Car had minor service yesterday, however the following items need attention: -

1. Rear brake pads have 5K remaining

2. Brake fluid needs changing (OK that's pretty much a standard thing really )

3. CV Boot has split on Near side (The offside one cracked last year but that was sorted before I bought my car)

4. Glow plug #3 has failed, they recommend changing all 4.

5. Rear jet washer needs changing

6. New rear blade

So of these: -

1, 5, 6 I reckon are within my limited realms of car maintenance skills. I have access to a garage (my dad's) and we have the tools to do the job (I replaced his alarm sounder

The dealer want ~£460 for the above work. I am wondering if investing in a Haynes manual and getting some confidence would save me some money?

Or would it be safer to just take it to them.

Glow plugs - found a set of 4 on ebay for £30, yet dealer wanted £160 to replace all 4.

They didn't see anything else that could go wrong. I have a warranty on the car until August 16th, after that I have a 6 year old car (with relatively low miles admittedly)

My wife has never been keen on keeping old cars (she always replaces after 1st MOT) but we don't have the cash to replace this car at the moment.

I can see a lot of life left in my car - worth trying all this myself?

Edited 31 July, 201213 yr by g_tee

£460 for that!

I'm no mechanic but that sounds a bit fishy.

I was going to do my own rear pads and disks but in the end bought the parts from ECP using the forum discount and gave the job to my trusted indy. Prob just as well he said the rear carriers were a total pain to get off. Not an issue if you're just doing the pads.

If I were you I wouldn't get glow plugs from Ebay. ECP has them from £16-24 each (plus you'll get 25% off that).

Brake fluid change is about £40 normally. Skoda might even have a fixed price for it.

I'd ask around to get a good independent. If you find a good one hang on to them like they're made of gold. I arrange my servicing to match visits to my parents 50 miles away because the garage nearby does a good job for reasonable money. And a more thorough job than the franchise ever did.

Glow plugs was £160 replacement, so if they are £24 each - then labour is only £60

Brake pads - £89

CV Boot - £116

Brake fluid - £45

Jet + Blade = £16

Oh yeah, front wheel tracking needs doing = £42

So more like £470 (I forgot to mention the tracking)

My wife knows a good indy not far from home... will have to give them a bell...

If it's just the rear pads that you're changing then it's not too onerous a job at all, it's just when you have to get the carriers off to replace the discs that it can turn into a bit of a nightmare. Also, £90 for rear pads is extortionate, you should be paying less than half that: http://www.vwspares....ia1z_brakes.php

Edit: you will need a piston wind-back tool though to push the piston back into the caliper, around £20 from that site linked above, or you might be able to borrow one from someone, or hire one for a couple of quid.

Edited 31 July, 201213 yr by chr1staylor

Yeah, starting to support my idea of being able to do most of this work myself.

Would love to know how bitching the CV boot and glow plug's would be to do....

i'd either find a good indy or tackle those jobs yourself - £460 for that is extortionate!

ps, give Sere Motors a ring if you need to get parts - they sell genuine stuff at very competitive prices

Glow plugs need a bit of care and common sense, but really easy, a 10 minute job. I replaced just the one when Hauptman on here found a fault via VAGCOM. CV boot is simple in theory, but there are a few difficulties like getting the driveshaft out - like remove/replace the hub nut, not difficult with the right kit but that will be expensive. I think it was Parts Direct who used to advertise a boot repair kit, as you won't be keeping the car long term. Jack up and support, clean off, presumably glue and stick - JD. Otherwise I think a good independant would be best.

I found an axle set of discs and mintex branded pads for £25 a year or so ago. Halfords sell a cylinder rewind tool for less than £10, you may need an uncommon size spline tool too. Make sure you have everything you need befor you immobilise the car, or have alternative transport, and the car places are open. I live in a village but our nearest small town had everything "special".

Well, i'm all for keeping the car in all honesty. I'd love to replace it, but after going round the houses and can't decide what to get, i've gotten bored of looking and fed up of borrowing money when there's nowt wrong with what I've got. I do fancy a remap though...... ;-)

If I were to become adept at maintaining this car then this could come in handy - My dad has an identical car so any bits I'd buy could be used for both cars.

I'd get the CV done by a good indy as you can damage things when trying to get it out otherwise.

IIRC a repair kit with a new boot and grease and clips is about £20 from a dealer, so well worth using.

Rear wiper/cleaning the jets is an easy DIY.

Rear brakes, you'll need a wind back tool. If you're only going to do it once, you might as well pay a decent indy to do it and get the brake fluid changed at the same time.

Glow plugs, if you've got the lid off, you might as well do all 4 and check the wiring while you're at it.

Can you DIY, sure.

This should help:

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-sportback-8p-chassis/139174-2-0tdi-bkd-glowplugs.html#post1432096

Edited 31 July, 201213 yr by cheezemonkhai

Excellent, thanks!

Glow plugs are easy peasy, just like replacing spark plugs

I'm going to get a Haynes manual I think..

The haynes is ok, but I think there are proper workshop manuals around, which are even better

Have to laugh.

My wife suggested her garage so I went and asked them - don't do CV's, gave me another number and said bye!

/rage.

EDIT: Ah good point, ELSAWin?

Edited 31 July, 201213 yr by g_tee

The trouble with the glow plugs on the BKD engine is that you have to remove the rocker cover and this usually means fitting a new gasket. This also means cleaning the mating surfaces as they usually leak, especially over the 'hump' where the loom goes in the side. Be wary about disturbing the wire to the glow plugs and injectors as being bathed in hot oil the insulation becomes brittle and can crack which may lead to further issues. I think a new loom is about £80ish?

Rear pads? £25 from ECP delivered. £25+ VAT for indy to fit. Not worth doing myself for that price as I'd have to buy the tool to wind back.

CV Boot - can be a pain to get the splined bit out of the hub. There is a guide somewhere about grinding down existing nut flange to tighten it to pull it through. I gave up doing CV boots on my Golfs in the end as they were always a PITA and something unexpected always presented itself at the wrong moment.

2,5 and 6 are simples. 1,3 and 4 I'd say let an indy do it. I'm sure 2hrs work would be generous for that lot. Some are even fine if you supply your own parts especially if you want genuine stuff from the dealer.

Grand - that's ideal.

Cheers

I'm happy for a garage to do the lot, but not for £460

Got one quote from an indy down to £250. That's more like it.

Got one quote from an indy down to £250. That's more like it.

Labour only or to include parts?

All in, apparently.

That was for the CV boot, brake pads, brake fluid, glow plugs.

The jet washer and read blade are trivial.

All in, apparently.

That was for the CV boot, brake pads, brake fluid, glow plugs.

The jet washer and read blade are trivial.

If I was you I'd probably supply the CV boot kit from the main dealer. Some aftermarket kits are a load of rubbish and perish after a couple of years and need doing again. The rest seems like a bargain. Get it booked in!

£250 is reasonable, and I echo the go with the dealer boot kit.

Get it in sooner than later, as if you get much dirt into the CV< then you might need a whole new joint, which costs a lot more.

Yeah, been talking with my dad about it - as we've both got the same car it may be worth investing in the brake pad tool we'd need and buy the pads.

CV boot is the only thing I need a garage to do.

are www.skodaparts.com any good? Dad found the CV boot for £15 on there

Go and get the genuine kit be it from there or a dealer.

It's not much more and comes with the boot, the grease and the clip.

I really wouldn't bother with aftermarket parts on this front, as the labour is nearly all of the cost.