Today has left me feeling rather disheartened to say the least!

This morning I was driving to Birkenhead and as I was taking a bend, I think must have hit a patch of oil or something as ALL 4 wheels completely lost traction - I was steering around the bend at around 30mph but the car carried on going straight. I hit the kerb with both offside wheels, rebounded off and missed a Transit van by inches - I seriously don't know how I didn't have an accident.

I pulled over to the side of the road feeling pretty shaken up and checked the car for damage - no apparent damage to the tyres or the alloys and thank God I missed that van! I really do not know what happened - from what I can see the car has two brand new front tyres and I'm guessing what caused it to lose traction was a combination of this, the wet weather, the fact that I'm still getting used to the car and also I may have possibly driven over some oil or something. It was pretty scary though, and sort of dented my confidence a fair bit.

If I'd been driving like a d!ck I'd be honest about it, but I seriously wasn't - I work as a bobby here in Merseyside and feel that I am a good, safe driver, but the way the car felt today seriously made me worry. I think the tyres are a bit **** as well - the front two are Federals (any good?) and the back two are Talon Triangles (I'm guessing they are budgets all round?!). I don't know if it's my imagination, but the car doesn't feel well 'planted' when I'm cornering, I dunno whether the tyres need a bit of wearing in and they may get better.

Anyway - as if that wasn't bad enough, something even more mysterious happened tonight. I was driving to Chester with my girlfriend and we were on the M53 doing around 70 - all of a sudden there was the loudest bang ever, as if something had struck the car at high speed - the only way I can think of to describe it is an extremely loud stone-on-glass crack. I didn't feel any sort of impact (I don't think) and the only thing that happened in the car was the radio backlight went off and then came back on... I was properly confused. I thought someone might have dropped something off a bridge, but I don't think I'd gone under one and besides, it was -2 outside so anyone out throwing stuff at cars would have to be a bit nuts. I pulled over and checked all over the car for damage but found none at all. It was pretty dark so I couldn't see much and will check again in the morning but I really have no clue what it was... I feel a bit stressed out with it and it has spoiled the enjoyment of the new car a little bit. I'm sort of wishing I'd kept the Fabia vRS as I don't feel confident driving the Octy at the moment! :(

Sorry about all the writing!

I've never heard of Talon tyres, I don't think much to Federals either. I would recommend investing in some better tyres, presume those on are what were fitted when you bought the car.

As for the bang could it be something kicked up by another car? Not sure on that one.

I've never heard of Talon tyres, I don't think much to Federals either. I would recommend investing in some better tyres, presume those on are what were fitted when you bought the car.

As for the bang could it be something kicked up by another car? Not sure on that one.

Talon triangles are budget tyres, as are the federals. Just drive a bit slower and you'll be fine!

If it was me, I'd be getting it up on a ramp and giving it a very thorough check over - poor handling and possibly something broke - doesn't inspire confidence?

... I would recommend investing in some better tyres, presume those on are what were fitted when you bought the car. ...

If it was me, I'd be getting it up on a ramp and giving it a very thorough check over ...

What they said.

And I know that awful feeling of having confidence in the machinery dented - not nice at all.

The two incidents so close together in a new motor must have scared the bejeezus out of you.

What pressures are you running in the tyres, maybe too high.

I know you said nothing "apeared" damaged, but I too would want a full geometry check after curbing at 30mph! Hitting a patch of black ice/diesel/oil in any car isn't fun! The bang could be related to damage from this. My mate had a tie bar go on an escot while traveling along a motorway & that made a BANG!!!

However if you say the radio backlight went out, this may be more common! Do a seach for Radio Popping or banging. I've had this happen and it does make you jump out of your skin! IIRC there is a ECU update that is supposed to correct this. Again a quick search should point you in the correct direction.

An Octy vRS should feel "well planted" even in an un-modded state, so I'm assuming you had all the checkes done, to make sure it had never been in an accident or thrashed etc before you bought it. With the rubbish tyres, you could be inhereting problems from the previous owner, so get it checked out pronto & i'm sure your confidence will come back given time!

Not a VRs, but the back of my car suddenly broke away on a roundabout recently, the rear tyres are budget but the fronts are goodyear eagle gsd 3 ....so I was lucky at least I could steer out of trouble ( I'm getting old, very used to rear wheel drive cars) but it put a dent in my confidence for a while, I found out later there was a diesel spill but it proves one thing (goodyears gripped OK, budget didn't).....when those budget tyres wear out on the back a pair of Goodyears will be going on.

...the loudest bang ever, as if something had struck the car at high speed - the only way I can think of to describe it is an extremely loud stone-on-glass crack...

Was this like an electrical crack?

A guy round the corner from me had almost identical symptoms with his VRS although he ended up sideswiping a park car.

He had a few loud cracks and ignored them. He briefly lost electrical power (and engine) on the corner and lost the car.

Guys, thanks so much for the replies. I think I will have to invest in some new tyres. I'll check pressures today and adjust if necessary - what pressure should I be running 225/45/17's on does anyone know? I'm going to try and get it up on a ramp too to have it checked over, just in case. The car ain't a vRS - it's an L&K, but I still feel it should inspire more confidence in terms of it feeling planted when cornering. As I said in my post, I wasn't driving too quick as it's not really my style given my job and all.

