Hello everyone.

I run a Octavia 1.9tdi estate, new in November 2007. Whilst generally delighted with the car, I have been concerned from an early stage at the engine noise the car makes. Now, at first I thought it was just typical of the 'ancient design of engine', but a friends golf was ok and a Octavia tdi courtesy car was fine. The problem is a drone/boom from the engine at 2000 rpm and at 3000 rpm.

As the revs rise, the engine makes normal acceptable diesel noise levels, but shortly before 2000 rpm, the engine develops a drone/boom but which disappears at say 2100 rpm. The boom comes back at 3000 rpm.

This creates two real problems. I tow a caravan and 60 mph in 5th gear is...2000 rpm. If I travel at just on these revs, the drone is really bad, clearly it is worse as the load on engine is greater. I constantly have to tow at speeds avoiding the drone. Likewise, at 80 mph this is 3000 rpm, and so the cars cruising ability is poor. In fact it is quieter at 90 than it is at around 80.

My local dealer has looked at the car and doesn't think there is anything wrong. Now that I've driven a identical loan car, I know that there is. To me it seems to be exhaust related rather than mechanical. Even dropping through the revs slowing down the car briefly drones as it passes through the 2000 rev band. The car is due it first service shortly, its done nearly 15000 miles, and so I will be asking the dealer to once again look into it.

Can any one help me with any advice in order to tackle the dealer? Is there is a know problem with the exhaust or anything similiar?

Regards

G. Bain

My only thought to this is that you have an estate model so there is a large open space at the rear giving off some noise.I doubt it has any exhaust problem but these cars do lack in rear sound deadning.Was the courtesey car an estate?

The 1.9 isn,t exactly very refined as the 16 valve 2.0 so there will be more noise from an 8 valve engine.I have noticed with mine that it sounds more "harsher" with more miles on it and above 2000 rpm does get quite noisey like you say to about 3000 rpm so i don,t think you have any problems.I did find my MK1 1.9 more quiter when spooled up after 2000 rpm but not as much fun as the Mk2 TDi. Hope this helps:thumbup:

I have heard of a 1.9 TDI caddy van that had a strange engine noise which turned out to be a split in a muffler. Once it was fixed the noise went away. Might be worth giving the exhaust system a good check over looking for leaks.

My thoughts exactly - either exhaust related 9maybe a leak in the pipe?), or some sort of resonance - either from the estate back, or from something loose somewhere? Have you checked that the spare wheel is screwed down tightly? Just a few thoughts...

I also read recently of someone that had a broken support bracket on one of the intake/intercooler pipes that was causing a noise/vibration. It was quite hard to see, as it was still in position and there wasn't much room around it.

With reference to MTB thread regarding 'Engine sound through the revs', this is my earlier discussion. SInce placing this thread in December 2008, the car has had its first service at 17000 miles. I raised the issue of the noise once again, but unfortunately there do not seem that interested in helping resolve this. I remain convinced that my car has a fault as a friends golf with same engine is fine, and courtesy octavia was fine. The noise is, I would say at a guess exhaust/induction related and its is always at 2000 rpm. I would not describe as a vibration or as a mechanical thing. 2000rpm coincides with 60 mph in fifth gear and so on A roads, its always a speed I am travelling.

It is even detactable when slowing down as engine drops through the 2000 revs range. As soon as engine passes 2100 rpm the engine is 'quiet' again. However, it picks up at 3000 rpm again, about 80 mph, and so destroys the car's refinement on a motorway. In fact it is much more refined at 85/90 than it is at 80, but obviously its not ideal to speed up merely to improve the refinement of the car.

I have owned the car from new, and from the outset, felt the engine was not as refined as my previous Octavia estate 1.9 tdi 90 hp.

Any thoughts or other experiences would be appreciated. I am certain it's not a noise merely because its an estate or because of DMF problems.

thanks.

Does the noise occur if the engine is revved in neutral (as in no real load on the engine)? It sounds more like a resonance issue if the exhaust isn't the source of the problem.

I've mentioned this in other similar threads so I apologise if you have read them already:

Its worth checking under the bonnet with someone else revving the engine whether any components are rattling against one another.

A few small bits of plastic reverberating at high frequency can generate considerable levels of troublesome noise. Take your time and systematically check everything under the bonnet.

I think that this is a 'characteristic' of the engine/estate combination. I also get this on my 08 estate, and the drone was also there on the 06 model I had previously, at exactly the speeds the original poster identified.

As to the 'cure' ......?

Hello,

I continue to trawl this website in the vain hope that I may be able to pinpoint the droning noise on my Octavia. I am becoming increasing tired of the car and my local dealer does not seem the slight bit interested.

I have today found on www.octavia-vrs.com a list of common faults on the Octavia A5 model. One such fault is 'drive shaft vibration' on 1.9 tdi pd engine. It states that in such cases interior noise may be evident (vibration) at approx 1900 revs and especially at 2900 revs. Solution is to replace a revised driveshaft.

Whilst my car is a droning type of noise which gets loud going through or holding/cruising at these revs, I would not really describe it as a vibration as such. Perhaps my problem is the same but only mild?

The problem is I can't find much else on web about this fault.

Has anyone else had this problem with their Octavia? Could this be the cause of my noise?

