Hello Champion Motors

Thursday (29th) morning I got an incoming call on my mobile.
The man on the other end said that he is from Skoda garage Hagoren and asked me why I published the post about actuator upgrade. I don't remember his name but as he talked to me and by his conversation tone I think he was THE BOSS.

The questions were:
- Who gave you permission to record people in my garage?
- Who gave you permission to record videos and make pictures?
- Who gave you permission to post about it on Facebook?
- Who gave you permission to post the things you don't understand?
and so on...

I guess, that's what happened. I post a comment at CarsForum about my garage visit with link to explanation post. Somebody from Champion Motors read my comment, followed to my post, didn't like it, called to garage manager, manager called to me.

I can understand that filming in the garage pissed them off. So I apologise to Champion Motors and Hagoren staff especially the technician guy because he didn't saw that I was filming. I was filming what happening with car (that I own), not a garage or their business or whatever.

As I talked with the boss on mobile, I immediately closed access to videos and to the blog post until we discuss it in details. I don't want to hurt anybody. View counts were less than 10 for each media, almost nothing.

After lunch, I called him again because I want to come and talk in person about this situation and understand where this butthurt is coming from. He said there is no need to come there is nothing to talk about. Ok whatever :-) I opened the post with removed videos from garage. Also in that talk he said that he didn't saw my post, he only heard about it from Champion Motors.
He promised that their advocates will contact me, so it could me more fun later :-)

I should mention this guy is a man of analogies. I think he has strong sales background. This remind me another situation and I 99.9% sure that it is that guy. Everytime we talk he always made up analogy situation when I always an idiot.
I was helping to my friend in January to get his new Fabia 1.4L in Hagoren garage as I did this before with my car and know how it goes and where to put eyes on. That time I meet that man (the boss) in garage with Tzahi (sales guy, works with Stefan). I don't remember exact conversation but we switched to maintenance topic and I said that I bring my oil with me, because I'm not sure what they put in, especially Delek oils (maybe oils are ok, but not about it). And he asked me: if you go to a steak bar, did you bring the meat with me too? Hahaha... On that same moment I marked him with bold red X.

So... to finish this.
I like Hagoren garage, I talked with several people there - great guys and professionals. Alexander Lambersky that meet clients - great person, always explain things, helping - hard to find such people. I even have mouse pad from them! :-)

But this man... poor guys. Or may be I'm wrong...

Exterior mirrors rotary knob

Rotary knob of external mirrors felt inside today and won't sit firmly again.

I don't know why, didn't touched it for a long time.
Just closed the door, went home and after came back saw this.

21 800 km, 1Y3M

Update (2012-03-30)
Knob fixed. You need first insert left side and after pull until right side enters housing.
But still not understand why that happend :-)

Wastegate actuator fix

Recently I found at several forums that some guys was in garages for so called "recall".
RECALL לרכבי פולו TSI (Heb)
Fabia recall - March 2012

I called to Hagoren garage and asked if I need to visit them. Yaniv said yes, I need to come to do something, but it's not a recall, it can be done at next maintenance visit. I said I will come tomorrow at 11.

As I was already know that it related to wastegate actuator I made some "before" pictures.

Wastegate actuator

So I drove to garage, meet my friend Alexander. As I understood, some drivers experienced turbocharger issue when it wasn't working while they driving but after stopping and then starting engine everything was fine. Skoda issued following solution: spacer washer to wastegate actuator. Sounds ok, let's go.

By the way, I meet there Stefan Barda, the seller guy. I told him that Radio Milano wanted to install not original speakers and I declined this bullshit. He said that will check it.

In few minutes Fabia was inside waiting for her turn. Technician came, connected testing computer. He also explained to me what he going to do.

This is that spacer washer, 2 mm thickness.

03F 145 371 A - spacer washer

Installing spacer washer also requires a ECU update.

The installation takes about a minute.
Video and photo of process were removed by request from garage manager.
Explanation post here.

After that, it's important to calibrate actuator by command from service computer.

The last step is to put sticker in a luggage compartment where spare wheel and car sticker.

That's it!

Wastegate actuator with spacer washer installed

Upgrade feelings - I don't no, I not felt something changed.

Useful links
Skoda Garages (Heb)

21 747 km, 1Y3M

Skoda bulbs and door sill covers

Another delivery from Exist.

KDA 700 001 - 1 set scuff plates-sill panel.
Cost $46 or ₪181.

Image from some Internet page

I will take picture when installed on my car but later.
KDA 700 001 - Door Sill Covers (PDF)


5J0 054 980 A - 1 set of bulbs for headlamps H7 halogen fog lamp with fuses.
Cost $34 or ₪134.

5J0 054 980 A - 1 set of bulbs and fuses

Small tip: there are several bulb sets, for H7 or H4 lamps, RS and SCOUT version - be careful when order.
Lamps make is Osram. Fuses originals not some cheap China, but I'm not sure if there a huge difference.


1K0 201 051 K - fuel filter with pressure regulator, 6.6 bar
Cost $26 or ₪104. Made in China.

1K0 201 051 K - fuel filter

This is replacement for wrong 1K0 201 051 C that came with previous order.

Autogeek order

At Feb 15th 2012 I and my friend (exactly the same Fabia but sexy red ;-) placed and order at Autogeek in US.

We also checked items at DetailedImage but Autogeek gave better total price. They have discounts almost every day, we got Valentine's Day discount and free shipping in US.

The order:

Qty	Product Code	Product Name	Price, $
1	OPT-900-B	2 Qty of 32oz. Optimum No Rinse Wash and Shine	15.99
1	P-13001B	1 Liter P21S Total Auto Wash Spray	17.99
2	303-30350	32 oz. 303 Aerospace Protectant	39.98
1	EIN-914805	1Z Einszett Rubber Care Stick Gummi Pfleg	8.99
1	MO-TW2	Mothers Tire & Wheel Brush Combo	9.99
1	EZ-MINI	EZ Detail Brush Mini	14.99
1	KL-10	10 oz. Klasse All-IN-ONE	14.99
1	CCS-APP	2 QTY CCS Red Wax/Sealant Applicator Pads	4.99
1	CCS-APPG	2 Qty CCS Gold Soft Jewelling Applicator Pads	4.99
1	TD-511	Cobra Tire Dressing Pad	2.99

Total is $135.89, paid via PayPal ₪515.81 (PP rate was $1 = ₪3.80).

Autogeek send only in US, so you need virtual mailbox in US to receive the package. I use Shipito for few years already. They charge $8.50 for handling one package and shipping depends on size, weight and destination country.

Feb 16th the 8kg! ;-) package was sent with UPS ground from one side of continent to another, estimate delivery - 10 business days.

UPS ground path

UPS tracking details

Feb 23rd Shipito received the package. I asked to make 3 photos of content, cost us $1.

~8kg package, 14"×13"×13" (35×32×31 cm)

Box contents

Now you should fill invoice (this is great for those who undestand ;-), pay delivery and other fees. Our heavy box cost us $106.13 that was paid via PayPal ₪412.85 (PP rate was $1 = ₪3.89) including handling and USPS Priority Mail® Int'l delivery.

USPS tracking

We were worried about customs but... Mar 13rd I went to local post office (after getting a notice) and got the package without paying extra money! Fuck yeah!

We split items, and this is what I added to my noob-detailer collection :-)

303 Aerospace Protectant

P21S Total Auto Wash Spray - box

P21S Total Auto Wash Spray

Optimum No Rinse Wash and Shine

Mothers Tire Brush

CCS Applicator pads and Cobra Tire Dressing Pad

CCS Red Wax Sealant Applicator Pad

Yesterday I washed the car with Optimum - I happy with results! Recommended dosage: 1 oz to 1 gallon = 30 ml to 4 liters. I checked bottle cap, it's 15 ml - perfect measure. I used 1 cap to 5 liters sprayer.

Notes:

1. I have 1 liter left after wash, so 4 liters instead of 5 as usual to wash a whole car.

2. It's also a quick detailer - car shines more than usual.

3. Less dust collected after few days, but lets see after one week.

4. Dust easily washed out with mixture than just clean water, especially noticeable on near bottom parts of body where sand and other big particles collected. With clean water I was need to spray on this areas much more until it gone.

Changing wheels around

Today I went to change wheels around. Here is the quote from manual ("Wheels and Tyres", p.175)

Changing wheels around
If significantly greater wear is present on the front tyres, we recommend changing the front wheels around with the rear wheels. You will then obtain approximately the same life for all the tyres.
It may be advantageous to swap the tyres over “crosswise” when certain types of wear characteristic arise on the running surface of the tyres (but not in the case of unidirectional tyres). Specialist garages are familiar with details.
We recommend that you change the wheels around every 10 000 km in order to achieve even wear on all wheels and to obtain optimal tyre life.

The more important than doing this is to replace tyres one in 2-3 years. Because as time passes they are drying, even if your tyres looks ok. Dry tyre means longer stopping distance, worse road grip and so on.

So... I decide to do this recommendation, odometer says 20 kkm. And I decided not "crosswise" but "swap front and back" - easy version ;-) I got second lifting jack from a friend a day before.

Procedure (refer to manual's "Breakdown assistance" for details)
1. Pull off all bolt caps with plastic clip.
2. Slackening wheel bolts a bit, do not remove.
3. Jack up the vehicle until the wheel is clear of the ground.
4. Unscrew bolts and place them on a clean surface.
5. Take off the wheel (better with gloves).

Before cleaning

With RIM7 Wheel Cleaner and Mothers Wheel Brush I cleaned calipers and wheels from inside.

After cleaning

Wheels were dirty too.

Before cleaning

After

These are Atria wheels, that have code 5J0 601 025 B, but in accessories catalog they have another code CCH 700 006 donno why. More detail photos

Part code and details

Manufacture date is November 2010

Made in Czech Republic

AlSi7Mg alloy

Now when wheel is clean and dry, I applied Poorboy's Wheel Sealant and went to remove front wheel. After cleaning caliper, I fitted clean wheel.
1. Fit on wheel, tighten the wheel bolts slightly
2. Lower the car
3. Tighten the wheel bolts firmly, alternately and diagonally using the wrench
4. Insert caps onto the bolts

The front caliper

After cleaning

It took me 1.5 hour to replace right side and then I saw that rain is coming :-( That was expected from weather forecast but it was sunny when I started :-) Will continue tomorrow morning.

Important to know
- If you replace only 2 tyres, always put new on the back, check video New tires Front or Rear.