First Dabble into Shedding | MK1 Skoda Octavia TDI
Discussion
Afternoon All,
I have been reading lots of 'shedding' posts for a couple of months now and the more I read them, the more I wanted to join the shedding group.
After recently sold our Corsa C (which was family owned from new, 43k on the clock 1.3CDTI) and thinking we've made a massive mistake, it was time to hit the likes of eBay, Autotrader, Facebook and Gumtree. I had been looking around for a few months now, but not fully ready to make a purchase. The usual suspects were the following cars;
MK1 Focus - in the end discounted due to rust issues
MK2 Focus - looked stupid tatty
Mk4 Golf - couldn't find any cheap enough
MK1 Octavia TDI
I have a mixed bag history of cars really, had a few Saxos in my time, MK1 Focus, Skoda Octavia vRS, Leon FR, Focus ST but now I trundle around in a Ford Kuga ST-Line Powershift (31yrs old, means I need comfort lol). Wife is currently doing her lessons again after a few years absence, so long term will be taking on the family bus so I wanted to get myself into a 'Shed' for commuting/running around/tip runs and the like.
My budget was £500 - happy to get something with 3+ months test on it and with a decent history.
Whilst browsing eBay last weeks stumbled across a Skoda Octavia MK1 TDI with 239k on the clock, was ready to buy until they said they wanted £600 for it - so I politely declined.
Back to eBay it was and this car popped up, local and looked in a good nick.
Car in question is a 2002 Octavia 1.9TDI 110bhp Elegance;
168,000 mls
2 owners from new - 1st owner was in army, owned until 2016.
Lots of reciepts
Service history to 135,000 miles
3 months MOT
Pretty clean inside and out
Cost me £450.
I know you shouldn't maintain sheds too much, but will look at doing the following over the next few months.
New carpet mats
New replacement keys (the metal has fallen off the bottom)
Brake light switch (glow plug light flashes sometimes)
Tracking needs doing (OCD with the steering wheel out)
Service
I think it could do with a cambelt soon but part of me just wants to push my luck.
Will post more pictures and progress as we go along...
Thanks for reading
I have been reading lots of 'shedding' posts for a couple of months now and the more I read them, the more I wanted to join the shedding group.
After recently sold our Corsa C (which was family owned from new, 43k on the clock 1.3CDTI) and thinking we've made a massive mistake, it was time to hit the likes of eBay, Autotrader, Facebook and Gumtree. I had been looking around for a few months now, but not fully ready to make a purchase. The usual suspects were the following cars;
MK1 Focus - in the end discounted due to rust issues
MK2 Focus - looked stupid tatty
Mk4 Golf - couldn't find any cheap enough
MK1 Octavia TDI
I have a mixed bag history of cars really, had a few Saxos in my time, MK1 Focus, Skoda Octavia vRS, Leon FR, Focus ST but now I trundle around in a Ford Kuga ST-Line Powershift (31yrs old, means I need comfort lol). Wife is currently doing her lessons again after a few years absence, so long term will be taking on the family bus so I wanted to get myself into a 'Shed' for commuting/running around/tip runs and the like.
My budget was £500 - happy to get something with 3+ months test on it and with a decent history.
Whilst browsing eBay last weeks stumbled across a Skoda Octavia MK1 TDI with 239k on the clock, was ready to buy until they said they wanted £600 for it - so I politely declined.
Back to eBay it was and this car popped up, local and looked in a good nick.
Car in question is a 2002 Octavia 1.9TDI 110bhp Elegance;
168,000 mls
2 owners from new - 1st owner was in army, owned until 2016.
Lots of reciepts
Service history to 135,000 miles
3 months MOT
Pretty clean inside and out
Cost me £450.
I know you shouldn't maintain sheds too much, but will look at doing the following over the next few months.
New carpet mats
New replacement keys (the metal has fallen off the bottom)
Brake light switch (glow plug light flashes sometimes)
Tracking needs doing (OCD with the steering wheel out)
Service
I think it could do with a cambelt soon but part of me just wants to push my luck.
Will post more pictures and progress as we go along...
Thanks for reading
Not afraid of commitment lol.
I'm about 150 miles in now, overall very impressed with the car.
Everything works - air con, electric windows (with exception of one rear window) and even the sunroof. The car drives extremely well considering it's mileage and got 58.9mpg on the way to work - so happy days!
I do think the vanes on the turbo is sticking though, as yesterday felt like I had no power until I restarted the engine. From reading the forums on Briskoda it just needs a squirt of Mr Muscle which apparently frees them up - but it will be getting a good 400 miles per week on it so hopefully get them red hot and cleaned up in no time.
Overall really pleased for the money I paid....
I'm about 150 miles in now, overall very impressed with the car.
Everything works - air con, electric windows (with exception of one rear window) and even the sunroof. The car drives extremely well considering it's mileage and got 58.9mpg on the way to work - so happy days!
