Build quality of my 2008 vRS seems generally good, but I can hear some door-seal 'rustle' when driving slowly on bumpy roads. Seems to be the type of rubber they use on the door seals, its quite 'squeaky'. Anyone else had this on a recent model - I assume some silicone spray lubricant will quieten it off....

I traded in my 54 plate 2.0 140 Elegance for exactly the same again 58 plate (except went for the DSG instead of manual).

When I picked the car up and drove it home, it was making a creaking sound on the bumpy roads (it was fine on the motorway). Went back to the garage and the door seals were replaced.

They are still creaking though. Doesn't creak on all bumps, just those that seem to cause the car to flex. Also creaks pulling up onto my drive.

I'm back at the dealer tomorrow for a second time.

My old car was silent in terms of rattles creaks etc for the almost 4 years I had it.

They are still creaking though. Doesn't creak on all bumps, just those that seem to cause the car to flex. Also creaks pulling up onto my drive.

I'm back at the dealer tomorrow for a second time.

Sounds just like mine. I'm not sure replacing the seals with the same type will help because I don't think the seals are 'faulty' as such, I think its the type of rubber that's used. I think I'll try lubricating mine with some silicone lubricant.

Build quality of my 2008 vRS seems generally good, but I can hear some door-seal 'rustle' when driving slowly on bumpy roads. Seems to be the type of rubber they use on the door seals, its quite 'squeaky'. Anyone else had this on a recent model - I assume some silicone spray lubricant will quieten it off....

It has been covered in one long thread. I'll try to resume the most important:

Door seals with problem are those installed on the doors and not on the main body. Most problematic ones are those on the top of the doors and one vertical on the rear doors (the seal that is on the front, vertical part of the rear door. Front door closes on top of that seal).

Silicone lube solves the problem for few days, one week max. I solved mine with parafine lube. I got it in supermarket as spray to use on engine after washing (to give it a shine). It's been two months now after using it only once and I can hear the noise again, very little. Using parafine lube once every two months is more then fine for me.

One last thing: Don't spray it on the seals, you'll make such a mess... Spray it on little piece of sponge and the aply it on seals.

Also, search for thread "door seals rattle" or something like that and you'll get a lot of useful informations.

Thanks for that reply, very useful.

Yes, mine seems be the seal on the doors at the top. I don't think swapping the seal will effect a cure - its the composition of the rubber that's the problem and hopefully lubrication will be the answer.

I will try a silicone lube first (I have access to a range of lubes and want to avoid mineral-oil based if possible).

Here you can read a lot of information about door rattle.

I suggest you avoid 'Vaseline' type lubes (remember the warnings with condoms:eek:). Try the silicone grease sold by plumbers merchants for use with 'O' rings on fittings, expensive but long lasting. Also good if your doors freeze shut in very cold weather.

If this was my first Octy, I might have bought the idea that the seal creaking is a characteristic of the car and that lubricating them will help.

But, my previous Octy (identical spec in every respect apart from gearbox) didn't make a sound, so therefore, I don't expect this car to make a sound and would like Skoda to sort the problem out.

I have noticed a lot more play in the movement of the doors when they're shut. Also, when opening the front passenger door from the inside, you hardly have to pull the handle and the door opens very easily indeed without much of a "clunk". Maybe there is too much play and the doors simply need to be tightened?

When I go back to the garage, if my old car is still there, will see if I can have a look at the seals as to whether they look or feel different and maybe suggest tightening of the doors.

But, my previous Octy (identical spec in every respect apart from gearbox) didn't make a sound, so therefore, I don't expect this car to make a sound and would like Skoda to sort the problem out.

I have noticed a lot more play in the movement of the doors when they're shut. Also, when opening the front passenger door from the inside, you hardly have to pull the handle and the door opens very easily indeed without much of a "clunk". Maybe there is too much play and the doors simply need to be tightened?

Yes, mine is exactly the same - the seal is not under much compression when the door is closed. Unfortunately this seems to be the way that Skoda have designed the car. You could try moving the door striker plate 'inwards' slightly, this would increase the compression on the seals, but it would also result in slight misalignment of the rear edge of the door (it would be inset slightly) - I already looked at this on my car.

I think this is basically a design issue. The design of the Octavia MkI door sealing is somewhat different to that of the MkII, so you can't make a direct comparison.

Yes, mine is exactly the same - the seal is not under much compression when the door is closed. Unfortunately this seems to be the way that Skoda have designed the car. You could try moving the door striker plate 'inwards' slightly, this would increase the compression on the seals, but it would also result in slight misalignment of the rear edge of the door (it would be inset slightly) - I already looked at this on my car.

I think this is basically a design issue. The design of the Octavia MkI door sealing is somewhat different to that of the MkII, so you can't make a direct comparison.

Fair one about misaligning the doors. My previous Oct was a MkII, I bought it in Oct 2004 just as the new model was released. I'm not personally convinced it's a design issue, other than either the current seals are different to the ones on my previous car in terms of material or hardness, or the doors aren't tight enough against the seal and therefore there's a bit too much play in them.

I think, that if the doors are tending to move, tightness of the seals is not essential.

The rattling would be present even with increased tightness .

Additionally, a lot of people are reporting changing of the door seals with no effect :confused:.

This wouldn't be happening, if the new seals were corrected by appropriate way.

The answer may be have to be found in decreasing of the doors movement somehow .

And of course, in the material of the seal itself .

I have used silicone lubricant with great success, but it was gone after a few car washes...

I've just been outside and taken a look at the doors and seals.

The door alignment appears to be 'spot on'. If I push the door in a little further (just a few millimetres, to increase the compression of the seal) the top edge of the seal starts to 'curl out' and no longer lays correctly. Also the door edge alignment with the roof and sill becomes incorrect. In short, I don't think moving the striker plate would be the solution.