Not sure if it can be got to easily enough to measure. Best bet would be to look for people that are breaking one for spares on here and eBay. Not sure how long it would take to swap over, hopefully someone else can advise on that.

 

Does sound like you've been really unlucky with this car! What other things have you had to fix?

Thanks man. 

 

I've had it a year and have changed all the tyres (I'm OK with that) then another two this week.

New clutch and flywheel, brakes all round, new brake caliper, new rocker gasket, new suspension coil at the back, new front wing as it was rusted (again I'm OK with that) 

Needs a new back box exhaust and braket at the back and its hunting at idle. 

Thanks man. 

 

I've had it a year and have changed all the tyres (I'm OK with that) then another two this week.

New clutch and flywheel, brakes all round, new brake caliper, new rocker gasket, new suspension coil at the back, new front wing as it was rusted (again I'm OK with that) 

Needs a new back box exhaust and braket at the back and its hunting at idle. 

 

Sounds like normal sort of running repairs with an "old" car to me. Axle would be a doddle to fit (for someone who knows what they are doing of course.) Callipers off and tied to one side (shouldn't need to disturb hoses or cables), lower shock mount undone, then two front mounts and reverse the procedure. Allowing for seized bolts etc, probably a 2-3 hour job on the drive, less in a garage with a two post ramp.

Hunting at idle could be an air leak, or it could be a problem with a temp sensor, a decent session on VCDS should bring that up.

Sounds like normal sort of running repairs with an "old" car to me. Axle would be a doddle to fit (for someone who knows what they are doing of course.) Callipers off and tied to one side (shouldn't need to disturb hoses or cables), lower shock mount undone, then two front mounts and reverse the procedure. Allowing for seized bolts etc, probably a 2-3 hour job on the drive, less in a garage with a two post ramp.

Hunting at idle could be an air leak, or it could be a problem with a temp sensor, a decent session on VCDS should bring that up.

I thought that when I'd calmed down after a bit. Maybe hold onto it till I can find/afford something newer.

 

I did a fault scan using an ODB2 scanner, will the fault codes show up on VCDs if there's no warning lights? 

VCDS will interrogate things deeper than a generic OBD scanner, as it will compare actual readings from sensors and tell you what the output is against the specified values. OBD will basically just give you fault codes, and sometimes very scant sensor data, but no where near as deep as VCDS.

Try posting in the technical forum to see if anyone close to you has got it, and could scan your car for you - it's worth changing your location from United Kingdom to you home town (or nearest if you live rural) so that people can see where you are and offer to help if you need it.

VCDS will interrogate things deeper than a generic OBD scanner, as it will compare actual readings from sensors and tell you what the output is against the specified values. OBD will basically just give you fault codes, and sometimes very scant sensor data, but no where near as deep as VCDS.

Try posting in the technical forum to see if anyone close to you has got it, and could scan your car for you - it's worth changing your location from United Kingdom to you home town (or nearest if you live rural) so that people can see where you are and offer to help if you need it.

Thanks man, I love the car when its working and getting rid of it and buying another simarly priced car is risky as hell. 

Thanks man, I love the car when its working and getting rid of it and buying another simarly priced car is risky as hell. 

 

Yep it's always a bit of a gamble and it's not realistic to find and foresee every fault and upcoming bill when buying.

 

Sounds like most of the stuff is fairly standard wear & tear - once the rear beam & idle issues are sorted hopefully it will just be routine servicing for a while!

Yep it's always a bit of a gamble and it's not realistic to find and foresee every fault and upcoming bill when buying.

 

Sounds like most of the stuff is fairly standard wear & tear - once the rear beam & idle issues are sorted hopefully it will just be routine servicing for a while!

Yep, then its just a few odd jobs like central locking not working on the drivers side as the barrel comes out with the key  and little things like that hopefully.

CL will possibly be a broken wire in the door grommet (there is a thread in the Octavia 1 section on that I think - does the puddle light in the door work, does the door open lamp on the dash light up and does the alarm LED flash kind of thing - could be the latch micro switch if they don't)

 

I have got a few niggles with mine, puddle lamp in drivers door doesn't work (irritates, but not to the extent of actually finding the problem yet, lol) had to buy 4 new coil packs the week after I got it and it needs the suspension renewing (already got new front shocks, just got to get the rears now). There are a few buts of bodywork that need sorting out as well as the sills where they have been jacked and it has damaged the undersea, it's all stuff that I can sort out as a and when I get the time.

