Funkoid

So been out for a good couple of hours today, nothing has faltered, then I thought, I've not used the Aircon. Did 3-4 trips, soon as I started the 4th I whacked the Aircon on for 20-30 mins. Pulled up after that, shut everything off, stopped the car. Gave it 20-30 seconds, flicked the ignition on and low and behold, the issue with the gauge occured. Really wanting to say it's being caused by the/is HVAC related. Question is, no idea where to start on that front now given where water could be gathering, possibly evaporating and causing issues in the dash.

That's what's strange @mac11irl, it always starts without issue. The other codes have remained clear too after a couple of hours of driving, I did find a couple of HVAC flap issues that were cleared and have remained fine too. No wet in the passenger side either. I have a minor water leak in the boot that I keep cleaning up. The drivers side door has always been an issue on and off, but aside from that the car runs great. I'll try and get a video of it doing it when I next go for a run, if you imagine the fuel gauge trying to move up but jumping back and forth about 2mm then eventually goes up. Then the other couple of times, I've just had no dials, but the mileage etc have remained. Wait 5-7 seconds then everything jumps to life. I'm tempted to reseat the dash cables but want to avoid removing it if I have to in case it then needs resetting etc.

Damn, I'm none the wiser then. I've cleared the faults down and need to have a decent drive this weekend so will see what returns. Hoping I've not got a wet electrics issue given the other short ground. I'd part ruled out the immobilizer side because the engine did start. Only thing that's knowingly changed recently was a replacement starter so part of the battery box was stripped out for that. The instrument panel and oil temp etc. Doesn't flow through the driver's door control unit does it?

Turned the ignition to point one a couple of days ago, and noticed the fuel gauge flicking back and forth a few mm trying to get up. Started the engine, all good. Went for a 10-15 min drive, then parked up. Next time I started the motor, no fuel gauge, no revs, nothing, for about 5-7 seconds, then suddenly all was well again. Parked up for an hour, flicked the ignition to point one again, and the fuel gauge suffered the same issue. It's not done it every time though and today for instance is alright. I've only got the shareware version of vcds lite, but have had the following returned.... 00562 - Sensor for Oil Level/Temperature (G266) 29-10 - Short to Ground - Intermittent 00667 - Ambient Temperature Signal 30-10 - Open or Short to B+ - Intermittent 01176 - Key Signal to low 07-10 - Please Register/Activate - Intermittent I'm at a bit of a loss where to start. Could the key battery be causing an issue with the immobilizer hence the dash problem? Wouldn't explain the engine starting no bother though surely? Wondering if I've got ground issues, but again, where to start troubleshooting that initially based on the above? Could it be a fuse on it's way out too?

Can anyone recommend anywhere to have wheels sorted? I have my original set of spiders on the MK1 Octavia vrs, they're not overly tatty given age but the passenger side is an absolute nightmare for losing air, even after reseals etc. I'm thinking of getting it checked out and potentially refurbished, spending on all four corners because of one is a little bigger sweet though!

So my door saga continues, still need to get it sealed, looking at replacing the lower door seal now too. Has anyone used generic 3rd party stuff or is it another dealers job?

Superstar cheers man, will get some ordered. Spoke too soon about the boot too, under the CD loader, rear wiper spray is fine so thinking there could be a split in the pipe elsewhere, for another day though. Always screw the right and left up with the part numbers, it's not from the drivers perspective right?

So it's been mega slow progress, starter, spring and mounts are all sorted. Only the leaking door to go, the heavy rain forced my hand yesterday with this one. I still need to line the door, but I was able to see where the water was coming from inside the door, looks like the seal on the outside between the car body and the bottom of the window is just letting water pour in. Trying to find replacement part numbers for that with little joy at the moment. The bottom door seal is letting water in eventually but I still think it's doing a decent enough job to not be the main cause. Thinking replace the external one described and see how it goes then.

Yeah had a quick look, connections look all good! Could do without it now but it is what it is!

So to cap it allllll off, I definitely have a spring gone on the passenger side, went to start it, battery on, fuel pump primed etc ... Nadda! Starter dead! Need to find me a decent scrappy in Cheshire.

For anyone that's used the plastic sheeting DIY method, how did you handle the speaker side of the door? Presume it's just a case of allowing a bit of slack? Talking about where the foam ones are concave to allow for the depth of the speaker.

I was under the impression that was by design? Are there part numbers available for the seals or are we now stuck with third party OEM ones?

Seems like a much better option if I can get hold of any. Did contact one supplier a few weeks ago and was told they'd stopped making them. This is the stuff I've already had on mine too so I can only assume it's the fact it's been disturbed or perished that's the cause of at least my front drivers side. £16 a pop for getting into the door is a bit annoying too, lost count of the number of times I've been in for locks, window regulator etc.

Yeah if I ever get mine sealed I'm a little worried about the additional noise but needs must at the moment. Think I'm going to attempt it next weekend. Have the rear door to do by the looks of it too.

Take it you've not got any project pictures would be massively helpful for a numpty like me!

Yeah, struggling to find the white clips local, was ideally wanting to get the red cable ties replaced with the proper fixings before trying to seal it back up. Managed to source some film, just wondering whether to use double sided 3m tape or not, what's what the guy suggested selling the film.

