Golf-Fiend

Sadly said goodbye to my beloved 2.0TDi BKD Mk2 of the last 18 years on Sunday. It was a very sad moment. Almost like grieving a relative. At 22 years old she was still a stunner. It was the best car I ever have owned. It was loved, cherished and pampered. Always reliable. Always started (except when I left the lights on). Comfortable. Solid. Economical. I wondered why I was getting rid as I drove it to Oxford and back last Saturday. Alas, she is gone..... Not moving far from the fold though. Getting a MK3 Estate on a 2020 plate so last of the MK3's before the MK4's Not picked it up yet but hope it's every bit as good as this one.

On side of cylinder head towards battery under the MAF ducting. Fairly easy to replace but you'll lose some coolant. Pop an ice cream tub under it to catch coolant. Bosch or Febi equivalent.

I believe the 2.0 16v TDi doesn't have a copper seal. Well it's not in the seal kits that are available for the BKD engine. See: Seal Kit

Yes and No. On the wife's Polo it was transformational. Reception was crystal clear. On mine it seems the reverse! It is worse and the secret menu shows ANT OFF. Maybe it was a duff base. I had bought one that suited the Octavia from the 'bay. Now bought the same one I used in the Polo so when I get a chance and the weather permits I'll swap it over and let you know.

2004 2.0TDi BKD engine. My car was feeling a little sluggish and producing quite a bit of black smoke and the mpg had dipped so thought I'd refresh the MAF and whilst at it the MAP sensors. I bought some cheap-ish ones from Autodoc. They were apparently the same as the OEM items. They seemed fine and fit well. The car drove well but something felt a bit 'off'. Couldn't put my finger on it but it had the occasional hic-cup at lower revs in traffic. Bit the bullet and bought Bosch replacements and immediately the car felt better, smoother and quiter and that was just starting it and idling. On a test drive it felt smoother with a little more low down torque. Maybe placebo but better than the cheap parts. Lesson learnt - don't buy cheap sensors. They are not as good. Also the MAP sensor was a pig to get to.

Yeah! Tried one on wife's car with adjustable grips. It was a PITA. Did mine a few weeks later and bought a cheap 22mm and made life a lot easier.

Easy to do but the headlining is quite stiff. Easier if you remove the plastic C Pillar trims either side. Also a 22mm open end spanner is really useful to loosen and tighten the nut.

Hi. Depends on age of car but my '54 Plate 2.0 TDi had a coolant bottle that had fatigued over time and the side had gone porous. I thought I was losing a bit of coolant due to a headgasket fault or a waterpump leak. Turns out it was the expansion bottle. Got one from Autodoc for around a Twenty and fitted it. Topped up with 1 liter of red coolant G12+ and it's been fine.

Mine disintegrated years ago. Just took the remnants off and vaccuumed the top of the engine to get the foam bits off. Can't say I noticed any difference in noise etc.

Clearly the solution is to buy another Skoda. Skoda drivers are Happy Drivers!!

Scotland and around and back. About 1200 miles. Didn't miss a beat and returned about 57mpg. Happy days!

Just had MOT today. Passed. No advisories! I love this car. Best car I've ever owned. Had it for 17 years and found no reason to change it. Bought it at 4 years old with 27k on the clock. Now done 140k. Not bad for a 21 year old, eh?

Don't buy cheap ones. They are either too strong and a PITA to close and they don't open smoothly. They also might be wrong and you'll have to send them back. Don't ask how I know. I still have the cheap, correct ones fitted and keep meaning to refit the old knackered ones as they were better. Also the cheap ones rust more compared to my 21 year old struts.

It wouldn't pass an MOT with a split cv gaiter. So it either has or hasn't an MOT? How long ago was MOT and how long ago did you notice gaiter split?

On cold engine. Start car and let it idle. Place palm of hand (gloves optional) over each pipe You'll soon tell if it's fake or not.