I have had a 2004 Octavia (L&K no less!) 1900 diesel estate for many years and enjoyed it. It has 150,000 miles on the clock and the clutch needs to be replaced, I like the car very much and it has a good set of extras for me (e.g. tow bar) but it also has a series of other minor problems (front door locks don't always lock boot, CD player has no power, front seat heater defunct, occasional sticking turbo that the local Skoda dealer said needed replacing about 5 years ago but is fine if I do the odd long trip) that I can live with easily - but is it worth spending c £1000 on a new clutch or am I better to buy another maybe 3 or 4 years old? Does that risk just buying an unknown set of issues?

 

I have been arguing with myself about this and the range of cars available in my area (Pembrokeshire) is pretty limited so I thought I would ask your collective wisdom and experience for your opinion.... what do you think? 

 

many thanks

Even with the mileage on the car and the other niggling issues (which can be sorted fairly easily) I would shop around on the price of having the clutch done. With regular servicing you can expect another 150k out of it easily.

The turbo issue is probably the old sticky vane issue (look for the Mr.Muscle VNT thread to sort that one).

The electrical issue with the boot lock is probably a broken wire in the tailgate, or just a temperamental actuator.

The seat heater may just be a simple broken wire on the connector under the seat (they do fail, especially if the seat gets moved back and forth a lot).

Personally I would repair it (but then I would do the work myself) and keep the car for a few more years.

Thank you for this thorough reply - that is just the sort of advice I was looking for - while I am talking to you have you any thoughts on the CD - 6 changer in the boot? - seems to have lost power altogether (Won't eject or respond in any way) , can't find any loose connections and cannot identify which fuse would affect it (if any)

 

Thanks again

 

jok

On 20/10/2017 at 12:58, jok said:

.......... any thoughts on the CD - 6 changer in the boot? - seems to have lost power altogether (Won't eject or respond in any way) ,.......

 

Try the 'Search Forum' function to see what fun people can have with this.

 

One of the first results that came up for me was

 

 

( but that may not be your issue )

 

Best of Luck

Edited 21 October, 20178 yr by olddog

@jok - Can you actually get a car with several years life left in it for £1_000? Also, is there a reputable local mechanic near you, because you should be able to slice a few hundred pounds off the labour component of that clutch bill and still use OEM parts and get the OEM warranty.

 

Ref the stacker, this might sound like a strange question, but does the rear window washer work? If not, I'd bet that there's a break in the pipe to it immediately under the stacker.

Thank you Ken- No you are right, I would have to pay a good bit more for a useful vehicle - I am just trying to decide whether I invest in the present one or spend more on a newer one which may well have its own set of problems. I will maybe shop around for some clutch quotes.

 

The Rear washers do work and I can't see any wetness under the CD player (Which is good considering the bundles of wire in the bottom of that compartment) - it may just be a loose wire somewhere but I cannot trace it, I don't seem to be able to find a fuse associated with the CD player.

Pretty sure the CD changer get's it's supply via the radio fuse #42

Thank you - can't be that then, the radio is fine - still that helps because it  eliminates another option 

7 minutes ago, jok said:

Thank you - can't be that then, the radio is fine - still that helps because it  eliminates another option 

 

You might want to check the Yellow/Green/Blue plug hasn't fallen out of the back of the radio 

That is unknown territory for me! - I fear that if I once worked out how to get the radio out to look, I may never get it back again!  Thank you for responding though

It is the Blue section of that plug that supplies the power to the changer and also the music data back to the radio 

That sounds as though it may be the culprit - I think I shall ask someone with more expertise the me to have a look - Thank you

get a transmission jack the scissor type and its no problem   

In the same boat. 149k on the original clutch, and will need renewing soon. I have decided to replace the clutch working on the basis of "better the devil you know" and a genuine affection for my car after 11yrs! FYI, £1000 for a new clutch is a lot steep. Ive been quoted <£400, although thats with non Skoda parts.

@Westbury63 - You think that Skoda actually make clutches!?  What you'd probably get from a main stealer is a Luk or Sachs assembly with an Audi logo on the box and price to match.

8 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

You think that Skoda actually make clutches!?  What you'd probably get from a main stealer is a Luk or Sachs assembly with an Audi logo on the box and price to match.

 

No KenONeill, I don't. I know Skoda don't make actualy manufacture the clutches themselves! The quote I got for replacment would have been a lot more had the parts come in the VAG logo box however rather than from Euro Car Parts.