Hello Skoda-fans,

I've had my 2000/X-reg Octavia SLX TDi for a couple of weeks now and I'm getting used to a modern car! My previous was a '93 Peugeot 405 which was great (till the head gasket blew) but seems like a 5 door tractor in comparison to the Octy.

I picked it up at an auction and I think I scooped quite a deal. It seems that the Skoda badge still puts off most punters - the Audi A4 TDi (96/P and 180k miles!) had a lot more interest and went for more than the Skoda. The fools!

Anyway. A couple of things are troubling me:

1. I'm getting an irregular knocking from the front offside suspension. At low speed on rough roads. Looking through these forums suggests it could just (?) be the Anti roll bar mounts. Is this a common fault and are they easily replaced?

2. I get hesitation during hard acceleration. In 4th it will noticably faulter at about 2400rpm and again at about 2800. In other gears its different rev, but it doesn't do it in 1st or 2nd. Maybe in 3rd, can't remember.

Could this be the Air Mass Sensor? (you call it the MAF?) can this be cleaned by a diy bodger like me (more used to VW Beetles) or is it a pro job? Will it need replacement? Is it something else completely? could the ECU be somehow corrupted and need a reset (i'm guessing here, can you tell?!)

That's all for now, except I think it needs a boot spoiler - I'm not into body mods at all but the rear view just doesn't do it for me. Oh and no rear wiper - whats that about?! It could really do with one.

All help, speculation and chat welcomed.

Afraid I don't know the answer to your techincal questions, but I know what you mean about the wiper. I find myself using an ice scraper to get all the condensation off in the morning!

Welcome to the board.

Luckly (although not for you) skoda saw the error of their ways and added a rear wiper on later models.

Hopefully someone will be along to help you with your other problems...

to test the maf,unplug the multi connector from it and try the car.if the flat spot has gone it is the maf at fault.do not run it for ever with the maf unplugged though,i believe it can cause probs.they are easy to change if you need to.hope this helps.

1. I'm getting an irregular knocking from the front offside suspension. At low speed on rough roads. Looking through these forums suggests it could just (?) be the Anti roll bar mounts. Is this a common fault and are they easily replaced?

Didn't take long for the dealers to do mine, however if they have been left too long i believe they ARB can be damaged. It's a combination of ARB, drop links or bushes quite often.

2. I get hesitation during hard acceleration. In 4th it will noticably faulter at about 2400rpm and again at about 2800. In other gears its different rev, but it doesn't do it in 1st or 2nd. Maybe in 3rd, can't remember.

Could this be the Air Mass Sensor? (you call it the MAF?) can this be cleaned by a diy bodger like me (more used to VW Beetles) or is it a pro job? Will it need replacement? Is it something else completely? could the ECU be somehow corrupted and need a reset (i'm guessing here, can you tell?!)

First thing to do is get a brand new paper filter and put that in. The 40k filter change is wildly optimisitic IMHO. Cleaning the MAF is fairly easy and you will need, a mole wrench or similar, a philips head screwdriver (IIRC), a plastic bag and some isoprp alcohol (IPA).

When you are changing the air filter you will notice a thing that has a plug in it in the tube that runs from the air box to the engine. This is the MAF.

You need to unplug the connector, undo the two screws and then remove the clip that holds it into the pipe. The MAF can then be eased out.

Next spray a little bit of IPA over the gauze of the MAF and also over the wire which sits in the middle of the tube section of the device.

Next put the MAF in a plastic food bag without holes and bit of IPA in with it.

Seal the bag, and then holding the MAF shake it around a bit in the bag, so that the IPA can flow over the MAF and hopefully clean the crud off it. Once done, take the MAF out of the bag, spray a little bit of clean IPA over the wire section so that no crud stays on it, and then leave the MAF on the side for the IPA to evaporate and the thing to dry off. Reverse the removal instructions to put it back and at the same time clean out the air box and install the new air filter.

Bobs hopefully now your uncle

Obvious you do this at your own risk, and IPA is highly flamable warnings apply.

Regarding the ECU I wouldn't think so, but easiest way to tell is to get a friendly person on here with VAG COM to read the fault codes from your car, or take it into a dealers and get the codes read. A dealer will probably charge you for this mind. Have a look and see if the ECU number ends in BM as i recal there being an issue with this ECU type, but can't think what.

Re the rear wiper, thoroughly clean the rear screen and apply rainX and you should be a lot better off

Oh and welcome to briskoda.

Cheezemonkhai, thanks mate you're a star. I'll get onto it.

Marcus