Hello all,

 

I picked up my Skoda Superb III on Saturday the 11th of January, its a 2 litre diesel 4x4 190 dsg L&K on a 66 plate with 86k miles,

 

Everything on the car seems brilliant and in top condition however Saturday the 18th of January I came out to the car to do a long drive, got halfway down the street and had "coolant low" red warning light and pulled over and topped it off, it was indeed low and took about 400ml to the max line, on that drive the coolant temperature after warming up crept up to around 100-105 degrees, I dropped my speed about 10 miles an hour, it came back down and stayed in the middle of the gauge the rest of the journey.

 

As it happened I was headed to a specialist to do a haldex oil change anyway, they inspected, found no visible leaks, suggested it could be a knackered water pump as they have an electronically controlled shroud which can sometimes stay stuck closed? Regardless the cambelt is due in 14k miles or the next 6 months on the 100k / 5 years logic anyway and I knew this was coming at time of purchase,

 

Today this morning (Thursday 23rd) I had the same low coolant issue and it took another 400ml of fluid, I can understand temp creeping from a dodgy shroud in the water pump but I'm at a loss for the coolant leak? I'm at the point I'm seriously considering taking it back because topping 400ml of coolant every week isnt normal for a 66 plate car surely.....

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated,

 

GG

What is happening to the oil level?

 

If it isn't leaking onto the road where is it going - the sump?

 

There are at least 3 water pumps!

yikes, oil level and temperature has been fine, not seeing anything underneath the car

 

When I say specialists indicated water pump i mean the one driven by the cambelt

This happened to me in an Audi A6, slightly less mileage.  Needed new pump and belt.  75k miles

Took the car to midland VW yesterday who confirmed as I suspected that there are no signs what so ever of any coolant leaking externally anywhere on the vehicle,

 

Their suspicion is that its the charge cooler and they believe that it is becoming a common fault on these cars from what they've seen.

 

My engine code is DFCA, fortunately as i bought the car from a second hand dealer they have a responsibility to repair and are going to be taking the car in to do so. Just shy of £800 to do in most specialists and no way you'd tell until after buying the car.

 

Anyone else have any experience of this?

Going to reject the car back to the dealership as its got a failing water pump and a leaking charge cooler and its still within 30 days of purchase.

 

Looks like its time to try again.... :/ 

Good luck hope it goes ok. Keep us posted.