Is she dead??

[a7snt101]

I am after the collective hive mind of everyone please. I haven't been on for quite a while but in a way that could be testament as to how good my beloved vRS has been.

 

I've had the call no owner wants to get...'looks like it might need a replacement engine'. Hang on...she only went in for a new fuel pump!!

 

Lets go back a bit. I've had my 2010 Octavia Mk2 vRS since Jan 2015. Had 33k on the clock and with commuting soon started to put the miles on it. She was immaculate and had taken me 6 months of searching across the country to find her. Yes I've had a few issues with her, the main ones were the water pump and a new inlet manifold. But this latest one looks like it's the end of the line. At the moment she has about 114k miles on her and the mileage reduced 5 years ago after getting made redundant and my new job not needing the commuting miles. Over the summer she has been a real trooper as usual and has been up and down the country twice towing and going great. The only slight problem was she didn't start first (maybe second time) while on the M6 toll services but that was the day of the crazy temperature.

The other week we did 80 miles with a few stop/starts to do drop offs for work and going out for lunch with the family. All was fine and we rocked up back home without any issue. Jumped in it in the next morning to go to a meeting and nothing. Turned over but nothing. Small code reader I've got didn't show up any issues. Got a friend who has his own garage (not Skoda) to come out with the full fancy code reader which diagnosed a code:

 

08852 - Fuel Pressure regulator valve (N276) open circuit P2295 - Intermittent

 

From some digging it turned out it needed a new fuel pump as the above valve was connected to the fuel pump.

 

Took it to his garage (first time it going to a non Skoda garage) and just had the call saying they had replaced it but she still wasn't firing up. NO compression at all.

 

Has anyone else experienced the above or had the engine running absolutely fine, no issues, no lights on, no horrible noises then it not starting??

 

I really don't want to get a replacement engine or scrap it if I can avoid it as she is a bloody good car. I'd be prepared to get the guys to do a little digging as to what it could be but would like to try and ask them to look in such and such a place. 

 

HELP...I don't really want to have to call it and say she's had it.

 

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

 

Thanks.

 

 

[Warrior193]

Hello A7, welcome back. It will help members if you post your engine type and code.

[Ootohere]

Sorry to hear this sad story.

 

Someone can help i hope,

and the car probably needs to be with someone else other than those that have it now. 

[a7snt101]

Believe it is 1Z for the VIN and a CCZA. Have asked the garage to check and confirm though. 

 

To be fair the guys who have it are good...just not a Skoda garage. If it went to a Skoda garage the investigation costs would/could be a lot more and could still end up with a dead car 😬

 

Thanks.

Edited 24 August, 2022 by a7snt101
needed to add more

[Warrior193]

Is this a TSI or TDI?

Have the timing chain and tensioner been checked?

[a7snt101]

It's a TSI.

 

Not sure as yet. Going to go in tomorrow and have a chat with them and see what can be checked without it costing a fortune.

[TheClient]

Yes. I had a 2010 vrs. Replaced the timing chain and tensioner when I bought it at 4 years 35k miles. The originals  were not the latest revision and prone to failure. Even just now someone is posting on a zero compression from failed tensioner under cdaa refuses to fire up. This is the 1.8 version of the ea888 gen 2. Essentially the same engine as ccza. 

[J.R.]

No compression sounds terminal, it's possible that while checking things out the garage rotated the engine backwards which caused the chain to jump but it's hard to say that it's their fault as the underlying problem is the tensioner design.

 

They probably feel really bad about it.

 

Was the engine spinning over unusually fast when it refused to start? Could the engine have rotated backwards at your place? - In gear on hill with handbrake not fully applied, a big engine stall etc?

[a7snt101]

When I first had her refuse to start up the drive is on a very slight incline. I then had to push her onto the flat outside the house to get my wifes car out. It then sat there and tried to start it multiple times while checking various things, pulling plugs out etc. I can't say for certain that the engine hasn't rotated backwards but would doubt it.

