Right i had a nosey just now, and put my thinking cap on and how about this, its too allow for the Air Intake!

Here i am squating down so i feel i am square on to the front of the car, as you can see, you cant see the alternator!

Here you can see due to the natural camber of the engine air is more likely (and there for water spray) to direct the air from the bottom left to top middle of the photo. If the engine block was vertical it would be like blowing air onto a wall where air would go upwards and downwards. by having the engine at a slight angle the air is directed slightly upwards?

Last Photo, I cant see anywhere for the air to really go from here, so perhaps it is a very slight +ve air pressure? to help the air intake, so the air hits the top of the suspension strut and is then taken in by the Air Intake?

Im just guessing of course, but i really dont think it should be blocked. It would make sense to me for it to be open to aid the air intake.

Any thoughts?

Good thinking Taylor 93. And how about if the cover was supposed to be there, wouldn't it be likely the air intake would be facing forward instead of reaward?

In the last trip to my dealer I asked a few individuals about the 'cover' but all but one did not seem to know about it. However, one said they did and it was only a protective cover intended to be removed at PID. Trouble is I'm not sure if they really did know, but they were not junior.

Not sure what to think!

Ok as promised and a coincidence that I've posted today at the same time as the Taylor93 post.

My pics show my car fitted with the cover as seen below. I do believe that the main purpose of this cover is to divert water that may drop into the grill that side away fromthe engine bay, only guessing mind. As can be seen on the left lower part of the the cover is curved, this is to channel water down and away. I tested it with trickling some water down the bonnet that side, it does it's job.

Next picture shows the reverse side of the cover from inside the engine bay. The cover with the curved bit is the part just to the right of the rubber hose marked "Bridgestone" and above the metal pipe. It's got a few scratches on it, don't know how they got there?

Third picture shows the cover at the top of the pic centre, in relation to where the alternator is. As you can see there is also a heavier duty plastic panel across the front of the alternator. This panel supports the radiator. I can't really get anymore pics to show it at eye level inside the engine bay, impossible for room in there and I was poking my phone in there to get the shots.

I do believe though this is a water ingress prevention cover rather than a ommision to aid airflow. So if yours is missing I would be asking why.

Only my thoughts though.

Oh and BTW that cover has at least one fixing point I can see by means of a clip which just presses into place, there are others which I can't see. I did remove the three screws holding the top of the grill but didn't proceed any further as it wasn't visible how the rest of the grill is held.

Mick

Edited 4 October, 201213 yr by MickA

And my thoughts on what Cortina GT said, and I know we are all guessing really.

If that cover is a temporary thing, why is it only going to be there at PID. What do they do to the car that warrants it be in place?

And it's looks like a hel of a job to remove it. It needs to be removed via the front of the car not from the engine bay. I couldn't get to it, but I reckon I could if I removed more of the front of the car.

Puzzling this one. :think:

Mick

Ahh i see, so its like a plastic panel inbetween the grill and the Radiator Mount?

Havent a clue then

Ok my 2 cents.

Is this a minor revision to the model and early build cars do not have it?

Here's my thinking: My Citigo is an early build (date not to hand) Elegance Greentech 75bhp and it does not have the ability to have auto door lock/unlock, and any reference to this is not in the manual. It also does not have the plastic shield covering the alternator.

Do those that have shields also have auto door lock/unlock capability? Anyone able to check this?!?

Remember, your car may be new, but it could still be an early build!

Just a complete guess!

Ok my 2 cents.

Is this a minor revision to the model and early build cars do not have it?

Here's my thinking: My Citigo is an early build (date not to hand) Elegance Greentech 75bhp and it does not have the ability to have auto door lock/unlock, and any reference to this is not in the manual. It also does not have the plastic shield covering the alternator.

Do those that have shields also have auto door lock/unlock capability? Anyone able to check this?!?

Remember, your car may be new, but it could still be an early build!

Just a complete guess!

My Elegance 75 was built 13 June 2012, does not have plastic shield and now has the full autolocking enabled. I do think we now need to have Skoda tell us what we should, or should not have. Or at least the reason for the shield on some cars!!

Edited 5 October, 201213 yr by CortinaGT

Is it a possibility the alternators are from different supplier on peoples cars ? A lot of manufacturers these days 'dual source' components to guarantee supply is always there. Just a thought ??

It could also be that there are variations in alternator design that does not necessitate the inclusion of the panel for some types? In other words, these might be more water protected.

Yes, this was a point I made back on 26 September.

Edited 5 October, 201213 yr by CortinaGT

And something I thought about later on after adding those pics of mine and my thoughts.

Look at the grill design on the Citigo it's very different to the front designs of the Up and Mii.

The Citigo has vertical grill slats, the others (VW Seat) don't. And as said trickle water down the bonnet and it just flows into the engine bay, well down the front of it anyway. If the slats on the grill were horizontal this may not happen. This vertical grill design is used on other models in the Skoda range, but is it suited to the Citigo? Do the other models such as Fabia, Octavia have shields to prevent water ingress?

Mick

Latest news is our car should be at the dealers by Thursday. It is apparently in the importers 'compound' now. It will be one of the first things I check. This car is a week 38 build, last week in September, so that will be interesting. My intention will be to pursue the puzzle further, whether the piece is there or not.

