Collecting Superb Saturday

[soulmover]

After months of searching we finally found a 2004 Superb Classic 1.9 TDI PD about 20 miles from us at a dealers. My missus compare my search to the search for the holy grail and might of been getting a bit miffed about me discussing the finer points of the various models, I told her 6 months is not a long time, no patience  but I did point out there's some good motors around if you look especially the bigger cars as no-one seems to want them, but there's also some dross.

 

I'd been looking at the Passat, Octavia, Jag x types, Rover 75 and the big Volvo V70 and mostly estates too but never seem to find the right one then I spotted the Superb on a local site. We had a short list of 3 cars an Octavia, Volvo V40 (bit small) and the Superb. Decided to go to the Superb first as it was furthest away and was not really that excited though I liked the colour until I saw it and it looked great, full history and well priced. Before I knew it we weren't just kicking tyres we were driving down the road. Dealer just left us too it and accepted our '98 Seat ibiza 1.4 as collateral (I almost left my watch so he could double his money if we done a runner ) It drove great and with 130bhp I was surprised how quick it was. We were out for 30 mins and had a good run down the duel carriageway too. As i'd arranged to take a look at the other two cars I felt obliged to take a look and all my wife said was it's not as good as the other one so 3 hours later we were back with a deposit down and deal done though it's not an estate which would of been nice. It's odd but with the kids all adults, one married so i'm a grandpa, our choice of car has got significantly bigger just so we can have a bit of comfort for the odd weekend we go away. It must be the great memories I have of the 4x4 2.9i Sierra estate we had when the kids were small, what a car!

 

So life is good so why does this happen!

 

So I decide to clean the Ibiza up a bit so it's all nice and shiny for the dealer to sling it in the auction for beer money, and the wife popped to the shops, took the bumper up over a high kerb, backed off and it ended up at an impossible angle, amazed it didn't snap in 25 years she's never had a prang! Managed to get it remounted and all fine, then as a final kick in the 'whats its' it boiled dry on the way home this afternoon. 5 years never a problem except the dizzy going south on the M4 and I was dreading a head gasket but traced the problem to a faulty thermostat, local Wilco sorted me out and only took 10 mins to change. I suppose we could of nursed it and got away with it, or even took the thermostat out but for £13 I felt a lot better about moving the car on.

 

Anyone set to trade in and something has gone pie eyed!

 

So looking forward to some Superb driving and subtle ways to improve the car, the badges are tatty so could do with changing, cruise control and some original Alloys if I can find them would be a good place to start!

 

Simon

[jimbof]

Welcome

 

If you get the same original badge from the dealer, they'll be gone again in a couple of years.  Still, they're not expensive.  Some people have changed them for the new style badges.

 

The car rides nicer on 16s (I have my winters on 16s) - so I wouldn't waste my money on getting big wheels for it.  Sometimes the 16's come up.  Offset is ET37, PCD 112.  I would stick with the steelies myself...

 

Make sure you check all the interior lights are working, if not a sign of water ingress under the carpet.  Check the big sticky thread in this forum for how to prevent it being an issue if it hasn't already been sorted (and I wouldn't take the word of a supplying dealer as it being done, discovered that to my cost)

[soulmover]

Funny you say that about the lights. As everything else was working I did a search for just the lights and found out about the pollen filter problem. I'd asked for the lights to be fixed before pick up, assuming it was bulbs or fuse, but they they could not manage the repair being unaware, so after reading this forum (thanks btw!) I indicated the problem (damp under-felt behind the glove box) so hopefully the issue will be sorted and we'll pick up the car during the week. Actually showed the dealer this website so they could see what the problem is.

 

Would it be common just to have the lights fail, strangely the boot lamp and lights by your feet work it's the rest that are the issue. Windows 12v sockets locking etc all work but it's obvious it's near disaster so first thing i'll do is follow the thread and do the work needed.

 

Thanks again to the forum, i'd have taken the additional £50 off offer and tried to figure the issue out not knowing the full implications.

[jimbof]

I don't know all the details as I never had to repair my wiring (caught in time).  There are a lot of places where connections are made; in a wet car you will have a combination of corroded nodes / splices in the loom, earth point corrosion, possibly corrosion in the connector pins themselves (up behind the A pillar trim, and in the plastic tub under the passenger side carpet), and possibly even a damaged CCM (if water has got as far as inside the plastic tub).  It needs some patience and attention to detail to make sure you get it right.  

 

And as I say, it isn't unheard of for a dealer to just take the bungs out and not reseal the pollen filter housing (that is the little trick a main dealer did for me, thanks, I'll finish the job properly myself shall I?)

 

The wiring diagrams etc are available to download from Skoda for about £5 via their ERWIN service (which provides factory data to 3rd party repairers / members of the public) - the wiring is a big old document, mind!  But as I say, most of the info is in that thread.

 

I'm in Norwich myself and drive from Norwich to Ely every day in mine - if you ever need the diagnostics running on it let me know and I can hook up your car to the computer. 

[soulmover]

They had the battery and everything out today and all the drains are clear (good news) and it's all clean. I suspect the pollen filter caused the previous owner the problem which they have cured but possibly did not associate not working interior light with the water. (maybe) We shall see. I'm happy to get the car as i'm confident I can cure the lights and I will download the wiring diagram, thanks for that.

 

I'm in Norwich myself and drive from Norwich to Ely every day in mine - if you ever need the diagnostics running on it let me know and I can hook up your car to the computer. 

 

That is a tremendously kind offer, thank you. We're near North Walsham, do you do your own servicing or can you recommend a VW/Skoda specialist for the task. We have Robinsons main dealer and also an independent VAG specialists MW Services nearby but have had no experience of either. 

[jimbof]

I do my own stuff mostly where it can be done with the wheels on the ground (so no brakes / suspension). It is a pretty easy car to work on - this is the first car I've done myself. I got upset when quoted £330 for the major service (all the filters, no belts) - which got me into DIY. 80k later and it hasn't fallen apart, so must be doing something OK.

There is a mobile guy called DAS automan who is very good; also a Norwich outfit called DAS auto that my father and I have used, and they've been good too. One is ex Robinson's Audi, the other ex Robinson's VW.

Your call on the lights; bear in mind as per the topics on this that the lights aren't the only things that go. If you are going to DIY it you probably want to budget a good half day plus to get the seat out, carpet up, etc. If they didn't take the pollen filter housing off the car (scuttle off, then 3 bolts to remove) you have no idea if it has been sealed, and are in danger of the same peril I fell into.

As I say let me know if you want it scanning, you can either meet me on way to / from work, or bring it round. Only takes 5 minutes (easiest money the dealers ever make).

[soulmover]

Thanks for the sound advice i've been through all the threads and i'm pretty competent and to be honest i'll be expecting the worse. I will have everything out to check as I just can't leave it to chance and reseal as per the excellent advice elsewhere.