 

I can pay the garage to do some investigation work but it would be about the same as the scrap value of it 😞 So it's not really worth doing I don't think. Even if I had to go down the route of a replacement engine I'd be into it by a good few grand so wouldn't get much more than that if I was to sell it straight away.

 

I think my only option (unless anyone else has any good ideas) is to sell her either for scrap or to someone off here maybe who has the time etc to sort her or has the time to strip her for parts and make some money from that?

[TheClient]

26 minutes ago, a7snt101 said:

When I first had her refuse to start up the drive is on a very slight incline. I then had to push her onto the flat outside the house to get my wifes car out. It then sat there and tried to start it multiple times while checking various things, pulling plugs out etc. I can't say for certain that the engine hasn't rotated backwards but would doubt it.

 

I can pay the garage to do some investigation work but it would be about the same as the scrap value of it 😞 So it's not really worth doing I don't think. Even if I had to go down the route of a replacement engine I'd be into it by a good few grand so wouldn't get much more than that if I was to sell it straight away.

 

I think my only option (unless anyone else has any good ideas) is to sell her either for scrap or to someone off here maybe who has the time etc to sort her or has the time to strip her for parts and make some money from that?

How good is the car in all other respects?  Did the engine use any oil?  Would you keep it if sinking money into it? That is the only justification for spending substantial money otherwise, as you say, spending money just to immediately offload will probably net you negative returns.

 

You could ask the garage to price you up a repair, if they are capable, based on presumed damage to overhead gear. I.e. replace all timing chain and tensioner gubbins, remove head, preferably source a complete VW exchange head, replace, retime, etc (preferred rather than rebuilding head at a machine shop).  

 

My guesstimate is it would exceed £3k.  A new engine from Skoda is £7k plus plus. I suppose a wrecked car engine is possible solution but a complete unknown as to condition and risks...A reconditioned engine? I don't know but it must be a quality experienced and guaranteed rebuilder.

 

What usually happens is the ratchet on the tensioner fails and holds no tension when the engine stops.  Next time you start....... Crunch.  There are other modes of failure of course.  Hopefully, assuming the engine hasn't had severe collision it will just be the oveherhead gear.

 

A post in circulation at the same time as yours with the 1.8 version.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 26 August, 2022 by TheClient

[a7snt101]

She's in pretty good nick! There's a scratch on the o/s/r panel where my Mrs reversed it into the wall and a ding on the cill where we hit a deer but apart from the usual odd wee stone chip she's really good. Would I keep her...hard to say. I was prepared to pay for getting the new fuel regulator sorted which was a fair bit and it had a new inlet manifold last year along with new discs and pads all round at the same time and then had the alloys restored, re-powder coated and a couple of new tyres on her. She is a bloody good car but I'm loathed to plough money into her when in this day and age pennies are important.

 

Yes she burns oil but I just keep topping it up BUT I did notice when we were checking her over before she went to the garage that No2 or 3 had a lot of oil around the area than I've seen before.

 

The guys in the garage said if I was able to find a replacement engine then they would be about £1250 to strip and replace it. Cost of an unknown engine as you say (so could be no better off) 1k. Need to change the timing chain etc in it anyway PLUS water pump PLUS clutch as you're in there anyway and I know it starts to smell a bit when I'm reversing with the trailer (I don't ride the clutch but a bit harder with the trailer). By the time you add all these parts in and the labour etc you'd be close to the 3k mark and the car I'd have said was 3500-4k tops on a good day.

 

Engines really need to be made of perspex so you can see inside easily 😛 

[Warrior193]

Hi A7, as you say your engine already had an oil habit, and combined with this new problem, unfortunately, it may very well be the end of the line for her😞 unless you can source a known good replacement engine - and the swap can be done, both within a reasonable cost.

[a7snt101]

Yeah I don't think a replacement engine is a viable option sadly. The chances of finding one with a low mileage as mine was and then by the time you replace all the required parts it won't be worth it 😞

 

I'd rather sell her to someone who can see the value in her and has the time/effort to try and get her back on the road.

Under what section of the forum would be the best place to advertise her? She's complete but a non runner, obviously.