Timing Belt and Water pump changed at 81000, currently 87000 with a years mot, no advisories. However, the car

is cat N and the repairs look fine, front with I think.  The gearshift is difficult to engage, ( I thought maybe damage

to the gear selector cable). What is worrying me is the views on the engine.  I won't always be going on long runs

and worry about the DPF and any other associated problems.  Any advice would be most helpful.

Trust your gut feeling when buying cars.

Is the car particularly cheap, cheap enough that repair costs will still leave you ahead?

If not, if you have doubts, I suggest you walk away.

(But I am particularly fussy when buying a car, and it took me about 2 years to finally find a car I was happy with, so I'm a bit of an outlier. This is because I keep my cars for a long time.)

 

Just rang the main dealer, last timing belt and water pump done feb 2018 @ 38000 miles. 

Will try to find out the last service stamp details from the owner, if she has nothing to hide

she will give me details.  If she has, as you say walk away......

Welcome.

?

Is 'She'  who is selling it the registered keeper on the V5. 

& Even the person that drove the car?

 

You must assume that the Defeat Device Recall Action was done and the Air Flow Device is in the air intake and the Engine Management / software update applied.  Unless you know otherwise.

Check if it shows outstanding,

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

 

It could have been done and then someone had it 'Rolled back' and a remap done.    All a lottery.  

 

Service stamps are nothing.  That is Oil & Filter / Inspection services.

It is what else gets done you want to see on an invoice.

So Brake Fluid changes, or you get them done, fuel filter changes, pollen filter, air filter etc. 

Edited 22 November, 20223 yr by toot

Please note - I am not a mechanic or expert in anything.

 

On 20/11/2022 at 19:17, anthony33 said:

Timing Belt and Water pump changed at 81000,

On 21/11/2022 at 09:56, anthony33 said:

Just rang the main dealer, last timing belt and water pump done feb 2018 @ 38000 miles. 

 

That might be a typo on your part and you mean 83,000 miles (?) Feb 2018 and the 81,000 miles just a mistake or wrong memory but you want consistent accurate information.

 

If the lady has any paperwork, bills, receipts, MoTs, you want to ask to see them all and then put them in (reverse) chronological order, most recent at front of pile that way you can cross reference dates and mileages as conformation.

 

81,000 (or 83,000) miles in about 6 years is good average annual mileage but then 6,000 miles (or 4,000) in coming up to 4 years isn't so good particularly for a 2012 diesel and DPF so needs investigating.

 

The gearshift might be an easy inexpensive (or no-cost) repair or it might not, plenty of info on here about transmissions and clutches.

 

As well as looking at all paper and other records (like online previous MoTs) I would get a good level scan tool plugged in to it before and during a test drive.  Some errors codes can just be from silly things like letting the car battery get too low for the computers or just not cleared after being resolved but it's all more info to make a decision on.

 

EnterName and toot have given some good advice and I think you are right to be concerned with the car and getting a diesel of that age particularly if you're main use is only short journeys and/or less frequent use.  Some cars can be sorted easily whereas others can have continuing ongoing problems, a death by a thousand cuts and some of them deep.

 

Edited 22 November, 20223 yr by nta16
spelling

5 hours ago, toot said:

Service stamps are nothing.  That is Oil & Filter / Inspection services.

It is what else gets done you want to see on an invoice.

So Brake Fluid changes, or you get them done, fuel filter changes, pollen filter, air filter etc. 

You always have the best graphics, Toot. 👌

Many Thanks Guys for your kind advice.  Rang VAG manchester who confirmed the timing belt and water pump

were done at 81000.  Also the servicing and a wishbone replacement and track rod.   Moire info was not forth-

coming.  I have decided to walk away.  I would be using the car for mainly short journeys and it would not have

a chance to get the engine warm.  If there are DPF problems it's an accident waiting to happen.  My local mechanic

who I know for 16 yrs is looking for a cheap run around until I find what I originally wanted..... an Octavia estate

with the 1.9tdi engine.  With a good history.  Will keep you posted! 

 

There is a mk1 Octavia vRS in the Cars for sale on BRISKODA.  Worth keeping a look there.  Often Skoda enthusiasts selling stuff. 

Edited 22 November, 20223 yr by toot

Thanks Toot, I am such a fan of the 1.9 tdi engine that I will get one of those.....

I hate the 1.6 TDI CAYA, B and C engine, absolute dog of an engine. I am just rebuilding the ASV in an Octavia 1 L&K, quarter million miles, zero measurable bore or crank wear but head gasket failed due to excessive boost for 20 years, terrible 🤣

4 hours ago, anthony33 said:

Thanks Toot, I am such a fan of the 1.9 tdi engine that I will get one of those.....

Hi Anthony, depending on your annual milage, a diesel might not be your best choice.

I do hear of a lot of negative feeback on the 1.6 TDI, but i have a 2010 model with 101k on the clock and have owned it from a few years old, it has been a great car, a few things have gone wrong and i have fixed them, nothing too  major and i have serviced it every year....... it does what i want it to do and is reliable. Maybe i have been lucky, not too sure, its not a cat N or anything else, i have NOT had the fix done. I like it, and intend to keep it many more years until 2030 when i will buy the best petrol car i can and keep that until i don't need to drive again.

On 20/11/2022 at 19:17, anthony33 said:

 However, the caris cat N and the repairs look fine, front with I think.  The gearshift is difficult to engage, ( I thought maybe damage

to the gear selector cable).

 Dpending when it was damaged, you may be able to get photos showing the extent through Vcheck or Carvertical for a moderate cost compared to how much you could be spending. You are fortunate that the seller has been honest, too many people rely on an HPI check which will more often than not tell you of cars being accident damaged but not recorded by insurance companies. Dodgy Cars on FB currently has a post on a Ferrari at £240K being sold with no details of the damage it previously had. My 1.4 TDI Greenline had selection problems due to lack of lubrication in the selector tower on top of the box.

Edited 22 November, 20223 yr by KeithCheetham

If you are using it for short journeys only i suggest you get a petrol.