thamestrader

I am an avid CAR SOS watcher they often have to repair cranks and bottom end bearings. Fuzz Townsend removes the sump, the sludge in the sump can reveal if the crank bearings have worn away. That might be possible without engine removal. Fingers crossed it’s repairable. Where in the country are you? There is a well respected independent VAG garage in Nottingham C&R it’s run by one of the Admins on the VW and Briskoda Forums, I’ve not used them personally though, but I’ve had very good advice from him thru the forums.

I’m guessing that “batten bearings” could be bottom bearings or big end bearings - the bearings on the crank shaft that the connecting rods from the pistons are attached to. What is the engine oil level like, if it’s been run with low oil or low oil pressure that could cause bearing wear over time. It might be possible to have the oil analysed if it contains significant levels of white metal bearing material that would support the initial diagnosis. When you say regular servicing is that annually so it’s had 6 oil changes or is it flexible which could fewer if the latter it might be a factor.

@mumpsim your Italian tune up solution is interesting. Do you use standard unleaded or one of the super unleadeds like Shell V power of BP Ultimate, which contain additives so they burn cleaner.

@Ootohere My Touran was the 2.0 L TDI with 6 speed DQ250, I had the DSG oil and filter changed at 36,000, 72,000, and 100,000 miles slightly earlier than required. Gearbox was as smooth at 108,000 as when new. .

I had CC on my previous DSG Touran and used it all the time, we have Limiter only on our Fabia - I rarely used the limiter. My Karoq has Cruise and Limiter, I find I’m using the limiter in preface to the Cruise. Possibly I’m choosing the best tool for the conditions….. I am finding the Limiter more flexible than Cruise on cross country A and B roads, possibly more economical as it allows Coasting to activate. Whilst I never felt a lack of control with Cruise with the Limiter one is always “driving”. What do others think.

I tend to run my cars up to around 150,000 miles, my last 5 cars did 108,000, 162,000, 153,000, 142,000 and 110,000. The 108,000 one was a 2013 DSG diesel Touran, I had no issues with the DSG. 30 years ago a 5 year old car could have rust issues, but that is no longer a problem. With all my last 5 cars I found around the 100,000 miles some mechanical parts, brake discs, suspension mountings would need replacement just due to wear. Once replaced they were fine. I didn’t have any engine or gearbox issues with any of the cars. One had a new clutch at 102,000 due to a weak spring. So as others have said look very closely at the service history, only consider ones with fixed annual 12 monthly services, avoid any that were on variable service intervals. These will have had fewer oil and filter changes this tends to cause problems as the vehicle ages. Unless you will be doing weekly 50 mile journeys avoid the diesels. I am a fan of the DSG gearbox, but reversing uphill slowly takes a bit of practice! I advise have as long a test drive as possible and carry out parking manoeuvre’s, especially on a slope. Also try and get a test drive in a new one too so you have a benchmark against which to compare any used one you drive. You will see on this forum that many people remark/complain about the ride with 19” wheels so look carefully at the wheel and size of tyres fitted. Good luck.

I’m still trying to fully understand this coasting mode. Yesterday I did a120 mile round trip with a 20 minute stop before returning. On the outbound part coasting kicked almost everytime I eased off on the throttle, e.g. when approaching slower vehicle in front or for a bend. On the return coasting wouldn’t engage for about 20 miles and then starting working as I’d expect. I’d like to understand what it is that affects whether it engages. I think it has something to do with the current throttle position and a gradual lift.

That is the way to do it, but it’s a knack! I think it’s a case of touching and swiping at the same time, more like dragging. I know I’ve done it eventually!

Even MY23 is partially locked down. I had a Skoda electric swivelling towbar fitted, Skoda HQ had to be contacted for an additional code as the code supplied with the towbar didn’t work. Also I wanted to retro fit TSR, my car has all the right components, the retrofit company had all the coding data, but were unable to access the relevant section of the CANBUS using their tools. Skoda/VAG won’t even supply the unlock code to allow it to be done. I understand the need to protect the software from malicious hackers, I understand the need to protect their intellectual property (the software coding), but you’d think they would have a mechanism where owners can purchase the canbus coding to implement an additional feature. Even if the price was the same as when the feature is specified for a new car order.

I and my brother both experience what we call Skoda seat thigh ache, the cure was very cheap and simple - remove all items from back trouser pockets!

