@Martinsg I was just about to post the following before beaten to it, see also second quote if you've not already.

 

On 24/10/2024 at 10:05, kpugh said:

Finally resolved by main dealer it was the the relay however it is a combined relay/fuse box unit on this model so I paid them to carry out the work & since picking it up no errors so far!

 

From what I could glean it sounds like this type of relay struggles when the temperatures dip.

 

 

On 24/10/2024 at 12:36, kpugh said:

Just under £300 realise I could have saved by fitting myself  .  .  .

 

Hopefully this will be useful info to others I suspect this may be a common issue as temperatures start to drop.

 

I am going to have a go myself, part is £106 from local Skoda dealer. Is there a trick to getting the wires out?

That's the bit James can tell you about as he's previously offered, use of paperclip and bobbypin IIRC.

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@MartinsgI'll send some photos of the "tools" today and some more info you might find useful. Usual caveat that I am not a mechanic...

 

 

You can get sets of the proper tools and at low prices (no idea of quality) if you can work out what various suppliers call them but how many times after this do you expect to use them, there again it's 2019 VW wiring and connectors so perhaps if they're not expensive and even if they are you've saved on labour costs with having them but paperclips can be very plentiful (not sure about bobbypins).  You can decides after Jame's instructions and advice.  Paid professionals often have special tools for jobs as they often don't have two things available to a willing person doing doing the work for themselves and those are time and patience.  With those you can often do some jobs better than the paid professionals.

 

I have managed to find a picture of the relays inside.

 

Not much to look at... But they did the job. Would say you have to be really careful when detaching the wiring. A broken wire or connector would be a real issue... Goes without saying not to force anything. When the clips are properly released the connectors slide out very easily. 

 

You can see I clipped the round ends off a bobby pin for the larger connectors, and a reshaped paper clip worked for the smaller ones. There are a couple (from memory) of purple clips which need removed also. 

 

I've tried to show how I used the paperclip... The file size is too big so I'll need to send the bobby pin photo in other reply. 

 

 

Edited 23 November, 20241 yr by roxby_fabia

I thought the booby pin was going to be some elaborate American hair holding device, but looks like it's just what was called a hairgrip down this way. 😁

 

All good stuff, custom made tools (bits of different width stiff wire, wire coat hangers are sorely missed, still a couple of bits of them in my tool box and shed as tools though),

 

Part changed, just need to wait for it to get cold again to see if it has cured it.