Driving home tonight I had to contend with a droning engine, creaking doorseals and a rattle from the top of dasboard which has recently started. All in a 18 month old car with 20000 miles on clock!!. Whilst this is my second Skoda, I feel it will be my last. I understand the doorseals is also a common problem, my dealer denied all knowledge.

A dissapointed Octavia owner.

I think you need to take the bull by the horns. The car is well within its warranty and is not satisfactory. You need to circumvent the dealer and contact Skoda customer services and tell them of your total dissatisfaction with the car. It SHOULDN'T be droning like it is and the door seals SHOULD NOT creak. Keep on at them until you get a result.

You should also explore the option of trying another dealer. I had to try 4 different dealers before I found one even willing to investigate the issues I had with my Octavia, this particular dealership is 92 miles from my house :eek:

I can fully sympathise with the way you have been fobbed off like you have and I sincerely hope you make some progress soon

I would suggest putting your concerns in writing (even email) to the dealer principal of your local garage that you bought the car from. I got an email response within 30 minutes to thank me for raising the issue and to say that the service manager would call be the next day. It was agreed to leave it until the upcoming service and next time the check-in sheet said "VIP" so I guess they are trying to look after me given I've bought 2 cars from them in the last couple of years, plus I use them for all servicing.

As others have said do not give up and be fobbed off.

Could it be tyres?

I foolishly had Avon ZV3's fitted to my 1.9TDI when the original Bridgestones were worn out ..... BIG MISTAKE!! I get an awful droning noise at around 50/60 mph. Close examination of the tyres reveals "saw toothing" (alternating high/low tread blocks). Dave @ DSB Autocare (my local specialist independent) verifies that the wheel bearings are fine and the problem is down to the rubbish tyres.

Just another 20k miles before they're worn ou!!!

HTH

Dave

Could it be tyres?

I foolishly had Avon ZV3's fitted to my 1.9TDI when the original Bridgestones were worn out ..... BIG MISTAKE!! I get an awful droning noise at around 50/60 mph. Close examination of the tyres reveals "saw toothing" (alternating high/low tread blocks). Dave @ DSB Autocare (my local specialist independent) verifies that the wheel bearings are fine and the problem is down to the rubbish tyres.

Just another 20k miles before they're worn ou!!!

HTH

Dave

The ZV4s are just as ****e by the way

Hello folks,

Just thought I would add an update to my problem of engine drone at 2000 and 3000 revs. I tried another dealer who took my concerns seriously. Following a test drive he confirmed that he thought it was the offside driveshaft. Back at the garage, he put it on a ramp and took number of shaft, Upon checking Skoda's database, my car did indeed have a defective driveshaft. A new one has now been fitted to car under warranty and totally transformed the way it drives. No more droning noise. It just a shame that first dealer did not take my concerns seriously.

I am now a happy Skoda owner and would advise anyone with a similiar noise to hassle their dealer. The problem is a known fault on 1.9 tdi manual. Thanks to this website and a link to a site detailing known problems I have solved the mystery.

Interesting, my 1.9 manual droned terribly from new and Skoda replaced the front offside wheel bearing which fixed it. Maybe they did the driveshaft on mine too? It was so quiet after that.

Hello folks,

Just thought I would add an update to my problem of engine drone at 2000 and 3000 revs. I tried another dealer who took my concerns seriously. Following a test drive he confirmed that he thought it was the offside driveshaft. Back at the garage, he put it on a ramp and took number of shaft, Upon checking Skoda's database, my car did indeed have a defective driveshaft. A new one has now been fitted to car under warranty and totally transformed the way it drives. No more droning noise. It just a shame that first dealer did not take my concerns seriously.

I am now a happy Skoda owner and would advise anyone with a similiar noise to hassle their dealer. The problem is a known fault on 1.9 tdi manual. Thanks to this website and a link to a site detailing known problems I have solved the mystery.

Glad to see your problem has been solved, might I suggest you use the dealer review function on this site to highlight the difference between the two dealers. The reviews do get read by Skoda UK.

Link to the dealer review section

Skoda Retailer Reviews - Skoda Retailer Reviews at BRISKODA.net - BRISKODA - The Skoda Forums

Hello folks,

Just thought I would add an update to my problem of engine drone at 2000 and 3000 revs. I tried another dealer who took my concerns seriously. Following a test drive he confirmed that he thought it was the offside driveshaft. Back at the garage, he put it on a ramp and took number of shaft, Upon checking Skoda's database, my car did indeed have a defective driveshaft. A new one has now been fitted to car under warranty and totally transformed the way it drives. No more droning noise. It just a shame that first dealer did not take my concerns seriously.

I am now a happy Skoda owner and would advise anyone with a similiar noise to hassle their dealer. The problem is a known fault on 1.9 tdi manual. Thanks to this website and a link to a site detailing known problems I have solved the mystery.

Well thanks to your info I contacted Skoda UK CS who denied any issues with drive shafts, but after a chat with the dealer it was agreed to change the offside drive shaft (with built in dampener) same part numbers and............... its solved the droning noise - bliss!

Now just to solve the dreadful resonance behind the glove box/bulkhead when its cold ! any ides PLEASE !!!!!