Hi i have recently bought a 2002 skoda octavia rs, and i have a couple of problems, maybe someone might be able to help me with. Firstly when u start the car there is a grinding noise, which i think may be the starter motor. Second problem is on a cold start it seems to idle erratic for a bit until u give the gas pedal a blip, then its ok. When the car is warmed up it is fine tho, i have changed the battery as it was original one on car, so maybe that had something to do with it.

Daniel

Dunno about the grinding, but the stutter when cold will be the secondary air pump - loads of threads on here about how to fix it

no need to fix the secondary air system thats how it works its ther for a reason on cold start it warms cat up to pass emmisions and all that rubbish

if you dont like it it can be removed if you wish....

i use it as a good marker untilthe revs have droped i.e warm i dont drive it

another thing that causes idle problems is Vacuum leaks or Throttle Body may be in need of cleaning. HTH

op states that its at cold start so would bet my house its just the secondary air system doing the job its there for....

amazing how many people dont know about the secondary air system

It'll drag the temperature up from cold, but It shouldn't cause an erratic idle while it does it.

It'll drag the temperature up from cold, but It shouldn't cause an erratic idle while it does it.

idle will change at cold start to about 1200rpm so i assume the op means this is erratic so normal!!

My dad has got a octavia rs too which he has had frm brand new, and it doesn't do what mine does. Someone at my dads work said idle control valve but I don't know where it is. It's like it wanted to stall as I drove it off my drive. But as I said of starting frm warm it is ok

No when I mean erratic the needle bounces up and down and you can feel the engine stuttering.

No when I mean erratic the needle bounces up and down and you can feel the engine stuttering.

okay then it sounds like there maybe a leak check the pipe work on the breather system

the one from the crack housing to the rocker cover y piece is the most common and this will cause this to happen

Ok cheers everyone for the help, shall check all the above, see what I can find. Failing that I will book it in with local skoda dealer

I agree with westallc on this,my does the same,its just the secondary air pump doing its thing,sometimes mine is smooth from cold & other times the revs go up & down,it only happens for 30 secs whilst the pumps running.as said i just leave it ticking over until the pump finishes doing its thing,if i try to drive off before its finished the car coughs & splutters & trys to stall. you can check your pump is not coming apart(dogdy rivets)there is a post on it on here.

If the grinding noise only happens when the starter motor is engaged, it's got to be the motor, Bendix, pinion, or ring gear. You need a set of calibrated ears there when you start the car though (and an audio clip won't cut it, because those ears are best attached to the hand on the ignition key.

Does the grinding noise only occur after the engine has actually fired and only last for a few moments?

If so, VW group cars are notorious for this problem, the dirt/dust from the cutch will have worked its way into the started and it wont be recoiling properly after starting, it'l need removing and cleaning and really is a simple job, i did mine on friday in about 30 mins. There are lots of threads on here providing instructions if you need them!

I agree with westallc on this,my does the same,its just the secondary air pump doing its thing,sometimes mine is smooth from cold & other times the revs go up & down,it only happens for 30 secs whilst the pumps running.as said i just leave it ticking over until the pump finishes doing its thing,if i try to drive off before its finished the car coughs & splutters & trys to stall. you can check your pump is not coming apart(dogdy rivets)there is a post on it on here.

mine does exactly the same, i've just learned to live with it just not very handy if you need to set off straight away

Found the problem, it was a vacuum leak. Had a split hose, so had two replaced and had the seal on the turbo hose replaced.

okay then it sounds like there maybe a leak check the pipe work on the breather system

the one from the crack housing to the rocker cover y piece is the most common and this will cause this to happen

ooh, crack house eh? can I get one of those on mine as well? :p (ducks for cover)

Never tried that mod, is it a good one?

lol

Just a further note, started up my vrs this morning. Was idling fine until I tried to pull away, then it started idling funny, engine was struggling to idle normally. Switched engine off and restarted it and it was fine. So I think il be taking it back to Hayes skoda garage for further investigation. Bloody cars!

My starter used to make that horrid noise, I had it reconditioned via Frost motor services Ipswich

Going to check my hose now too as sometimes has similar rev problem to yours.

I also have had engine speed sensor (IIRC) as it started cutting out, management light came on and ran really underpowered (like in limp mode), have it fault read

Edited 10 February, 201016 yr by Zoe

Well zoe, my dad done my starter. Had two vac hoses replaced. One was on manifold and other was engine breather pipe. Me and my dad are gona have a look at secondary air pump. I think that may be causing it, as I left it to idle for a minute on Monday before going to work and it drove fine. Shame I'm working away as I would test it everyday

Well zoe, my dad done my starter. Had two vac hoses replaced. One was on manifold and other was engine breather pipe. Me and my dad are gona have a look at secondary air pump. I think that may be causing it, as I left it to idle for a minute on Monday before going to work and it drove fine. Shame I'm working away as I would test it everyday