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The Super B and That Trip to France

Us Caddye’s are your traditional archetypical Irish family. No airs or graces with us, what you see is what you get. Two great kids, our lad, Jay is 10 and our daughter Alannah is 13 now. We have a fairly normal existence in fairness with bills to pay, places to go, activities for the kids, trying to just make life as stress free as possible – Every family is in the same boat up and down this country. When my beloved Mk1 Fabia vRS was involved in an unscheduled indiscretion with a Galway traffic light I was on the lookout for another car. I was trying to delay the inevitable “That car is way too small to fit the kids and associated bits in” conversation but alas that conversation was accelerated at 4:45am on a rainy morning in April 2024! My search ended with a reasonably tidy 3T 2010 Skoda Superb Mk2 Estate. Not only that she is an Elegance with tan leather, loads of toys, an absolutely massive boot, loads of space inside and going well. The car is an original Dublin registered car as well which is a rarity in this country as we always have low spec cars with the way that extras are taxed. Because of GDPR I will never find out about previous owners or where in the class structure they fall.  Car absolutely fits our needs like a glove, cheap running, parts plentiful and mechanics know them better than they know their own wives. Mechanically Superb’s of this generation are fairly robust and reliable with very few foibles so I was ready for many years of loyal service.

After this car came to us via a great chap Declan for very reasonable money we were all set for a new chapter in family motoring. The car really proved herself over the next few months and we had no concerns apart from one day I started her at work and she ran like a bag of weasels but then cleared – strange I thought but passed it off as a glitch. Another day she put a load of smoke out the back and Sinead my wife mentioned that the car put smoke out on her but then cleared, but again I put that down to a DPF regen. On cold mornings there was a bit of steam from the exhaust but  this was attributed to the cold. Another thing that annoys me is the parking sensors – I park putting my arm around the passenger seat and looking back, a skill that has been passed down the Caddye generations as both my father and grandfather done likewise. The sensors on the left back were giving erroneous readings which again I put down to age related issues.  Nothing to worry about. Little did I know that these little incidents were invariably linked. She was running really well and with this in mind Sinead asked me how I felt about driving in France as there was a great deal going for Domaine de Ormes which is only 200km from the Cherbourg ferry. Sounds good to me I said so let’s go for that

All good and happy in the weeks leading to the trip, new tyres, a new timing belt, tensioner, idler rollers and waterpump were fitted up with Cian and a good check over. Alco testers, hi vizzys, headlight beam benders, IRL badge on the back, bulb kit, mini trolley jack, breaking bar with 19mm socket. A selection of hoses and a few tools. This would cover all foreseeable incidents and keep the French gendarmerie happy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday before the off and the heater wasn’t great in the car – Also with the expansion bottle cap off there was a few bubbles coming up – Ahh sure she probably didn’t just bleed right was the problem I told myself. I had an appointment in Galway but outside Abbyknockmoy things took a turn for the worse with loads of white smoke from the exhaust. I promptly called off the appointment and headed for Craughwell as this is where Dave and Sean are. These lads are VW specialists and really know the EA189 engine. Their diagnosis was “Bypass the water supply to the EGR cooler and see how it goes. Them coolers split and allow the exhaust gas and water to mix giving the appearance of a headgasket failure”

Sean asked me had she ever locked up on startup and I said no but I had to replace the battery a few months ago as she refused to turn over… “I have never seen one of them engines need a headgasket in the 20 years I have worked on them” was a reassuring thing to hear

