Team-BHP - Skoda Rapid : Test Drive & Review

Quote:

Originally Posted by prraghun (Post 3012324)

Hi Motorworks, i had ordered a set of mudflaps from ebay for the Rapid & they seem to be just fine. A set of 4 costed Rs.550 (could cost much less if you have discount coupons). A friend of mine who owns the Vento found it much better than the stock ones & replaced them with these.
Here is the link: http://www.ebay.in/itm/Skoda-Rapid-P...#ht_1469wt_906.

Cheers!

Thanks for the info prraghun! I just placed an order for a set. Just a quick question - Is it something an amateur can install or should need a mechanic?

Hey folks,

I have a problem with my 6 months old Rapid. The car hasn't seen much running just around 5K kms as I have not been able to use it for much else other than my shortish commute to office daily (25km overall daily)

My Problem :

There is a metallic / mechanical sound coming from the right suspension / steering column when I go over bumps/pot holes in a certain way.This is not the "thud" sound which I was aware of even before I purchased the car - I know its a characteristic of the Rapid/Vento. This sound is different and it started around last month.

When I go over a pot hole - specifically when the right wheel goes over the pothole in a certain way ( I say so coz I can't reproduce the issue on every bump/pothole) there is this sound through the right suspension and steering (mechanical & metallic ) - like a some metal component hitting the end of its whole travel length. And it transmits that feedback to the steering which gives you the feeling that there is some play in the steering - just for that moment. Otherwise there is no play in the steering.

The trouble is I don't know how to reproduce it over bad roads - except I can reproduce it when I drive the vehicle over the same roads in the same fashion I do everyday to work / back home.

Since I have chalked out a long ride for February (>1500km) I wanted to be sure that the car is in good shape - thus got my First free checkup scheduled for 18th Jan 2013 - this last friday.

Shankar (Balan) has been a lot of help to me till date with Skoda & Vinayak - so after contacting him and taking his suggestion I spoke to Mr Aiyanna at the KR Puram Svc station and explained my problem. When I went there on friday I met with Mr Anto who went round with me on a long enough trial but I wasn't able to reproduce the issue try as I might. Likewise he too couldn't reproduce it.

We put the car on the ramp and they checked the underbody and gave it a clean chit - the underbody is clean - never been scraped, no damage, hits to suspension components... nothing... yet I know something is wrong. Its not normal - I have been driving cars for 15 years I know there is a problem here and I am not able to reproduce it when required.:Frustrati

The svc station chaps re-torqued everything and gave it back to me saying there was no other fault. Now I am in a fix - I know there is a problem, but I can't reproduce it - neither can they in their trials.

Of course, on the way back I heard the same sound many times - its audible - nothing you have to concentrate or strain to hear - its loud...but since I can't reproduce it all the time its a huge problem now ........

Any ideas on what to do next ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandeep_K_Ram (Post 3019600)

Any ideas on what to do next ?

Not sure but just a thought. It can also be as simple as a pebble/stone getting into one of the locations close to the suspension. Though there may
not have been any scrape/underbody hit, this is possible. That might also explain why, you are not able to reproduce the problem all the time.
Because you hear the sound, only when the stone comes in contact.

But what makes doubt that, is the guys at service centre did check it up and found nothing. Perhaps the stone got away?
Do you still hear the sound?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ampere (Post 3019619)

Yes the sound is still there. But I really doubt if its a stone of some object like that which is stuck in there. It doesn't "sound" like a loose object hitting the confines of a small area.

For ex - if I am turning right and if the right wheel/tyre runs down through a medium pothole - the suspension / steering shudders as if it will fall away under the car .... I don't think its a stone ..

I tried running over the trial roads near the svc station in the same way - I could feel the same feedback but the roads didn't have potholes as bad for me to reproduce it loudly enough...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandeep_K_Ram (Post 3019621)

Possibility of brake calliper clip!
Check. No harm!

Quote:

Originally Posted by rajni (Post 3012677)

Thanks for the info prraghun! I just placed an order for a set. Just a quick question - Is it something an amateur can install or should need a mechanic?

Did you get these installed yet, I got them delivered and the Skoda guys rejected my set saying the holes don't line up. But looking at it in more detail I can atleast get two holes to align. Also Kryptonite ordered the same and the ones he got fit perfectly.

The screws that Skoda uses are different, hence its a pain to do this on your own.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandeep_K_Ram (Post 3019621)

Sandeep, i had a similar experience, and when i visited the TAFE service station, the problem was identified as a pebble that had got lodged between the right disc brake.
As a side note, even i had trouble clearly describing the noise, what helped me was this link on TBHP:http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...ats-sound.html.
Refer to the description of the "clunk" sound. Hope this helps!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandeep_K_Ram (Post 3019621)

I had the exact same issue with my front-left wheel. At certain speeds (nothing high, 40-50kmph was good enough) over certain bumps (again not devilish ones, just a small one was sufficient) it sounded like the car just gave away. Note that I said "sounded like"; i couldnt feel anything at the steering. Nothing significant at least.

But the sound was one loud CLUNK which really gave me the shudders. Overall, it would have happened around 4-5 times before I took it to the TAFE service station. The issue was identified to be a problem in the suspension, because it had sprung a leak. They replaced the entire suspension unit under warranty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by prraghun (Post 3020575)

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxaud (Post 3020624)

Well I am still not convinced that its a pebble or a stone though I am inclined to think its the suspension itself thats broken based on the feedback I get through the steering wheel. But I will have it checked again shortly.

Thanks guys !

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandeep_K_Ram (Post 3023163)

Find the Skoda A$$ closest to the roads where you are hearing the sound. Schedule an appointment and take extra long drives if required. Please note there are no shortcuts if you need to sort out the issue.

ONLY good rapport can help if you need to take long TDs with the SA. So please work it out accordingly. Or find similar roads close to the Skoda A$$ and take your car there during TDs. Just to be sure, try & drive thru those roads a day before your scheduled appointment and check whether you can re-produce the sound.

It may sound crazy, but we don't have a choice. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious (Post 3023233)

I was ruing the fact that I didn't drive on the test road before I took the mechanic with me. I know they use that stretch.

I am going to do it this time - thanks :)