Hi all

Looking at buying a Scout, and the ones that are in budget, are generally high milers, and I'm after some advice from owners about what to mainly look out for on them and what goes wrong / age / mileage service items: Clutch / 4wd system / etc etc

I've currently got a mk1 VRS which I hope to restore to its former glory but don't wanna end up with a lemon of a Scout in the process which drains all the funds for the restoration/ refurb.

Any help greatly appreciated

Rob

Petrol or diesel. Haldex should be serviced every 40k iirc. There is an issue with the alloys where the coating flakes off it can be repaired/ replaced but it will happen again. Its then more dependant on engine as for any more information.

Thanks for reply:

After a Diesel if possible,

Haldex: is that a fluid change? The Mk2's and Scouts are a new territory to me so I'm trying to build up a picture of what I'm in for cost wise for maintenance before I dish out my hard earned.

Can anyone confirm to me:

Is it a 2wd car with 4wd as and when it feels necessary, or does it do a 95% front wheel to 5% rear wheel drive permanent.

Alloys: I'm aware they have delamination problems but I'm not bothered by that, will just get them repainted etc.

Thanks all

Rob

Normally it sends about 95% of the drive to the front wheels, only locking the clutch up to send power back as it deems necessary. Ie, you put your foot all the way down or it detects the front wheels slipping. You unlikely to notice that its not in all wheel drive mode most of the time though, I never have. If I want to set off briskly, it just goes, without even a chirp from the front wheels.

Thanks for reply: After a Diesel if possible, Haldex: is that a fluid change? The Mk2's and Scouts are a new territory to me so I'm trying to build up a picture of what I'm in for cost wise for maintenance before I dish out my hard earned. Can anyone confirm to me: Is it a 2wd car with 4wd as and when it feels necessary, or does it do a 95% front wheel to 5% rear wheel drive permanent. Alloys: I'm aware they have delamination problems but I'm not bothered by that, will just get them repainted etc. Thanks all Rob

 

Haldex can be oil and filter change or juct ol change depending on year I think.  Mine's an 07 pre-FL and I'm pretty certain it was oil and filter but I believe the FL cars are just oil.

I changed Haldex oil on about 35K miles, there are 2 oil types needed, no filter as it has Haldex 4'th gen.

 

It's permanent 4wd, power is 98% front, 2% back, but its seamless, you don't notice anything, unless your mate is outside and watching wheels spin in snow.

 

Anything that goes wrong on MKII goes in Scout too, same thing, just a few extra plastic bumpers, higher ground clearance, haldex.

Only difference I have come across from a normal 2wd Skoda is to check for weepage around where the rear half shafts emerge from the rear diff, as the seals here have been known to weep slightly sometimes.

 

Also if you are looking at a high mileage diesel bear in mind that these are one of the few models that had a DPF.

 

Otherwise standard Octavia problems:

DMF (No SMF available for the 4x4)

Rear wash/wipe

Turbo (Police siren etc. on higher mileage vehicles)

ABS (Teves MK60 issue)

Drop-links/suspension bushes

Wheel alignment

 

If you are looking at an earlier example then the battery and alarm siren may be ready for replacement.

 

A high mileage car should have been serviced at least every 20k miles with a haldex service every 40k and break fluid every 2 years. Going forward it will benefit from servicing every 10k miles (Oil & Filter) with air, cabin and fuel filter every 20k and haldex every 40k. If you find a DSG version this also needs a DSG service every 40k.

 

Beware that dealers tend to forget about the haldex service requirement!

 

My Scout is a 2008 TDi and is currently suffering from the following at 112k:

Dodgy front nearside calliper

Rear washer pipe spilt behind dash in an inaccessible place

Slight chirp which I believe is from the clutch when coming off the throttle

 

Otherwise it has had nothing but service parts apart from a few suspension bushes under warranty and brake discs and pads and tyres.

 

With the correct tyres nothing will stop it and it provides a very comfortable cruiser, and as you can see from my footer is pretty economical as well.

As mentioned above the Scout is the same as any other MkII Octavia estate but with 4x4 and raised suspension. 

 

With it this brings the Haldex and rear diff which if serviced correctly shouldn't cause any issues.

 

The 2.0 TDi PD140 diesel engine is the 8V SOHC and not the 16V DOHC engine found in all other 2.0 PD Octavia's.

 

If they haven't been serviced regularly or the correct oil used then they are known to wear their cams. As has also been mentioned they are also lumbered with a DPF (diesel particulate filter) which will become a potential headache on the higher milage older examples.

 

What is your budget? As production of the MkII Scout was stopped back in 2012 the pre-facelift models are all high mileage now, the facelift versions are still demanding quite a premium because of their rarity, especially the diesels. 

 

The new MkIII Scout will arrive later this year.

Pre FL Scouts have gen 2 haldex, FL have gen 4. There is a difference in servicing between them.

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Wow thanks for the info everyone, I will be sure to make a crib sheet before I buy one...

Regarding the Haldex stuff, I assume the requirements for whatever Car I buy will be listed in the owners manual?

Failing that I will just jump on here and shout help lol

I am looking at spending as much as I can afford on a decent one... Its going to be Pre FL as I don't have enough for a new one... the older ones are expensive enough... but I am keen to buy one that requires nothing expensive doing on it for a while, just usual service items as I plan to put my cash into the refurb of the VRS, and repairing both cars defeats the point of the exercise

Thanks again all and any other useful bits and bobs you may think of please let me know!!

Regards

Rob

The service book for my 4x4 makes no mention of the haldex system. Can't remember what the handbook says.

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Yeah, it is commonly missed, unless you ask for it specifically.

Ever thought of the 4x4? Essentially the same beast but without the tupperware fore and aft, and no metal sump guard, (heavy duty plastic on the 4x4). Scout is a couple of mm higher than the 4x4 due to the larger wheel/tyre combination, but that's about it.

Ever thought of the 4x4? Essentially the same beast but without the tupperware fore and aft, and no metal sump guard, (heavy duty plastic on the 4x4). Scout is a couple of mm higher than the 4x4 due to the larger wheel/tyre combination, but that's about it.

My pre FL 4x4 has a steel sump guard.

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I've had mine from new June 2007 its now on 115,000 miles ,its still on the origonal cluch DMF, and even though the dealer told me the DPF was  98% full 20.000 miles ago I still havent had a problem with it,I have always had it dealer serviced and its on variable sevicing which means I have had more services than fixed servicing,

 My advice would be look for dealer service history before spec, yes there have been problems with DPF and DMF but only making short trips

and are constantly looking at mpg then a car with a DPF is probabley not for you,

My wife is doing about 600 miles a week and an averige of 48 mpg.

 

problems -

 

cruise control switch -  Waranty

oil  cooler leaking in to coolant - waranty

one set of wheels - waranty

coolant level sensor- waranty

DPF sensor

servicing

 

pads +discs front

pads rear

4 sets of tyres

brake fluid  chaing every year

cv boot

 

I now fit JLM dpf cleaner once a month and I will be fitting new rear dampers next week, towing a caravan I feel they have becom a little soft

 

we are looking at getting a biger famaly car but will keep the scout we would find it hard to part with.