farky77

Yesterday while driving the car (fabia vrs) in heavy traffic, i could smell that 'hot water' smell. You know, like the car was overheating?? Anyway, the temp gauge was bang on half way as usual, so i continued my journey. This morning as soon as i started the car, the temp light (red pic of thermostat) came on and started beeping
Checked the water level and it was WAY below minimum
Top it up and used it for the rest of today. Left car running while i ran into the chinese but on the way out noticed water dripping from the front right of the car, so checked levels again and its used more water, sitting maybe half way now.
Am i right in saying that this could be the water pump?? If so, i'm REALLY pi$$ed off!!!
I got the cam belt replaced last month and when i was in the Main Dealers booking it in, i asked about replacing the water pump while the belts were getting done, to which the Service Manager replied "no point mate, i've never had a water pump on the Fabia's fail yet and i've been here 11yrs"
I beleive the cost of now replacing the water pump will be the same as the cambelt change??
Another Q is, why does it smell like its over heating if the temp gauge isnt?? I'm worried incase its the head gasket??
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated
Sorry for the long post, i'm ****n rageing!!!


Ian

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mannyo

Water pump, radiator hose, radiator, tbh it could be anything. Proberbly not the head gasket though. You really need to get under the car and have a look.

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Manny
2005 Octavia 2.0TDi Elegance combi
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Basil

The standard operating procedure is to change the water pump at every cambelt change. Dealer should know this.

Check it isn't a loose/torn hose first - should be visible where the leak is coming from. may be as simple as a clip needing tightening (I hope)

Sure some more professional advice will be along shortly mate, hang in there

HTH
Bas

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Neo_VR

I would check the thermostat....
IIRC didnt WW_vRS have problems because his themostat wasnt opening enough.. the engine was slowly overheating but the temp sender wasnt registering it (cant remember why)

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RADIOTWO

Hi Ian

last things first, the resion it smells, is it is very hot, poss about 90/100 C which is nearly boiling !

But to where it is comming from you need to follow the water back up to the point it is comming out (it could come out at one point and run along and drip somewhere else.

check if you have oil in the water, or even water in the oil (take the oil filler cap off and if there is some white gunk) that is a bad sign poss gasket

Its a matter of checking where its comming from first, I asume you have not over filled it first, as when it gets hot it will just blow off .

Radiotwo

TKW

Although that isn't necessarily a problem because, as the system is / should be pressurized, the boiling point is much higher. 90deg C is a perfectly normal coolant temperature.

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mannyo

My octavia runs at 90c. My old Boxster also run at 90c, although in hot weather stationery could hit 110c+ which is still well within tollerence.

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rurwin

It will smell like it's over-heating because there is hot water around the heater's air intake. Take it back to the dealer and if he tells you the pump needs replacing then demand he waives the labour charge since you asked him to do it in the first place.

In the old days cars ran at over 100C and you had to wait for it to cool down before you opened it. These days every one I have come across runs at 90-95C, and most engine testbeds use open circuit cooling, ie normal air pressure. It's quite spectacular when the cooling control software fails to catch it before it reaches the magic 100C. The test-cell fills with steam and someone has to go in with a mop and bucket.

Water dripping off the engine isn't always a bad sign, although in this case it is. In hot weather, water condenses on the A/C heat exchanger and drips off. In that case, of course, the coolent level remains constant.

farky77

Update: Just back from my main Dealer, checked the car and said it was the radiator.
He also said that he was happy at it splitting as the car has only done 38k miles so gave me Skoda UK number and told me to phone them saying i wasnt happy. Hopefully they will repair it free of charge or even help with the costs.
Thanks to all that replied

Ian

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GREZA

I admire your optimism! Best of luck.

Johnny50

At least it's nothing too serious.

Let us know how you get on.

cheezemonkhai

Pay something towards the parts as then it gets a 2 year parts warranty IIRC

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farky77

UPDATE: Well after nearly 10 days of calls back and forward from Skoda Customer Services, i'm glad to inform you all that they're footing the Bill!!!
At first they were going to pay 40% (standard procedure) but after some persistence from SWMBO, they called back to Thursday to confirm they were paying it in full
Very very helpful and polite they were at all times too


Ian

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Johnny50

Superb !

Good to hear.