New (Used '56 plate Octavia) Owner Questions

[atif]

Hey guys. I've just purchased a second hand Octavia (2.0 TDI PD Elegance) 56 plate and have some questions regarding some work that needs doing to it. It has 58800 miles on the clock and had its last service last September at 53000 miles. This service was an interim service by an independent dealer so some filters (oil etc.) were changed as well as the brake fluid (to the best of my knowledge - I don't have the paper work with me at the moment). I want to get a more thorough major service done and am looking at something like the Halfords major service which costs £215 (£199 with AA membership discount). My question relates to a document I have just come across when looking through the cars history of MOT. On the advisory page for the last MOT completed on the account there is a note saying:

"Nearside front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated [2.5.C.1a]".

Can anybody please advise me what this is? I don't pretend to know a lot about cars etc. so would appreciate any help. Also at the last service the last owner purchased and had a "skoda tac moter" fitted. This is the exact spelling on the receipt and the cost was £363.00 for this part. Can someone please explain what this is?

Sorry for sounding like such an imbecile when it comes to these things but like I said, I don't claim to be a car genius

I do however feel like I'm going to enjoy owning the Octavia. It's going to be used for a lot of motorway journeys as I'm going to be travelling between Birmingham and Hampshire quite regularly from September onwards.

Thanks in advance.

Atif

[robertwaite]

The part is basically a rubber boot that holds the grease in on the end of the driveshaft and they do deteriorate as they are made of rubber. I got mine done recently on an 06 plate and it was about £160 at the dealer and was similar at an independent as well. I am not sure about the othe bit?

[atif]

The part is basically a rubber boot that holds the grease in on the end of the driveshaft and they do deteriorate as they are made of rubber. I got mine done recently on an 06 plate and it was about £160 at the dealer and was similar at an independent as well. I am not sure about the othe bit?

Thanks Robert . I feared that it would be something really expensive because it sounded so disastrous when I read it! Hopefully someone else may know what that other thing is.

[lozparry]

I use to own a 05 Elegance and I had this to fail my 2nd MOT, seems a common fault tbh...

this was done by the same MOT garage for £95 approx

"tac moter" not heard of that! A typical mechanic's typo!! could be the tacho meter (rev counter)? Not sure if that is the whole head unit?

[woodyallen]

Please see my review before considering letting Halfords loose on your new car!

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/195946-halfords-autocentres-review/

[atif]

Please see my review before considering letting Halfords loose on your new car!

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/195946-halfords-autocentres-review/

I've just read your review and it has really put me off them. The price for a major service seemed really cheap (£199) when compared to say the All Electric dealer down the road from me (£299) which is why I was going to go with them. I may have to find a good independent garage instead then, or just stump up the £299 for the dealer service.

[robertwaite]

I took mine to my local dealer after negotiating on the price with them. I managed to knock a few hundred quid off the price in the end. I had the cambelt, waterpump, cv joint and a full service done. I will always use them now as they are a decent bunch.

[gav_is_con]

Try Autosales in Bilston

I have used them for 10k intervals from 30k to 80k and find the prices reasonable considering its a main dealer

There is an indi specialising in VW's in Coventry called Volks 02476 676407, not tried them myself yet

I have been using the JUST VW Audi for the Seat, but might change to the above for the next service on the wifes Leon

[dainott]

Never heard of a tac motor but only guess I have around that sort of money is the air con motor might have been replaced.

If it was me then would give the garage a ring and ask them.

Edited 21 July, 2011 by dainott

[nick74]

"Nearside front constant velocity joint gaiter deteriorated [2.5.C.1a]".

I had this as an advisory on mine on its first MOT (carried out by a Skoda dealer) but didn't do anything about it. Shortly afterwards I had the car up on axle stands to have a good look with an inspection lamp and could find nothing wrong with any of the gaiters, they all looked in perfect condition. Next MOT I had done at a local garage and they could find nothing wrong with any of the gaiters either!

I think some MOT testers are slightly 'overzealous', to put it politely!

[dainott]

I had this as an advisory on mine on its first MOT (carried out by a Skoda dealer) but didn't do anything about it. Shortly afterwards I had the car up on axle stands to have a good look with an inspection lamp and could find nothing wrong with any of the gaiters, they all looked in perfect condition. Next MOT I had done at a local garage and they could find nothing wrong with any of the gaiters either!

I think some MOT testers are slightly 'overzealous', to put it politely!

They definately are if they are after some work aswell!

[g_tee]

Hellfrauds, not halfords!

[atif]

I had this as an advisory on mine on its first MOT (carried out by a Skoda dealer) but didn't do anything about it. Shortly afterwards I had the car up on axle stands to have a good look with an inspection lamp and could find nothing wrong with any of the gaiters, they all looked in perfect condition. Next MOT I had done at a local garage and they could find nothing wrong with any of the gaiters either!

I think some MOT testers are slightly 'overzealous', to put it politely!

I hope you're right. I've got my car booked in with MidlandVW next week for the brake pads to be replaced (warning light is on) and also to have the gaiter looked at. If it needs to be replaced they'll do it for me, and I found them to be very reasonable with the price, only £75. I've seen some people on this forum saying it cost them between £130-£160. So if it does need to be sorted out then it won't cost me an arm and a leg

[iCraig]

If it was only an advisory ignore it till it comes around next time. Only if it fails do something about it.

But in the mean time if you worrying keep your eye on it by turning the steering wheel full lock both ways and check for splits or grease coming out at any point of the CV boot.

I had an advisory on my old car, a 2001 Astra and the MOT tester gave me an advisory on the brake pipes were corroded but not to the point where they would fail. So I took it to my independant mechanic and he put it on his ramps and found some sealer applied to the pipes was flaking off no corrosion what-so-ever!

Craig