Hi guys, hope you can help.

Lately...I've been having a problem with my 2001, 1.4 Octavia. I'm going to explain what it is doing the BEST I can.

It doesn't do this ALL the time but...when I am in 3rd or 4th gear..it will start making this popcorn sound and sounds as if it's coming from under the drivers seat. If it does this while in 4th gear, it will stop if I change to a lower gear. But then again, after awhile...while in 3rd gear, it will start up again or if I'm driving uphill.

I've talked to so many different people about this and nobody has a clue what I'm talking about. And of course, it ONLY happens when I'm driving it. A good friend of mine has driven it to hell & back trying to figure out what the deal is but it never happens when he is driving. Is there ANYbody here that has experienced anything like this with their Octavia? Or anyone who can tell me what I need to check?

I know there is a term for it but I cannot remember.

Hoping somebody can help out.

Also I was thinking of getting an engine re-tune or partial rebuild. Anybody know someone who could do this in Ireland, N Ireland or Western Britain?

can you record the sound on a mobile phone or something?? Might make it easier to identify what is happening...:confused:

Guys,

I remembered the term: It is described as 'pinking'. If anybody can help me resolve this I'd be very grateful

K

It's quite hard to get pinking on an electronically managed car, as they have a knock sensor and should adjust timing accordingly. It will be worse if you are labouring the engine at low revs.

Have you had the codes read?

Could also perhaps be piston slap? Maybe, if the engine is very worn- how may miles has it done?

If you think the car is pinking, get the engine management system read for fault codes. It needs sorting because it can majorly damage an engine if it goes on too long.

Check the VagCom forum to see if there's someone near you who'd do it for a couple of beer tokens before going to a garage though.

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the replies. I spoke to a Skoda Engineer in Phoenix Motors in Bluebell, Dublin (Thanks Ken) this morning and he said that it was a normal noise for the 1.4 Engine, possible due to the fact that most fuel is 95 here in Dublin. He suggested I use 98 more often.

"It's quite hard to get pinking on an electronically managed car, as they have a knock sensor and should adjust timing accordingly. It will be worse if you are labouring the engine at low revs.

Have you had the codes read?

Could also perhaps be piston slap?"

Bang on CJB, He told me all the above and said that it can sound like piston slap but it's not that. It's just over 80Miles on the clock and he said that it's normal for an engine with that amount of miles on it and nothing to worry about. The engine is in good condition as he sees it.

Thanks again guys and I hope this helps others who have heard the same problem.

Ken