StevesTruck

Just a quick thing to check first - is your rear screenwash working? The pipe has a habit of coming off where it goes into the tailgate.

I don't know if it's any help but I replaced the cooler on my 1.9tdi with a used one and it didn't last, so I just piped around it instead. Its not caused any issues.

Depends a bit how you want to go about it. My rear calipers seized up on the octavia when it was sat for a while, and I just needed the car back on the road quick, so I bought a couple from https://www.partsinmotion.co.uk really good company to deal with, prices are fair (unlike ECP and GSF online where they wind the prices up then have a sale most of the time which brings it down to an OK-ish price). If you put your car details in the comments, they double check everything's right before they send the order. https://www.biggred.co.uk/ will refurbish your calipers really well and send them back to you. They take a few days, but do such a nice job, you probably end up with something that's better than a new caliper. If you've got the time and tools, DIYing a rebuild isn't too bad. Always put a new pot in though, whether it needs it a not and take your time getting everything spotless. The thing is, your parts bill can go a fair way towards the cost of either a caliper, or getting someone else to rebuild it. If you're up for taking a chance on a quick bodge. You can often free a rear caliper up reasonably well with some release spray and giving the pot a turn with a set of plumbers grips before putting the windback on. It might not work, and it probably will seize again, but it might get you going for now.

They're not terrible to replace, just takes a bit of patience and strong fingers. I replaced mine with one out of the passenger side of an ibiza.

Yep, I had a new lad have a right go at me when I sent him to get some 😄

You know the advertising boards you get hanging from the ceiling in shops? You'll never guess what we call the hooks that clip/stick onto ceiling.😀

Mate of mine has a 59-plate 2.0 CDTI. It's now on it's third engine.

Not unless you let the fluid level drop too low. Yeah, there might be a tiny drop of old fluid left at the abs pump, but by no means anything to worry about.

I think you'd be doing well to get those extractors in to the ones behind the flywheel. The other option's a swivel socket, switch is a bit shorter than using a universal joint on a normal socket, so might possibly squeeze in. Failing that, you might be able to reshape a swan neck spanner to get in?

I just bought a big bag of the right size panhead screws and another one of speed fasteners off ebay ages ago. If you search for VW undertray screws, you'll get something the right size.

I've got to admit I'm not sure how you set the level on these boxes or if it's a hot or cold level.

That's the right amount to fill the box from empty, but on a change, you never truly get all the old stuff out.

From what I can see, that's the right spec. There's 2 different VAG part numbers for the oil. G005100A1 for up to 2005 and G052157a2 for after that date. Is there a chance you could have over filled it?

🤣 I once lost quite a decent tape deck when my dad borrowed my Fiat Panda and forgot to take the front of it. He couldn't work out how they got in without doing any damage. My theory is they peeled the gaffa tape off that made up the top of the door skin, lifted the lock, then smoothed the tape back down.

The old Novas were fairly easy to get into with a coat hanger.

I did one on a Polo 1.6TDI the other week. I used a Laser 6710 Ball End Hex Bit 1/2" 5mm (tenner off Amazon), and it worked well. It's probably worth throwing a couple of bolts back in while you work on the awkward one. When I was putting the bolts back, I used a wrap or two of masking tape to hold the awkward ones on the bit. Yeah, it left a bit of tape behind, but it's on back side of the flywheel and will probably break up fairly quickly. Make sure you save the best 2/3 bolts to put back at the gearbox end, rather than any that are a bit chewed.

But VAG call it a "Quick Acting Coupling"

Petrol or diesel? Either way, 100k on a timing belt, that's definitely getting your money's worth, I'd be changing that before now.

Wouldn't have thought so somehow 🤣

They're called "blind" or "blanking" grommets. You order them based on the diameter of the hole. You should be able to find either the size you need or an assorted pack fairly easily online, maybe eBay or Amazon.

Does it rev freely in neutral? When you say you can't access vcds, do you mean you haven't got it, or it's not connecting, or it's not working properly? Has it worked properly since you worked on the vac system? I managed to cross a couple of vac lines on my 1.9 Octavia, it was ok to start with, but then suddenly would be well down on power. After a day it would barely run. I'm wondering if you might have run the wrong hose to the actuator, which is pretty much what I did.

Not easily, no. The easiest way is to take the pipe off the filter and run the fuel pump (either via bypassing the relay or flicking the key many, many times).

Having worked around the retail sector for a very long time, no, the customer isn't always right. I've dropped a fuel pump nozzle in a similar way resulting in diesel going down the leg of a decent pair of trousers and over my shoe. My fault, I didn't check it was hooked on right before I let go. I've also whacked the tank on my last motorbike with a fuel pump nozzle because the hose was a bit tangled on the one next to it. That left a mark, it was my fault though for not being more careful.

Probably a bit late, but try https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/vagbolts I've used them a few times.

How'd you know he was on his way to work? 😁