Back to Ian’s and Cian put in an EGR cooler bypass but the smoke was still there – Thats probably still residual water in the exhaust I said – Sorry I wanted to believe. She was still bubbling in the expansion tank – Not as bad but still bubbling none the less. Jimmy was asking what was going on and we told him. His reply I would keep hearing at least 3 times a day for the next 8 days “Under no circumstances take that car to France” So the following Thursday I went to work with the car and no water usage and no smoke – Great I thought that’s her ready now. Friday I used the car for work again and no problem. I was now confident that all was within limits. Friday evening, I loaded the car and checked her over, put on the IRL and put on the headlight beam benders. Lifted the bonnet and checked the oil, perfect then checked the expansion bottle and to my horror it was low, so low in fact it was on the point of triggering the alarm. I tried to think of a way out, but it was too late – She was going to Dublin and Dublin is 200k away. If she uses a bottleful of coolant every 150k that will be doable ….. I have a full 5 litres of coolant in the shed and I have an empty one so I put 2.5 in one and fill the 2 with water – 10 litres is the whole system filled twice so that should do it. I pack the 2 jars in at the tailgate edge for easy access. Here we go. I am a small bit worried and try not to show it, its too late to pull out and we definitely need the Superb as Sinead’s beloved FN2 Honda just doesn’t have the boot and isn’t booked on the boat. This has to work – I’m that far in that there is no way back now. Kids are all excited and bringing this and that – I am quiet thinking the worst.

Saturday 31^st May 2025

I phone the Insurance to see how we are fixed if it goes south in France – I can get recovered to a local French mechanic and a few other bits. Our travel insurance will get us home but the car will have to stay “Ahh sure I’m sure nothing will happen – Don’t worry about it” said the chirpy girl at the other end. If you only knew what I know now I was thinking. I googled every car place, every recovery outfit, and every train station between Cherbourg and Domain de Ormes – Get ready, if this goes tits up then both mine and our Super B’s reputation would be irreparably damaged. Everyone is ready and I suggest that we set off early as we are all geared for the off. This has to work, and I can’t say anything. The temperature gauge and the low coolant level warning cannot be seen from the passenger side which is one small comfort. We set out and drive through Clonberne as the road to Creggs is closed. We call to Ian – Cian isn’t there and I say my bye byes and say everything is okay. Ian says “Cian is a bit worried about the car” I told him she will be sound. I am driving steady watching the gauge – 90degC all the way. We stop at Killbeggan and I disappear to check the bottle – At the level so all good. Feeling not too bad. M4, M50, Port Tunnel and traffic is heavy, Temp is perfect no warnings. We land at the ferry terminal and I am happy enough. Stage 1 of 4 complete. We go up the boat ramp of the WB Yeats and the low coolant warning comes on to which I remark that the sharp incline has put on the warning. Right 150k has now been set and that is do able. You would be taking a break at that distance anyway so its definitely within the realms of possibility that this will work

 

 

 

 

Sunday 1^st June 2025

After a fairly restless night I’m in a tizzy to get to the deck to get the car topped up and I hurry on to the deck and get all the bags in, bonnet pulled expansion bottle topped up and then the nervous wait – Everyone quiet. Is it a leak or the headgasket? – No coolant on the deck. Please let this work. Perfect startup and no smoke, not too bad. We roll up on a French passport control officer and the kids are giving him whatever French they have picked up and he is delighted but just as he says “Bon Voyage”, the dreaded alarm for low coolant blares again … Oh f**k this can’t be, please not here, not now, – No where to stop and check. It can’t be gone already …… Please no, not in France and not on a Sunday. On a Sunday the French rest, no exceptions. I hear Jimmy’s warning once again “Under no circumstance take that car to France” I say to myself throw caution to the wind and just push on, no petrol stations, then there are signs for lorry’s not to overtake, and you guessed it that means climbs. A Superb Estate is 1550kg and has about 500 kgs of people and luggage on board so no big lifts or putting any pressure on the car. Then the temp gauge starts to climb off the 90…. No please – I check the oil temp and its saying 114 – Not overly high – If it gets to 125 – 130 you are on thin ice. Temp gauge is at over 105 now and the low-level coolant warning is flashing… I know the EA189 is strong but can it take that sort of abuse? The road starts to level off, the temperature levels off and my stress levels off. We travel about 150k and Sinead suggests a stop off at a services Aire Vallee De La Vire – Thank God. Kids get a feed, we get a feed. The Superb gets a rest and a cool down. We sit for 45mins and Sinead announces we are only 60k to go. I say im going to check the car. The pressure in the expansion bottle is enormous and I start to fill the bottle again. Nearly 2 litres she takes. I decide to run the engine to circulate the water, which I didn’t and couldn’t do on the boat. She fires up no problem and I go under to check – Where’s the cap ?…. Please no… where will I get a cap in the middle of France on a Sunday? I look and its down by the alternator. I left it on the engine cover and then started her up. Any more I put it on the scuttle panel – A lesson learned….! We load up and head out – No warnings and temp normal. I just cruise along with a lorry at 90km in the right lane. Everyone thinks that this reduced speed is just a factor of us being in a strange land. Its all about mechanical sympathy and preservation after the heating she has endured over the previous 100 or so miles. We come off the dual carriageway just as the temperature hand starts to stir and with the reduced pace it levels again. We roll up to the campsite and check in. Special stage 2 out of 4 is now complete. Alannah remarks “Daddy the car is smoking a bit” I pass this off as a DPF regen and don’t say anymore. We have made it – Now we have a sick Superb and we are 500k from Patch – That’s quite a problem for me only as everyone else is oblivious – Lets keep it that way

