Maverick_driver

Thanks for the reply. I am asking the garage and Skoda India for the same - what is the reason or rather specific reason for such a failure. There has to be a cause and I would like to know the same. yhanks again

I have a 2010 model Skoda Superb. The vehicle has had a mechatronics failure at 15000 Kms in Aug 2011 and a second mechatronics failure in 2016 at around 54,000 Kms. On Nov 16, 2020 – When I started the car in the morning in my apartment basement, the vehicle was cranking but not starting. Ignition was coming on and was able to move the gear lever. No warning / fault light came on or lit up. No warning alarm either. Called Skoda and the service engineer who came, ran the diagnostics multiple times. After a few times he informed that it seemed like a starter issue and the car would need to be brought to the workshop. The car was towed to TAFE on Nov 20 and after than no update from them. After about 4 days when I asked the service manager for an update – I was informed by whatsapp -”Engine overhauling has to be done. Engine failed”. At this point I asked the service manager how can the engine just fail given that the car was serviced just 2 months back and I would require a full technical analysis, explanation and report for the same. I then wrote to Skoda India and promptly received a call from a lady from the office of the Head of service and marketing. She assured that they would look into the issue and take it up with the service centre the next day. The next day I received a call from the GM Service at the service centre asking for permission to open the engine to ascertain the fault. Now they were saying that it seemed like and engine failure but not yet confirmed if that was the case. I asked them to provide a full analysis based on their diagnosis and a report of why the engine failed. He also confirmed that he had checked the service history and the vehicle was impeccably maintained and serviced as per set manufacturer norms. Few pertinent points that I raised to them: The vehicle was last serviced on Sep 3-4, 2020 at TAFE. Km reading at the time was 97278. This was just 2 months prior to the engine failure. They had supposedly done a full 10th year service and inspection. On Sep 5, the day after the car came back from service, while I was driving I got an engine oil pressure warning which flashed for a few seconds with an alarm and then disappeared. I pulled over to the side and immediately called the service engineer. My first query to him was that the vehicle had just been serviced the previous day and 4.6 ltrs of oil has been filled, so how is it possible to get a low engine oil pressure warning? He said that there could be a sensor issue sometimes and asked me to top up the engine oil. I topped up approx. 600-700 ml of shell helix ultra. The light warning did not return post that. I then got the service centre to send the mechanic on Monday Sep 7 to check the vehicle and he confirmed that there was nothing wrong with the vehicle. This in hindsight seems very telling and the service engineer / centre should have called the vehicle back in for a full recheck given the serious nature and timing of the warning. I have driven approx. 2000 kms post that till the current supposed engine failure issue and have had no warning lights come on. Even when the car did not start – there is no warning / fault light that is displayed. Prior to this the car was serviced and underwent repairs including for an engine oil leak and parts were replaced thereof and invoiced. This was in April 2019. Km reading at the time was 89980. So the pertinent point is that if the vehicle was serviced just two months back and also addressed for an engine oil leak in the last year, how can the engine just fail? I did not hear from the service centre post this and when I mailed the lady at Skoda India she stated that the dealer would communicate with me on this. I also requested skoda, given the long standing relationship (we own two superbs since 2010 and 2012) with the brand and the fact that the vehicle has had two mechatronics failures, they should support on addressing the repair and replacement for what was a serious issue like an engine failure. This definitely is not a wear and tear item and definitely not a routine issue. I then received an estimate for the dealer for an engine replacement with a 20% discount which still came to 5.85 Lacs with taxes. I spoke to the dealer and said this was unacceptable from Skoda India given the serious nature of the issue. Would expect the brand to take more accountability. I wrote to Skoda India again stating their stance and response on this issue was just not acceptable. No proper explanation or report for the failure of the engine and just an estimate for engine replacement. This seemed ridiculous. I received a reply from the lady at Skoda India still with no specifc reason for the engine failure but with frivolous statements among others – quote’’ we request your understanding that the vehicle is in its 10th year of running with 99,291 KMS and the recommendations given are based on technical facts and findings and we always try to maintain transparency with our customers. The same was initiated in your case too. The periodic service conducted on Sep 3,2020 and the current findings are not related. We wish to apprise you that the findings of the workshop are as per the set guidelines’’ Unquote. She also specifically maintained that Skoda cannot take any further cost on the repair and replacement. Her mail and statement just seem like hogwash with no concrete finding or explanation. I have now refuted her mail asking if she means- an engine failure as stated by her is routine for a vehicle that has run this mileage of 99,000 kms? Or is she stating this is the life of a Skoda engine? Also, what are the technical facts that she is referring to? I have also asked her to provide a detailed report and analysis for the so called engine failure. The reference to the service was that the vehicle had undergone a thorough so called 10th year service just two months prior to this failure. There was also a specific instruction to check for any oil leakage. This was because the vehicle was repaired for an ‘’oil leak’’ in 2019 and parts related to the same were replaced by the Skoda service centre. Hence the point being raised to Skoda India as well - is that there were no red flags or warning indicators picked up by their diagnostics or service / technical advisors during the 10th year service. In fact, the confirmations from them were that the vehicle was fine and in perfect condition. Hence, a sudden failure two months down the line is indeed alarming and a serious issue and definitely warrants a more serious and thorough response. This is currently where this lies. The vehicle is in the service centre. All I have received from Skoda is an estimate for an engine change with no explanation or reason for a serious issue like an engine failure. They also do not seem to take any cognisance or accountability for something as grave as a complete engine failure for their top end model sold in this country. Neither is there any regard given to brand loyalty to a customer who has two of their top end models. Extremely frustrating and sorry state of affairs which I am unfortunately caught up in with Skoda India.