So, I picked up my Monte Carlo yesterday (loving it) however I have two concerns, one is self conflicted and one is not.

1. Today I went out for a back road blast and without realising it had it running between 4,500 and 6,000 in 3rd gear. It's so much better padded than my last car, which would be screaming around those revs. Was there for quite a while as well (slowing down, speeding up). Anyone got any thoughts on this? I've also been accelerating hard but know worried it was a bit too soon and may have caused problems (nothing to indicate this except my own worries). Put about 300 miles on it between yesterday and today. Good chunk of motorway but mainly backroads.

2. The car has also decided to pick up rattle this evening. Under the dashboard, just behind the vents. When pressure (a hand) is placed on it the rattle stops, but once it's taken away it starts again. Again, has anyone got any advice?

Thanks in advance,

Alex.

It might have been an idea to Run it in, or Drive it in as Skoda recommend. in Owners Manuals.

 

Not just the engine, but the new tyres, brakes, bearings suspension etc, ie take it easy while getting the newness off them, 

getting coatings off the tyres and brakes and this gives the engine an easier start to things.

 

Not too late to give it less of a hard time for the next few hundred miles.

 

PS

Have you checked under the bonnet, looked at the coolant and oil levels as the Dealership 

put the car out from the PDI.

Checked the tyre pressures and set them and reset the TPMS?

Edited 28 May, 201610 yr by GoneOffSKi

As GoneOffSki stated you need to let your car run in, however much you want to enjoy it. You can still get reasonable performance at the restricted revs as stated in the handbook. Otherwise you maybe asking for trouble in the future.

 

Rattles are the bain of my life. My Polo has always had a rattle in the B pillar and has now developed one in the drivers door. It is so disappointing to hear of new cars both Fabia and Octavia along with VWs having these annoying issues.

So, I picked up my Monte Carlo yesterday (loving it) however I have two concerns, one is self conflicted and one is not.

1. Today I went out for a back road blast and without realising it had it running between 4,500 and 6,000 in 3rd gear. It's so much better padded than my last car, which would be screaming around those revs. Was there for quite a while as well (slowing down, speeding up). Anyone got any thoughts on this? I've also been accelerating hard but know worried it was a bit too soon and may have caused problems (nothing to indicate this except my own worries). Put about 300 miles on it between yesterday and today. Good chunk of motorway but mainly backroads.

2. The car has also decided to pick up rattle this evening. Under the dashboard, just behind the vents. When pressure (a hand) is placed on it the rattle stops, but once it's taken away it starts again. Again, has anyone got any advice?

Thanks in advance,

Alex.

can't help with the 2nd point but you've been VERY stupid with the former. Picked up our car about a month ago and the first drive was 289 miles back home(internet purchase); had read the manual prior to collecting car(wonders of the internet) and behaved impeccably towards running-in the car/components. This can  be a critical part of a car's life from every aspect and the dealers can check it out at your 1st service. Just behave from now on and give the car a chance to be everything you wanted...

Last car was a new Mk 2 Fabia and had no problems after running-in the engine etc properly.

On your second point.

 

Mine has had a rattle from the glove box area from day one.

 

When I put pressure on the door it seems to stop.

 

I put sticky back felt all around the inside edges including the hinges,but to no avail.

 

I now reckon it's something tapping behind the dash in the glove box area,like a vent or a wire loom.

 

If it doesn't get any better soon I'm off to the dealer with it as it drives me mad (and no,switching up the sound isn't the answer!).

 

Disappointing when the car is costing me a pretty penny.

It might have been an idea to Run it in, or Drive it in as Skoda recommend. in Owners Manuals.

 

Not just the engine, but the new tyres, brakes, bearings suspension etc, ie take it easy while getting the newness off them, 

getting coatings off the tyres and brakes and this gives the engine an easier start to things.

 

Not too late to give it less of a hard time for the next few hundred miles.

 

PS

Have you checked under the bonnet, looked at the coolant and oil levels as the Dealership 

put the car out from the PDI.

Checked the tyre pressures and set them and reset the TPMS?

Thank for the advice. I did tires this morning and will just take it easy from know on.