 

 

 

Monday and Tuesday 2^nd and 3^rd June 2025

Rest days and I post on the Briskoda.com forum but just ask if there any harm in bypassing the EGR cooler? I don’t disclose that we are in bother in France. I just don’t want to jinx the whole deal. I know there is a small independent old school garage just down the road about 8km away - Staff Auto in Saint-Benoît-des-Ondes, Should I take the car there and see what they can do? What if I say I’m just going a nosey but If I do that the mask is well and truly off, everyone will be anxious and the holiday will be ruined. An answer comes from Breezy Pete from the Briskoda forum who says its good troubleshooting to bypass the EGR and no harm to drive it but get it sorted sooner rather than later. https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/532688-skoda-superb-mk2-cbbb-coolant-leakegr-advice/#comment-5951782Thinking back its now obvious the head gasket has gone or the head is cracked and there is no way that will be fixed here. The engine has got a fair heating and the head is probably warped – As long as she does not hydrolock as water will not compress and could break a connecting rod or piston – With the pressure in the system the water is leaking into one of the combustion chambers – Every cold startup will be a nerve-wracking experience from here on

 

Wednesday 4^th June 2025

We go to an open air Zoo and Castle Bourbansais, La Bourbansais,  which is 23km away. It’s all rural roads and speed is slow. Car runs great no issue, No smoke, no warnings, steady temperature. Its all easy pace and the car behaves impeccably. When we get back, I check the expansion bottle – No coolant loss, Say nothing and keep saying it

 

Thursday 5^th June 2025

We intend to go to Dinan and a few places roundabout– We load up and I hit the key. The starter motor just clicks. This is the dreaded hydrolock. I keep trying and Sinead asks if the battery is down – I say maybe it is and eventually the engine turns over and fires into a rough run in a cloud of smoke – My biggest fear has now been realised – It’s the headgasket and make no mistake about it. We drive through the campsite with smoke eventually clearing – Nobody looks behind, everyone is oblivious to the situation but at this stage I’m now thinking of how we are going to get home and we aren’t going until Sunday. Some of the route is dual carriageway – I take it nice and handy but still the dreaded temperature starts to creep up again. I keep looking in the mirror for smoke but none appears. I nurse the car on the pretext that I’m being careful, The reality is one big stress and the engine will go full Chernobyl leaving us stranded.

 

Friday 6^th June 2025

We decide to go to Mont san Michele which is 30 or so km away. The heater now doesn’t work and its ****ing it down. I have to run the fan to keep the windows clear and its Baltic inside the car. Again its nice and easy pace and no hydrolock today. There is a complaint that it is really cold in the car and “We could all catch a dose” I grunt and say the heater matrix is likely blocked.