 

Don't give up just yet, it doesn't make sense to pay out to repair the car you have, make it a good one, then sell it on and take a chance with the next one. If you are paying out for the repairs to be done, the you may as well keep the car yourself.

CL will possibly be a broken wire in the door grommet (there is a thread in the Octavia 1 section on that I think - does the puddle light in the door work, does the door open lamp on the dash light up and does the alarm LED flash kind of thing - could be the latch micro switch if they don't)

 

I have got a few niggles with mine, puddle lamp in drivers door doesn't work (irritates, but not to the extent of actually finding the problem yet, lol) had to buy 4 new coil packs the week after I got it and it needs the suspension renewing (already got new front shocks, just got to get the rears now). There are a few buts of bodywork that need sorting out as well as the sills where they have been jacked and it has damaged the undersea, it's all stuff that I can sort out as a and when I get the time.

 

Don't give up just yet, it doesn't make sense to pay out to repair the car you have, make it a good one, then sell it on and take a chance with the next one. If you are paying out for the repairs to be done, the you may as well keep the car yourself.

The light at the bottom of the door comes on when i open it but it is intermittent, same for the light on the dash. Like with you hese are minor annoyances though so they'll get sorted in time.

 

I reckon when I've got the two issues fixed i'll see a nice increase in performance, then its MOT time. 

dumb question is the beam the rear anti roll beam?

will be known by numerous different terms - most common terminology is the rear axle, but could also be rear twist beam, rear beam, many different combo's.

 

As for you intermittent lights on the door, sounds more like the wiring that runs through the grommet has got a break in it, be a good place to start looking

will be known by numerous different terms - most common terminology is the rear axle, but could also be rear twist beam, rear beam, many different combo's.

 

As for you intermittent lights on the door, sounds more like the wiring that runs through the grommet has got a break in it, be a good place to start looking

Hopefully I can make sure for definite a golf one will fit. 

 

Just trying to find the part numbers

have a look in the parts for sale section of the forum, and also the dedicated facebook page for parts, there are a few being broken on there at the moment.

have a look in the parts for sale section of the forum, and also the dedicated facebook page for parts, there are a few being broken on there at the moment.

Brilliant mate, thanks for all your help.

Does look like theyre all the same on the A3, Golf, Leon etc.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Golf-MK4-Bora-Rear-Axle-SEAT-Leon-M1-Toledo-AUDI-A3-8L-SKODA-Octavia-MK1-/322216331881?hash=item4b05970a69:g:CtkAAOSw3xJXo026

replace the bushes in it whilst you have the chance too nice job done then 

replace the bushes in it whilst you have the chance too nice job done then 

 

...and give it a wire brushing, rust treatment and a coat of hammerite

...and give it a wire brushing, rust treatment and a coat of hammerite

true that then ull have a sorted rear beam, nice bit of preventive maintenance! 

Thanks guys  

 

Wil lthis do the job? Seems a bit cheap.

Just a quick update.

 

Soooo... I got the rear beam changed and wow! What a difference, the car feels like its lost half its weight and it maybe my imagination but it seems to accelerate a hell of a lot quicker! 

 

Set me back £350 all in but needs must.

Just a quick update.

 

Soooo... I got the rear beam changed and wow! What a difference, the car feels like its lost half its weight and it maybe my imagination but it seems to accelerate a hell of a lot quicker! 

 

Set me back £350 all in but needs must.

 

That will probably because the wheel alignment is now correct. Excessive toe/camber increases the friction on the road

That will probably because the wheel alignment is now correct. Excessive toe/camber increases the friction on the road

It shocked me the acceleration today. 

 

Also scared me that I have never noticed the issue till it wrecked my tyres.

I don't understand this, Spend all this money getting it fixed then selling it for another car you know nothing about.

I hope doing this fix has made you realize what a gem of a car you have! DONT SELL IT! i say that as now you know what has been fixed and know it wont go wrong any time soon so less to worry about.

Mine has its niggles, I am spending more on it each day keeping up with repairs, but she drives so good and the wife loves driving it too, that out weighs the expense of having such a good car......

To be fair I was having a strop when I wrote that message. I wont be getting rid of it for a bit now unless something happens where I can’t afford to keep it or repair it.

 

A lot more fun to drive and I’m still not convinced its running 100% yet either. 

You never are with these cars. I need to sort a few knocks. It hunts a little on idle. The sia is shot. I love my octy its never boring. My fabia vrs never really needed work. Still a fun car