Hi guys,

 

I'm looking for a 2013 registered Skoda Fabia vRS, it should be one of the last featuring the CAVE engine. I was reading the Lucifer's guide, but it says that most of the problems with this engine were focussed on the earlier versions. Is there any problem that could affect these engine? Could I be sure choosing that engine instead of a CTHE?

 

Cheers,

A 2013 registered vRS should only be a CAVE if built before September 2012 then registered much later.   Early CTHE could still have issues.

Re SEAT Ibiza twinchargers,  they were on sale from 2009, then SEAT were not building 180ps cave in 2012. They did great 150ps FR though. .  They then fitted CTHE in 2013. Months after skoda Had CTHE in the Fabia.

 

Edited 30 October, 20187 yr by Offski

If you're buying a 2013 mk2 vRS it should have a CTHE engine fitted, unless as Offski says the car was built much earlier and then registered in 2013, my understanding is that the last of the CAVE engines would be late 2012 62 plates, perhaps around November 2012.

 

As for the one with least amount of problems, it's a CTHE you're looking for as that version was introduced in an attempt to address the problems encountered over the life time of the CAVE engine. That doesn't mean the CTHE is exempt, just less likely.

 

What has to be borne in mind is that the CAVE engines were introduced into the Polo Gti and Ibiza Cupra/ Bocanegra in 2009, and the Audi A1 Tfsi as well. The engine problems were not restricted to those fitted within the mk2 Fabia vRS, which didn't appear until 2010.

 

No one knows for sure how many CAVE engines were replaced, had engine breather mod done, or new squirter jets fitted. But the number was sufficient for VAG to introduce the CTHE engine in 2012. By that time, they had already taken steps to remove unsold A1 Tfsi out of dealership forecourts in a move aimed at protecting brand image, couldn't have an Audi doing that now could they,

 

Not so the vRS. Owners were made to jump through a variety of hoops, with real inconsistency across the group as to how the problems were dealt with once reported. Some, like ourselves, were fortunate to get a new replacement engine under warranty and have never looked back, enjoying the car as it should have been when it left the factory. Others have not been so fortunate, and this has led to increasing numbers being traded in when loss of compression ensues, or simply being scrapped.

 

We are now at the stage where some cars are on the 4th, 5th and 6th owner, each coming to the car fresh so to speak, each wanting to know the same answers to the same questions that have been getting asked since 2010. The accumulation of all of these problems is as much a reason as brand diversification is as to why there is no mk3 Fabia vRS. I know of one car traded in recently, a 2010 car, looks lovely and the last owner did look after it, but it suffered oil consumption issues from the moment he bought it. Eventually, loss of compression and damaged piston rings saw to it that management lights came on. Faced with a hefty bill to replace or repair, the owner decided to trade the car in, as he was entitled to do. Unfortunately the next owner will buy the car not knowing why it was traded in, and unless Evans Halshaw have worked out there's a problem, it will be leaving their forecourt as a proper lemon. Perhaps a warranty with the sale might mean the problem gets sorted, hopefully, but perhaps not.

 

If you can afford it, try to get as late a CTHE as you can, maybe a 14 or 64 plate, with good history. Failing that, thoroughly check and hopefully find a good CAVE non oil user.

Sorry, I definitely had to mention that I'm from Chile so it should be a delay with the registration (mainly for the shipping time), so this engine should be built in 2012.

 

PD: I don't know if do you have any vin decoder to know when it was built, but this is the vin code: TMBEP65J6C3176978. I just found one and it says that is a MY2012.

 

Cheers,

The sticker at the bottom of the drivers door pillar has.CAVE or CTHE and so should the build sticker in the spare tyre well.