I think I should move to diesel after my 1.8 TSI petrol engine died. Reasons diesel being more fuel efficient and (therefore?) less CO2 emitting. Also it seems like Diesel engines last longer. A drawback is that some cities started banning diesel cars from entering, also higher noise.

 

Am I right on the above? What other drawbacks am I forgetting?

 

Just found a 1.6 TDI DSG Octavia from 2013 with 110Km from a private seller and I wonder if you have any tips on what to look for in order to avoid having to spend lot of money on it or having to shop again in a couple years. We only drive outside the city and for the most on long highway trips.

 

Thanks!

You might want to get one that has not had the Service Campaign / Recall Action VW mission Cheat Software Fix carried out.

So no Software Update and Plastic Airflow Device in the Air Intake. 

 

Then you want to check if it was one covered by Service Campaign '34H5' on the DQ200 DSG.

That was on some from 2013-2015, and a software update.   

So was it done, was it needed, is that outstanding?  It was started in 2017.

39 minutes ago, roottoot said:

You might want to get one that has not had the Service Campaign / Recall Action VW mission Cheat Software Fix carried out.

So no Software Update and Plastic Airflow Device in the Air Intake. 

 

Then you want to check if it was one covered by Service Campaign '34H5' on the DQ200 DSG.

That was on some from 2013-2015, and a software update.   

So was it done, was it needed, is that outstanding?  It was started in 2017.

 

Sorry for my noob question, but how do I check whether it had a sw update?

Service History / Warranty History/ Service Campaign History on the Skoda System.

With a Dealership, or Skoda Customer services.

?

Which country are you in?

 

http://skoda-auto.com/services/recall-actions

 

Thanks, I am in Switzerland.

1 hour ago, roottoot said:

Service History / Warranty History/ Service Campaign History on the Skoda System.

With a Dealership, or Skoda Customer services.

?

Which country are you in?

 

http://skoda-auto.com/services/recall-actions

 

 

Seem like I can enter the VIN number there and see if any recall applies to the car, right?

Using the VIN might show if the Fix is still outstanding.

5 hours ago, roottoot said:

Using the VIN might show if the Fix is still outstanding.

 

Nothing shows up.

 

I went to try the car. I could not see any Plastic Airflow Device in the Air Intake. Car drives great and is in good conditions.

 

The service book looks fine but I am a bit suspicious of the timing belt replacement at only 60K Kms, I thought they would last longer? Is there a way for an ignorant person to inspect the timing belt to understand whether I'd have to change it again soon (car is at 117K Kms now).

I have the same engine. Unless the car is heavily used, you will probably find you hit the time limit first. This limit is 5 years for the first change and every 4 years thereafter. But, that is for UK use.

If you buy and use a car outside the UK (such as the EU) you will find the recommendation in time and kms to be much longer.

 

[The service book supplied with my car when new says the timing belt and tensioner should be replaced every 180,000 kms on TDi CR engines with engine codes CEGA, CBDB and CBBB. No mention of the 1.6 litre CAYC. Perhaps your service book is later than mine, showing timing belt replacement at only 60K Kms.  Does it mention engine code CAYC?]

 

There are other forums (and other threads on here) where the disparity between UK and EU recommendations is discussed. VAG UK stick by their recommendation saying that it is to suit UK conditions of use. Cynics say it is to give their dealers a source of income. VAG dealer price for the change recently went to £600.

 

Last month I had the belt changed for the second time by an independent VAG specialist for £120 less.

It should have been next year but the first belt change was early when the water pump failed and coolant soaked the timing belt.

Both prices include a water pump change as this is a weak point.

 

TBH it looks like the belt must have failed. Why would one otherwise change it at 61k kms and then do the regular service at 67k? Would that be an engine to avoid?

What country are you in?

Switzerland

As your country is colder and mountainous compared to the UK, the requirements for servicing and parts replacements are likely to be different.

You could ask a local VAG (Volkswagen or Audi or SEAT or Skoda) dealer what they recommend for timing belt replacement interval on the 1.6 litre TDI CR engine (engine code CAYC).

 

It is unlikely the previous belt failed in service as that would destroy the engine, or at least  require replacement valves and pistons.

Could be that someone was being cautious or, like mine, the engine had a coolant pump failure that also requires the belt to be replaced.

A Skoda dealer could give you a history print out from the Skoda system

1 minute ago, pikpilot said:

As your country is colder and mountainous compared to the UK, the requirements for servicing and parts replacements are likely to be different.

You could ask a local VAG (Volkswagen or Audi or SEAT or Skoda) dealer what they recommend for timing belt replacement interval on the 1.6 litre TDI CR engine (engine code CAYC).

 

A local garage mentioned 180K kms for the belt.

 

1 minute ago, pikpilot said:

It is unlikely the previous belt failed in service as that would destroy the engine, or at least  require replacement valves and pistons.

Could be that someone was being cautious or, like mine, the engine had a coolant pump failure that also requires the belt to be replaced.

 

The seller indeed said that the water pump was the issue. He himself bought the car from a Skoda garage only a few months ago, which is somewhat suspicious (says he realised he does not need the car).

 

1 minute ago, pikpilot said:

A Skoda dealer could give you a history print out from the Skoda system

 

You mean any Skoda dealer could show me the history without actually seeing the car, just from the car serial number?

 

5 hours ago, Giff said:

A local garage mentioned 180K kms for the belt.

 

As I said above, 180k kms is what is quoted in my service book for the similar 2 litre CR engines but in the UK, VAG have over-ruled that to 5 years for the first change and every 4 years thereafter. Looks like VAG Switzerland have not done that.

 

 

5 hours ago, Giff said:

You mean any Skoda dealer could show me the history without actually seeing the car, just from the car serial number?

 

When you take your car into a VAG (i.e. Skoda) garage they will connect the car to the VAG remote computer system. They can then see previous history and work done, look for software updates etc. New work is then recorded on the system before you get the car back. Some non VAG garages are also allowed access as I discovered when my timing belt was replaced by an independent garage specialising in VAG vehicles.

But in the UK, VAG garages are sometimes reluctant to print out a service history unless there is a good reason such as trying to sell a car which has no service book. You just have to twist their arm. Perhaps they could do it from the VIN number as you suggest.

 

It is important that you tell the garage that you do NOT want the emissions update to be applied to your car at each and every occasion they get their hands on your car.