I do think the vanes on the turbo is sticking though, as yesterday felt like I had no power until I restarted the engine. From reading the forums on Briskoda it just needs a squirt of Mr Muscle which apparently frees them up - but it will be getting a good 400 miles per week on it so hopefully get them red hot and cleaned up in no time.
Overall really pleased for the money I paid....
Evanivitch said:
Great sheds, used one when my commute got bigger and needed a mule for the tip. 62 MPG is achievable without going too slowly. A few cheap preventative things you can do:
- As you already mentioned, starting getting that turbo cleaned before the vanes gummed up. I had some luck with fuel tank additive, but an Italian tune-up would work before it becomes an actual issue. The PD100 is very lazy in this car.
- Replace the fuel injector loom under the rocker cover. It's only a £30 part from what I remember, but the plastic goes brittle in the hot oil, and when it does fail it's a bigger job to pull apart.
- Thermostats is probably due replacing. Again, such an underworked engine means they struggle to get to temperature. Certainly over winter you can block-up a third to two thirds of the grill with cable ties and correx with no risk of overheating, a faster warmup and a couple MPG on a long motorway run.
- DIY Polish restore on the headlights is an easy job.
- Console bushes tend to go on front suspension, just keep an eye as this will start to chew tyres if worn.
Awesome, thanks for this.- As you already mentioned, starting getting that turbo cleaned before the vanes gummed up. I had some luck with fuel tank additive, but an Italian tune-up would work before it becomes an actual issue. The PD100 is very lazy in this car.
- Replace the fuel injector loom under the rocker cover. It's only a £30 part from what I remember, but the plastic goes brittle in the hot oil, and when it does fail it's a bigger job to pull apart.
- Thermostats is probably due replacing. Again, such an underworked engine means they struggle to get to temperature. Certainly over winter you can block-up a third to two thirds of the grill with cable ties and correx with no risk of overheating, a faster warmup and a couple MPG on a long motorway run.
- DIY Polish restore on the headlights is an easy job.
- Console bushes tend to go on front suspension, just keep an eye as this will start to chew tyres if worn.
Yes, as mentioned - it's not a PD lump. I just been looking at fuel additives, I think I'll try that on my next tank (I guess too late to add now?) as I filled up last night with £40 worth of diesel so about £35 of it left.
swampy442 said:
Great choice! These were my shed du jour for many years. Actually picked up an Elegance estate locally a couple of years back, 160k, full history, MOT, 2 owners for 200 quid. Had a water leak (sunroof drains) which was an easy fix. I'd have a Skoda over the equivalent Audi or VW any day
Another tip for turbo vanes, Mr Muscle oven cleaner. Bottom pipe off the EGR valve, bit of plastic tubing down and squirt the crap out of it. Worked on several VAG diesels over the years.
Thank you, I had read that also and was tempted to give it a go - although it's done 300 miles this week (all motorway) and so far, it's running quite good.Another tip for turbo vanes, Mr Muscle oven cleaner. Bottom pipe off the EGR valve, bit of plastic tubing down and squirt the crap out of it. Worked on several VAG diesels over the years.
First bit of rain overnight, moved car to find a nice rainbow effect beneath it. Having been checking my drive all week, I cannot see any oil so I'm hoping it's the tiniest of drips which looks worse in the rain.
viciousj377o said:
R.E. to the lack of power/limp mode issue.
The 110bhp shouldn't have a variable vane turbo. In fact the only non PD engine with VV is the ALH and that was 90bhp... I am fairly sure it never saw different states of tune or that it ever found its way into the octavia...
You will be looking at potentially the n75 valve or a boost leak at that age/mileage i'd imagine. Check pipework to/from intercooler, and all associated vac lines from/to/around the n75 valve (should be located by the top of the bulkhead but entirely possible Skoda put it elsewhere)
Enjoy!
I am under the impression it is a VNT. It is a ASV engine which I believe they changed the turbos between the ALH and ASV engine. The 110bhp shouldn't have a variable vane turbo. In fact the only non PD engine with VV is the ALH and that was 90bhp... I am fairly sure it never saw different states of tune or that it ever found its way into the octavia...
You will be looking at potentially the n75 valve or a boost leak at that age/mileage i'd imagine. Check pipework to/from intercooler, and all associated vac lines from/to/around the n75 valve (should be located by the top of the bulkhead but entirely possible Skoda put it elsewhere)
Enjoy!
So had to do my first repair today, but I could have gone full hog - but decided to do a 'cheap and easy' fix.
Frosty this morning, went to de-ice the car and noticed a small gap in the rear passenger window. This is the window that refused to open, so I decided to try and close it again, when I ended up opening it another inch or so (facepalm).