Loved reading this thread @DeanVRS20VT. Got things dried out and have managed to get time to strip the door down. There was more of the panel film there than I thought there would be, but it was torn in two. The window regulator was swapped out last year and as you can see from some of the photos with blue arrows there is wet that's caused some of that replacement to corrode. The cable near the red cable tie with the blue arrow was wet, and to the right of it I appear to be missing a clip. I'm going to see if I can get replacements, not convinced sealing it up will make much of a difference though. Suppose the best approach would be to seal it then put a hose on the car before I reassemble the door? Only other thing I wasn't sure on was whether there should have been something in the hole toward the top of the door where the arrow is.

I'm in need of some door clip replacements, the black ones that support the interior door panel. They're square/L shaped ones, all I can find online are small round push clips?

Thanks, patience got the better of me so I've been out already and got the dehumidifier in the boot with the parcel shelf on, put my screen cover over the door with a couple of mm open on the window to feed the multi gang in there. I'm glad I did because the drivers side is soaked, got all of the mats etc out so it's got more of a chance to dry out now. Interestingly, no idea why I've not noticed before but the boot seal looked really weird on the left hand side which is where water has been gathering the most. I ended up pulling it out so it looked more like the right hand side, and it still doesn't sit 100% right in the middle, but god knows how long it's been like that for. Hoping that's what it's supposed to look like with the rubber lip sitting over the plastic not jammed under it like some of it was. Thing is it's likely to have been like that for years though so who knows.

Thanks @mac11irlI genuinely think I've no membrane on the drivers side which means I'll need one, what's best to seal it with, is it a case of getting a specific part code or film or something, you've mentioned plastic sheet membrane, any suggestions of where to buy? No sunroof thankfully, I did have a quick look behind the CD player in the boot and the pipe looks good, it pulled apart way too easy but seemed clipped in okay. Will get the dehumidifier in it tomorrow although with the cold weather this next few days I'm wondering if I should leave it for a couple of days.

Apologies in advance for the long post. I've had my MK1 for a good 14 years I'd like to say I've kept on top of maintenance, it's always been kept standard, no mapping etc. and in general I've not driven it too hard over the years. It's still only got 116k on it now. Aside from the potential to replace one of the valves and DV because of boost not being perfect all of the time, the engine still feels solid enough for how I use it. I like everyone, have had a bit of a hard time this year and I've let things slip, leaving it on the drive without realising for close to 3-4 months, battery died so I replaced that yesterday and took it out for a decent 60-70 mile drive, the gear box was a bit clunky but everything seems to have freed up and having gone out again today, its not far from normal. I plan to get an oil change, and either a gear box top up or change done too. The car had its MOT back in September and passed with little more than a bush needing to be replaced, so I'm blaming the recent weather and developments more than anything. The main issue I have right now is water ingress and whatever damage it may have done after the massive amounts of rain we had a few weeks back. The car is full of condensation and damp in the boot and the drivers footwell after being parked up. The front doors.... I had the window regulator on the drivers side done, and I believe there is no foam panelling left between the door card and the car - I suspect this and a misaligned mud flap at the front wheel arch (after the work garages did) could be the main source there. When you open the door, the water is pooled on the sill / bottom of door and it spills over into the car, the carpet on that side up toward the fuse box area is damp too. The passenger side lock module was replaced last summer too making me think that the foam here may be missing too although I've not seen it pooling on the sill. The passenger side door sensor tripped a handful of times too, turning on the interior light and the dashboard light - the door was closed, a quick open and shut of it sorted it out each time it happened. The boot.... I can't for the life of me remember as my brains been everywhere, but for some reason I'd taken off the plastic boot panel at some juncture and left it in the boot loose - could that also be causing ingress or for condensation to be routed where it would run otherwise? Electrics / Sensors... During the run yesterday I pulled over with the hazards on for a moment, they would switch on, after hitting the button a couple of times, they burst into life, turned them off and on we went. I then quickly realised my indicators stopped working! After pumping some heat via the air con through the vents and pressing it a few more times all was well - so I suspect it's stuck or its the damp. The future? I know these things don't last forever but I'm between a rock and a hard place at the moment deciding on whether to get another car or whether I need one immediately anyway. I was planning on running a dehumidifier in there for a few days on and off, but I presume it'll be of little help if water is still making its way in particularly with the icy weather on its way again. I'm in need of two new rear tyres and the cambelt and water pump are due on the 4 year cycle again during 2021 too. Everything feels sortable, I'm just totally overwhelmed at the moment and I'm wondering if the damage has already been done and could even be repaired. Parts wise, what would I be looking at for fixing up the interior foam, cleaning out the recess behind the mud flap and basically trying to get everything sealed again? Am I wasting my time or do I just need a bit of motivation and help :-(

Perfect thanks for the info. Presume it's a pain to do on a set of ramps / jack stands?

Well after nearly 12 years and 110k it's looking like I may need a new center section and back box. Given the age of my much loved car, I'm dubious spending a fortune on it. How much am I looking to spend on a replacement? Not bothered about 'upgrades' at this point more just keeping it on the road. Edit - If anyone has any independent garage recommendations in the Cheshire / North West area it'd be appreciated.

Perfect cheers guys

I'm after the part number for the plastic strip that runs along the drivers door (mk1 vRS) Some idiot did a hit and run on my car so I'm massively out of pocket as far as finances go, have a paint / damage guy sorting the damage and paintwork but the plastic strip is scuffed to hell and back. Need one by the end of the week ideally :-(