Skoda Modifications

[BITMMEADS]

So I installed my Chinese RVC over the weekend.
Not quite plug n play but not too far off.

Its a composite video CCD camera that replaces the boot release handle. This one actually fits the cutout properly unlike the Tiguan OEM RGBS one which would require cutting the boot body. Requires an RGBS to composite video converter box so not as good quality but acceptable.

This is the camera:
Attachment 7253

Which is available here

And this is the RGBS converter:
Attachment 7254

Which is available here

Attachment 7264

Installation obviously involves running the cable form the head unit down the left hand side of the car under trim, through the boot rubber conduit and into the boot void behind the trim. Non-trivial in terms of time and swearing effort, but I still have all my fingers afterwards

Couple of issues to note:
1. The camera/boot release handle (like most of these Chinese Skoda accessories) are for the liftback model, which has different connectors everywhere to the wagon, for no good reason (eg the rear light clusters). So I had to put some wires into the connector and strip back a bit of insulation from the boot release motor wires to connect directly to. Also the shape of the new handle release is slightly different to the original and requires a bit of packing (I just used some foam rubber) under the metal cover to allow the screws to bring it in tight against the boot body.

2. The reverse light power circuit is DIRTY. Massive interference on the image initially. Connected to constant 12v power from the boot release motor was very clean but the camera will burn out if its constantly powered. So the power needs to be filtered. The image is still not 100% clean but perfectly usable. Jaycar is your friend here.

3. The default reversing image, with 5238 firmware, is still the parking sensor display as opposed to the reverse camera image with sensor display on the left side like factory. Have to push the little camera icon on the screen to bring up the image. I'll look into this hopefully just a setting.
Fixed see below thanks Readorr
Attachment 7259

All in all a nice addition for about $120

Hi so I've bought the same Convertor for my Polo with an RCD510 and am still waiting on the camera to arrive, but I fitted the unit and ran temporary power to the unit (+12 to yellow, an dground the black), I then fed the video with a feed from my digital camera and no sign off life. Doesn't matter if car is in reverse or Drive etc. I tried both Pal and NTSC from the camera.
What do I need to do here? Is it necessary to get the Can Bus to be told there is a reverse camera?

[kamold]

Yes you need to code the rcd to tell it that you have a camera. And possibly the park distance controller too depending on part.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

[DVSTwig]

I've been looking at a new RS to join our Rocco in the Garage... confirmed with the guys who modded the Rocco that the MK7 GTI tune is available for the Octavia RS. They're getting some really good numbers out of those with just a tune.

[kaitan]

Hi guys,

Im new here but not new to the car modding scene. Previously owned a bmw 335 e92 n54 with tune and dp. Before that was a bmw 120d tune with dpf deleted. Ive only picked up my race blue my13 octavia liftback vRS tdi wanted a wagon but not many choices around.

First on to do list is tune.
So my question is what are thought on flash ie revo vs dtuk?

[brad]

DTUK is an interceptor box isn't it?

There's a few threads on this in the diesel & the tuning / performance areas. Same engine as a Passat 125tdi & Golf GTD, etc.

My stock answer is Recode at Miranda, DNA & Custom Code but have a read & there's plenty of other choices

[Mr_VRS]

So I've been looking around and I'm seeing a lot of the vw guys doing the red r8 coil pack swap was wondering if it's worth it and if so what gains does it give? Cheers

[tigger73]

So I've been looking around and I'm seeing a lot of the vw guys doing the red r8 coil pack swap was wondering if it's worth it and if so what gains does it give? Cheers

There are no measurable performance gains in changing from your stock coil packs. The R8 coils are a stronger coil/spark and have better life on tuned cars. In fact it's not an uncommon point of failure when a car is tuned for stock coil packs to fail so a lot of people swap them out.

Having a coil pack fail is a pain as in the worst cast the engine shuts down the effected cylinder and your car goes into limp mode.

It's also some nice under-bonnet bling

[brad]

So I've been looking around and I'm seeing a lot of the vw guys doing the red r8 coil pack swap was wondering if it's worth it and if so what gains does it give? Cheers

Have a look through the coil pack group buy thread & it explains the difference. There are a few more windings in the red units so maybe you'll get a slightly beefier spark.

If you replace a perfectly functional stock coil pack with the R8 unit then I doubt you'd notice any difference.

I replaced mine because:
a) car had 110,000km+ on the originals so I thought they'd be getting marginal
b) the price was right - $140 for the set.
c) it gave me 4 spare coil packs for sometime in the future.

[NOO63N]

Another worthy consideration that I've found in my case is having the correctly spec'd and gapped spark plug!

[Transporter]

So I've been looking around and I'm seeing a lot of the vw guys doing the red r8 coil pack swap was wondering if it's worth it and if so what gains does it give? Cheers

There aren't any gains at all. The red coil is electricaly the same as the original VAG coil. I have a dedicated ignition coil/module tester and the output of the coil is exactly the same, measured to 1Nano second accuracy in duration at the various gap settings incl. the specified setting, also the kV that both coils produce are the same across all RPMs.

AFAIK, the red coils are made in Turkey or China and you can buy them from the Chinese eBay Alibaba dot com for the peanuts. I believe that's where the all red coils sold by all aftermarket vendors on the internet originate. Put it simply, they don't have to be the genuine coils. The cheapest and the easiest way to copy the product is to print/make VAG packaging.

The coils in the TSI engine are highly stressed coils, drawing a very high current of 13.5A, so they get very hot when you push the RPMs closer and over the red line, easily done in the tuned engines where the RPM limiters are removed or higher than stock.
Which means, even the Audi Red Coils will fail only people will not complain as much if they've paid $20 for the coil rather than $120.

When I compare the VAG coil to some other brands like Ford, who's coils in the BA Falcons fail at much high rate while drawing only 8.2A and many other car makers ignition coils only draw something like 5A and they still fail. IMO, the VAG coils are doing quite well and often are replaced when the misfire is caused by something else or just for the cosmetic looks or as a preventative measure, which I doubt will prevent the coil failure, should the coil be pushed to the limits.

Well, the red looks good on the engine, so if you have $100 to splash on the red coils, go for it, but keep the originals in the boot.

Happy modding.