I popped into the dealers today and they have two almost new.

One with the cover and one without. Mine, a month old has the cover as does the project car from May. Yet Taylor's car has does not have it (we compared on Saturday night) so it's very odd indeed.

The only thing that struck me was that on the cars with it, it's not very firmly attached.

Press it with a finger and it wobbles about. Almost as though it's not meant to be fixed securely. As I said, very odd indeed.

i've got a 12 plate demo car as a courtesy car today, it HAS the cover

Just wish i knew whether the cover was supposed to be there or not

I was in my local Skoda showroom today and I was looking at the Citigos grills in the showroom ( good job the salesmen didn't see me they would think I was a bit odd ! ).

The Citigo S didn't have a cover

The Elegance did have a cover

and like a dumba$$ I forgot to check mine ( Elegance ) that I'm picking up on Saturday ! I'll let you know on Saturday if mine has or hasn't lol

Just viewed our new Citigo Elegance 60bhp at the dealers this afternoon. It is a week 38 build and it has the cover. The car had been washed and was still wet, and the cover had drops on it, so I think I am now happier that our car has it. As already advised the two Ambition models (middle of the range) at the dealers do not have it.

Mine hasn't got the cover, mines an Elegance 75ps, the Elegance in the showroom has got the cover though ! confusing !

We do need some answers whether it should be there or not ! someone must know for sure !

I've just emailed this to Skoda -

Dear Sir/Madam,

Can you please advise me if the Citigo should have an alternator cover or not. Some Citigos have one some don't, there doesn't appear to be a pattern either. My Elegance 75ps doesn't have an alternator cover but the one in the Skoda showroom does, the S model in the showroom has one. there is great debate on the Briskoda forum whether it should be there or not see link below -

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/251030-possible-design-fault/

Please advise on the issue as it is causing worry among owners.

I would appreciate a fast response.

I will place the response on the Briskoda Citigo Forum to ease owners worries.

Please advise how we should go about getting the alternator cover removed or getting one fitted if it has been missed out in production. This will obviously be a recall either way.

Many Thanks

Lets see if I get a response.

I've just emailed this to Skoda -

Dear Sir/Madam,

Can you please advise me if the Citigo should have an alternator cover or not. Some Citigos have one some don't, there doesn't appear to be a pattern either. My Elegance 75ps doesn't have an alternator cover but the one in the Skoda showroom does, the S model in the showroom has one. there is great debate on the Briskoda forum whether it should be there or not see link below -

http://www.briskoda....e-design-fault/

Please advise on the issue as it is causing worry among owners.

I would appreciate a fast response.

I will place the response on the Briskoda Citigo Forum to ease owners worries.

Please advise how we should go about getting the alternator cover removed or getting one fitted if it has been missed out in production. This will obviously be a recall either way.

Many Thanks

Lets see if I get a response.

Well done and well put.

Skodaman - well done - looking forward to the answer as it really is becoming a credibility issue. It is a completely straightforward question that can only have one answer ...... but I won't hold my breath. One thing I was wondering is that the cover wouldn't be needed on an Up as there is no grill there. Wondering if parts have been swapped around on the production lines to meet changes in demand.

Skodaman - well done - looking forward to the answer as it really is becoming a credibility issue. It is a completely straightforward question that can only have one answer ...... but I won't hold my breath. One thing I was wondering is that the cover wouldn't be needed on an Up as there is no grill there. Wondering if parts have been swapped around on the production lines to meet changes in demand.

I had the same thoughts about the Up!!!! as well ! Like you say theres no grill so no issue.

I've tried to find out if Miiiiiiiiii owners are having an issue but there isn't a Miiiiiiiiii section on the Seat forum ! so I'm not sure if theres an issue with the Miiiiiiii or not

You would have thought Skoda would have made a statement about this issue by now. Its pretty poor really. Its not much we are asking for is it ! its just should it be there or not ! Simples !

Edited 13 October, 201213 yr by Skodaman

Looking at the vertical slats on the Citigo grill I reckon it should be there as a shield against water ingress. As said earlier in this thread the other models do have different front ends/grills. As to why it is there only on some Citigo cars is a mystery. Is there more than one plant producing these cars?

Mick

Skodaman - excellent idea. Lets hope you get a reply for all of us!

MickA - looking at the photograph of your cover, I am intrigued by the scratches. Cars that come off the production line just don't look like that! Two scenarios:

1). Somebody tried to remove it because it shouldn't be there.

2). Somebody fitted it later because it should be.

You takes your pick! :-(

I have also been studying yours and BossFox's pictures of the cover - they don't seem to be of the same type and shape. I have been using what appears to be a radiator, or aircon pipe apparent in both as a reference. What do you think?

Edited 13 October, 201213 yr by CortinaGT

I personally dont think it should be there, of what i saw of Bossfox's it seemed very loose and not very "VAG". Also another point is if they didnt want the massive hole in the grill they would have designed the Rad panel to be completely blocked, not add a panel afterwards. You dont design a hole in a car then bodge it up with a loose piece of plastic.

This cover issue is getting up there with the Loch Ness Monster and the Yeti for mystery value !

It really is baffling !