I know, it's a "how long is a piece of string?" question, but...

 

I found just before Christmas that there was a small pond in the spare wheel well of my Octavia estate, 2018, bought last July at c.50K miles with 6 month warranty. I reported it to the dealer, (not a Skoda specialist, but our local Honda Listers, who seem mostly willing and helpful enough), and 10 days ago they had it back for a check. No immediate leak found, though they agreed it needs sorting. They took all the seals off the tailgate and replaced them for a start, and I'm seeing how it goes. (And it's not rained properly since!)

The trouble is that now I have to really slam the tailgate down with both hands to get it to lock, for the dashboard display to agree it's closed. I can't think it's meant to be that way, hence my question at the top.

 

Was I spoilt with our ancient Volvo V70? Never any water ingress there, and I could rest my backside on the boot and quietly shove, which was a whole lot less noisy when coming in late after an event and not wanting to to disturb our quiet neighbours!  I'm worried that with the force needed to close this I'll rattle something loose too.

 

And are Octavias known for water getting into the back end at all?

Thanks as ever for any comments.

Adjust the lock keep plate like they should have done after fitting new seals.

 

To be fair they probably slam everyones doors and tailgates with the same indifference/contempt so may not have noticed.

Edited 16 January, 20251 yr by J.R.

I'm torn between doing that myself and not adjusting anything until I'm sure it's watertight, since it's under warranty - just - and I don't want them to be able to claim I've messed up their attempts at rectification.

As you say, most people do slam everything - though I noticed when I collected it that even they hadn't got it properly closed on their forecourt, so the diagram on the dashboard warned it was open.
I did inform them.

I was really wondering, since it's my first Octavia, if one should expect to have to slam it hard, or if as a rule it can be managed quietly.
 

The 2018 to 2020 cars seem to suffer from boot seals being tight.  I have to be slightly forceful on my 2019 Octavia.

I have to be quite tough on my 2020 vRS hatch - most people fail to close it when they first try (it has had new struts, etc). I'm quite careful with the doors/boot/bonnet and frequently fail to close it fully. It's just one of those things, although it is a pretty large panel.

 

Regarding the spare wheel well filling with water - the MQB platform has two vents on the inside of the bumper, designed to reduce pressure in the car. I had them replaced on my Leon, before discovering a badly repaired smash was causing the ingress. 

 

The photo below is a Golf, but it's the same thing.

 

My guess would be these vents have gone (or, more likely, the seal around them) and the stiff boot is a coincidence. My Indie got some 'modded' vents, and whacked them in with some sealant from inside the boot, without taking the bumper off. It's a very common issue on 2012ish-2020ish A3/Golf/Leon/Octavia.

 

9 hours ago, Occy245 said:

I have to be quite tough on my 2020 vRS hatch - most people fail to close it when they first try (it has had new struts, etc). I'm quite careful with the doors/boot/bonnet and frequently fail to close it fully. It's just one of those things, although it is a pretty large panel.

 

Regarding the spare wheel well filling with water - the MQB platform has two vents on the inside of the bumper, designed to reduce pressure in the car. I had them replaced on my Leon, before discovering a badly repaired smash was causing the ingress. 

 

The photo below is a Golf, but it's the same thing.

 

My guess would be these vents have gone (or, more likely, the seal around them) and the stiff boot is a coincidence. My Indie got some 'modded' vents, and whacked them in with some sealant from inside the boot, without taking the bumper off. It's a very common issue on 2012ish-2020ish A3/Golf/Leon/Octavia.

 

 

Thank you, that is worth knowing, and worth suggesting to the dealer for investigation next time I take it for the follow-up.

4 hours ago, Hedgehurst said:

Thank you, that is worth knowing, and worth suggesting to the dealer for investigation next time I take it for the follow-up.

 

They're a common problem, even on the newer 8Y/Mk8/Mk4 cars. Same as how our era of cars had awful pan roof drains, that always leaked.

