Advice on buying Y reg Leon Cupra 1.8 20vt ?

knomic84

Active Member
May 1, 2009
4
0
I'm hopefully going to look at a Y reg Leon Cupra 1.8 20v t on Monday. Just wondering what i should be looking for in terms of common faults if any with Leons. I will be grateful for all replies, Thanks Michelle x
 

lewis1984

Guest
Hey mate, sounds like a good plan to me.
Id check the service history to make sure its had regular oil changes and a long life service (water pump and timing belt.) Also make sure the floors and carpets are dry because the seals can fail.
Have you taken it on a test run?
 

adam cupra 20vt

Built Not Bought.
Mar 31, 2005
6,162
2
Mud Hut
I'm not 100% sure what I put is true its just what I read on the net.....I only bought mine about 3-4 weeks ago and it popped up on a google thread, perhaps some one who knows can say if its right or wrong?

I know mines got a AUQ engine and has a ko3s
 

LEE69

Stage 2 Revo'd
Dec 10, 2004
21,262
74
C\UK\Devon\Torquay
Y reg cupra will have the Ko3s.
Had mine a year now, changed the alternator, (apart from my own mods, in sig) superb car.
 
Last edited:

knomic84

Active Member
May 1, 2009
4
0
Hey mate, sounds like a good plan to me.
Id check the service history to make sure its had regular oil changes and a long life service (water pump and timing belt.) Also make sure the floors and carpets are dry because the seals can fail.
Have you taken it on a test run?
I found it on Autotrader but havn't been to see it yet, if it looks good will definatley be test driving it. The rac do a vehicle history check for £9.99 so i may give that a go.
 

danny20vt

going back to basics
APP engine code = Ko3 turbo, AUQ engine code = Ko3s turbo, check on the V5 log book it will tell you there also on engine left hand side near cambelt cover the code is stamped there.
just make sure service history is complete and you shouldn't have much to worry about, mines done 139,500 miles and feels like half its mileage. Coilpacks are buggers for letting go, not an expensive repair though, apart from that just enjoy it:D
 

DodgyDave

Active Member
May 15, 2007
121
0
Glasgow, Scotland
Have an X-Plate here, now on 105,0000ish miles and still going great (OK it's also had a lot of work done to it).

Apart from the above here's some otehr things to look at:

.. take the spare wheel OUT and check for rust under it, if you have any it should only be light and on the surface (it's the lowest point in the boot so any trapped liquids sit there!!!)

.. check the condition of rear brakes, esp the calipers - these are quite week on the cars and can sieze.

.. AUQ engine will make at least 210BHP, perhaps a little more with a remap.

.. As others have said CAMBELT - do not leave this to chance, if it's more that 4 years old or more that 60k miles get it changed (about 3-4 hours to do at a garage).

ta, Dave
 

johntheboy

Full Member
Mar 25, 2006
237
0
Teesside - North East
Suprised Lukecupra hasnt been on this yet.... his has done over 100k (not easy going miles either, most were with smoke pouring from the tyres) and as far as I can remember only problem he's had was the temp sensor going, whih is common across the vag range and no big issue. Runs fine otherwise and they can take pleanty of power put through them.
 

knomic84

Active Member
May 1, 2009
4
0
Thank you Dave for the advice, i'll be sure to check out the things you suggested.
 

adam cupra 20vt

Built Not Bought.
Mar 31, 2005
6,162
2
Mud Hut
Check for signs of accident damage to mate, make sure all the panel gaps are even and check the factory sealer to make sure its original.

Check little things like uneven tyre wear but most importantly I'd want to see lots of history and recipts to show its been well looked after.
 
Mar 15, 2008
616
0
Hatfield, Herts
Check to see if the water pump was done at the last cambelt change (or at anytime) - they have a habit of going at 40k+ and is a cam-belt off job to replace so makes sense to get the water pump done at the same time (even better to have a metal impeller pump fitted instead of the VAG plastic one)
 

knomic84

Active Member
May 1, 2009
4
0
Well i went to see the Cupra on Monday and what a waste of time! "Excellent condition in side and out" they forgot to mention the smashed wing mirror and casing, shattered lcd screen, steering fluid leak, had to be jump started and during the 2 minute directed test drive the accelerator fault light was on. Looks like i'll be waiting a bit longer,...grrr!
 

wes c/fergus

new to seat!
Mar 17, 2008
86
0
n.ireland
im on a y plate myself its got the ko3s turbo, good going motor no real complaints 129000 on the clock, put an oil pump and 4 coil packs and spark plugs in mine but it came with full history and is going like clockwork lpg conversion is getting me 10 mile to the £
 

devin13

Active Member
Mar 14, 2009
95
0
chippenham wiltshire
ive just bought a w reg cupra and its an app engine code, i know this is a ko3 turbo, but was stunned when i took it on the rolling road and it was pushing out 220 bhp? the guy seemed pretty confused and so was i, anyway after some research it was found that my car was some sort of test car for seat on the launch of the mk1 cupras, and it had been chipped and remmaped but by whom i dont know? is there any way of finding out?
 
SEATCUPRA.NET Forum merchandise