Hi all,

newbie here, only just registered and nice to be here and meet you all.

I recently bought a 1999 Skoda Octavia 1.8L SLX automatic with only 52K Miles with history. It's my first Skoda and I am impressed however I had bad fumes coming into the car when i bought it so i took it to the garage who serviced it and sorted out a rocker gasket leak so it is now bone dry and runs nicely. However when the engine is nice and hot and I am sitting at lights or somewhere with the engine running, i still get fumes coming into the cabin which are not very nice. The engine is a bit smelly from the outside too (not sure why-with this mileage it shouldn't be) when you open the door you can smell them.

I took it back to the garage and they stripped the whole pipe section down from the back of the engine and reseated all pipes and made sure there were none corroded or split. Still the fumes come in when stationary (not when driving)

I have spoken to Skoda dealership in North London but they want 100 quid an hour just to fault find and then any parts on top of that which to be honest i can't afford.

I was wondering if anyone may have come across a similar problem and give any clues as to what this could be i would truly be very grateful. I have since been back to that garage again and they have looked again but swear blind there are no fumes, however you only notice them when you have been behind the wheel for a while.

Any ideas, fixes, suggestions welcomed.

Thanks in advance.

Peace!

Welcome to the site. Can't help personally, but try posting in the Octavia MK1 section, someone there may be able to give you some suggestions.

I usually get the blame for any fumes inside our car.....

I've no idea of an answer, but you may get more joy if this is moved to Octavia Mk1 section

Oh sorry guys...wrong section, silly me!

erm.. not sure how to move it i will create a new topic in that section and hopefully some mod can delete this one?

thanks for your comments guys and for the welcome.

I'd not have seen it if it wasn't still showing as "new and recent topics".

I'd check the exhaust system, particularly the catalytic convertor/downpipe, the seals on the plenum chamber that the heater intake and wiper gubbins are in, and check the crankcase ventilation system for cracked pipes. Some of the ones down the back of the engine are quite prone to cracking.

Thanks Ken,

I will compile a list of all suggestions from this forum and take them to the garage for checking. I think they already checked the pipes at the back of the engine though but i thank you for your thoughts and suggestions.

I recently had a simular problem with my MK2. Took it to the dealers and it turned out to be an engine sensor.

Give these guys a call if you want cheap but excellent service

http://www.youngsgarage.biz/

Used them several times now, never disapointed

a sensor? wow! never would have guessed that.

Damn they are so far from me i am in Whetstone, Barnet.

Thanks for that Richie

a sensor? wow! never would have guessed that.

Damn they are so far from me i am in Whetstone, Barnet.

Thanks for that Richie

Happy to help. It is worth the trip, see my thread in tuners and workshops..... :yes:

Maybe give them a call, the guys there are allways happy to give advice.

If the fumes are from the exhaust then it is potentially dangerous -the carbon monoxide can affect you quite quickly. I was once driving a Renault 21 Turbo (petrol) and started feeling sick and a headache started coming on. The feeling was coming and going a bit which was strange. I mentioned it to my passenger and they said they were feeling the same! I suddenly realized it must be due to exhaust fumes leaking into the car and it was worst driving uphill or when stationary. I already knew the exhaust was blowing a bit but I didn't think it was a problem because i'd driven many cars in the past with a blowing exhaust and never had any problems. I then dropped all the windows, opened the sunroof and got the exhust centre box replaced the next day. Neither of us could smell the fumes in the car.