As part of the on going mystery with the newly acquired Octavia I'd like to know what engine people would expect to find in a 53 plate TDi hatchback Ambiente? Believed to be a 90 BHP?)

The VIN/Vehicle Data panel give it as a ALH, but there again they also give the car as an automatci and it's certainly a manual. The last owner says he didn't change it, and his mate who owned it before that from new was fastidious in getting all work done by Skoda.

I also have been given the registered engine number, but unsure where to check for this, Skoda Tech thought it could be on the gear box end of the block or on the back. Also been told the code is on the front by the web to the gearbox join, but I can't see anything.

If anyone can give me detailed info on where to find these code I would be grateful. Even happier if they could tell me where the gearbox code would be.

I'm guessing that the engine in the auto version must be different to the manual, because the manual CO2 is 140 g/km and the auto 173 g/km.

Tom

I'd like to know what engine people would expect to find in a 53 plate TDi hatchback Ambiente?

After checking Parkers, which says the Ambiente was only available with the 90PS engine, I looked on Wikipedia which says AGR or ALH.

I'm guessing that the engine in the auto version must be different to the manual, because the manual CO2 is 140 g/km and the auto 173 g/km.

No, the different CO2 is due to the different gearbox.

After checking Parkers, which says the Ambiente was only available with the 90PS engine, I looked on Wikipedia which says AGR or ALH.

No, the different CO2 is due to the different gearbox.

OK, well the only proof I have at the moment is ALH being written on the label on the cover over the timing belt.

So if I were to assume that this was made as a ALH with an auto and someone has changed it to manual, anyone any idea how I would go about getting the details changed? I know that DVLA want proof, so do I need to go contact Skoda type approval with the proof of engine and gearbox and they'll issue new details?

Tom

the only proof I have at the moment is ALH being written on the label on the cover over the timing belt.

Should also be on the inside of the service history booklet and, I think, on an identical label on the boot floor.

if I were to assume that this was made as a ALH with an auto and someone has changed it to manual

It'd be as easy to assume someone made a mistake when the car was first registered, and I suspect that is much more likely.

how I would go about getting the details changed?

No idea, and I'd like to know the answer too as the registration document for our car says 1998cc which is slightly wrong for a 1.9 TDi!

I know that DVLA want proof, so do I need to go contact Skoda type approval with the proof of engine and gearbox and they'll issue new details?

In the absence of someone telling us differently, my first thought is that we'd need to get a Skoda dealer to certify, (i.e. state in writing), the correct details. I've just looked up about this and infer from the information on the DVLA website that this is roughly what to do.

That's the problem, the sticker in the boot/service book, and the VIN on those, the windscreen and in the engine bay all report this vehicle as ALH engine and FDB gearbox (4 speed auto).

I suspect that a Skoda Dealer won't suffice, we'll need to speak therefore to Skoda UK. They put me in contact with their type approval, who sent me a form. When I phoned them suspecting they'd misundertstood me they were some what less than open to the idea that Skoda might have made a mistake at build time.

That I suspect means I'm left with getting photographic evidence that it is an ALH engine and of what ever the gearbox it is. This I'll supply to the VW Group Type Approval, they will then create a new certificate, which I then give to DVLA. They'll correct my V5, my tax will then drop by £70 a year.

The question is, how much is it going to cost?

Out of interest, is yours a 5 speed manual Ambiente too?

Tom

is yours a 5 speed manual Ambiente too?

6 speed L&K

Sight unseen, I'm pretty sure all Ambiantes were 90s or 130s. Distinguishing features:-

90 - 5-speed, all black and silver TDi badge.

130 - 6-speed, Black T and red Di on badge.

Sight unseen, I'm pretty sure all Ambiantes were 90s or 130s. Distinguishing features:-

90 - 5-speed, all black and silver TDi badge.

130 - 6-speed, Black T and red Di on badge.

I think that the 130 was only fitted to the Ambiente SE so there "should" be an SE badge too if it is one, but I don't think they came out until late 2004.

I think that the 130 was only fitted to the Ambiente SE so there "should" be an SE badge too if it is one, but I don't think they came out until late 2004.

I'm pretty sure this is the 90BHP version.

VW Type Approval said I need to speak to VOSA, VOSA said not us speak to DVLA, it was DVLA who said I needed to speak to Skoda to get the proof.

So I think I'm now at the point that if the egine was the same, but the auto was higher emission, I'm going to need to photograph the engine and gearbox code & numbers, send those to Skoda UK and ask them to provide details of the emissions for a vehicle configured that way.

I can see this being a complicated issue. I might just ask DVLA if I can take it to a garage somewhere and get the emissions tested and send them the cert,

Tom