As GoneOffSki stated you need to let your car run in, however much you want to enjoy it. You can still get reasonable performance at the restricted revs as stated in the handbook. Otherwise you maybe asking for trouble in the future.

 

Rattles are the bain of my life. My Polo has always had a rattle in the B pillar and has now developed one in the drivers door. It is so disappointing to hear of new cars both Fabia and Octavia along with VWs having these annoying issues.

  

On your second point.

 

Mine has had a rattle from the glove box area from day one.

 

When I put pressure on the door it seems to stop.

 

I put sticky back felt all around the inside edges including the hinges,but to no avail.

 

I now reckon it's something tapping behind the dash in the glove box area,like a vent or a wire loom.

 

If it doesn't get any better soon I'm off to the dealer with it as it drives me mad (and no,switching up the sound isn't the answer!).

 

Disappointing when the car is costing me a pretty penny.

I'll keep a eye (or ear) on the rattle. Hopefully will go away on its own accord. Finding only when I'm driving in complete silence do I hear it, so should be alright.

I wouldn't worry too much about the high revs - it's labouring an engine from low revs that is likely to be much worse for a new engine. 

Guess im pretty Lucky with my Fabia, No rattles yet, and i have been driving it for 30k km now

I wouldn't worry too much about the high revs - it's labouring an engine from low revs that is likely to be much worse for a new engine.

Thanks man. I'm trying to worry less. To be honest, advice varys so much I've concluded it doesn't really matter anymore. Some people are dead set you need to, others couldn't be more careless about it. I'm just gonna be carful with my car (like I always have been with this and my previous car) letting it warm up and stuff like that (actually easier know as my last car didn't have any temperature readout at all).

Guess im pretty Lucky with my Fabia, No rattles yet, and i have been driving it for 30k km now

Nice one man. I think I may be being too OCD. If I don't listen out for it I don't hear it (so far) so just trying to forget about it. Hope your enjoying your Fabia.

Not wanting to be a party pooper but since when does one not "run-in" a new engine? My bro (service manager for RR and Jag) says the difference between taking it easy for the first 1500 miles and not, can be as much as 20,000 miles engine life or 50,000 miles for a RR.

Not wanting to be a party pooper but since when does one not "run-in" a new engine? My bro (service manager for RR and Jag) says the difference between taking it easy for the first 1500 miles and not, can be as much as 20,000 miles engine life or 50,000 miles for a RR.

I'm not sure that's the whole picture. Probably more likely that if you are of the mindset to push hard while running the car in, you're even more likely to give it even more stick in it's everyday life and increase the wear and tear that's associated with it. But the running-in period of yester-year where you were required be "extra gentle" are gone. Though feeling the need to hit 6000rpm in normal driving is beyond me anyway. 

Well you can believe that if you want I suppose DampDog but it my user manual still says to take it easy for the first 1500 miles and there must be a reason.

Well you can believe that if you want I suppose DampDog but it my user manual still says to take it easy for the first 1500 miles and there must be a reason.

I think you misunderstood me, I'm actually agreeing with you???

 

I think it's worth while being gentle with all the controls for the first few K-miles, especially if your car is a keeper and you intend to run it long term. I simply meant compared with older vehicles, the running in process is much less stringent. My boy-racer days are far behind me and I drive like ya granddad anyway..

That is why we always drive new hire cars with sympathy - or maybe not!

If someone was to read the Owners Manual about 'Running in' / 'Driving in'.  They might notice it says,

"The first 1,500 kilometers and then afterwards'.

(so 932 miles, but then VW / Skoda just use nice round numbers that are km not miles.)

If someone was to read the Owners Manual about 'Running in' / 'Driving in'. They might notice it says,

"The first 1,500 kilometers and then afterwards'.

(so 932 miles, but then VW / Skoda just use nice round numbers that are km not miles.)

Noticed that a few days ago. It figures out at just over 600 miles for initial run-in then 932, like you said, as you start to build it up.

I've taken it easy ever since my first post and I'm just shy of 900 miles. Will be well over 1,000 by the end of the weekend as I'm going up North for a weekend brake.