From the various responses I get the impression that the “coasting” implementation differs between models and years, as people’s experiences are different. In my 2023 2.0 TSI coasting only results in a speed increase on definite slope, it can occur in normal or Eco modes but only from very low rpm. If I am accelerating and lift off it won’t coast.

Check breakers for seats and switches for central console. We have a 2015 Mk 3 Fabia SE without heated seats, sister in law has 2017 Mk3 Fabia SE with heated seats. Interiors are otherwise identical so could be a straight swap with some VCDS coding.

A further thought, would ESC attempt to negate the effects of torque steer?

Sounds like a suspension issue, possibly tracking or even incorrect tyre pressure. If it’s only a month old get the dealer to look at it.

I’ve had Goodyear Vector All Seasons on a previous 2wd (front) and the grip in snow, slush and ice was very good. About 10 years ago I saw a tyre test video on an indoor ski slope, the All Season shod front wheel drive got further than the summer tyre shod 4x4 version of the same car. That convinced me of the merit of All Season tyres.

Is it possible that the battery hasn't been coded to the car, that can produce some odd errors.

Just wondering if ambient temperature might be a factor. Pressures can rise 5 psi from cold by driving a few miles. So TPMS could report low pressure when first driving but tyres show correct pressure when checked after driving.

The DSG in the Fabia is the dry clutch DQ200, since 2016 these have been generally OK. However you mention a remap of your current Fabia. Be aware that VAG only fit the DQ200 to engines with a max torque output less than 250Nm that might be a consideration if you planned to remap it. If you look at the diesel Octavia with DSG make sure the gearbox has had its oil and filter changed every 40,000 miles. As nta16 says diesels do not like short journeys and need regular long high speed runs to keep EGR and DPF clean.

And it has to be said that is actually clever, and so easy to do - allowing access to tools without having to empty the boot,

@Ooopnorth I looked into my boot today. This was a factory build option, but I bought it 6 months old from a Skoda dealer, it was an ex-Skoda UK employee car. The net set were in an unopened plastic bag, tools as previous post; Jack, wheel wrench, plastic tweezers and P shaped wire tool to remove something (porbably towing eye covers). There was no towing eye or screw driver - I probably should have checked my carefully on handover before I drove away - water under bridge now. I have been able to store away quite a few extra items. I only discovered this today ! the plastic baffles with Velcro to hold stuff in place in the boot have molded stowage spaces. Towing eye from Ebay and screwdriver that I already had for some reason stowed in the molded spaces. I suspect some of the other molded spaces are for a 12v pump and bottle of trye sealing 'goo;.

A question for Karoq owners who reside in areas with regular winter snow and sharp frosts. The door mirrors on my Karoq are set to fold on locking. Not had a car with folding mirrors before and it sits outside at night. So twice this week I unlock the car and there is a 'crack' as the mirror motors break the ice as they unfold. The doors are frozen to the rubbers, and the windows are frozen to the runners. The doors can be freed with a gentle tap round the edges, the windows I can leave shut till the car warms up but the mirrors have to unfold when unlocking. What do owners in colder climates do? Do you leave the mirrors unfolded so as to remove any possibility of damaging the unfold mechanism?

Interesting. How 'old' is the private plate? I have a an 'N' reg plate (1995 year) on my Karoq, sounds as though that would make mine over 6 years old despite it really being 14 months old. I have a 2 year service plan so hopefully the All-in plan will still be around in 2 years time.

I think this could be a long running thread..... Today the reversing camera displayed an image which showed the whole of the number plate, I was taken by this view that I didn't pay any attention to whether it was low angle or narrow view! I pulled forward and selected reverse again and it was the more usual view with just the corners of the number plate showing. So my camera can show two different views as to what causes it, that still a work in progress!. The rear of the car was between two hedges. I have also noticed that there is a tiny bolt protruding from the side face of the camera next to the lens - could this be for adjusting the view?

My 4x4 Sportline doesnot have a styrene insert in the space saver spare, the styrene 'bits' fit either side of the spare wheel and have mouldings to hold the jack etc. Ive just ordered a towing eye off ebay, I'll check to see if my inserts are fixed down. According to the Digital Certificate the space saver and tool set was a factory fitted item.

@Ooopnorth with regard to the towing eye does it have a moulded position in the polystyrene boxes that go around the tyre? Having checked, I don’t have a towing eye so will have to acquire one.