Bye Bye 1.8TSI FR

[drykoke]

It's been a very competent and capable car, but sadly not one to really clinch my affection.
The little niggles have been well-documented by others in the forum:

1) Notchy gearchange from 1st to 2nd; not a problem if you do lots of A-road and Motorway cruising, but a real pain if your daily drive involves a lot of time in town with slow and stopping traffic

2) Thermostat problem which necessitated many many hours at the dealer

3) LED lights which never delivered the brightness that other forum members have experienced with their own cars

Seat service for oil service and mechanical repairs - less said the better, it almost got me taking up Zen Buddhism so that my blood pressure wouldn't result in a burst artery.

Sadly, I am deserting to the German side....

 

[jcbmally]

It's been a very competent and capable car, but sadly not one to really clinch my affection. Sadly, I am deserting to the German side....

My thoughts to fella, such a shame cause 1.8tsi is a belter.

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=419422

 

[Mcburns88]

Both of you are really putting me off a 1.8 TSI !

 

[Toon]

Why the 1.8? Seems to me there is no problem specifically with the 1.8 engine, more a problem with the mk3 Leon in general.

Feel for the guys with problems though.

 

[Toon]

It's been a very competent and capable car, but sadly not one to really clinch my affection.
The little niggles have been well-documented by others in the forum:

1) Notchy gearchange from 1st to 2nd; not a problem if you do lots of A-road and Motorway cruising, but a real pain if your daily drive involves a lot of time in town with slow and stopping traffic

2) Thermostat problem which necessitated many many hours at the dealer

3) LED lights which never delivered the brightness that other forum members have experienced with their own cars

Seat service for oil service and mechanical repairs - less said the better, it almost got me taking up Zen Buddhism so that my blood pressure wouldn't result in a burst artery.

Sadly, I am deserting to the German side....

Unfortunately German cars are no more reliable if you believe the stats.

 

[scrich7]

Why the 1.8? Seems to me there is no problem specifically with the 1.8 engine, more a problem with the mk3 Leon in general.

Feel for the guys with problems though.

You're right, most of the issues are not related to the engine specifically. But the thermostat/water pump issue is unique to the 1.8, a fair few of us have experienced it.

I wouldn't let it put you off though, it really is a cracking engine. Great performance and economy, I can easily hit 45mpg on a run.

 

[Doug_m]

What thermostat/water pump issue?
I've had the 1.8 for a year now with no issues so far...

 

[guari]

I've also never heard nor had any thermostat issues

 

[Stegor]

2 years and no issues

 

[Toon]

2 years and no issues

+1,

 

[scrich7]

There is a TPI for it, doesn't mean its widespread though. Might just be earlier models, mine was one of the first 1.8's

 

[Wendon]

I've just had my thermostat replaced under warranty (1.8T Reg-May2014) as I was getting a warning light - but I didn't realize this was an issue?? BTW what is TPI? I hate TLA.

 

[scrich7]

I think TPI is Technical Product Information, kind of like a recall or service bulletin.

 

[exmgman]

Thermostat issue

I had the thermostat issue. Temperature reading was 70 degC instead of the normal 90 degC. Oil temperature 65-70 degC instead of the normal 100degC. Fuel consumption suffered as a result!
Dealer in Devon recognised it but needed the car beyond our time to stay there to fix it.. Seat technical pooh-poohed the problem saying it was different driving conditions!
Local dealer in Hertfordshire didn't believe me, had it 4 days, Devon dealer had it 2 hours! to diagnose the problem. Then I had to take it away as I needed my car (with a tow bar) over the week-end.
Ran it with the grille taped up to get the temperature up to near normal.
10 days later the part arrives and they have the car another 2 days to fit the new thermostat.
I have Classic cars and for both of them I can drive for 20 minutes and buy virtually any part I need over the counter.

 

[twitchynik]

I had the thermostat issue. Temperature reading was 70 degC instead of the normal 90 degC. Oil temperature 65-70 degC instead of the normal 100degC. Fuel consumption suffered as a result!
Dealer in Devon recognised it but needed the car beyond our time to stay there to fix it.. Seat technical pooh-poohed the problem saying it was different driving conditions!
Local dealer in Hertfordshire didn't believe me, had it 4 days, Devon dealer had it 2 hours! to diagnose the problem. Then I had to take it away as I needed my car (with a tow bar) over the week-end.
Ran it with the grille taped up to get the temperature up to near normal.
10 days later the part arrives and they have the car another 2 days to fit the new thermostat.
I have Classic cars and for both of them I can drive for 20 minutes and buy virtually any part I need over the counter.

Interested to hear what the dealer in Herts is if you don't mind? PM if you prefer.

 

[jcbmally]

The thermostat issue was for certain chassis numbers.
The 1.8tsi engine is fantastic but as I have stated earlier it is a combination of issues and service that's left me disappointed. My local dealer is helpful but the "Head office/Customer service" are shocking.