MrCreosote

Jonro 2009 thanks for clearing that up. Off to find some correct coolant this morning. Oil, tyres and tyre pressure I check earlier in the week : all ok.

Thanks gizmo68, I appreciate what you are saying about checks etc. I will top it up today. Any particular type of coolant I need to stick to using? As mentioned the car is a monty tech so I wouldn't class it as a lower trim spec, quite the opposite. Although the elegance could be deemed higher spec. Incidentally it was a mk1 elegance fab I had prior to the monty, and it did have a w/w warning light; which is why I expected to see it on the monty. But I can't remember the money's warning light going on in the past tho so u could b right.

Ok folks, Fab monty 1.2 tsi 105bhp 13plate. In 9 month of me owing only put 3k miles on her, (mainly short journeys by wife) now sitting at 13k total. Couple off issues; 1, coolant level is about 1cm below min level marker? Was just above min level 9 months ago? 2, no warning light firing on dashboard to indicate the above? 3; no warning light firing to indicate empty screen wash fluid? The third one caused a real problem yday when driving at 70mph on motorway and passed a gritter = couldn't see! Only noticed 1 & 2 when I opened up the bonnet to fill w/w. I'm a bit of a novice with cars so any help much appreciated, Im thinking possible fuse for issues 2&3, but don't really know what to check? issue 1 bit more worrying. Car under skodha warranty till March 2016. Thanks Ewen.

Personally I would opt for the 105bhp tsi if doing under 10k miles or so a year. If doing more and mainly miles where the engine will heat up (I.e longer motorway runs) I would go for the 1.6 tdi 105 bhp. 6 weeks ago I was asking myself similar questions. I went from a 100bhp 1.9 tdi mk 1 Fabia and replaced it with a monte I didn't want anything less powerful as overtaking would be limited (my old 1.2 80bhp corsa was terrible). That said as the monte was for my wife, who only does city short journeys, I decided on the 1.2 tsi in 105bhp. It's def quicker than our old fabia tdi with almost the same bhp. Fuel consumption not as great but that as I expected being a petrol, plus it's a small price to pay if it avoids Possbile worst case scenario with the dpf (which has been know issue for city driven only deisels in the past)

I have the Monte Carlo tech in red. (Black roof) The difference between the tech and standard monte is the tech has maxi dot trip computer / mfd and Amundsen + sat nav / touch screen console. I think the tech version started to come through in 2012. Not sure about the tech black model they may have extras on top of that. A 62p tech with 10,000 miles 1.2 tsi will b around £8000. IMHO.

Tom where is ur Audi dealer based?

I looked into this known issue of timing chain failures prior to buying my monte 13 p. Apparently the issue concerns those cars built in 2 factories within a range of engine numbers. Skodha sent out a notice of work to dealers in November 2012 for cars effected, so yours could possibly b one effected given its a 60 plate. If you search on here, I started this thread http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/349393-monte-carlo-12tsi-105-engine-issues-what-year-effected/ and a member provided me with the link to the engine n.o effected once you cross reference with your own engine n.o. to discount the timing chain as the issue you have (hopefully). My local dealer was aware of the issue and assured me mine wasn't effected. Hope this helps.

What year is ur tsi? Is it under warranty?

Indeed they may but here in Edinburgh the only other skoda dealer is a Arnold Clark skoda franchise which, going by the reviews of this dealer on this forum, isn't helpful. I could try them. But Arnold Clark (or shark) hasn't got a good rep in its own right!

George; yes that was my understanding too. I basically told the dealer it would b in their own intrest to tell my about thE chain if it was dealt with prior to my purchasing the car; as I would only keep pestering them every time I thought there mite b an issue!

Forgot to add the apparent issue with stick was that a retaining clip had broke and also the housing for the leather shroud had snapped (unknown to me), both ordered as replacement parts and fitted this afternoon under warranty.

Forgot to add the apparent issue with stick was that a retaining clip had broke and also the housing for the leather shroud had snapped (unknown to me), both ordered as replacement parts and fitted this afternoon under warranty.

Not sure about the service campaign ( I did ask for info) but the same dealer said there r things they don't have to disclose about the card (or any car) pervious warranty history prior to me owing it. Which I find strange?? Field actions & room wire looms I have no idea about, heated seat elements (def no as my car does have h seats). I did ask pressure them about timing chain potential issue some weeks ago, but they reassured me it was only present in earlier models, after initially saying they would not be at liberty to say even it had been dealt with by the previous owner; which I found an unhelpful attitude to adopt! Re the gear knob; if pulled up lightly it would seperate internally from the stick and rotate semi freely. Once it was pressed down it worked ok. But one time this happened I, momentarily, could only go into reverse until I pulled it up again; this at a set of traffic lights which wasn't helpful to the line of car behind me! As Mrs creosote is a new driver I felt prudent to get fix under warranty. I Could have lived with it but best sorted now.

To be fair to the dealer; confusion about which year model monte does and does don't have the button for day times could b why he drew the conclusion about needing re programmed. Dealer was helpful and polite so could have been a genuine mistake, although one that nearly cost me £45! As its my 1st time dealing with them, and don't want to seem too harsh, I would give them the benefit of doubt this time. It's was a Friday afternoon after all!

In deed, for info it's the west end skodha dealer in sight hill, Edinburgh. They did wash the car today when fixing the loose gear knob (under warranty) tho! Incidentally last night Mrs Creosote managed to badly kerb the rear left black alloy, about 50% all the way round the rim, paint removed gouged the alloy car was immaculate prior to this, well done Mrs C!. Nice silver contrasting against black paint. West end dealer quoted me £109 for referb today (or a bargain 129 if I got them to "fix"my day time running light issue). I know dealer will b at top end of cost scale for referb; but what can I expect to pay for a referb on these black 17" alloys that come on montes? Cheers