I bought my Octavia vRS just over 1 week ago and so far I'm overly impressed and can't believe my luck.

My query is this.

When my 2003 Octavia vRS (22,000 miles, Variable Servicing) is sat in traffic or just left idling, there are 2 areas I am concerned about.

1st, after a minute or 2 there is a small clunk, the revs drop to about 500rpm then return to normal but then there is a faint droning noise and rattling noise, it sounds like the aircon (the droning is not the fans as they are not running). Does anyone else's do this?

2nd, after the above the revs then drop to about 200-300rpm then return to normal, this is the 2 fans on the radiator starting. They only run for a very short period of time, then start again in a minute or 2 if still stuck in traffic. Does anyone else have this?

My Octi temperature gauge heats upto 90c very quickly from cold and once sat there the needle doesn't move until it has been turned off for a while.

I dont think I have anything to worry about but no other car I have owned has behaved like this. Normally when the fans start you can see them cooling the water temperature by watching the needle drop or rise depending on the weather.

Can I have some experiences of your cars so I can make my mind up if I need to book it back into the Skoda dealership I bought it from.

Cheers

Matthew

Matthew, if you have climatronic with the setting on anything other than econ and the ambient temp is higher than 5c then those 2 fans should run all the while the engine is running. If on econ or the temp is less than 5c then the fans should work as with any car, switching on/off as required. Mine idles fine as the a/c compressor cuts in and out with both fans running.

My temp also rises quickly to 90c but then stays there no matter what the outside temp is or previaling traffic conditions.

the first noise you hear is possibly the secondary air pump cutting in and out,

the pump forces air into the exhaust manifold to raise the the gas temperature for emission control.

this will happen if you start the engine and leave it idling for a few moments,

the revs go up,exhaust note changes and you may feel a slight vibration,

this normal, (all for emission controls)