You could put it back with your hands, but it kept falling down. So after 85 miles of the M62 in the rain, I went via Morrisons and bought some gorilla tape.
Hopefully now fixed...
Frosty this morning, went to de-ice the car and noticed a small gap in the rear passenger window. This is the window that refused to open, so I decided to try and close it again, when I ended up opening it another inch or so (facepalm).
You could put it back with your hands, but it kept falling down. So after 85 miles of the M62 in the rain, I went via Morrisons and bought some gorilla tape.
Hopefully now fixed...
So just over 3 weeks since I bought the Octavia...a quick update.
Overall, still mighty impressed by the car. Returns regular 62mpg on way to work, with an average of 52 over the 1,000 miles done so far.
Hit my first milestone tonight
Bought a few little bits for it since I purchased it;
1. New set of wipers all round
2. New mats
3. Replacement keys (see below)
As you can see, the metal bits had broken away after 17yrs so it was time to replace at £4 each.
As I am working in Sheffield a lot for work, I dropped the car in at the garage locally for an oil change (peace of mind) and balancing/tracking that clearly was out. Given cold weather and lack of time, it will be the only service work a garage does.
Ended up coming out with 2x new tyres (to be fair they needed doing before MOT as were getting close) and new rear shock as the car was skipping all over the shop.
So an expensive day, but it puts the car right now for hopefully a good 12 - 18 mths.
Overall, still mighty impressed by the car. Returns regular 62mpg on way to work, with an average of 52 over the 1,000 miles done so far.
Hit my first milestone tonight
Bought a few little bits for it since I purchased it;
1. New set of wipers all round
2. New mats
3. Replacement keys (see below)
As you can see, the metal bits had broken away after 17yrs so it was time to replace at £4 each.
As I am working in Sheffield a lot for work, I dropped the car in at the garage locally for an oil change (peace of mind) and balancing/tracking that clearly was out. Given cold weather and lack of time, it will be the only service work a garage does.
Ended up coming out with 2x new tyres (to be fair they needed doing before MOT as were getting close) and new rear shock as the car was skipping all over the shop.
So an expensive day, but it puts the car right now for hopefully a good 12 - 18 mths.
Had a client meeting today in St Albans (180 miles from home).
Naturally, I would normally look at taking the train but it would have been £220 return and cheaper for work to pay my mileage, so I thought I would put trust into the old shed for a 360 miles trip to St Albans and back in one day. I mean what could go wrong?
Absolutely nothing. Car behaved brilliantly.
1/2 tank of diesel used, numb bum in the last 10 minutes of journey but what a car - starting to really like it now.
Route down, nice 65 - 70 all the way
Same speeds coming back but more traffic
Majorly impressed with that, I work out that I used roughly £35 worth of diesel for £160 return from work.
Naturally, I would normally look at taking the train but it would have been £220 return and cheaper for work to pay my mileage, so I thought I would put trust into the old shed for a 360 miles trip to St Albans and back in one day. I mean what could go wrong?
Absolutely nothing. Car behaved brilliantly.
1/2 tank of diesel used, numb bum in the last 10 minutes of journey but what a car - starting to really like it now.
Route down, nice 65 - 70 all the way
Same speeds coming back but more traffic
Majorly impressed with that, I work out that I used roughly £35 worth of diesel for £160 return from work.
The cambelt roulette thread got me thinking and I decided to bite the bullet, so it's been replaced next Wednesday.
£250 inc waterpump for either a Gates/Continental kit.
Given car cost £400, it's a lot of money but I'd rather spend that then causing an accident as it fails on motorway. It's not been changed since 2011 when it was on 90,000mls.
£250 inc waterpump for either a Gates/Continental kit.
Given car cost £400, it's a lot of money but I'd rather spend that then causing an accident as it fails on motorway. It's not been changed since 2011 when it was on 90,000mls.
p4cks said:
I suspect not, given fuel is a 'fixed cost' as such.
Great shedding by the way, I'll only ever shed from now on. Going to treat mine to a wash and a vacuum this weekend, and some posh wipers (the no-branders I bought previously are shiiiite)
I did same, replaced wipers with some £7 eBay ones. They'll be getting swapped again soon I reckon. The back one is awful.Great shedding by the way, I'll only ever shed from now on. Going to treat mine to a wash and a vacuum this weekend, and some posh wipers (the no-branders I bought previously are shiiiite)
RazerSauber said:
Top shedding. Although this has highlighted a need for me to put a spreadsheet together for my motoring costs despite not owning a shed.. 
I have had a spreadsheet for years lol.Tab1 - for recording mileage each month - good for insurance purposes and see what I cover.
Tab 2 - Records all fuel stops and mileages so I have cost per mile for fuel (this good for work when working out what I can make)
Tab 3 - Records all maintenance and costs
Tab 4 - Breakdown of everything else such as VIN number, servicing, MOT history etc.
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