Many of you will have read my previuos threads about cold start engine noise.

The dealer has changed.

- Starter motor

- Secondary air pump

- Cam chain & tensioner

Changing the cam chain & tensioner has had the most effect. After this was changed the noise isn't as loud or as frequent. Before it was changed there would be a screemingly loud mechanical sound on 90% of cold starts. Now it make a loud noise (but not as loud) on about 30% of cold starts. It has gone back to the dealer again for another week of diagnosis. In the 12 months that I have owned the car, I think it has spent over a month back at the dealers. They just don't know what is up with it. I think some of this is due to the fact that they don't fully understand the engine.

Any thoughts

How old is the car?

If it's still reasonably new I think a claa to trading standards wouldn't go a miss. I assume you've spoken to Skoda Customer Service ?

The car is 35 months old now. This saga started when it was 28 months old. I have spoke to Trading Standards and they said that I could reject it, but I need to pay for an independant engineers report. I have been in touch Skoda Customer Services, but if I reject the car, they won't get involved. They I will step back and leave it to me and the retailer.