Just looking through my Skoda vehicle data sheet, and spotted a few interesting things....

"19 1AJ L BRS - anti-spin regulation (ABS/ASR/EDL) with electronic differential lock (EDL)"

Ahhar! So that's what ASR really stands for! I didn't know about the EDL, and I'm pretty sure I don't have a diff lock! Can anyone enlighten me on the EDL?

The rest of the specs are pretty obvious. Didn't know about all these optional heaters you can have. You can have a heated door lock cylinder, heated washer nozzles, an auxillary/parking heater etc. The only other thing that caught my eye was this:

"5 0EJ L EDF - installation differentiation for transmission MQ 250 vehicle components"

I wonder what the MQ250 bit means?

Anyway, onto the nerdy VIN stuff! Nice to know what all those numbers and letters mean. I didn't know my car was made at the Vrchlabí factory in the Czech Republic, I always assumed it was made at Mladá Boleslav.

1 - Manufacturer's world code

XW8 - Kaluga factory

TMB - other factories

2 - Body type and equipment

A - OCTAVIA, L&K

B - OCTAVIA, SLX/Elegance

C - OCTAVIA, GLX/Comfort/Ambiente

D - OCTAVIA, LX/Classic/Basis

E - OCTAVIA Sport

A - OCTAVIA COMBI, L&K

G - OCTAVIA COMBI, SLX/ Elegance

H - OCTAVIA COMBI,GLX/Comfort/Ambiente

J - OCTAVIA COMBI, LX/Classic/Basis

K - OCTAVIA COMBI four-wheel drive (4x4)

R - OCTAVIA armoured vehicle

S - OCTAVIA four-wheel drive (4x4)

T - Light weight utility vehicle

U - OCTAVIA COMBI Sport

3 - Engine type

C - 1.4 ltr./55 kW/petrol engine

E - 2.0 ltr./85 kW/petrol engine (does not apply for India)

E - 2.0 ltr./82 kW/petrol engine (applies for India)

G - 1.9 TDI/77kW/diesel engine

H - 1.4 ltr./44 kW/petrol engine

J - 1.6 ltr./55 kW/petrol engine

K - 1.6 ltr./74 kW/petrol engine

L - 1.8 ltr./110 kW/petrol engine

N - 1.9 SDI/50 kW/diesel engine

P - 1.9 TDI/81 kW/diesel engine

R - 1.8 ltr./132 kW/petrol engine

S - 1.9 TDI PD/74 kW/diesel engine

U - 1.9 TDI PD/96 kW/diesel engine

X - 1.6 ltr./75 kW/petrol engine

4 - Airbag system (does not apply for India)

0 - no airbag

1 - 1 Front airbag

2 - 2 Front + 2 side airbags

3 - 2 Front + 4 side airbags

4 - 2 Front airbags

5 - 2 front + 4 side + 2 head airbags

6 - 2 front + 2 side + 2 head airbags

B - total weight 1360 kg to 1814 kg

C - total weight 1814 kg to 2268 kg

4 - Identification character for manufacturing month (only applies for India)

A - January

B - February

C - March

D - April

E - May

F - June

G - July

H - August

J- September

K - October

L - November

M - December

5 - Vehicle model

1U - OCTAVIA, OCTAVIA COMBI

6 - Internal code

7 - Model year (does not apply for India)

- Construction year (only applies for India)

Y - 2000

1- 2001

2- 2002

3- 2003

4- 2004

5- 2005

6- 2006

7- 2007

8- 2008

9- 2009

A - 2010

B - 2011

8 - Manufacturing plant

2 - Mladá Boleslav

8 - Vrchlabí

A - India

B - Solomonovo

C - Bratislava

D - Ust-Kamenogorsk

K - Kaluga

N - Body as replacement part

S - Sarajevo

U - India

X - Poznan

9 - Vehicle body number

I don't know if anyone wants to make that bit a sticky, because it could come in useful when confirming the ID of a car.

Edited 30 November, 201015 yr by Bodge

EDL is what makes that awful noise like a wheelspin but a more deeper sound.

You know when you give it to much power on ice etc, it only kicks in up to about 20 mph iirc, may even be in 1st and 2nd only !!

HTH

Hey Bodge,

Amazing info, certainly useful for any future potential Skoda owners. I will check mine later,

certainly interesting to find out its build details.

No air bags fitted in india??, you pile into a elephant and you will be in deep doo doo !!! so to speak.

Peter

The rest of the specs are pretty obvious. Didn't know about all these optional heaters you can have. You can have a heated door lock cylinder, heated washer nozzles, an auxillary/parking heater etc.

I was considering fitting some heated washer washer nozzles earlier this year, but never got around to it. :S

EDL is what makes that awful noise like a wheelspin but a more deeper sound.

You know when you give it to much power on ice etc, it only kicks in up to about 20 mph iirc, may even be in 1st and 2nd only !!

Can't believe I didn't know this! Unless I did and forgot, which is not uncommon!

I found the official word on the VW website: http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/technology/glossary/electronic-differential-lock

EDL:

"The electronic differential lock allows smooth, comfortable starts on slippery or loose road surfaces. If one wheel starts to spin, the electronic differential lock will brake the wheel as necessary, directing power to the wheel with greater traction. The electronic differential lock reduces tyre wear and is active up to a speed of about 25 mph (4MOTION: up to approx 50 mph). It is an integral component of our electronic stabilisation programme (ESP) and traction control (ASR)."

ASR:

"For today's typical high-torque engines, traction control (ASR) can increase both comfort and safety, particularly when you're driving on slippery roads or loose surfaces. Traction control gives you smooth starting and acceleration through the full speed range without wheel-spin or fishtailing. ASR only operates in conjunction with the electronic accelerator (E-gas) and uses components of the anti-lock braking system (ABS). If one wheel suddenly begins to slip, ASR intervenes in the engine management system and reduces power until the wheel stops spinning. ASR also reduces tyre wear. Activation of the system is indicated by a flashing light in the instrument cluster. The system also incorporates the electronic differential lock (EDL) and makes up part of the electronic stabilisation program (ESP). ASR can be deactivated by pressing the ESP switch."

So that's why it feels so messed up when you launch it and spin a wheel! The EDL uses the ABS to pulsate the caliper at the spinning wheel. Makes sense now.

So when I spun up the wheels at 80mph on Sunday, it was the ASR that took control of the throttle and backed the power off. I must say ABS is an incredible thing. I had the unfortunate experience of having to brake from 90 to 0mph in an emergency stop situation at the weekend. I stood on that pedal as hard as I could, and felt each wheel lock up independently as the car tried to find grip. The car gave a slight squirm as it hunted for grip in the tyres, but bloody hell did it ever stop fast! My eyes almost fell out of my head! In a split second it justified the good discs/pads and tyres I have. ABS, I love you.

I think that the handbook for my car says that ASR stands for something long and unpronounceable in german. Mind you the original handbook was written by someone whos grasp of Czech and English was very limited and they couldn't count.

I think that the handbook for my car says that ASR stands for something long and unpronounceable in german. Mind you the original handbook was written by someone whos grasp of Czech and English was very limited and they couldn't count.

Antriebsschlupfregelung? Say that after a few pints.....

Antriebsschlupfregelung? Say that after a few pints.....

Bless you.

Antriebsschlupfregelung?

Ha ha pull the flush that stinks .......

I had a moment today after my post when the abs kicked in then the EDL was gonna post how it was the same noise and must have been related.