I have a 2003 Octavia TDI and have the following probelms:

1)

Rear wiper operates on it's own very now and again regardless of wiper switch postion. Sometimes opertating the front wipers stops it, other times you have the restart the car. Car has been into dealer twice (as it is just in warrenty), who typicallly can not find a fault when they have it

Looking the wiring diagram for a Golf IV, it can only be i) The switch (although does not feel worn, ii) wiper relay / timer or iii) The motor (although the dealer has removed the tailgate trim to check wiring / motor and cannot find anything wrong.

In a moment of madness, I booked the car into the dealer to have the switch replaced, but they ordered a motor instead so I didn't go ahead

Has anyone else had this probelm? Tempted to replace the relay as this is the cheapest part!!!

2)

Recently had the front pads replaced for the first time (with Skoda Pads which I have found are actually made by PAGID) and now even some 2000 miles later the stopping perfornance is not good (feels like the pads are glazed but I have not done any heavy braking). They seem to have very litte bit and need a fair push of the pedal to stop the car, and are nowhere as good as pads the car was built with. At the moment I have ordered some Greenstuff pads to see if it makes a difference. Has anyone else had this problem?

1) I had a faulty relay for the front intermitant wipe, but it didn't operate in the off position, just was very random in the on position. If the relay is a cheap part and it's a process of elimination (and you are paying) then that is certainly where i would start.

2) Regarding the pads, have you ever had your brake fluid changed. I'm about to go and get that done because my cars brakes are pretty poor now compared to when i first got it. It is supposed to be done every 2 years, but the dealer hasn't done it at either of the first two services and the car has covcered over 40k miles and is almost 3 years old. I figure it's better to do it now than have brake issues, esp since brake fluid grabs water like nobodies business.

Have a search for the greenstuff pads on here, I think that Ferodo DS2500 with either standard or groved discs are the recommended upgrades for normal use IIRC.

Mine is a 2003 TDI also and the brake pads still have plenty in them last time they were checked. Also what part of the country are you in as some dealers are better than others at finding faults, so somebody might recommend a good dealer near you.

Thanks for your reply

1)

I certainly will try the cheapest option. MY car is a Elegance and so has variable speed intermittant wipers. I am not sure if there is a seperate relay/timer for the rear wiper. I have the Skoda Parts CD and it lists 4B0 955 531 E - Control Unit for Intermittent Wash-Wipe Automatic. I am not sure if this is front or rear - in fact front and rear are not shown seperately and I assume unit does both?

2)

Brake fluid was replaced last year when the car was serviced. Pad feel was OK before they were changed, but is it possible that they have got air into the system buy perhaps opening the bled nipple to push the piston back instead of just forcing it back into the caliper manually a per nomal? I am in Essex but works were carried out at Preston Motors in Forrest Gate E London

As long as you have logged the wiper problem under warranty the onus is on Skoda to sort it.

Thanks for your reply, it's just annoying that every time I book into the dealer (and go to the trouble of then taking public transport and walking to work) it's sods law that the probelm does not happen when they have the car. The dealer has been quite clear that they will not change parts without seeing the probelm themselves. If it is simply a relay I am tempted just to bite the bullet and be done with it

Thanks for your reply, it's just annoying that every time I book into the dealer (and go to the trouble of then taking public transport and walking to work) it's sods law that the probelm does not happen when they have the car. The dealer has been quite clear that they will not change parts without seeing the probelm themselves. If it is simply a relay I am tempted just to bite the bullet and be done with it

I had multiple visits to sort mine under warenty and mine is also an elegance.

Are you sure that the brake fluid has actually been done and can you see it on the receipt as my dealer assumed they did it last time they serviced the car so now I am booking it into another dealer closer to work to get the fluid done. It's only £50 so I figure very worth while

The air thing sounds like a possibility, and i totally know what you mean about not doing it unless they see it themselves. It's fair enough but I am not going to come back to the same dealer at a great time expense 5 times to try it on am I!!

I only know dealers in the south, but I am sure somebody will know of a good one near you.

Brake fluid change was marked on reciept, and I assume that it was therefore done

I am in Brentwood in Essex

Brake fluid change was marked on reciept' date=' and I assume that it was therefore done

I am in Brentwood in Essex[/quote']

Cant say i know the dealers in that area, sorry.

New pads on old discs wont feel the same as the original set up, especially for 300 miles or so until bedded in.

Pads will glaze under light useage. Maybe its time to use them a bit harder.

I have now covered some 2000 miles since the pads were replaced so I would hope that they are now bedded in. I have tried some very heavy braking at motorway speeds and emergency stops at low speed, but this has made very little difference

Lummox I would be very grateful if you could comment regarding my wiper probelm, as I understand that you work for a dealer?