Jonathan_1.8T

Thanks mate.

Hi All, I wanted to check my (pipercross) air filter, an easy job. But the maf sensor plug....could I get it off? No.So I lost patience, I spent 15 mins on internet/youtube and of course it's easy if you know how, but nearly all the photo bucket pics are borked....anyway I decided to use a flat blade screwdriver to "harshly persuade" it off, and it worked.A couple of bits snapped off, but as it's a snug fit still, I think these snapped off bits won't be missed at all. Is it just me or does anyone else think that VW made their connectors as annoying as possible on purpose? In the past simple jobs on my list have not even been able to get going because of oddly designed/difficult to remove connectors, and it really pi$$es me off.Coming back inside, looking it up on youtube etc. As does the car in general now tbh,owned since '09 but numerous fault codes, water ingress in cabin and boot,failing door locks, windows,sunroof opening on it's own, stereos wired up differently, silly basic things that have never failed on any of my other cars in the past (I'm 52) things that used to be simple but VW Audi have in my opinion, made over complicated.On the bright side, I am yet to suffer any perished hoses which I know a lot of folk have, I have this joy to look forward to in the future.Although I'll probably sell and get something Japanese instead. Rant over!

thanks for the WP Ina kit part no., I think I'll go genuine vag WP as will be £44 plus vat, your kit vs my linked one is £37 more, so not too much more ££ to go genuine vag on the WP. One this is really puzzling me, dunno whether to start a new thread on it, as it may be helpful to others, but I'll mention it here; On my last receipt for cam belt & WP at Skoda (5 years ago) , the part number for the belt kit is stated as "repair kit" 06A198119A (note the A at the end). After checking on oempc part finder, and having phoned 4 very reputable & high volume ebay sellers including numberoneforskoda and deutscheparts, all of them (& oempc) say my car (aum 1.8t '52 reg) should have kit 06A198119B (note the B),& that the A version is not correct for my car. I gather they are the same BUT for the tensioners, which differ between kits.But I'd imagine that could be big "but" if you fit the wrong one (assuming it will physically fit). Quite what the score is here I don't know, maybe whoever did my invoice put the A kit on the paperwork, but the technician in practice used a B kit tensioner. Anyone got any ideas?

I seem to have found the Ina set,with damper, even cheaper,at £74.69; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/INA-Timing-Belt-Kit-530006710-Fit-with-Audi-A4-/321867349623?hash=item4af0c9fe77:g:92YAAOSwuTxV-Yj- Re. the water pump, I would definitely want that replaced while it's apart.If it wasn't & it failed, I'd be mad at myself. Very good advice imo, as it happens tho' thermostat was replaced exactly 2 years ago, so should be ok for a few years yet.

I'm thinking this may be a way to save a few ££, gates stuff has never failed me before in other cars; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GATES-TIMING-CAM-BELT-WATER-PUMP-KIT-KP25491XS-FOR-SKODA-OCTAVIA-/112114244328?hash=item1a1a879ae8:g:9NkAAOSwFe5Xxana

After a couple of calls I have worked out what the mystery part is, it's the belt damper which may or may not be required according to the guy at the VAG specialist, who I trust.But it does seem odd I've never seen any mention of this part in all the "cam belt" threads.Any opinions please? If this belt damper is not needed, then this quote for comparisons sake would be approx £125 less than the total in the attached picture (£538.94), so very close to £412, saving me £73 over Skoda.

Thanks very much chaps, I just got a quote from an official Skoda service centre for £485 including belt, tensioner water pump coolant & VAT.Which is hopefully all it needs. If anyone knows of a cheaper price in the Farnborough (Hampshire) area, I'd love to hear of it.

Hi All, I'm trying to find out what the "some other bit is", I'll explain & if anyone can help out that would be great. Last year I had a chat with my local VAG specialist garage about the cost of a cam belt & water pump change,the job was last done 35k miles & 4 years prior.I had already been quoted £450 by Skoda. The guy said their price would probably only be about £20 cheaper, he also asked the mileage of the car (it was on 101k at the time).When I told him, he said that as well as the cam belt & water pump,it may also need "some other bit" (which basically means I have forgotten what he said), but that he wouldn't know for certain if this bit was needed until the car was dismantled.It may need it, it may not, depending on what he finds. The bit was apparently only small, but was £125-ish from Skoda. That left me in the following situation....spend a minimum of £430, but possibly close to £600 (if the "unknown part" was required) on a car probably only worth that amount (Octavia Elegance 1.8t '52 reg); or, don't change anything, & carry on running it past the 4 year time-interval recommendation, but well within the 60k belt recommendation.I did the latter. So I'm now in a similar position a year down the line...the belt has been on 5 years & now 45k miles.(Last done by Skoda btw) Common sense tells me that (feel free to disagree) in the UK, with our climate the belt's life span would be governed more by mileage than age, as we don't get particularly extreme variances in temperature. (Thinking aloud)...If the 4 year recommendation covers, for example Russia & Poland & other places where they get high maximums & very low minimums, then surely in the UK it should be safe to stretch the 4 years a bit. Is the recommendation even 4 years still, or has it been reduced/extended, there seems to be several opinions as to what exactly is gospel, but my understanding is 4 years/ 60k. Thanks for any help/advice/opinions regarding what the mystery part is, or my logic re. stretching the belt interval on an older car not worth much.(& now on 111k, but in good condition, no other issues).

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NGK-Spark-Plug-PFR6Q-/110883809118?hash=item19d130a75e:g:4HoAAOSwv0tVZc~L Best price I can see atm ^

I've done the indicator stalk change, bit fiddly & time consuming but all seems well,lights working fine again, dipped restored thankfully. Everything else seems ok, wipers fine,no airbag warning light, runs well, just as before, so hopefully the throttle body has reset itself ok. I take it if it was "out" I'd notice some lumpiness or similar? The battery negative was disconnect prior to starting the job, & was left disconnected for about 4 hours all told. I reset clock & one shot windows, although this does not work from the door switch on passenger front door, only from drivers side master control unit.one shot also does not work on either rear window, but to be honest I don't know if it did before, or is meant to.Neither does my wife, & she's the one who drives it 95% of the time.Not fussed about it anyway tbh, but would be interested to hear how it's meant to be. This guide was helpful; http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/268780-how-to-change-indicator-stalk-on-superb-i-includes-removing-of-steering-wheel/ Thanks again.

thanks for this guide, helped me out as regards splitting the wiper stalk & indicator stalk on my Octavia '52 reg.

thanks for the replies chaps.

Hi All, as title.....can anyone advise what settings (apart from radio) will be affected please upon reconnection. Thing is, I intend to replace the indicator/light stalk as we have lost dipped beam. Already tried contact cleaner/ air duster can & checked fuses.....no joy. New part and M12 spline bit at the ready........ after reading up on what's involved, I understand I need to remove the airbag & steering wheel. Hence (as advised on the info threads I read) the intention to disconnect the battery overnight beforehand,to fully discharge everything in order to reduce the possibility of any airbag detonation slip ups. Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

Well I got lucky, someone was selling one on ebay for £25 posted.New VAG part; (part number 8L0953513G ) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322212870284?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT Other I looked at (genuine VAG) were about £65

Many thanks, I've ordered a new genuine indicator stalk, hopefully once fitted that'll be the end of it.