Advice please on trying to get a Octavia 4x4 going again

[Prezafab]

Long story short.

 

My neighbour's 4x4 1.8T estate died on him in March coming back from the car wash. Lots of white smoke and chugga chugga noises.

He had one go recently to see if it would work, but it now won't start - chugging roughly. (Battery was charged up first)

 

What would you suspect ?  I've no idea but I'm thinking head gasket, coil packs, oil sump feed clogged up ???

 

The reason why I'm interested is that I had full Skoda history on the car when I sold it to him at 160,000m and it now has 190,000, but it had cambelt, water pump, thermostat, coolant sensor, long life oil etc before I gave it him cheap. I suspect he's not had the oil changed since. 

 

Any ideas - I'd like to see it alive again.

[dg360]

Has it lost any coolant/milky oil?  Does the smoke smell of coolant or oil?

[Prezafab]

I reckon its got both a small water leak and oil leak, but there is plenty of oil on the dipstick and the coolant is well up in the reservoir.

I can't see any obvious mixing of oil and water either. The only other thing I have thought about was the turbo when he said lots of white smoke ?

 

I am going to have a look tomorrow as I finally managed to get the keys off him. Its such a shame that its sat on the drive as a constant reminder of how well I looked after it and how his reputation for a car killer continues ! (Last two cars had snapped cam-belts because he didn't see the point in changing them...)

[Ootohere]

First thing i would have asked back in March would have been, was the engine running as the car went through the car wash?  if it was that kind of car wash, 

& then i would  gone to the Air box, opened it and checked the air filter incase the engine had a wee drink oh H2o / Detergent in the car wash.

 

Unless the car had faults before going to the car wash, and then after.

[Prezafab]

Thanks - that's a really good idea and something I'm actually capable of looking at myself !

 

If it has had water in there what can you do / need to have done ?

[Ootohere]

In March you would have replaced the air filter, seen if it run ok and if not maybe checked spark plugs and seen how it went.

 

Now you have old fuel in the tank, maybe Winter Spec from last winter, but now old petrol.

The car needs treated like any car that has been off the road, Air Filter checked, new Oil & Filter, Fresh Fuel, New Fuel Filter etc.

If there is a bigger fault then that will need diagnosed.  

 

Basic stuff first, get it started, then find the fault if major, if it will not start you need to find out why, it was driven home.

Edited 11 December, 2017 by AwaoffSki

[KenONeill]

Also how much white smoke? I've seen turbo failures and you get a James Bond style smokescreen from them, plus an oil consumption in litres per mile (literally; in one case I advised a lady in distress who's Saab had used 2l in quarter of a mile between the smokescreen starting and her switching off).

[cheshire_cat]

fast learner then ?

[Saints92]

Seems too coincidental it's gone through a car wash and the stopped running, to me. 

 

Doesn't sound overly promising that. 

[Prezafab]

1 hour ago, Saints92 said:

Seems too coincidental it's gone through a car wash and the stopped running, to me. 

 

Doesn't sound overly promising that. 

I'm thinking either

1) Water ingested in engine - not sure if this is recoverable ?

2) Turbo gone (coincidence), but I thought it would still start ok but just not have any power ?

[Prezafab]

Car on charge now but. Coolant and oil levels both ok. No signs of any significant oil or water leaks. No dampness in air box, no mixing of oil and water. Oil looks quite thick - which fits with him not servicing since I sold him at 160k. (Now 188k). No oil underneath and its too long ago for any signs under the exhaust pipe.

 

Will have a go at starting later - if dead I presume terminally sludged up - or any other ideas????

 

Such a shame really.

 

Will 

[nige8021]

Take the sparkplugs out and try turning over by hand before you try it with the starter motor 

[octyal]

Any fault codes?

[Prezafab]

Got it started. Sounds a bit tappety and there was some blue smoke but no rough-running or erratic idling.

Not sure if this is just from lack of use for 8 months, but its first drive would be to an MOT station.Only fault is the traction light is on (The yellow triangle with circling arrow). Not sure if this is connected with low battery or a sensor has had it ?

 

What do you think ? 

 

Buy it back off neighbour for £200 (as almost scrap), take it for an MOT and hope it doesn't expire on the way (turbo / other mechanical?), but fix the MOT failings?

Or at that point scrap it anyway if it needs a lot spending on it?

 

OR

 

Walk away and watch it slowly rot on the drive for the next few years ?

 

I'd put used winter tyres on it that still look fine and the vRS interior I put in it still looks half decent, so I'm thinking, worst case take bits off it. 

 

 

 

 

 

[dg360]

I think fresh oil and filter would be wise before you drive it anywhere.

[octyal]

15 minutes ago, dg360 said:

I think fresh oil and filter would be wise before you drive it anywhere.

 

....or a full service including plugs and fuel filter.

 

TC light could be related to the air flow meter, which would also potentially cause running issues.

[nige8021]

I'm in MK if you don't have VCDS to check what's causing the TCS light

[Prezafab]

Thanks. Will talk with him this weekend. Dont want to waste your time but might take you up on your offer. 

[nige8021]

47 minutes ago, Prezafab said:

Thanks. Will talk with him this weekend. Dont want to waste your time but might take you up on your offer. 

No problem I've got the full version of VCDS 

[Prezafab]

On 12/12/2017 at 18:17, nige8021 said:

No problem I've got the full version of VCDS 

Will PM you.

[lovemaskoda]

If the smoke is white then I would check all the air intake pipes for splits or working loose. Had this problem on an old escort and also on my Octavia when a pipe popped off post turbo.

 

[Prezafab]

Happy to pass on a.... if allowed to him.

 

Edited 9 January, 2018 by john999boy
Sorry - non Freedom bits removed.