Hi all,

I've recently had my cambelt & water pump changed by a main dealer (90bhp TDI), but when checking it over to make sure they'd put everything back correctly I found a bit of rubber beading, maybe 1.5 or 2 inches long, down by the wires near the screenwash pump. I can't for the life of me figure out where it's come from... And I don't want to wait until some wire or hose wears through to find out!!!

One picture I found on the internet looked like there might possibly be a bit of beading about that size on the bottom edge of the upper timing belt cover, but it really wasn't a clear picture and I don't want to have to take that off if it's not where it goes.

I did wonder if it might go on the vertical edge of the bodywork down near the screenwash pump, to stop the power steering fluid pipes rubbing on that edge, but the metal seems to thick for the beading and it doesn't sit nicely at all...

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,

Alan

Anyone got a MKI near you that you can compare with? The trim is to stop something chafing against a sharp edge.

No. I did think of that, but unfortunately I don't know of any nearby... A couple of friends used to have them, but one's sold his and the other has moved away.

I'm sure mine had a piece like that on the bottom/rear edge of the black slam panel. On the drivers side (close to where the bonnet prop is attached).

I'm sorry I don't have my car to check anymore, but im sure it's in that area. Could it be to stop the bonnet catch cable from rubbing through?

Hope this helps

Thanks guys - that might well be it! They had wiped over that panel too (I guess they spilt something over it), so a cloth could easily have caught and pulled it off. And if so it would have landed where I found it.

Mine's not quite the same as your photos, though, in that there's a big rubber thing moulded or clipped around the bonnet release cable just about where your yellow arrow is, which looks like it does the same anti-chafing job. But maybe Skoda put protection on both the cable and the panel... Is your rubber bit clipped into holes in the black panel, or is it pushed over the edge of it?

It's just pushed over the edge. I've checked another Mk1 and the strip is in the same place on that one too. Thought I'd better check in case it had fallen off and I'd just pushed in the first place I could find

Just been out to the car park to have a look, and you're both right. Thank you! Looking underneath the panel with a mirror there was an obvious mark in the dirt of just the right size.

No idea what it's for though. This (not very good) picture shows it back in its place, but you can also see the other rubber bit that stops the bonnet cable ever getting anywhere near it!

Still good to have it back where it's meant to be.

Thanks again,

Alan

odd, i dont have that bit of rubber. wonder if its to stop you battering that crossmember with the bonnet stick thingy