Skoda Octavia VRS Mk1

[cormac81]

Well the Octavia passed its MOT and was locked up while I was away on holidays. Took it out yesterday and the temperatures soared , so it has suspected head gasket failure or a cracked head.

Not the norm for these but if its the heads cracked or its going to cost a fortune it may be the end of the road for the old girl.

Gutted.

 

[veedubnoodle]

That's awful news!

 

[Tufty]

I had the same a few years ago with mine. I was just heading up the road one night and she went of the scale and boiled her self tho thankfully it was the head gasket and not a cracked head.

 

[Steve]

The temp on my soared one day in traffic and I realised that rad fan was disconnected and the switch was wrong.

 

[cormac81]

I had the same a few years ago with mine. I was just heading up the road one night and she went of the scale and boiled her self tho thankfully it was the head gasket and not a cracked head.

Who did the head for you? any idea of the cost. Have used comiskeys in the past.

 

[cormac81]

The temp on my soared one day in traffic and I realised that rad fan was disconnected and the switch was wrong.

I was hoping it was something like that or the water pump, but did a gas test and it turned the blue fluid green.

 

[Tufty]

@cormac81 the work was carried out by a friend in Belfast who i think from memory used Comiskeys for the head work.

 

[purplea4T]

That's a balls. Not common on them for heads to go, but the water pump and thermostats are near as be damned a service part now. Hope you get sorted without too much pain.
Standard 1.8t AUM head is the same, just in case its a cracked head.

 

[cormac81]

Know a VAG mechanic down here so he's going to look at it before going down the HG route. He doesn't have the time to strip it so will need to find a competent mechanic if I'm forced to get it redone.

 

[clrrk]

Check the water pump before anything else. My 1.8T temperatures soared once and it turned out to be the water pump impeller. For some reason VAG decided to make them out of plastic rather than metal and they snap over time!

 

[technics100]

Really sorry to hear that.. Just to let you know that the water pump was changed with the T'belt at 64k (metal impeller one) but I have had water pumps go on a couple of previous vag motors..

 

[cormac81]

Really sorry to hear that.. Just to let you know that the water pump was changed with the T'belt at 64k (metal impeller one) but I have had water pumps go on a couple of previous vag motors..

Yeah seen that which making me think the worst. A quick gas test has made it almost certain its a HG. I get a few prices for fixing it vs price of a new engine vs breaking it. Real PITA.

 

[Tufty]

I know a few Vw Breakers in Donegal who might be able to sort me out with an Engine at the right money.


This any use to you.

Vw golf gti Audi seat skoda 1.8t 20v turbo cylinder head and cylinder block AGU code | in Belfast City Centre, Belfast | Gumtree

 

[cormac81]

I got a local VAG specialist to fit a genuine thermostat in the Octavia last week( the bottom rad pipe had been stone cold) and now the car has been behaving perfectly.

Not using coolant (which is clean) and the temp guage stayed about 88 degrees today despite some spirited driving for over an hour in all traffic types.

Fingers crossed it continues and I can get a few of the basic jobs done that I have holding off such as new front tyres and fit the oil pick up pipe.

 

[technics100]

Good stuff, hopefully that's it sorted.. I spoke to the Mechanic who did the T'belt and he said he has never done a head gasket on a 1.8T..

 

[cormac81]

Good stuff, hopefully that's it sorted.. I spoke to the Mechanic who did the T'belt and he said he has never done a head gasket on a 1.8T..

Yeah the mechanic only had one ever before and the car was totally neglected including having a blocked radiator, VAGs are their bread and butter.

The car is continuing to drive well with no problems

 

[cormac81]

Unexpectantly I spotted another car I had to have.

So the old girl is now up for sale and prefer not to sell, but you cant keep them all...

Skoda Octavia 1.8T VRS for Sale - RMS Classifieds

Just noticed the last posts I had 5 months ago were about suspected headgasket failure. As above the thermostat was the issue and all has been perfect including during the recent good weather spells.

 

[southsky sunrise]

Must resist... can't buy another.... will end in divorce...aghahhhhh lol. Should sell no problem the order it's in... my previous 4 went within a day the fifth took a week

 

[cormac81]

Must resist... can't buy another.... will end in divorce...aghahhhhh lol. Should sell no problem the order it's in... my previous 4 went within a day the fifth took a week

That was good going! Have had interest but no viewers as of yet.

 

[southsky sunrise]

My dad always told me..'Theres a bum for every seat' lol Yours shouldn't hang about.