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Did you put them in dry or did you grease them ?

Could it be a dribble from when it was last topped up ? D

I can't think of anything on a cambelt change that would crack a head (apart from the bonnet falling onto the mechanic :eek:) They could have got the timing totally out and spun the engine but that would bend valves and possibly crack the head and I think you'd see more than just water loss. If done right, the engine is locked in place and the timing should not go out. Whenever I do a timing belt, I always turn the engine through at least two revolutions by hand to make sure it's free before I do try the starter motor. D

Cracked radiator ? Faulty pressure valve causing the fluid to boil and dump out of an overflow pipe ? D

I paid £5.90 from the local Skoda dealership. When you jetwash, why don't you just remove the blade ? My problem is that it falls off way too easily. D

Or, even worse if you seriously injure or kill somebody in the accident and the insurance pays out compensation then they chase you through the courts because you weren't insured. If you could guarantee that all that was at risk was a car and some street furniture, most people would not be worried about insurance, it's the human cost that insurance is for, not the tin. D

Possibly a slightly warped disk. Does it get faster with speed ? Also, when were the pads and disks last checked/changed ? D

Cheers - that sounds reasonable. I'm finding Skoda's parts to be reasonably priced - I'm still waiting for the big shock when I go for a washer that costs £4.50 or something. D

Hi, I have one of these at the LHS under the parcel shelf and find it useful and want to fit one to the RHS. Anybody got any ideas of cost for a new one ? Regards, D

My long term average (September 08 to now) is 12386 miles / 12386 litres = 47.07 MPG. It's a diesel and I'm a bit heavy footed. D

Obviously a noble gas

It is possible - that's why I asked how long you have had the car. They could also have replaced the oil and the filter and reset the light and this would show up with the same mileage. You need to find out exactly what they did - if it was me, I'd change the oil, the oil filter and reset the trip then at least I'd know where I was starting from. Ignorance definitely isn't bliss in a case like this D

How long have you had the car ?

I've tried that too - have you ever noticed though that when you park all by yourself somebody always parks next to you. You can get to the furthest end of the car park and there will be free bays around you and somebody always park next to you. I always try and park at the end of the row that way, hopefully, there's only one side of the car at risk :(. D

I don't know if it's my imagination or if I'm becoming a grumpy old git but people don't seem to care any more. My car's had a minor dent at the back (don't know when), a minor scrape on the bumper (don't know when), there's a mark in the door where it's been hit by another car door. My wifes car has similar bumps and scratches where it's been hit while parked, my son's car has a dents over both rear wheel arches where it's been car parked. When I get in and out of a car I take great care not to let my door hit the car next to me for two reasons - I don't want to damage somebody else's property and I don't want to damage my own property. When I first started driving almost 30 years ago, these minor dents were unusual but now it seems that every car I know has been knocked. It's flaming annoying and a symptom of the attitudes of today's couldn't care less society. Yours grumpily D

Bambi probably scratched the paintwork, it was the trees and hedges he went through taking avoiding action that did the rest (and we don't know what it looked like BEFORE the alleged impact) :eek:

Or you must have a heavy foot If I was only getting that in my TDi I'd be looking for a ******* with a syphon hose D

On my 2.0 TDi you can see the starter motor quite easily but you may need to remove some bits to get full access to it. Stood in front of the car, it's to your right, underneath the air intake and air filter which would have to be removed to get full acess. To be honest, it's probably easier to work from underneath the car but you'll have to remove the sump guard. If you get stuck, look for the engine/gearbox interface, the starter motor is normally in that area, mind you Citroen do a combined alternator/starter motor on some of their cars so I could be talking complete bolx :eek: This is one of those jobs where crocodile clips come in handy. As to being slagged, this is a Skoda forum, do you think we care D

Try measuring the voltages while cranking (oor missus ) and try measuring them at different points in the circuit (be careful that nothing's in the way if the car starts !!!). The battery will always show 12V if its good but if there is a faulty connection, you will have to measure at or after that connection to see a drop. If your battery connections are corroded (look for crystals around the connectors), disconnect them (remove earth 1st then +ve, replace +ve first then earth) and clean the connectors and the battery terminals with wire wool or a wire brush. Before you put them back, cover the connectors and the terminals with petroleum jelly (Vaseline) and this should minimise the risk of it happening again. I hate intermittent faults too because you know that when you take them to the stealers they won't be able to find anything D

It could be the CV joint. Does it only happen in one direction (left - right not forward reverse ) D

It wouldn't expect it to make a difference. They are all regulated to correctly charge the battery. Make sure it's got the correct terminals, mounting points and pulley and ask for a refund if it doesn't work or won't fit. My 2.0TDi has a 140A output, it's better to have more amps than less if you do shorter journeys and/or use lots of electrical equipment. I don't have a wiring diagram of the Octavia and I'm assuming that the alternator has the rectifier and regulator built in (mine looks as if it does) - if they're external it may make a difference but I've only ever seen one alternator with the electronics outside & that was one I'd modified to replace a dynamo and mechanical regulator system. I'm not an expert on Octavia alternators - YMMV.

And it was April 1st....

No wonder I was confused :eyecrazy:

It's my age - I get confused easily :P D