Id be suprised if the main dealer has never had a car in with a burst silica bag as it seems to be known issue.

Do you have a good local vw independant garage ou could try ?

Trying to find one - can anyone recommend any VW independents in Bristol?

 

I can't quite believe that Skoda/VAG can get away with designing something into the coolant system that has a history of failing, causing significant problems when it does, and yet replacing it isn't part of the service plan.  They may as well say that the oil filter doesn't need to be changed as part of a service!

I used these guys when I needed my tracking and ACC recalibrating. http://veewservices.co.uk/

Definitely the silica bag will have bust , they put them in to help stop corrosion , load of *******s ! Good antifreeze stops corrosion , it's easy to remove I think all diesel  have them , Skoda , Audi ,vw,seat 

I have put a post on the 'guides section' regarding this problem. It would appear that sometimes the water pump fails, this causes the coolant level to drop, the car overheats which causes the silica bag to split and this then contaminates the cooling system. the heater matrix comes off worst and needs to be changed. Not a big job and as i found not an expensive job. Also look for brown deposits in the header tank and discoloured coolant.

I have not owned my car long and haven't noticed any leaks but found the brown coolant so i have changed the matrix and replaced the expansion tank for a non silica type which i believe is what vag  are now supplying.

Hey guys, just to revive this thread as I am suspecting a heater core issue in my 2014 Octavia mk3 RS.

 

coolant keeps leaking somewhere and alarm going off. On opening hood the coolant expansion tank is empty and then refills to full when cap taken off.

corrossion brown stuff sometimes in the coolant tank.

The passenger footwell is wet and it hasn’t been raining…

am I right to think this is a clogged heater matrix?

 

it has been to Skoda and they said water pump and thermostat need replacing ($2500 wtf).

 

I suspect heater matrix is the cause though if this is the case. 
Can anyone advise me? Otherwise I’ll order a replacement Nissen and see if it continues to leak.

 

 

5 hours ago, dootzord said:

Hey guys, just to revive this thread as I am suspecting a heater core issue in my 2014 Octavia mk3 RS.

 

coolant keeps leaking somewhere and alarm going off. On opening hood the coolant expansion tank is empty and then refills to full when cap taken off.

corrossion brown stuff sometimes in the coolant tank.

The passenger footwell is wet and it hasn’t been raining…

am I right to think this is a clogged heater matrix?

 

it has been to Skoda and they said water pump and thermostat need replacing ($2500 wtf).

 

I suspect heater matrix is the cause though if this is the case. 
Can anyone advise me? Otherwise I’ll order a replacement Nissen and see if it continues to leak.

 

 

The water pump and thermostat might need replacing, but they won't put water in your passenger footwell.

I think you're right about the heater matrix.

I think you're also right to be very sceptical about that dealer. If you can find a good independent, that might be a much better route to explore.

Alternatively, this thread might be worth a read.

 

16 minutes ago, EnterName said:

The water pump and thermostat might need replacing, but they won't put water in your passenger footwell.

I think you're right about the heater matrix.

I think you're also right to be very sceptical about that dealer. If you can find a good independent, that might be a much better route to explore.

Alternatively, this thread might be worth a read.

 

Thanks I've been scouring that thread already.

Would be interesting to know if there is an updated part number for e new water pump that lasts more than 4 years without leaking to **** and dying.

Currently using skoda-parts.com but if anyone has a better source for parts going (and would ship to Australia) then I'd love to hear it.

 

Thanks 

25 minutes ago, dootzord said:

Thanks I've been scouring that thread already.

Would be interesting to know if there is an updated part number for e new water pump that lasts more than 4 years without leaking to **** and dying.

Currently using skoda-parts.com but if anyone has a better source for parts going (and would ship to Australia) then I'd love to hear it.

 

Thanks 

I have a memory telling me upgraded water pumps are available, but I can't be any more specific than that.

I don't even know if the "upgraded" pumps are any better than OEM.

I think water pumps are almost regarded as a consumable now. Certainly when I had the cam belt on my Ford Fiesta changed, a new water pump was part of the cam belt kit.

I know this because I asked for it to be changed with the cam belt and they told me "It's all part of the kit.".

I'm going to get mine inspected at the next service, I have had a little drop in my coolant level, so I might have a leak somewhere.

14 minutes ago, EnterName said:

I have a memory telling me upgraded water pumps are available, but I can't be any more specific than that.

I don't even know if the "upgraded" pumps are any better than OEM.

I think water pumps are almost regarded as a consumable now. Certainly when I had the cam belt on my Ford Fiesta changed, a new water pump was part of the cam belt kit.

I know this because I asked for it to be changed with the cam belt and they told me "It's all part of the kit.".

I'm going to get mine inspected at the next service, I have had a little drop in my coolant level, so I might have a leak somewhere.

 

It's confusing, My part number says 06L121111J, and now there are subsequent letters beyond 'J' in listings on ebay. I'll wait to hear from Skoda in the next couple of days about whether they will replace under goodwill or not (same pump and thermostat were replaced by them in 2019), but regardless I will chase down part numbers. 

 

 

20 hours ago, dootzord said:

Thanks I've been scouring that thread already.

Would be interesting to know if there is an updated part number for e new water pump that lasts more than 4 years without leaking to **** and dying.

Currently using skoda-parts.com but if anyone has a better source for parts going (and would ship to Australia) then I'd love to hear it.

 

Thanks 

Do you need to replace it?  Is it working, any overheating issues?  If the engine warms up as expected, why replace the thermostat?

1 hour ago, ords said:

Do you need to replace it?  Is it working, any overheating issues?  If the engine warms up as expected, why replace the thermostat?

As first mentioned above, there's a coolant leak and likely corrosion. It often means the heater matrix is corroded  which in turn damages the pump and thermostat.