Hive mind… what are my options for getting modules unlocked?

I’ve been to three garages now, all who say they have kit/ability to wind the motors back on rear calipers.. but each time they then turn around and say sorry, SFD lock!!

All garages have quoted between £250 and £280 to do both pads and discs…. A tad different to the £584 i’m quoted at Skoda..

Is it because i’m still in (the arse end) of a service plan or is it skoda being dicks and keeping a monopoly on who can do what?

Can unlock it via OBD 11 or VCDS and probably other scanners too.

I've unlocked it then wound the calipers back, changed the pads and discs and wound the calipers back in on my wife's car in the driveway with an OBD 11.

So does it need a code from skoda to do that if its showing as locked or is it just an option? Latest garage i went to (also a registered MOT station) say they dont often see it locked but its the dealers to do it?

If so, is that a code i can purchase do you know? And if so, is it a lifetime purchase or just for that one action?

I’ve not had chance to look into the obd11 side of things apart from when i borrowed a friends dongle to look around when i first got the car in 2024 but i couldnt really get it to do anything?

If the Car have SFD 2, you can to nothing

And what’s SFD2 please?

12 minutes ago, Stowbiwan said:

And what’s SFD2 please?

SFD2 is an even more extreme version of module locking that currently can only be unlocked by VAG dealers with online access as no diagnostic tool manufacturers (such as OBDeleven and VCDS) have been allowed access.

That's basically correct, however, it's not a module lock. Simply put, each change generates a new code, which is then stored online on the VW server. This generates a token. This token then needs to be entered into the device, and then you can apply the change. I've already performed an SFD 2 change without ODIS or a dealer.

3 minutes ago, Cairus said:

I've already performed an SFD 2 change without ODIS or a dealer.

I'm intrigued how you got access to the VW servers without ODIS or a dealer?

I'm sure the developers of OBDeleven and VCDS would love to know too!

I say without Dealer sind without Odis. I Not say without Server Access.

VC Tool for make the Change

Just now, Cairus said:

I Not say without Server Access.

And I was asking how you got VW server access...

I see VC Tool provides the ability to use an SFD2 token, but does not generate that token. So the question becomes how do you get the SFD2 token?

Edited 1 April1 Apr by PetrolDave

No commend

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SFD Unlocking Guide 2025: Access VW & Audi Security Gatew...

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1 hour ago, Stonekeeper said:

Albionshire Car Diagnostics - A leading supplier of professional dealer level obd2 car diagnostics tools and scanners for BMW, VW, AUDI, SKODA SEAT and many more cars. Free UK delivery.

SFD Unlocking Guide 2025: Access VW & Audi Security Gatew...

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That's SFD not SFD2 - they're quite different.

i'm quickly falling out of love with Skoda lol..

i decided to pop in to my local dealership and asked if they could explain what SFD lock was as i'd been told my rear brakes couldnt be replaced because of it... also explained that the same garage had two other octavias in - younger than my 70plate - both had electronic handbrake - and that there was no lock on theirs....

initially service reception said the garage didnt have the correct software - so i explained again - three octavias - mine was the only one locked.. so they reluctantly went to get a mechanic to explain it as i requested.... no mech came back with them - just some blatant lie....

"no-one has ever heard of SFD lock, there will be something wrong with your car.."

🤦

3 hours ago, Stowbiwan said:

i'm quickly falling out of love with Skoda lol..

i decided to pop in to my local dealership and asked if they could explain what SFD lock was as i'd been told my rear brakes couldnt be replaced because of it... also explained that the same garage had two other octavias in - younger than my 70plate - both had electronic handbrake - and that there was no lock on theirs....

initially service reception said the garage didnt have the correct software - so i explained again - three octavias - mine was the only one locked.. so they reluctantly went to get a mechanic to explain it as i requested.... no mech came back with them - just some blatant lie....

"no-one has ever heard of SFD lock, there will be something wrong with your car.."

A 70 plate Octavia has SFD protection, not SFD2. You can unlock SFD using OBDEleven and a pro licence. I know this because I have a 70 plate Octavia myself, and OBDEleven with a pro licence. I have never attempted to change the brakes on my car, but I have made other adaptions which required SFD unlock. It's a really simple / straight forward / self explanatory process, but if you've never used OBDEleven before it does pay to do some reading up before you ever use it.

The garage are just leading you on mate, SFD is a VAG group security system used on all their cars since 2020. It's in place to protect a vehicle from unauthorised adaptions. Personally I think it's crap that you have to mess about like that to have your brakes changed, maybe it was all just a ploy to get people to return to them for work done for which they'd charge them double the rate of anywhere else..? Wouldn't surprise me...

Edited 1 April1 Apr by scotthugh3s

SFD 2 was started Summer 2024

23 hours ago, scotthugh3s said:

A 70 plate Octavia has SFD protection, not SFD2. You can unlock SFD using OBDEleven and a pro licence. I know this because I have a 70 plate Octavia myself, and OBDEleven with a pro licence. I have never attempted to change the brakes on my car, but I have made other adaptions which required SFD unlock. It's a really simple / straight forward / self explanatory process, but if you've never used OBDEleven before it does pay to do some reading up before you ever use it.

The garage are just leading you on mate, SFD is a VAG group security system used on all their cars since 2020. It's in place to protect a vehicle from unauthorised adaptions. Personally I think it's crap that you have to mess about like that to have your brakes changed, maybe it was all just a ploy to get people to return to them for work done for which they'd charge them double the rate of anywhere else..? Wouldn't surprise me...

Well thats cheered me up no end! Thanks!

So.. excuse the ignorance, i’ve read conflicting infos… when you unlock.. is that it or does it need unlocking for everytime you do something?

Off to go check this shizzle out.. i’d love to stick it to skoda and get my brakes done cheaper lolol

21 hours ago, Stowbiwan said:

Well thats cheered me up no end! Thanks!

So.. excuse the ignorance, i’ve read conflicting infos… when you unlock.. is that it or does it need unlocking for everytime you do something?

Off to go check this shizzle out.. i’d love to stick it to skoda and get my brakes done cheaper lolol

Depends, sometimes it asks you to unlock, it definitely will the first time you use it, but then after the first time I unlocked mine I've only had to do it a further twice. The time in between, I've made quite a few minor adaptions at varying intervals. Really not sure on the parameters if I'm honest, but you could probably find out more by looking here

I'm still a beginner with it all myself, there'll be people on these boards a lot better equipped to answer any questions you may have on the subject that's for sure.

SFD Unlock the unit for 90min

After this time, New Unlock

Just now, Cairus said:

SFD Unlock the unit for 90min

After this time, New Unlock

Sounds about right, it's likely that SFD unlock wasn't required to do each of the adaptions I've done, hence why I've only had to do it a few times

Edited 3 April3 Apr by scotthugh3s

I could not get the rear electric handbrake to reset with the OBD11 due to SDF lock, but i just did it the old school way without it nessessary.

Took the handbrake off, pushed back the pistons, changed rotors and pads, put everything back together and toggled the electric brake on and off a couple of times, been driving for over 30.000km now without any faults. Had them check if everything was OK when it went in to service a while back , and they said it was no problems or faults.