 

 

 

Saturday 7^th June 2025

Another hydrolock on first startup – Seans question earlier about the engine refusing to turn over on the starter now becomes relevant – Very relevant. We go to Dol de Bretagne for the market but again all I can think about is tomorrow and the trip to Cherbourg – We come back to the car after 2hrs and the car fires straight up – We go and refuel – We spy another LHD Superb Estate in dark blue – This one is on an 11-KE plate – I wonder what the story is there?

Sunday 8^th June 2025

Its D-Day and im not talking the Normandy Landings here. We will be passing by if we make it that far. I sit in the car and ask her nicely “I know you are very sick but please do your best and I promise I will get you fixed up properly and you will have your forever home with us” I check the oil for signs of water. The oil filler has a small layer of mayonnaise just under the cap. I didn’t see that. We load up the car with all our gear – Again I make the suggestion we leave early. Everyone aboard and its time. Here goes – I hit the key and The Super B fires up immediately without smoke and we take off – Sinead checks out and we are headed for Cherbourg – 209kms to go. Its overcast and cool. Perfect conditions, I think. For the first 60kms the temp needle is steady 90degC, no warnings. First climb and the needle starts to creep. The climb is steep, we are loaded to the hilt and I keep glancing down. The road levels off and the temp needle does likewise. This routine continues over the next 4 or 5 climbs. The needle doesn’t seem to be raising as high as the previous week. We stop in the same services and things aren’t as bad as the outward journey. I’m quietly confident. I check the expansion tank and again the pressure is big and the level is low enough. We have covered only 60kms at this stage. Another 110km to Cherbourg and them awful climbs to go. Next sign Cherbourg 78km, Cherbourg 46km, Cherbourg 23km – We go past the reenactment of the Normandy Landings – There are loads of people along the roads. The traffic is a bit slow which suits us just fine. We can see the coast as we come downhill into the port itself. We are early there with about 1 and a half hours in hand. As long as this car gets aboard the WB Yeats we will be home free. Every startup is faultless and we board the ferry. Stage 3 out of 4 is now complete. I am nearly celebrating. If the engine caves now then that will be grand – I will get pushed off and recovery can come and get us in Dublin

 

 

Monday 9^th June 2025

We awake early and have a light breakfast. I am thinking of the startup – Expansion bottle filled again – Sinead has booked us priority exit from the boat so to avoid mayhem we have to get going – Please do not hydrolock at this late stage. She fires up without incident, no smoke no rough running, passport check a chat with the customs and onto the Port Tunnel, M50 and M4. Homeward bound, Temperature steady, no alarms, Nice and calm pace. Im now getting confident that indeed we are going to make it. A stop off at Maccy D’s outside Athlone and bottle filled – She then hydrolocks again and again she eventually turns over, starts, runs rough and clouds of smoke. I don’t really care as we are very close now and the damaged engine is getting steadily worse but even if the engine goes bang now then Ian can come up with a trailer and get us – She runs rough, is suffering but eventually we struggle home – We have made it Stage 4 out of 4 complete.

Tuesday 10^th June 2025

We have to go to Limerick for a bed for Alannah – I am really chancing it now. We stop at Ian’s Garage. Ian, Cian and Jimmy are at the door of the garage as I pull in. I step out with the two arms aloft and with the victory fingers on both hands smiling like a cheshire cat. Jimmy is the first to speak exclaiming “I have to hand it to you – You have balls” I tell the above story and everyone says we were very  very lucky to get away with such a journey

 

We did get to Limerick and back and the following Thursday I come back from work with the car belching out clouds of steam. Sinead asked me “Is your car working okay?” I said “Well its working but its not okay” “OMG was it like that in France?” “Yes it was – Did you enjoy France and did you have any concerns about the car?” “Yes and No” “ Well all I saw of France was a temperature gauge, a low level warning light and an empty expansion bottle” –

 

 

 

I drove the car on for a further 3 weeks to the point I had to release the built up pressure in the bottle every time I stopped the car before she eventually cried enough and the engine refused to start. The EA189 will always be remembered for its association with the VW Dieselgate scandal but no other engine would have stuck that sort of abuse for as long as it did or maybe it was the little chat I had on the morning before we took off for the homeward leg. A car is an innate object incapable of showing any emotion but I like to think that they do indeed have a heart, soul and a personality. All my workmates knew that the trip was in jeopardy as I was telling them of my troubleshooting capers the week previous – Usually you would get a “How’s the holiday going?” text but they knew that it was on a knife edge and any mention of it would have put the kybosh on the trip. I never contacted anyone either for the same reason! Thinking now about the whole trip, the well worn adage from the SAS is fitting in this story “He who dares wins”. The car could have blew up on the way to Dublin or worse still outside Cherbourg on the climbs or halfway to Mont san Michael but it didn’t but it was close. There was too much at stake to surrender.

The Super B has received another full engine so she does indeed live to fight another day. She is going great – No oil/water loss and no tsunami in the expansion bottle. There was a fair few bits we got with the new to me engine. Did you know that the bare EA189 is identical no matter what engine code it has? Nor did I – The difference in engine codes is in the injectors and turbocharger only. Well I made a promise that our Superb will never see another owner if she held up her end of the bargain, which she did so it’s up to me to honour my promise!! Many a 15-year-old car gets unnecessarily scrapped when a problem like this occurs being classed as uneconomical to repair but I believe that if you have a small bit of DIY knowledge you can easily keep an older girl maintained and roadworthy giving you years of loyal service. My car has many dings and marks and is no show pony but as transport she excels. I laugh every time I see a new SUV as I am looking at €500 every month in repayments and then the car isn’t even yours for you have to stump up €20k in a balloon payment – I don’t give a toss how bad an old 2010 Superb is going but she won’t swallow a monkey of cash every month. Fact.

We made it to France - Outside Domaine des Ormes

Outside the Lodge

Boot full with Cooler Box and the Vital Coolant in the Right side

We Mad ethe Cherbourg Ferry - Now that's a relief

3 Weeks and finally she has given up - Fair play to the Brian James Trailer

Sun is shining on an empty Bay

Like a big Jigsaw - She has come back

Dol de Bretagne

Edited 12 October, 202512 Oct by VanhireBoys

@VanhireBoys Fair play to you. I've only once had a head gasket blow, and then the Ren No chucked out all its oil. I'd bought it for GB£200 so it really wasn't worth fixing either.

thank you for a very enjoyable read

well thats an amazing story and so well written. fair play

Wow what a story and what a journey.

Well done you and well done Super B. Great you let this live on. They are really a great all rounder for a family on travels or not.

@VanhireBoys Apart from the adventure story: What wheel and tire size are you running in your Superb? They look larger than stock? Is it 225/50R17 on 7.5J rims? Or 215/50R17 on 7J?

Or am I seeing it wrong and is this just stock?

@VanhireBoys The car is a keeper. it looked after you in France so you need to look after it forever ❣️

On 18/10/2025 at 16:57, andrehj said:

@VanhireBoys Apart from the adventure story: What wheel and tire size are you running in your Superb? They look larger than stock? Is it 225/50R17 on 7.5J rims? Or 215/50R17 on 7J?

Or am I seeing it wrong and is this just stock?

She is indeed on 225/50 x 17 on a 7.5J - You are very observant Andre 😉- Perfect size for Ireland - Roads around us are rough - I do prefer a car that is a bit harder around the suspension (next job whatever time)- Great comfort with the 17" Trifid wheels

Thanks very much to you all for your kind compliments on my ramblings - the original intention was just to have a record of the trip so that one day when I'm long gone our kids can enjoy the story and get a laugh. I did let a few of my workmates read it and they said I should put it up here - I'm glad now I did !!

We have her now through the NCT as well with no advisories - Well the tyre pressure monitor was on but I think that was due to the brake test they do threw it out.

She will be going nowhere now and that's for sure