Phoenixboy

Just an update, I've checked the alternator pulley and other pullies around that area, all seem tight, belt looks tight, OK from what I can see. As they're not easy to inspect, due to their location. Unless you were to go from underneath. So Ill keep an eye on it, if it becomes worse, be easier to diagnose. If I do get to the bottom of it, I'll post on here, again.

Thanks for the info.

Hello all. I've owned my current Octavia 1.5tsi dsg SEL estate for around 8 months, now. It's on an 20 plate with fssh, 50k from new. I have a very intermittent screeching noise that seems to be coming from the mid to front end of my car. Occasionally occurs, after the car is fully warmed up, with or without the aircon on, only under heavy load or from a hill start, once moving with my foot down a bit. It's a screeching type sound that lasts for around 2 seconds. Not during tick over, but could occur at any speed. Originally I thought it may have been the aircon compressor or compressor pully, but I've now realised that it can occur with the aircon off or on. I dont think its a brake related or wheel related sound. My thoughts, dsg, alternator belt? I don'tthink its at the point where it would be easy to diagnose, as its not constant. I also have a Skoda extended warranty, until Nov, but at this point I don't think I'd waste my money having Skoda look at it, until I was a bit more sure what may be causing it and if it was easily diagnosed/replicated. Any ideas? Thanks.

Personally, unless you could actually see the car, prior to the CAT C repairs, I wouldn't touch it. Could you be absolutely sure the hidden repairs were done to a good standard. Plus it doesn't seem that cheap, considering it's mileage & the fact it was a previous write off. I bought a CAT N, around 20 years ago, now. I had issues with my insurance, some companies back then wouldn't insure it, I also needed an independent engineers report on it, to insure it. Which I did, all my own time, hassle & money. I know the system has changed a bit now. After that, I personally wouldn't knowingly buy another. I also know of a friend that bought a previous write off, drove perfectly well, nothing obviously wrong with it, but later on after it went into another garage for a dash related repair, they informed him that whomever repaired the car previously hadn't fitted an drivers side airbag. No ECU lights were illuminated, either. So somehow the guy that previously repaired it, managed to get round that one.

Have you tried replacing the glovebox fuse? I had an intermittent issue with my previous Octavia's scree, it would randomly turn it's self off & on. Taking the fuse out, replacing it. Seemed to reset it for a few months, before the issue would intermittently start up again.

I had a similar intermittent issue with my previous 19 plate Octavia, the info screen would turn it's self on and off intermittently. Sometimes it would last 3 months without doing so, then it may turn it's self off a few time a day & back on again. I found the only thing that seemed to reset it for a while was taking the fuse out from behind the glovebox, I replaced it with a new fuse, even though the old one looked OK. I never got to the bottom of the issue, I now have a 20 plate Octavia (facelift), not done it once, touch wood. Personally I wouldn't touch a dealer, I'd ring around a few independents, see what they say & how they'd cost to have a look or an good auto electrician. Hope you get sorted.

I've owned many cars in the past that have used noticeable oil between changes. This is my third mk3 Octavia 1.5tsi, none of which up to now have used any noticeable oil between changes, I always change my oil yearly, under 10k, too. The highest mileage one I've owned had 75k on the clock when I part exchanged it for my current 20 plate 1.5tsi sel dsg, which now has 47k on the clock.

I have a 20 plate Octavia 1.5tsi SEL dsg estate, I put standard mk3 facelift 16" wheels on with 205/55 16 tyres, took the 17s off for comfort. It makes a marginal difference, plus there's a bigger choice of tyres & they're cheaper. Plus you have a bit more side wall protection against potholes. I'm not interested within the vanity side of bigger wheels, prefer more comfort.

Yes I bought one for my last 19 plate 1.5tsi Octavia, I paid £170 for if with a 3 year guarantee, inc coding in, it was an EFB battery. I just used my local motor factors. I recently paid £200 for an AGM battery inc coding in from the same place for or other car (mini), same place. That took longer to change, as the engine bay was full of plastic.

