Tips: Octavia Tips

[ColinD]

Please post any little tips or tricks you have with your Octavia here please.

[Goochie]

Octavia - the thinking man's Skoda.......... read the manual

[ncarring]

1. My cigarette lighter has stopped working - make sure you don't have the child lock set on the rear doors.
2. Improve the sound from your stereo 1 - disconnect the rear tweeters by pulling one of the plugs from the rear parcel shelf speakers
3. Improve the sound from your stereo 2 - remove the front speakers and cut a flap in the membrane behind
4. My wipers have become very slow - the spindles are seizing up. Buy a new linkage, or disassemble the linkage and lubricate the spindles. Try some wd40 down the spindles as an emergency measure.
5. I want two-click unlocking, or anti-hijack locking, or .... - find someone with vag-com in your area to set them for you
6. How do I set the clock - twist the odometer reset button left for hours, right for minutes
7. How do I reset the service indicator - see procedure on page xxx of the driver's manual unless you are on variable servicing in which case only the dealer or someone with vag-com can do it for you
8. How do I get into the diagnostics on the climate control - press fan down+temp colder+econ all at the same time - see [link] for more details

[Hans Freikit]

The bulbs for the interior lights in the Octavia Combi's boot are specified (in the manual) as C10W.

This is a "festoon" type bulb, 12 volt, 10 Watt.

Although Phillips offer a direct replacement (code 12866), I've found that the RING Automotive type RU264 is also suitable.

This Ring bulb has dimensions 11mm x 42mm. Cost approximately £1.50 each from highstreet stores.

[Goochie]

The rear head restraints tilt further forward than those in the front. You can swap them over to increase whiplash protection for the driver and front seat passenger.

[Goochie]

When operating the electric door mirrors and the **** is set to "L" the left and right mirrors move together. Set the left one first then switch to "R" to set the right one.

This intentional feature enables drivers of different heights to adjust the mirrors quickly to how they need them.

[bengie]

when putting the rear seats down take the head rests out and there are small holes in the back of the bottom section to slot the rest rest into so it doesn't bounce around

[andy2407]

Somewhere in the manual it tells you how to set the audio sound level to increase as you go faster - I'd had mine a few months before I found this feature!
Will have a look tmrw and post up some instructions

[Leeboy]

If a new owner can't work out why lights are on on one side of the car, it is the parking light setting that you have inadvertently triggered by removing your key from the ignition whilst leaving your indicator column stalk in the left (down) or right (up) position!

[cheezemonkhai]

The Octavia TDI has air filter changes specified only every 40'000 Miles.

I noticed a massive drop in fuel economy approaching that mileage, and purchased a VW airfilter and replaced it.

After a few runs down the morotway I can confirm that the MPG has increased by approximately 6MPG. The VW filter only costs £15 with aftermarket filters even cheaper.

So if you want to keep car breathing properly, and keep your power and fuel economy up, ignore the 40k change and do it every 10-20k miles.

[Stuart_J]

On the Octy 1 hatch if you put sealer in the gap between the bottom of the Glass & the metal on the tailgate it wont fill up with water & deposit it in the boot when you open the tailgate

[KLB]

The foam plastic "thingy" under the rear boot floor has handy compartments to stow the vehicle documents, a reflective triangle, a roll of gaffer tape, and a set of spare bulbs - oh, and a spare coilpack if you happen to have a 1.8T

[andyo15]

I had bad knock on front suspension,which local garage/mot station could not locate,fitted lower arms in hope as they said every thing ok,no difference.I undid anti roll bar at one side where it attached to lower arm which allowed me to move it about,hey presto i could hear it knocking..why they couldn't find it..it seemed most obvious i guess but when the proffesionals say they are ok you expect them to be right..ok naive i know

[sparky2]

Put some half inch thick polystyrene down the sides of the outer edges of the boot, then if you carry something and it rolls around it won't dint the body work from the inside.

[grahammcs]

do u put the sealer in the inside or outside of the boot lid. or is it along the top wer the third brake light is????

[mluton]

The headlight washers only work when driving, not whilst still. Also the headlight washers only work, when the lights are on.

[palival]

How to change Octavia I clock to 12 hour format?

[simonlb]

Originally Posted by palival

How to change Octavia I clock to 12 hour format?

Great 'tip' that. Thanks.

[smstext]

Originally Posted by mluton

The headlight washers only work when driving, not whilst still. Also the headlight washers only work, when the lights are on.

not on mine, mine work driving or stationary. great for getting cyclist

[mluton]

Originally Posted by smstext

not on mine, mine work driving or stationary. great for getting cyclist

I think your right, it was that I never had my lights on and its never squirted water