I'm not worried about it anymore as talking to different, unrelated mechanics, they both informed me normal cars are fine. As long as you make sure the engine is hot (which I did. Got coolant temperate in front of you all the time and I set my display to show oil temp). But, like I said, been taking it easy and plan too on the trip up North.

Ran our Monte in for first 1000 miles as per the handbook advice. Now on 7000 & is getting much more perky.

Nice one man. I think I may be being too OCD. If I don't listen out for it I don't hear it (so far) so just trying to forget about it. Hope your enjoying your Fabia.

My rattle from the glove box area has come back with a vengeance. It seems to be worse when the auto aircon is less than 20c and especially 16c.

My rattle from the glove box area has come back with a vengeance. It seems to be worse when the auto aircon is less than 20c and especially 16c.

Sorry to hear that, mate. Would taking it to Skoda help? Though I don't know if they would just laugh at you. Rattles are so annoying!

If a Skoda Dealership Employees thinks it is funny you just ask to speak with the Dealer Principal and ask them if the poor build quality 

of Skoda is funny, and if they want to put that in writing so you can forward to the Skoda UK Brand Manager & Skoda HQ,

or 

maybe he / she wants to deal with the issue and resolve it.

After all the internet now shows easily the attitude of Skoda Dealerships to issues, and how they deal with them.

So, I picked up my Monte Carlo yesterday (loving it) however I have two concerns, one is self conflicted and one is not.

1. Today I went out for a back road blast and without realising it had it running between 4,500 and 6,000 in 3rd gear. It's so much better padded than my last car, which would be screaming around those revs. Was there for quite a while as well (slowing down, speeding up). Anyone got any thoughts on this? I've also been accelerating hard but know worried it was a bit too soon and may have caused problems (nothing to indicate this except my own worries). Put about 300 miles on it between yesterday and today. Good chunk of motorway but mainly backroads.

2. The car has also decided to pick up rattle this evening. Under the dashboard, just behind the vents. When pressure (a hand) is placed on it the rattle stops, but once it's taken away it starts again. Again, has anyone got any advice?

Thanks in advance,

Alex.

 

I see you are quite correctly not worrying about the initial driving style that you applied. I've been a tech and engine designer for many years during my career and as the guys are saying, it's best to take it a little easy as per the manuals instructions. However, many cars (rep and hire cars for example) are driven virtually flat out from the start and it has no discernible effects on the motor, but if this is done to the extreme it can shorten the engine life a little and cause the engine to start to use oil early. VW uses a mid plato honing process in the cylinder bores and that means you can not easily harm the engine during initial running in. Couple that with the fully synthetic oil which has a film strength far greater than semi synthetic oil, and you are good to go for huge mileages before the engine gives up the ghost. So no damage done, you can be pretty sure of that! Just enjoy and post here often. 

If a Skoda Dealership Employees thinks it is funny you just ask to speak with the Dealer Principal and ask them if the poor build quality 

of Skoda is funny, and if they want to put that in writing so you can forward to the Skoda UK Brand Manager & Skoda HQ,

or 

maybe he / she wants to deal with the issue and resolve it.

After all the internet now shows easily the attitude of Skoda Dealerships to issues, and how they deal with them.

I may well take it to the Skoda dealer and make sure the rattle is heard and verified by an employee before leaving it with them.

I see you are quite correctly not worrying about the initial driving style that you applied. I've been a tech and engine designer for many years during my career and as the guys are saying, it's best to take it a little easy as per the manuals instructions. However, many cars (rep and hire cars for example) are driven virtually flat out from the start and it has no discernible effects on the motor, but if this is done to the extreme it can shorten the engine life a little and cause the engine to start to use oil early. VW uses a mid plato honing process in the cylinder bores and that means you can not easily harm the engine during initial running in. Couple that with the fully synthetic oil which has a film strength far greater than semi synthetic oil, and you are good to go for huge mileages before the engine gives up the ghost. So no damage done, you can be pretty sure of that! Just enjoy and post here often.

Thanks for the information, mate. It's helpful and really interesting! You have a fun sounding job, always been interested in engineering!