swedishskoda

Update: 6 inches of rain yesterday, but the spare wheel well is dry! So in my case, it seems as if the hole for the tail light bolt was the culprit and that my rubber "seal" covering the hole and kept in place by the bolt gasket did its job. Let's hope it stays that way (another 15 inches of rain expected for the upcoming week).

After a day of heavy rain I usually have to scoop out a pint or so of water from the spare wheel well - rather tiresome. However, after reading this and other threads on this issue I'm still a bit confused. Much has been written about the vents located behind the rear bumper, below the tail lights. I remember one post (which I can't find right now) where the poster had solved the leak bi simply applying sealant where the "roof" or cover above the vents joins the bodywork (see item #22 here: https://skoda.7zap.com/en/cz/fabia/fab/2010-608/8/819-819030/#16 ). According to the post, this could be done through the hole behind the tail light without removing the bumper. Decided to try this, but couldn't find that cover or anything resembling the vents. Were they abandoned on the 2014 estate? Or moved, so that one has to remove the bumber to find them? From the pic here: http://imageshack.com/a/img633/8754/3Tl56V.jpg they definitely seem to be accessible through the hole? For now, as an experiment, I've cut out a piece of rubber mat, covering the hole for the tail light cluster securing bolt, kept in place by the bolt's own gasket. More rain tomorrow, so will see if that helps (probably not). Thankful for more input on this. Will have to decide between letting my garage fix it (removing the bumber standing on the drive, looking out for more rain and worrying about sensor wiring not attractive) or simply drill a hole (Ø 5 m/m?) in the lowest part of the well.

Don't know if conditions are the same in the UK, but here Skoda Sweden offers a prolonged Mobility Guarantee as long as regular service is done at an authorised VAG garage. 24/7 roadside assistance, towing to the nearest VAG garage if needed, free courtesy car for three days or hotel accomadation/alternative transport. SWMBO's old Octy (2000) is soon due for service. She (SWMBO, not Octy) likes to feel that the guarantee is there. But it's not actually free, since the service cost at an independent garage is considerably lower (we would probably save almost £100 on a standard 10,000 miles service). It's wonderful to know that the guarantee is there (and we have used it once, when a spark plug blew out of the head). And SWMBO sometimes makes long journeys on her own while har mechanics skills are limited to top up oil, coolant and wiper washer fluid. But how much is it worth, really? Grateful for opinions to help me make up my mind.