DMF Help!

[ippo88]

Okay folks, so I believe I have the dreaded dual mass flywheel issue.

 

I took the car to Skoda because I wasn't happy the way it was driving (09, 70K, 170CR dsg), jerking around low gears.

 

Had a technician sit in with me but car seemed to drive perfectly !  However he did note the noisy flywheel and made a point of it.

 

Now I bought this car from a non Skoda main dealer and it has an extended warranty.

 

Took the car back to Skoda for changing the flywheel but the dealer I have warranty with won't cover the flywheel despite it being on the warranty document.

 

Skoda have sent a report to the dealer stating the flywheel needs changing, however the other dealer is being reluctant and putting it down to being a common issue and wear and tear.  I can't see this wear and tear bit in the warranty document so I'm kinda confused what to do.

 

The other dealer also wants images before they accept the warranty claim but I don't want them to start stripping the car down only to turn around and say the flywheel is not bad enough.

 

It's month 9 out of 12 on warranty.

 

Any advice appreciated

[silver1011]

Is the warranty a third party warranty? This is usually what is provided by non-franchised car dealers, an AA, RAC or Warranty Direct type warranty.

 

If this is the case speak to the warranty company direct and their thoughts on whether the DMF is covered or not.

 

You mention that the DMF is specifically mentioned in the warranty paperwork as being covered? The selling dealer will be keen for you to go away and will make life as difficult as possible, more paperwork and hassle for them. By pass the dealer and speak to the organ grinder direct.

 

If Skoda have confirmed it is in need of replacement then it sounds as though it needs doing regardless of who pays for it.

 

Have Skoda themselves hinted at any goodwill?

[ippo88]

The warranty is with Honda. Skoda did go direct to Honda care who refused to cover the flywheel.

Back to the Honda dealer and they aren't convinced the warranty claim will go through for it.

They insist wear and tear not covered, only failure and want to strip the car for pictures. I don't understand what they mean by wear and tear, do they want the flywheel to explode out of the car?

I don't know whether i should let them do that in case they make up another excuse and foot me with the bill.

Nothing from Skoda but they were very helpful and didn't charge me for diagnosis.

Edited 6 October, 2015 by ippo88

[silver1011]

The reality is that on a 6 year old car with 70,000 miles on it there will inevitably be wear on the DMF.

 

The fact that the car is juddering supports the fact that it is worn.

 

To me it also suggests that it has failed. It is no longer doing the job it was intended to do (i.e. absorbing vibration) hence the juddering.

 

The part is worn and it has failed.

 

The fact your car is an automatic (DSG) also supports your case. On a manual it is possible to stress the DMF through different driving styles (hard acceleration @ low RPM / high gear) which can see a DMF wear and fail quite quickly. On a DSG this is far less likely, you stick it in Drive and that's it. The car decides when to change gear.

 

As mentioned you need to get into the small print in the warranty paperwork provided to you by Honda. This will tell you if wear and tear of the DMF is covered or not. You do not need to strip the car down first.

 

If as you mention the DMF is referenced in the warranty wording then it will be down to the interpretation of worn versus failed.

[williamshatnerspants]

Not sure how the legal system works in the UK but here in New Zealand we can take disputes like this to the 'Disputes Tribunal' who work on cases where the value of the dispute is reasonably small (say less than 500GBP). Costs are minimal (50 GBP). Its basically a cheaper, less formal way of going to court. It works very well. No lawyers involved and usually just 3 people in the room.

 

I'd agree with Silver1011 in that the part has failed, and you can't get a more robust opinion on this than from your Skoda dealer/mechanic.

 

Hence, I think you'd have a very strong case against your dealer/warranty supplier. Sometimes the threat of going to court is enough to resolve things. So, if you don't have a 'disputes tribunal' in the UK, a letter from your lawyer (or even yourself) to theirs might be a good next step.

 

Good luck and keep us informed.