BlueTigger

Thanks again, pushed them up and back and folded easily.

Thanks for the info, I'll try it on my daughter's fabia, as she has not managed to fold them yet.

Thanks nat16, Lots of info, thanks. My daughter relies on me for weekly checks, including tyre pressures, as well as all maintenance! She uses the motorway a couple of times a week, so the battery gets a good top up. Thanks again.

Thanks Rum4mo, The garage I generally use tends to have a lot of VAG experience, they all drive VAGs as well.

Thanks for the reply toot, and spotting my typo, yes 2016 is what I should have typed. It has had services carried out on schedule as far as I can see from the paperwork supplied. I will take on the scheduled maintenance such as oil and filters etc. Not sure what to do about the cam belt, I'll take advice on it as some say it's for life and others not. I see from the table you posted that spark plugs are every 40000, a far cry from my old 1970s car of the past. If long life VW507 oil is used, can the interval go to 20000 miles instead of 10000? Thanks again

From these posts it seems my daughter's 2006 1.2 TSI 90 should be okay as she is not heavy footed.

Thanks, it must just be a clean engine then!

Thanks again for more replies. I do wonder if I should spend a lot on mine as the "devil I know". I think the duel mass flywheel is starting to fail, but can be nursed for several years I'm told. An expensive repair! The cam belt and water pump are due for a change soon. The rear suspension seems clunky despite having had springs and shocks replaced. Bodywork showing its age, with a few dents and scrapes. One rear electric window not working. Otherwise the engine is great with fast pass on emissions at last MOT, due to the regular oil and filter changes I carry out, no doubt. So in summary, I can keep it with all I know about it, or end up with an unknown and be disappointed like the 2l tdi I went to see that looked great in the dealer advert! Another one I considered obviously need new rear bushes as the tyres were scrubbing out on the inside edges. One other was sold before I got there. If anyone around Bristol has a good tdi that they need to change to avoid the 3285 pound annual CAZ charge in Bristol, (9 per day), I would change mine for a good high spec mk2, as a later model will not fit in the garage.

Seems a very common problem. My daughter has just purchased a 66 plate and both front handles are partly snapped off. Waiting for parts to come in stock. Are they easy to change?

Reading the last post in this thread, I wonder if I should look at a 1.4 TSI mk2 to replace my 1.9 tdi, or stick with the trusty old diesels. It seems once run in, the 1.4TSI would be similar to run given the current 25p/ litre cost difference between petrol and diesel.

Thanks for the additional replies. I looked at the 2 l PD, I was interested in, which mechanically seems excellent, but so much else did not work. Will keep looking. If a 2l PD shows up I would certainly consider it.

Thanks Carlston for the info on th difference between the two. I am already conscious of the massive difference in driving effect, some of the worst is the stop start crawling traffic around Bristol. The best being empty summer straight roads.

Thanks for all the replies, puts me in a bit of a dilemma as mpg is important to me.

Further to my question, my 1.9 has averaged 51.5 mpg over the last 100,000 miles, driven carefully much of the time, but can be as low as 42, or as high as 63 on a tank full. Is the 2l as frugal?

If not battery, then I would go for camshaft sensor. I had a similar issue with an ATD engine. The fault code identified the sensor and changing it cured the problem. It also sometimes cut out at idle declaration before it was difficult to restart, which it cured as well.

Hi, I'm thinking of trading in my 1.9 PD tdi, BXE 105 bhp, 2006, for a 2 l tdi, 138 bhp, 2005. Is the 2 l as good as the amazing 1.9 tdi?

Thanks for the reply. I've not had any transmission or engine work done on ita nd it's fine at higher revs. But could it be a sign that the clutch is past its best?

Having got the hand brake working fine, it did not stay that way for long. Next time working it the same was easier, but it still stuck again and again. New caliper had to be fitted in the end, which I got a new one for around 33 quid from eBay, solved the problem and means, now winter is here, I don't need to be under the car every few weeks.

My BXE has recently become very grumpy and needs to be in a lower gear than usual. It used to be happy in 5th at 30 mph, now needs 3rd gear to be happy. 5th gear seems only suitable for over 45 mph now. Any clues on why it has this relatively sudden change of lower rpm bliss? 160000 miles, so not as high mileage as my old ASV that had 254000 on the clock when traded in.

Handbrake out of travel one side showed the equalizer bar at the handbrake to be acutely angled indicating a problem near side. Jacking the car revealed near side ineffective and the lever against the stop. Pushing the lever up did not work as as soon as the handbrake was operated it went back to the stop, obviously not returning or self adjusting. Fitted assist spring but it would still not self adjust and be back on the stop when the handbrake was applied. I disconnected the cable and manually operated the lever to no avail. I lubricated the fulcrum with plus gas and penetrating oil. After leaving it to soak overnight and manually operating it several times it eventually worked correctly and saved me buying a new caliper. Hope this is helpful.

My old mkII Octavia (144,000 miles) has only recently started squeaking seemingly from the front suspension. I will see if a bit of lubrication around the joints will help, once the weather gets warmer for crawling around under the car that is.

Thanks again to everyone, especially the links to YouTube. It turned out to be the pump distribution valve attached to the pump. I replaced the pump assembly with one from gsf, accessing it from the wheel arch after removing the wheel and liner. Not too difficult a job.

Yes, you are all being thanked.

Hi, I have a similar problem on a 2005 Fabia, where it leaks out as soon as it is filled. There is a puddle at the front wheel arch. Is it the bottle that is likely to need replacing? Is a relatively easy job? Thanks. Thanks for the posts.

Hi, I have a similar problem on a 2005 Fabia, where it leaks out as soon as it is filled. There is a puddle at the front wheel arch. Is it the bottle that is likely to need replacing? Is a relatively easy job? Thanks.