Hi! I have just bought a Mk1 Octavia VRS 2004 (picked it up today) and I very pleased with it. the panels appear all straight and drives really well. very impressed with the delivery of the power too. its the first time I have also been on a forum so I'm a bit of a noob. I have been tinkering with cars for a while and have had many run of the mill things but this is first reasonably quick one I have owned.

The car as I said drives great but there are a few annoying things that I wish to sort out. The owner before me had fitted some 6x9's in the parcel shelf and has removed them, there is a whopping dent in the right hand sill where the jacking point hasn't been used. Also there is a rattling noise front under the front of the car which I though was the under tray as it is missing various supporting parts. But on removing this tray and giving it a bumpy test ride, the rattle remained. so I'm a little disappointed and do not have the facilities to get it up into the air to have a look. (it has to be parked on the road where sitting underneath it will be too risky). The car drove fine when I tested it and has just been put through an MOT without fault by the dealer. Has anyone had a rattly front end before? Or any ideas what it could possibly be? Only seems to hear it slow over bumps. Also the steering wheel is slightly pointing to the right by a degree or two but it doesn't pull left or right. Its very slight and didn't really notice this when I took it out.

I hope to fit a good but stealthy sound system in the boot where the floor is. I shall flatten off the boot by raising the floor an inch or 2 and fit a small sub in the dish of the spare wheel as well as an amp. I do a lot of mountain biking so I wish to cover all the delicate bits. I shall just up grade the speakers in the doors and rear parcel shelf supports. The head unit I will tray to keep the same with the CD changer (which I'm not sure that works yet) unless i really find the need for a 3.5mm jack.

I also was thinking about a' V switch' remap as I like the idea of more torque, fuel economy and being able to reset to factory standard if needed. I was going to lower the suspension 20 mm or so just to give it a better stance on the road but I really like the ride as is.

please if there is any one with suggestions about the rattle then it'll be much appreciated and i shall check it out.

Thanks.

Ant

I had a rattle over bumps at low speed which turned out to be arb bushes, but that should be an advisory/fail on mot.

Another vote for ARB Bushes. Need mine doing.

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Looks good

I've had a couple of rattles on mine, one was the wishbone bushes and the other was the centre exhaust mount(sounded like it was coming from the o/s/f wheel).

But as above these would have been picked up on MOT.

Arb bushes had mine changed few week ago noise gone. More of a clunking noise for me

Cheers very much. I did check the bits I could and seemed pretty tight although a little corroded. I'm off to halfords tomorrow for some ramps so I can get under it a bit safer and check the other bits. How should I check the arb bushes? Pry bar and wobble them? Could it also be caliper carriers?

A

Looks like a nice example you have there. This place is full of helpful people who really know their stuff. Use the search facility too as it's a real treasure trove of info on pretty much everything you could want to know.

If you are buying ramps you may need the extra long extension as the cars are low on the front and will fowl on the ramp.

Good shout ahd cheers, its pretty clean. I have been surfin and searching the forums quite a bit. It helped convince me to buy a 20v over a markII.

Enjoy mate, I have just bought mine back after 3 years.

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If you are buying ramps you may need the extra long extension as the cars are low on the front and will fowl on the ramp.

True , even then I use some long wooden planks as my car is low low.

Cheers very much. I did check the bits I could and seemed pretty tight although a little corroded. I'm off to halfords tomorrow for some ramps so I can get under it a bit safer and check the other bits. How should I check the arb bushes? Pry bar and wobble them? Could it also be caliper carriers?

A

difficult to tell without a better description.

Common rattling and knocking on these cars are:

- Radiator mounts

- Under tray loose

- Exhaust bracket loose or broken

- Cat heat shield loose of bolts sheared due to heat fatigue

- suspension to ARB drop links worn

- ARB bushes shot

Hi again. And happy easter. It's the rad. Proper wobbly. Seems to be miss some bolts at the bottom. Not sure how much of a job it is and whether to drive it back 60 miles to the garage I purchased it from for warranty. I'll surf the forum a bit about it before I decide. Cheers. A

Hi again. And happy easter. It's the rad. Proper wobbly. Seems to be miss some bolts at the bottom. Not sure how much of a job it is and whether to drive it back 60 miles to the garage I purchased it from for warranty. I'll surf the forum a bit about it before I decide. Cheers. A

They are not bolts. They are rubber mounts that perish. Very common. You should be ok to drive as the rad won't go anywhere

Sent from my Galaxy S3.

I have just cable tied all wobbly bits on my car.

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Edited 31 March, 201313 yr by mluton

Thanks for all your help. A cable tie and a rubber bit of hose will probably be just right. The guy i bought it from said he will go half's on a proper repair. Also ill get it serviced too. Its missing one stamp as the guy who owned it before me carried out the servicing himself, but you can never be too sure. Its only done 2000 miles in the last year!

Just bought a new parcel shelf, and some proper rear speakers and a clay bar so i hope the weather is nice this weekend.

cheers,

A