CannyDrehver

So i've had my timing chain rattle sorted by the new dealer i visited. There is a TPI available that reccomends changing the oil filter to a new modified part and that has sorted the problem. If the noise reoccurs we may have to look at changing the timing chain but this isn't the first step to try. I'm not sure if the TPI is a different one to the one posted above. Anyway, it has been done free of charge and i'm glad we tried a different dealer as it looks like the previous one hadn't done their homework and checked for TPIs. It seems there is a wide disparity between the level of service you receive at different dealers and the way those dealers will attain goodwill gestures on your behalf, when your car runs into problems out of warranty. Your success in dealing with Skoda UK on goodwill issues seems to be predetermined by the initial assessment made by the dealer.

Hi jgpp63, thanks for providing that info. I actually handed the car into get fixed yesterday to a different dealer to the one we bought the car from and used for servicing and the previous ignition lead failure repair (http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/273839-tsi-ht-lead-failure/page-2). They were recommended to us by our local non-Skoda garage who are friendly with them and who organised for another customer’s timing chain to be fixed out of warranty and at Skoda’s expense. Our local garage doesn’t do the fix themselves as they said the problem can reoccur as it's an inherent problem with this engine and they don't want the hassle of customers coming back to them. Where as you would at least get the work guaranteed by Skoda if you are paying for it at a Skoda dealer. The difference between the two dealers has been night and day. They are different companies but under the same motor group now. The previous dealer quoted over £600 for the fix and said we may get a discount from Skoda. But they said that we would get a discount for the previous ignition lead failure before coming up with a raft of dodgy excuses and reneging on their promise. This combined with generally lacklustre customer service, no courtesy car and a questionable bill means we couldn’t trust dealing with them again. As soon as i phoned the new dealer, they checked with their service manager and told me it’s likely Skoda will pick up most of the bill for the timing chain. They also organised a courtesy car and were generally really accommodating and professional. I’ll wait and see what they come back with before shouting about by renewed faith in the brand, but i have a much better vibe from this new dealer.

There is TPI been attached in the other thread i have posted on relating to the timing chain issues. It might be of use to you in your discussions with Skoda http://www.briskoda....g-chain-recall/

Will do. The supervisor was the one that suggested go to the ombudsman but the TPI hopefully gives them the opportunity to re-assess things. I brought the issue up with the same person who refused to accept any responsibility for the ignition lead failure i had. Maybe i should have brought it up separately with a different person. Great result for you anyway. There is a guy on the other thread who was given a £3K bill for timing chain related engine failure. Hopefully the TPI will help him as well.

Thanks for this as it will allow me to move the discussion forward with something new and fresh. I was basically going round in circles with the supervisor and i think we were both losing the will to live

I’ve got an issue with the timing chain on my 1.2 TSI Roomster (2011). The dealer notified us that the timing chain was excessively noisy and would cost around £600 to fix. This was ‘an advisory’ and they couldn’t expand much on whether they would recommend getting it fixed or not. The dealer had mentioned i may get a goodwill contribution for the fix from Skoda UK but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen after speaking to them myself. The timing chain always seems to have been noisy and i’ve mentioned it at two services at least. This was done whilst the car was in warranty, so i’m a bit sceptical why they have brought up the issue in it’s first visit to the garage out of warranty. I’ve spoken to Skoda UK and they didn’t recognise there to be any previous issues relating to the timing chain on 1.2 TSI engines or reimbursing customers for the cost of getting it fixed. This goes against what is being said on this thread and others http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/307716-skoda-yeti-12-tsi-and-famous-chain-rattle/ Is this something i can take to the ombudsman or is there just a discrepancy on how Skoda deals with individual customers on the same issue? The consensus seems to be to get it replaced, as the engine could fail, is that correct?

Thanks for feedback and sorry about your own predicament. This seems to be the most sensible thing to do from what i’m understanding from the various threads. It was an advisory issue but it seems similar to my issues with the ignition leads. Skoda seem recognise there is a problem with the timing chains for 1.2 TSI engines built pre 2012 and have covered the cost to rectify it for most other posters on this forum – but not mine (or yours). Again, there is a modified part that has come out in the form of a belt. I’ve going to post on this thread to separate the 2 issues. http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/252849-12-tsi-timing-chain-recall/

On further investigation, i found out it was just the Cylinder 1 ignition lead that failed. The 4 spark plugs were just replaced for good practice. When the fix was quoted for, i was told the spark plugs hadn’t been changed at the independent garage where we had the last service (the car has done 32,000 miles and is about 4.5 years old). I was told as the plugs were a serviceable item and should have been changed at last service, Skoda wouldn’t contribute to the fix. I’ve gone back to the dealer to highlight the fact that the problem was with a non-serviceable item, not the spark plugs and i should be eligible for some sort of contribution as previously alluded to. Before putting the car into the dealer, i was told i should get a discount from Skoda because we’ve had 3 out of 4 services with them. Contradicting what they said to me earlier, they inform me Skoda UK wouldn’t make any contribution as i’d shown a lack of brand loyalty by having the car serviced somewhere else and the car was too old to receive any sort of goodwill gesture. Skoda UK, after speaking with the dealer, were just reiterating the dealer’s original reason - that the problem was with serviceable parts. They eventually came back with an offer of 20% off the cost of the ignition lead - £12. Both the dealer and Skoda UK deny any knowledge of there being any problem with 1.2 TSI engine ignition leads or covering the cost of this fix when out of warranty. This goes against what is being said on these threads. Do people think this is worth pursuing through the ombudsman or is it just a case of Skoda UK favouring some drivers over others? Have there been any reported failures with the newly designed ignition leads?

We've joined this cosy little club! Our 4 year old Roomster 1.2 TSI DSG, went into limp mode after stopping to fill up with petrol. Complete with EPC, TCS and Exhaust Control System lights. The car is out of warranty and we were quoted £335 inc. diagnostics fee and labour to fix a spark plug and leads - the highest quote so far! Not the greatest service from the dealer. The car will have been off the road for a week, they’ve had to send away for the parts, no courtesy car and what seems like a ridiculously pricey quote considering it’s a 30 minute job with inexpensive parts. Don't think we were offered the chance of an extended warranty (possibly because we bought it as a demo car) but at £305 it seems a bargain considering all the stuff i've just read regarding dodgy DSG boxes etc. From what i gather, i should be pushing for Skoda to cover the cost of the whole bill, for something that is essentially a design fault and for putting our lives at risk? Even if i manage to get them to change all the plugs and leads, the same thing could happen again in the near future? The timing chain was also mentioned as being noisy - but this was an ‘advisory’. We usually buy a Volkswagen as our 2nd car and were considering replacing the Roomster with the new Fabia. Is it time we run a mile from this Roomster or Skoda in general?