Hi all, first time i've posted as never really had a problem before, i wonder if you could help. On start up, usually when the engine is cold, my 05 MK1 Octavia Vrs sounds as if its blowing like hell from the engine compartment. If i leave it for a minute or two the blowing goes and engine/exhaust note sounds as it should. I'm sure its a turbo related problem. Its doing my head in as mates always comment on the noise. Cheers

Try searching for secondary air pump , might be what you are hearing

hth , Dave

You will be glad to know that it isn't turbo related, it is infact the secondary air pump to warm up the cat on the exhaust.

thanks Dave, will do

So nothing to worry about Jon????

Its not a big issue but the noise can be annoying.

The fix is simply to remove the air pump, and replace the rivets that hold the two parts of the pump together with some nuts and bolts.

Well the pump (which is located beneath the altenator) can split apart as the rivets are not great, this then makes the operation within the first few moments noisy and can make the car stutter if driven straight away.

Mine looks OK and not splitting but still makes quite a bit of noise, but I guess it will make slightly more noise when in operation anyway and has never concerned me.

Great, another annoying fault I can fix now! Knew the noise was the air pump, didn't realise the fact that is was loud on startup was an indication that it was split. And that explains the occasional stuttering and stalling from cold starts...

You could just remove it and chuck it in the bin.....

If mine ever packs in I'm removing it. You can buy a blanking plate for the port in the head where the combination valve sits. Common mod done by the mk4 lads.

It's sole purpose is to quickly warm up the cat to reduce cold start emissions.

It's sole purpose is to quickly warm up the cat to reduce cold start emissions.

Sounds utterly useless

It is supposed to prolong the life of the cat by heating it up quicker (no jokes about kittens and microwaves please)

Mines has been making this noise too and the stuttering but you can hear it switch off and obviously get more quiet but i still have what sounds like a blowing exhaust even when warm ( I have had the exhaust checked more than 5 times and it isn't blowing). Is this part of the same problem or completely different???

Ross

WRC_068

It is supposed to prolong the life of the cat by heating it up quicker (no jokes about kittens and microwaves please)

Really? Where did you read that then, because Skoda don't mention that in their technical explanation.

Thanks for all your advice and handy links, hope to have a look at it in the near future. Will post the results...........cheers

Mines has been making this noise too and the stuttering but you can hear it switch off and obviously get more quiet but i still have what sounds like a blowing exhaust even when warm ( I have had the exhaust checked more than 5 times and it isn't blowing). Is this part of the same problem or completely different???

Ross

WRC_068

Sounds normal imo.

It does sound rough for the first minute. It's when it sounds dog rough the air pump is knackered.

I'll try and sort out the secondary air pump and see what it sounds like after that. Can anyone remember what size the nut and bolt is to fix it??

Ross

WRC_068

WRC_068 - Here's the link to the guide on how to fix the secondary air pump -

Step-by-step guide for repairing the Secondary Air Pump (with pictures) - uk-mkivs

You need 6 4mm x 50mm (or 4mm x 45mm) bolts. I've got the same problem on my VRS and I plan to sort it out soon!

mikos