I'm off to look at another octavia estate in a day or two.

It's a 2000 Y reg Elegance. Been listed as not having remote locking. Is this normal, would have thought that it would have been standard on the Elegance?

Seen a couple of guides for retro-fitting remote locking so not a major problem if it does not have it.

any thoughts?

I've not seen one without. If the key's the same as mine (biggish black box, with the actual key blade capable of folding onto the side, 2 buttons on one face, Skoda badge on other) then either the remote battery is flat or the receiver's u/s.

Just a tip on the key itself if that is the problem. I thought the batteries had gone in mine, swapped them over and still no joy.

To get it working I had to tease up the metal contact on the battery slightly. Probably me sitting on them or something had caused it to get squashed. Since then its been fine

thanks for the info.

The seller says that the car does have remote locking, just that it doesn't work. Been reading a few threads about problems with the locking so if it's the reight car I think I'll get it and sort the lockin problem at a later date

I'd start with battery, battery contacts and switch contacts in the key, unless there are 2 duff keys, and batteries fail to revive either of them, when I'd start to suspect the receiver.

will do that first then. Hopefully it is that simple, will be a good way of getting the price down a bit