BigStevie

I bought a mini Cooper S (old shape real mini) way back when, a lovely non rotted car with all the extras, twin tanks, big rev counter, rear wiper etc etc. The old boy who'd owned it was really picky and the car was well sorted. I came to take the rear brakes apart and the adjusters had been extended by welding tabs on them, this was so he could get his, as he said when I asked the old lad, 'monies worth' out of the shoes!!! So, even what appear to be fastidious owners will mess with things and make them dangerous..... Maybe just getting too old and cranky...

So much for a dry spell, well this is the far north Scottish Highlands... Anyway, cleaned all the grot off from around the screen and squeezed in a goodly amount of Tiger Seal (left over from fitting bonded windows in the camper van) and all appears to be good now. So, failed sealant from factory.... Take care folks, Stevie

Wow, just found this thread as I'm about to replace rear shoes and a leaking wheel cylinder, was looking for guidance re shoe adjustment... Simple enough, but there again I was a mechanic back in the seventies. You really shouldn't be messing with the brakes Mooseketeer, without being rude, you haven't a clue as to how all these parts work together and these are your brakes! Don't attempt to drive the car, big chance your re-assembled rear brake cylinder will give out and then you've a lot of work, hopefully not repairing collision damage!!!!! Get it sorted out by a professional!!!!!

Just tooh a screwdriver to the car, dropped the front of the headliner etc, couldn't make out a thing... Popped the trim off the exterior of the side of the windscreen and the first two clip of the front to back roof trim. Cleaned all the gunge out from around the top cornet of the screen, as I was doing it I could see the screen flex a bit at the corner, so failed bond at the top corner, plain and simple. Will stick some bond in as soon as it's dry. If I've got it right there shoul;d be a photo showing exterior trims pryed up...

I'm waiting for a dry spell, was also going to try and drop the headlining, will keep you up to date. Thanks folks

Thanks for the reply. No sunroof, I think I'll have a go with the sealer and see if it helps. Where the headliner meets the A pillar trim is soaking wet... Wait for a good dry day1 tHANKS

My trusty old Octavia is leaking water at the top of the front n/s A-pillar, or top n/s corner of the screen. In 167,000 miles the screen has never been replaced. My question is: Is this problem common on the Octavia? If so, what's the cure??? My first thought was to just squeeze a line of sealer around the top corner of the screen, anyone have any other ideas? Thanks folks, happy trails, Big Stevie

Thanks for all the advice people, new bolts arrived today. Got the bolts from Bickerton Skoda of Sheffield, very impressed, sent me torque settings and copies of exploded diagrams. Thanks again folks, Stevie

Hi All, Started to replace the front wishbones on my Octavia 1. The wishbone front mounting bolts, are they stepped in thickness, or are my bolts worn??? Thanks in advance folks, Stevie

Thanks for that, will get down and dirty tomorrow. Stevie

My old 1.9 sdi Octavia that has never missed a beat in 160,000 miles has started to flash it's glow plugf light at me. The owners handbook just says 'there's a fault with the system'. My question is, does this mean I've got a failed heater plug, or something more sinister? Thanks people, all help much appreciated, Stevie

The tailgate on my trusty old Octavia is filling with water, not getting water inside the car, but when you raise the tailgate you get a shower! Can't see where the water is getting in, anyone else had this problem? Thanks people.

Thanks, I've ordered a new cable for the handle so will have a happy day stripping it all apart and will check all the cables.

I can see that centre locking problems are all part of the fun of owning a VAG product... Got a 53 plate octavia sdi with centre locking (no remote) and without electric windows or mirrors. Every now and then the centre locking would activate as I drove, oddly with a load in the car it happens much more frequently, could be related to vibration from the road surface? Anyway, last night it got silly, half way through a five hundred mile run the centre locking started locking and unlocking almost without a break. On a layby I took out the fuse (could live without my interior lights) and went on my way. The door open light remained on though and when I reached home and went to open the door (from the inside) the cable (I guess) snapped and the interior handle did nothing. Wound the window down and the door opened fine with the exterior handle. I had to replace the locking/int lamp fuse to get the door open light to go out even without the key in the ignition. I've seen posts for replacing the door release cable, my question is how to sort out the centre locking from doing it's lock/unlock routine while I'm driving? Any ideas most welcome!!! Many thanks in advance for any help!

Ok, thanks for the advice. The cooling system gets a flush through and some new antifreeze as well. Best wishes, Stevie