Hi all, new to the forum but looks like a wealth of information!

Currently looking at buying a mk2 (or possibly late mk1) Octavia estate, looking for a 1.9 diesel with a manual box.

Just wondering if there are any buyers guides / common faults I need to look for when going for viewings and test drives?

What's the cambelt interval on these?

Any issues with EGR's, water pumps, DPF's, DMF's, inlet manifold / swirl flaps etc

(Ie. All the stuff I warn people about on the 1.9 Vauxhall / saab engine)

Thanks

Steve

Welcome, whilst your waiting for replies take a scan further down the topics, these are regular questions asked so you shouldn't have a problem finding what you need answered.

Hi, thanks for that. I did try to have a look before posting but sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees, especially on a forum this big with lots of sections you never know if you're looking in the right place. Search didn't turn any results up either but that might be because I'm using tapatalk...

no major issues with the 1.9 engine as it is a very reliable engine but they do need to run on special PD engine oil so check that it has full service history (preferably skoda as you will know the right engine oil has been used) also they can be easily clocked so walk away if there is no history to back up the mileage. Main things to check is the turbo, DMF and aircon as any of these item that fail can be expensive to fix.  Cambelt changes are 4 years or 80k so budget around £400 if it hasn't been done yet and it is the norm to have the water pump changed at the same time to save labour costs.

 

lastly the Mk2 is superior to the Mk1 in almost everyway so stretch to a MK2 if your budget allows as the Mk2 is based on the Golf Mk5 where as the Mk1 is based on the Golf Mk4

Great info thanks very much for that

The 1.9 pd doesn't have a dpf. Once its over 4years old and had the cambelt done once its a good idea to change the water pump too on the next change as when they fail the 2inner cyliders overheat and can blow the head gasket.

The 1.9 pd doesn't have a dpf. Once its over 4years old and had the cambelt done once its a good idea to change the water pump too on the next change as when they fail the 2inner cyliders overheat and can blow the head gasket.

Makes sense. That's the sort of advice I'm used to. Currently have a saab 9-5 with the gm 1.9 diesel engine as found also in vectras, fiats, alfas etc. Water pump is the Achilles heel on that lump, sensible to replace at every belt change if you don't fancy it seizing, shredding the belt, and breaking all your rockers!

I'm building up a good list of stuff to check now, just struggling to find a suitable car to apply them to! Getting an idea of some likely candidates on autotrader but none at the moment are anywhere near local enough... I don't want to travel the length of the country and back just to look at one that might turn out to be a clocked ex taxi pup!