 

It seems the VW versions are inherently flawed, hence why people fit 'modified' versions. A quick google search will net you some links - doesn't matter what brand or model it is, they're all the same.

 

If the boot is leaking, especially in this weather, I would suggest doing your best to dry out the spare wheel well. I remember using a combo of paper towels, cloths, a hairdryer and plenty silica bags (you can get them on Amazon for a few quid). The last thing you want is mould. I've been so scarred from my experience, I actually still keep silica bags/dehumidifier pouches all around the car.

22 hours ago, Occy245 said:

 

They're a common problem, even on the newer 8Y/Mk8/Mk4 cars. Same as how our era of cars had awful pan roof drains, that always leaked.

 

It seems the VW versions are inherently flawed, hence why people fit 'modified' versions. A quick google search will net you some links - doesn't matter what brand or model it is, they're all the same.

 

If the boot is leaking, especially in this weather, I would suggest doing your best to dry out the spare wheel well. I remember using a combo of paper towels, cloths, a hairdryer and plenty silica bags (you can get them on Amazon for a few quid). The last thing you want is mould. I've been so scarred from my experience, I actually still keep silica bags/dehumidifier pouches all around the car.

Thanks again. Because it's been pretty well dry weather since the dealer re-fitted the seals, it's still dry in that compartment, but I'll keep checking;  I'm contacting the service manager there tomorrow so will pass on the info about the vents.
A leaking boot is seriously not something we want,  between sometimes carrying musical instruments and sometimes using it as a storage space while on holiday with our seriously small caravan.

 

On 16/01/2025 at 21:19, Hedgehurst said:

I know, it's a "how long is a piece of string?" question, but...

 

I found just before Christmas that there was a small pond in the spare wheel well of my Octavia estate, 2018, bought last July at c.50K miles with 6 month warranty. I reported it to the dealer, (not a Skoda specialist, but our local Honda Listers, who seem mostly willing and helpful enough), and 10 days ago they had it back for a check. No immediate leak found, though they agreed it needs sorting. They took all the seals off the tailgate and replaced them for a start, and I'm seeing how it goes. (And it's not rained properly since!)

The trouble is that now I have to really slam the tailgate down with both hands to get it to lock, for the dashboard display to agree it's closed. I can't think it's meant to be that way, hence my question at the top.

 

Was I spoilt with our ancient Volvo V70? Never any water ingress there, and I could rest my backside on the boot and quietly shove, which was a whole lot less noisy when coming in late after an event and not wanting to to disturb our quiet neighbours!  I'm worried that with the force needed to close this I'll rattle something loose too.

 

And are Octavias known for water getting into the back end at all?

Thanks as ever for any comments.

I have the hatch, which is obviously different, but I have two observations.

Firstly, there are adjustable rubber bungs that can be screwed in and out to adjust how the boot closes. Make sure your bungs are adjusted correctly.

They just screw in and out. Too far in, and they offer no shock absorbance and your boot can rattle on the catch. Too far out, and it's hard to close the boot as the rubber bung stops the latch locking properly without undue force.

 

Secondly, there are some springy things that do "something" associated with the rear hatch.

I'm not sure if you have them on the estate, but if you do, make sure they move freely. I had a sticky one which needed a bit of lube to get it moving correctly.

I'd find I'd open the boot and there would be a sproingy click shortly after opening, as the spring thing overcame the resistance of the crud that was stopping it moving freely, and the thing sproinged to full extension.

 

Both worth a look especially as they are quick and easy to check.

Beyond that, those vents Occy mentioned might be worth investigating.

Thanks very much "EnterName"  (Do I detect a Pratchett  Sam Vimes fan at work here? 😀 )

I'll investigate - though as I said, since it's still under warranty I'm going to let them do any adjusting so they can't claim I've messed things up.

And forgive my commenting, but I do thoroughly approve your use of the technical term "sproing". Spot on resonance here.