gm73

The rear subframe on the MK3 is trailing arms with tubular structure much like the MK5 Fiesta. If it’s corroded but not structurally reduced then I’d imagine it will be surface rust that can be treated with Kurust then undersealed.

Once you’ve sorted this ditch the locking bolts for normal ones. No one steals alloys anymore.

My next taxi will be a Toyota. I’ve had enough of Skoda.

My 1.5 TSi is on 105k. I’m getting the timing belt done next month when i have the £1k that Skoda charge to get it done. Remember it needs a special timing tool (VAS 611 007) that only dealers and some specialists have so they charge through the nose. I phoned Skoda direct and they told me it’s 5 years or 140k for the 1.5 TSI timing belt.

Welcome to the frustrating world of Skoda Octavia noises. I’ve driven them for years as taxis and the MK3s have been the worst for noises. And you rarely get to the bottom of them. My current 2020 MK3 makes the exact same noise as yours under the same circumstances. But mechanics cannot find any fault with the suspension. It’s beginning to affect my mental health as I drive the car for 10 hours a day. And let’s not even mention the terrible idle noise.

When my turbo was replaced they didn’t bolt down a turbo clamp correctly and I got a rattling noise at start up. Check it could be this.

Who is the VAG specialist? I need a Glasgow based VAG specialist to look at my car.

When mine rattled from cold start it was the turbo on the way out. Then when it did it again after being fixed they hadn’t secured a bracket correctly. Shake the car with the engine off and if it still rattles it’s a loose bolt.

The washer on my Mk3 blocked causing it to leak onto the motor and seize the wiper. Despite me cleaning it regularly. I loved my Mk3 1.6 TDI but this 1.5 TSI I own now is terrible. I hate it.

If it was the DMF the noise would go away when the clutch is depressed though wouldn’t it?

You might be onto something there with the in cab vibration and intermittent engine knock. I’ve had a DMF go on a 1.9 PD and it was different, the gearstick would vibrate. There’s a bit of clutch judder as well but it’s been doing that for 95k miles. This one takes the 0w20 VAG 508/509 oil.

You think that sounds normal?😀

1.5 TSI on 105k miles, serviced every 8k and oil NEVER allowed to get low. Plugs replaced recently. Going for new timing belt shortly. The idle is very noisy and can be felt in the cab with vibrations. Car drives smoothly enough but can feel a little choppy in 3rd and 4th gear but I’ve put that down to the terrible road surfaces. There is a noticeable noise when pulling in 2nd and 3rd which I’m concerned is the camshaft or bottom end due to the thin oil that’s required for these. It does sound a bit worse on the video than in real life.

Does yours sound like this? https://youtube.com/shorts/wxyGQxNFQaY?si=zhOwsuMOIkgzbxLu

My 1.5 TSi has a knocking noise in this exact area. It’s the ribbed hose that has split causing an air leak.

I had to leave my car at the garage for several hours until it was fully cold before they could diagnose a cold start fault on mine. Turned out to be timing causing starting issues.

I've never replaced the front slide bolts and I've changed the front pads 3 times on my 2020 Octavia and disks once. I've just used locktite. It's a very easy job. As for the rears how do you push the piston back in? Do you use a standard caliper piston tool?

I changed the plugs on Sunday. It's made no difference to the idle. The car drives smoothly enough it's just noisy and a wee bit lumpy at idle. Might try a coil pack next.

I've always used the 0w20 VAG 508/509 oil on my 2020 1.5 TSI ACT. Oil changed every 8k miles. But the idle is noisy and there's a slight vibration into the cab as the car is on 103k. All normal apparently though. But can I change to using 5w30 to try and quieten things down? Castrol's oil checker lists a 5w30LL as an alternative to the 0w20.

I have an 2020 Octavia 1.5 TSI with 103k miles. The idle is awful. Noisy as hell and vibrates inside the cab. But this is normal apparently and the car does drive smoothly enough. It's taxi so it's beginning to really annoy me though to the extent the car needs replaced.

I had the fuel pump on my ‘20 plate 1.5 TSI replaced under warranty in 2021 as it was droning. The droning was intermittent however and returned a few weeks after. As it is a taxi and I have contracts I was too busy to go back with it and the droning vanished. Now it’s back with a vengeance. I have suspicions the dealer didn’t actually replace it as it looks totally undisturbed under the plastic cover but I suppose it has been nearly 3 years. My question is that if they have replaced it why is it droning again? Another faulty pump or is it the fuel lines vibrating as it comes and goes. Is there a way to fix this as the fuel lines seem to vanish into the chassis rails.

My 1.5 TSi is on 101k. I booked with Henry’s Skoda to get it done early as it’s a taxi at a cost of £995. Then I cancelled as I just can’t afford that just now. It will need to wait until at least 120k now but I’ve found a garage that has the special tool that do it for £650.

Sounds like my 1.5 TSI. I think they’re just noisy engines. I hate them tbh.

2nd time. Car is on 95k. The plugs were pretty clean when they came out. I replaced the previous ones at 40k but I haven’t experienced any running issues. Well, until now but it might be my imagination. I’ve kept the old ones as well incase I need them. The ones I have are the same as the original plugs. £60 for four plugs

This reminds me. I need to change the plugs on my 1.5 TSI. Mines are now 15k miles over the replacement time and I think I’m getting a very slight misfire.