Gaz

Hello Chris Gaz

Hello Michael Dorset's my favourite County - it's our regular escape, usually Bridport area 😎 I can see myself retiring there. Gaz

JKM at Portsmouth seem to know their onions, and we've had a few rolling road meets there. They did the Revo Stage 1 on my vRS. Gaz

Hello Rob Gaz

Good evening Captain, welcome aboard Gaz

Hello Benny Gaz

Fab what a nice bit of sunshine can do for the soul. From a gentle ten mile ride this afternoon (gentle because my tyre noise changed in the shady areas and I realised I was on frost, some of it icy underneath): The Alsatian's a local dog I see lots. He's happy as larry as long as he's got a stick. Camera's not too bad on the new phone. Gaz

An unexpected visitor just now. I think s/he must've been hiding, but got warmed by a sunny day behind the glass. It's a beautiful clear Winter's day outside, and has just made it to the dizzy echelons of 3C. Let it out the window as it was going to damage itself fluttering against the glass and blind: Gaz

Hello & welcome Roberto We drove down your way for a holiday just before the first lockdown, staying around Madonna di Campiglio, Salo, Bergamo, Lonato. Beautiful area 😎 Gaz

My trust SE decided to retire it's battery recently. It was okay for a couple of days, unless you used it, in which case it bombed and once it dropped to 50%, then that was game over. In the post today arrived its replacement. Quite scary how quickly and seamlessly everything transferred over from old to the new. I think I should get it a protective case. I can do all the research online as to the 'best' case, but I'd be interested in any personal recommendations. Everything from don't bother, to best ever, and in between. The only thing I'm not really interested in is silicon. TIA for any comments or advice. Gaz

'polgies mac, 'course we know you're the only mac in this village I'll try to do better. Gaz

Happy landings Mac Gaz

Problem found, nice easy fix; Brucie bonus - new pads were £9.99, but Sally had a £10 Halfords voucher from one of my Christmas pressie purchases (wash mitt and microfibre towels), so cost me n'owt. Gaz

+1 👍 I've perhaps only changed a dozen cam belts in my time, but always felt if I've taken an already tensioned/stretched belt off to invert it and inspect it properly (not at all qualified, just using common sense), then it's false economy, if not madness, to then put that belt back on again. Potentially asking for trouble. Gaz

Hello GOUK It might be worth doing some homework around oil pump issues on a certain 2.0 diesel model, which was a bit of a lemon. Might be earlier than the age range you're looking at, but worth being aware of. The pump has a hex drive shaft, which rounds with wear, and then fails, usually catastrophically. A good rummage around the Mk2 sub forum should also provide you with useful reading. Gaz https://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/worn-oil-pump-hex-drive-shaft-on-my09-2-0-tdi.274775/

Hello Doc A water pump can fail at any time, including when you've just bought it. It could be just one of those unfortunate things. I'm not sure how you can 'safety check' a water pump, given that even if they were acceptable checks, it could still fail moments later. You haven't said which engine it has. Some pumps have a known issue with a sleeve that fails. there are threads on here about that. If it's the car for you, and the problem is fixed, satisfactorily, with a potential two year warranty on the new parts, I don't see a real problem, frustrating as your immediate experience has been. I empathise. I had a turbo let go five weeks out of warranty. It was fine one second and blown the next. Because it 'grenaded' it nearly took the entire engine with it, and was a very expensive fix. But it was just one of those things and the car (Mk3 Octavia vRS) was right as rain after. Hope it gets sorted for you. Gaz Edit: Not the same model, but could be the same issue:

Sorry to hear Steve. Golf GTI maybe? But from your list, maybe stick with what you’ve just had. Gaz

Hello Sharon Agree with W193 - I suppose if he's out in the Yeti you could always liberate the RR for a thrash Gaz

Hello and welcome McNair 🎅 Gaz

Looking at the back of the car, mine was on the far left edge of the tailgate - yes, that's the S of Skoda you can see, above the swage line. I was told the tailgate has a join here between two metal components. I'd had mine from new and was a bit surprised to find it. I was mildly apoplectic when they first rejected the claim as you might imagine . G Red arrow on my original thread shows the offending location:

Our 2015 Polo GTI has the same DQ200. We've had it four and a bit years and have no plans to change the oil. When we bought it, from Skoda, they were unable to tell me which DSG, or how many gears it had! The DQ250 wet clutch DSG in my Golf GTI on the other hand will be serviced every 40,000 miles - maybe this is where your local dealer is confused? It must be hard for them, poor things 🙄 Gaz

Agree with silver1011 and J.R. I had a similar problem when my 2015 vRS was nine months old. Skoda UK initially rejected the claim, so I sent them high resolution photo's and asked them to reconsider, which they did. Stand your ground and challenge them all the way. I had no idea there was a TPI. Gaz Photo's of mine:

As we near the shortest day, I've got to give the little rose I got Sally for her Birthday in March 10/10 for effort as it came into bloom again at the beginning of the week. We'd already pruned it back due to a bit of blackspot, but left the last remaining bud. And sure enough:

I see that I started this thread a little over five years ago, and I'm starting to notice the battery degrading. I'm just back from a 21 mile circuit, started at 99% and finished at 6%. Five years ago I'd still have 45 to 50% left. But then it's five years old, the bike's done a good 7,000+ miles, and half of that was chipped so the power didn't tail off at 15.5mph. 8c outside, but with a biting breeze (killed my phone battery) and halfway around my rear brake started to bind, all of which would have a bit of an impact. Overall, I think it's done well 👍 I could have the battery re-celled, but was talking to a chap from Wisper who said it'd make more sense to put the money towards a new(er) bike. A decision for the Spring, but I'm certainly warming to the idea. Gaz

We had a phenomenal double rainbow on Monday. Unusual light around as well. Picture doesn't do it justice of course: