Shedtastic - 1999 Skoda Felicia 1.9D Estate
Discussion
Looks like I'm going to have to commute ~60 miles each way for a good few months for work so decided to find an old snotter a bit more economical than the old Golf I bought for my girlfriend to learn to drive in. Wanted to try and find something not massively bigger than the Golf so she can still drive it reasonably comfortably.
Ended up with a 1999 Skoda Felicia 1.9D Estate with 160k miles on the clock - seems to be clean enough although as usual with cheap cars the further you pry the more problems you will find. Current oustanding issues that I am dealing with are:
I'll post some photos soon but it's not much to look at - looks like it's had a bit of paint in the past (poorly applied by rattle can) and has the odd dent here and there but it's not too bad.
Ended up with a 1999 Skoda Felicia 1.9D Estate with 160k miles on the clock - seems to be clean enough although as usual with cheap cars the further you pry the more problems you will find. Current oustanding issues that I am dealing with are:
- Blower only works on low or high, no in between and actually sometimes decides it wants to run on the highest setting. Diagnosed this as the resistor being at fault which upon removal turns out to be pretty badly corroded at the contacts - I'm hoping I can clean it up and put it back in because a new one is £50!
- Gear linkage is worn so the gear change is like stirring porridge - hoping that a new rubber bush or two should sort that out, waiting for a repair kit to come up at the right price
- Radiator has a slight leak evident by dried coolant in one corner
- Could do with a service
- Going to fit parking sensors because I've become pretty used to having them - I'll hand in my man licence on my way out
I'll post some photos soon but it's not much to look at - looks like it's had a bit of paint in the past (poorly applied by rattle can) and has the odd dent here and there but it's not too bad.
Edited by Toaster Pilot on Wednesday 31st July 13:38
Good stuff, I've got a soft spot for the Felicia... very agricultural and olf-fashioned in it's construction, but Skoda did pretty well with the corrosion protection so these are robust old things ideal for shedding. My mate ended up with a 1.3mpi one which was surprisingly keen and made a nice old-school overhead valve racket... sounded like an old formula ford when the exhaust fell off
The 1.9D engine is very agricultural - that usually means reliable though! No diesel fan but needs must!
No idea what the f
k is going on with the aparrently "typical Skoda" controls for the headlights/sidelights that are mounted in the centre of the dash though, confused me at first and there are no telltales so it's hard to tell what lights are on in daylight!
No idea what the f
k is going on with the aparrently "typical Skoda" controls for the headlights/sidelights that are mounted in the centre of the dash though, confused me at first and there are no telltales so it's hard to tell what lights are on in daylight!Toaster Pilot said:
No idea what the fk is going on with the aparrently "typical Skoda" controls for the headlights/sidelights that are mounted in the centre of the dash though
Some weeks after my mate bought the Skoda (his first car) he drove over to my house one evening. When he got in he complained that the headlights weren't very good on the car and he was struggling to see where he was going in the dark. Yep, you've guessed it, he'd only managed to find the side light button! k is going on with the aparrently "typical Skoda" controls for the headlights/sidelights that are mounted in the centre of the dash thoughToaster Pilot said:
The 1.9D engine is very agricultural - that usually means reliable though! No diesel fan but needs must!
The Skoda was very early in the VAG collaboration, and this was at a time when VW wouldn't fit their latest engines to their 'budget' brand cars. Thus the Felicia got one of VW's very early 1.9 normally aspirated single point injection engines. Tough as old boots though!Sorry, no idea, I know the engine but I've never worked on one in a Felicia. I replaced the timing chain on the 1.3 and that required the engine mount to be unbolted and the engine to be lowered slightly which was a bit of a pain. If it's anything like that I wouldn't expect it to be especially cheap but I can't see the labour being more than a few hours.
Rollcage said:
I can't think of a diesel that isn't interference, off the top of my head.
Wonder if it's like the old 200TDi Land Rover unit? It was always a case with those of just leaving it until the belt snapped, as all it ever did was bend the push rods.Rods were super cheap to replace anyway.
New radiator fitted with a lot of help from a neighbour .
Someone had unplugged the coolant temperature sensor on the thermostat...... I now know why because when its plugged in the car won't start when it's hot but been left to cool for 10 mins or so. I presume it's reading high and stopping the glow plugs from cycling on ignition, ordered a new switch for £6
. Someone had unplugged the coolant temperature sensor on the thermostat...... I now know why because when its plugged in the car won't start when it's hot but been left to cool for 10 mins or so. I presume it's reading high and stopping the glow plugs from cycling on ignition, ordered a new switch for £6
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