Uncle Bulgaria - I've searched for 'radio popping' and 'radio banging' but can't find anything? It sounds like it could be what happened though if you think it's fairly common. Can you give me more info on that? The car is a 56 plate Octy. Thinking about it now, I was sure that the bang sounded like something had hit my side of the car, but the g/f was equally sure something had hit the passenger side, so if the popping or banging noise comes out of the speakers, then that could be it. It was ridiculously loud though and the radio was only playing on about Vol6.

Thanks again guys, swift replies and friendly advice.

Mike

Was this like an electrical crack?

A guy round the corner from me had almost identical symptoms with his VRS although he ended up sideswiping a park car.

He had a few loud cracks and ignored them. He briefly lost electrical power (and engine) on the corner and lost the car.

Yeah - just one extremely loud electrical crack - briefly lost electrical power on the radio but that was all.

I had a loud bang just after I had new tyres fitted, turned out to be one of the balance weights had come off. went straight back to the tyre dealer and had wheel rebalanced no more problems. Might be worth checking your wheel balance.

Federal make only one good tyre - the 595RS (IIRC) and even that doesn't suit everyone. It's like a cheap psuedo-track tyre.

Talons? Never heard of them.

EDIT: changed model to 595RS - bloody numbers!

Edited 29 October, 200817 yr by brad1.8T

Falken FK452 (and only the 452) are a good grippy medium cost tyre, I've run a couple of sets now and they are very good IMHO.

I'd still get teh car checked out as there could be a hairline crack in the alloy, damage to driveshafts, wishbones etc or tyre damage by hitting a kirb sideways.

I've been in a car with a set of talons all around.... :eek: best sums up the lack of grip in the damp.

I've had the radio 'pop'. It was very loud and sudden. I lost the use of the radio unit until I switched off and restarted the car.

It's only happened once.

I've had a couple of low speed slides on diesel or oil. A horrible feeling that you're about to bang your car and you've done nothing wrong.

http://briskoda.net/octavia-ii/octavia-stream-radio-occasional-pop-noise/89416/

On the other note, my wife hit a kerb approx. 10mph in snow and bent the front suspension leg. Get it checked ASAP

This is the thread I think you need for an explanation to your 'Loud Crack' - http://briskoda.net/octavia-ii/thought-id-been-shot/102731/

As for tyres; you are doing the right thing; get some new ones. It never ceases to amaze me that guys will have £15-£20,000 or more worth of car and trust in £150 worth of tyres. As to which ones to get, there is always a wide range of opinion on here, and a multitude of threads but in price order for your size, 225/45 17, I would recommend;-

Falken FK452, Vredestein Ultrac Seccanta, Michelin Pilot Exalto 2 or Pilot Sport 2.

Good luck.

Federal make only one good tyre - the 535SS (IIRC) and even that doesn't suit everyone. It's like a cheap psuedo-track tyre.

Talons? Never heard of them.

I've got Federal 595s onthe rear of mine and apart from them being noisy they've been fine , realpced the front ones for Bridgestones but they'd be fine as well and had absolutely no cornering issues at all.

I'm almost positive your tires slipped on a diesel slick. I'd also get some decent brand tires if I were you. Spoils all the fun of a new purchase to not be able to drive it confidently. After all, 4 palm size pieces of rubber is everything your car rests on. If those are not any good you can expect all kinds of behaviors.

Uncle Bulgaria - I've searched for 'radio popping' and 'radio banging' but can't find anything? It sounds like it could be what happened though if you think it's fairly common. Can you give me more info on that? The car is a 56 plate Octy. Thinking about it now, I was sure that the bang sounded like something had hit my side of the car, but the g/f was equally sure something had hit the passenger side, so if the popping or banging noise comes out of the speakers, then that could be it. It was ridiculously loud though and the radio was only playing on about Vol6.

Thanks again guys, swift replies and friendly advice.

Mike

Hi Mate, think you might have had a few responses to this already, but try the following:

http://briskoda.net/octavia-ii/dead-audio-stream-mp3/107434/

http://briskoda.net/octavia-ii/octavia-stream-radio-occasional-pop-noise/89416/

http://briskoda.net/octavia-ii/audio-system-fault/62729/

http://briskoda.net/octavia-ii/radio-oddness/85962/

Our local dealer looked into this for me at the last service. My TFSI vRS had the ECU reflashed (24k5) which they also told me should also resolve this. Not sure if there is a similar fix for the L&K though. Bottom line, get it checked out!

Yup, get some decent rubber all around and get the geometry done and a thorough check of the suspension / steering components on the offside.

If you value your life you willrip off those TRIANGLES!!!!!:eek:

A friend of mine had them on a mk4 gt tdi golf..

Result = TOTAL DISINTREGRATION!!!! I kid u not..

Lumps of the rubber just flew off !!

I'l try and get a pic of the tyres for ya

And because you had them on the back and i'm suspecting that its a tdi vrs you have you were heavy at the front and light at the back !!

If you've clipped the kerb in them, check regularly for damage or bulges - replace if ANY damage found.

You can get some decent tyres for £300 all round. I dont use budgets when I'm doing 50k a year. My life just isnt worth the risk IMO, no matter what my firm say.

Hell if they argue, I'll happily pay the £10 diff.

Does the car have ESP?, thought it might have helped a bit when you lost control.

If it was diesel or oil then there is a limit to what the esp can do without any friction on the road. If it did have it, then probably helped a bit to keep it pointing in roughly the right direction