I can't remember their sizes, personally I'd use any bought from a reputable seller, apart from Brembo. You may have to take off the rear calliper carrier bracket off to get the rear disc off the hub, some you do, some you don't. I did, the carrier bolts are tight & hard to access if you don't have a lift. You also need a special torx type tapered socket to take the carrier bracket bolts off, I bought a couple from my local motor factors, as they only came in twos. I found this out whilst changing my last rear set on my previous 19 plate 1.5tsi dsg se, Octavia. Plus the calliper carrier bolts need to be tightened to a specific torque. Best to have a rewind kit to rewind the rear brake piston back, too. It's a lot easier of a job if the rear disc comes off the hub without having to remove the rear brake calliper, carrier bracket, too. I'll replace my fronts next myself, the rears, I'll take to an independent garage to have replaced, as the rear calliper bracket has to come off. I'm working off my drive using axle stands & trolley jacks. Plus I'm not young, anymore. I just found an old post of mine, this may help you-

That was on my previous 19 plate Octavia 1.5tsi se dsg estate, I now own a 20 plate with the same engine, but its the sel spec. I think it was cylinder number 2 I had the misfires on, but when Skoda took it in for a diagnostic, they said another plug was going down, too. Not sure which. Then they tried to charge me for the diagnostic, new plugs, until I informed them that they'd replaced them during its last service, just over a year ago lol. They then appologised, offered to replace the two faulty ones for free, as the plugs were guaranteed for two years. I then paid for the other 2 to be replaced, whilst they were on. I was expecting them to replace all 4 for free, but they said their parts guarantee would only cover the ones that were faulty. Can't get much tighter than that. Unless they didnt change the 4 initially when they said they had, that wouldn't suprise me, either. There was no software update performed by them, afterwards, as far as I could remember. Once the plugs were replaced, x4, engine ran sweet, again. My own view, I dont think the plugs were initially changed, prior to me buying the car, eventhough they'd said they were changed. So at tge point of failure they may have been at least 5 years old. The car had around 65k on the clock then with a fssh. It was on two yearly oil change intervals, ex fleet. Unlike my current car, oil has been changed yearly at around 7 or 8k from new. Which I prefer.

Two of my plugs failed on my previous 1.5tsi Octavia within two years of them being replaced by skoda. I then managed to get skoda to replace them again under their two year parts guarantee, but they would only replace the two for free, so I paid them to replace the other two, whilst they had my car. Although they didn't charge me labour for the two I paid them to replace lol. I really didn't see the point of only replacing two at that point, as two of the original 4 they'd replaced had failed.

Ive owned 3 of these engines, never experienced any jerking sensation when 2 cylinders deactivate. Premium fuel has never made any noticeable running difference, either. I use e10 most of the time, this engine seems to run as happy on this as using the higher octane fuel. The only time I've ever noticed any hesitation, is occasionally from cold, which is a known issue for this engine, also when I had failing plugs. Ive also changed my oil on a regular basis, yearly at 9k, using 0w 20 oil. Changed my plugs every 2 years, not every 4 years as stipulated by skoda.

As you know, Skodas official timing belt replacement interval for this engine has been extended. I own a 20 plate 1.5tsi SEL dsg, mine has now covered 45k, I'll probably change mine somewhere between 8 to 10 years old, if I still have it then, probably at the same time change the dsg and mechatronic oil, too. Even though it's the sealed for life dq200 box. I'm just considering whether to put in 0w 20, 5w 20 or 0w 30 oil in next, now it's out of manufacturers warranty. May go for 0w 30, instead of the recommended 0w 20, mainly because I think it'll probably provide better engine protection long term.

Well I've just bought a 20 plate Octavia 1.5tsi dsg sel estate, with low mileage. So I'm once again back in the fold.