worked for me and others. The dealership's technician told me that the TPI mentioned this sequencing. If all relevant software patches have definitely been done and fault persists, then I'd personally be checking the battery condition or battery current draw in standby mode (if possible), before replacing all sensors. Has a load test been done on the battery? Might not be of any help, but the attached scope plot shows my new 59Ah battery terminal voltage dipping to around 8.3V from 12.2V during cold cranking. I only experienced the PDC issue during colder conditions.

Sorry no tests done on battery by me as im not mechanical minded but I will be booking it in for one with my local garage and see how it goes.

Also, faulty towbar electrics can cause PDC issues.

On 13/10/2025 at 16:38, ANALOGUE said:

Also, faulty towbar electrics can cause PDC issues.

Ended up back at skoda for them to do another diagnosis and battery check on my car, they did it for free this time and a different technician said one of my rear passenger door locks was iffy? It wasn't locking right and was continually trying to find itself (replaced under warranty for £500) but still said i needed sensors replaced to see if it helps, I refused the sensors saying it was ok for months beforehand. They did mention something about a battery memory as its a stop start and that possibly I had a low battery at some point but the memory needed to be reset after when this happens as it somehow doesnt do it itself (all went over my head to be honest, my prev car was a 16yo astra so had none of these problems on it) and for this last week its been fine no problems. I wonder if the door lock was draining the battery and some how that and the battery memory made the first start up of most days not do the sequence right?. Time will tell if it stays this way though. If it goes on again I will replace the battery with a better quality one and see if that does it.

Edited 18 October, 202518 Oct by Vinny939
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Hello, as many of you in this thread I also have problem with parking sensors (PDC unit) on my Octavia A8 (2022), since 2 years.
Usually on cold mornings, on start, PDC unit does not boot on time and I got an PDC unit errors, sensors are not working. I believe this happens due to voltage drop when cranking. After turning engine off -> on, everything is working. I can bypass this problem by first turning ignition, and then start the engine after second or two, in 100% cases I don't have PDC problem. My software version of PDC is 0577 but I see that there new software 0581 is available for this PCD unit.

Will software update of PDC unit solve this issue?

I would like to buy VCTool ECU flashing module, but I want to be sure that this newer software is available on their server. Can somebody with paid VCTool check this by entering PCD ECU data? Thank you in advance.