MartinMMorgan

Yep, finally sorted! Oddly enough the former owner of my car took it in for cutting out at low speeds 3 years ago and was told there was nothing wrong with it. The official paperwork from their local Skoda dealer reads "advised owner to be given tutorial on how to operate the vehicle efficiently" lol. You take care and hopefully I won't be complaining on here for a while lol. Smooth riding from here on out, fingers crossed.

Hi guys, quick update. Car is fixed. Total cost £1150 in the end. Worth noting for anyone with a Fabia though, the Mk3 Fabia's from 2014 to the end of 2015 all came with DMF's that were prone to premature failure. These were switched on later Mk3 Fabia's to single flywheels. Not just due to premature failure but apparently due to the earlier Fabia Mk3's cutting out too easily and frequently when at low revs (crawling speeds - 0 to 12mph from my experience). Just thought I'd add this part guys. There was indeed a recall on my model of car yet I still had to pay full price to get it fixed via the dealer! Long story short, anyone after an mk3 Fabia made from 2014 to the end of 2015, watch out and make sure that it has had the single flywheel conversion lol. All the dealers I've spoken to concur that many of the 14-15 Fabia's across the board were coming in under warranty for flywheel issues. The recall doesn't affect Mk3's made from 2016 onwards though.

Exactly, it's a difficult one. And whilst I naturally want to save money, I'm already swaying to the other side if only for the better communication and reassurance. Just giving me confirmation "clutch and flywheel replacement, including single flywheel conversion will cost...." means very little. I did politely ask via telephone if I could speak with someone else but kept going through to the same 'service advisor'. And when I'd ask particular questions I'd get an answer of 'I don't understand what you meant' or 'I'm unsure'. I understand the person's who'll be working on my vehicle aren't those on the telephone but I naturally want to know the ins and outs of a cats behind lol. So for the sake of reassurance and being in the loop, I am seriously considering the other dealerships. For example... the more expensive one.... I called today to see if I could speak to the individual I'd been in email contact with, but unfortunately they'd just left. However the gentleman on the phone was really helpful, provided me with reassurance, jotted down all my queries and assured me they'd get the person to call me back by Tuesday given the bank holiday. And I think the part that hit the sweet spot for me was when he said "don't be daft, anything we can do to help and we will try our best to look after you.... take care in the meantime....' I explained I'd had a cheaper quote elsewhere and that I'd like to query if they can price match somehow. I'm hoping they can at least work on the quote a tad. They're more out of the way than the other dealerships so it says something they've caught my eye and I tried to explain that too. But between ourselves I'm already swaying to them if just for peace of mind. The little things you know guys. Not just 'yes' and 'no' replies. Back to the cheapest dealership quote... I'd sent an email at one point but was then told on the phone 'I've seen your email but I've been busy I'm afraid....' - this middle person isn't the best lol and I'm meant to be going there in less than two weeks! I'm certainly not going to muck them about and will give adequate notice if I do decide to go elsewhere. However I hope it doesn't come to that but I'm caught between a rock and hard place. I am possibly overthinking things. They probably do this day in and day out on Skoda vehicles... but from a consumer point of view, I don't know that. It may just be another job to them in its simplicity but then again it may not. I only want the reassurances because the other dealers estimated similar costs to one another. With this being hundreds cheaper, that's a huge jump considering they are all main dealers. That's really why I've been pushing to try and get the best of insight into the work... I've been told in writing ("clutch and flywheel replacement... including the single flywheel conversion.... cost of.... including VAT..." but it's not the same.

Thanks 'nta16' for the compliments on my photo - me and the misses went crabbing in Weymouth! 'AG Falco', apparently they were all in good nick upon being put back in and my car feels back to normality minus the knocking of course. Stop and start is also 100 percent functional again! They did say they cleaned up the parts before putting them back in, though I couldn't comment on what they cleaned altogether. My clutch does feel lighter mind. I was given the full £650 refunded too which I thought very honest and decent of them. The clutch hasn't been the issue, I just find it logical to get it replaced whilst doing the flywheel you know. Just gotta get my head around having the parts replaced via the dealers. The quotes are eye-watering but I've accepted the situation for what it is. Though the one dealer with the cheapest quote are the ones that have communicated the littlest. I know dealers have a lot of middle men etc., but I like being told the ins and outs of what's required in regards to work being carried out. I suppose I'm nosey like that and like to know what my money is buying. Like I had to prompt them about the flywheel conversion in order to have it in writing and clarify that the conversion is also what their quote entails, whereas the other dealers with the initial £1500 quotes have told me anything and everything from the get go; for example, I didn't even need to mention the conversions - they'd chewed my ear off with what's involved lol. It bugs me that the one with the cheapest quote haven't said much besides the obvious 'clutch and flywheel replacement' and 'quote of.... including parts and labour.' Oh well. Just gotta wait for the 7th and hope for the best I suppose.

Oddly enough guys, I've called three Skoda dealerships since I last wrote anything on here, and apparently the conversion kit from dual to single is standard across the board, in respect of my year/make/specific model. Apparently they were prone to premature failure and too many problems arose, so they stopped making the dual mass flywheel and instead provide the single flywheel conversion kit. Oddly enough exactly what 'rum4mo' said... I didn't take in all that they said though I remember them mentioning a shaft replacement. Just going to pick up my car; all the original parts have been put back and apparently the stop-start issues have ceased. I'm also being refunded my £650 still, which is some good news (in a way). Cheapest any local Skoda dealer/garage will do the above for is £1100. So I've booked my car in for September 7th for the new clutch and single flywheel conversion. When picking up the car up from the dealership I'll be insistent on being sat either in the front passengers seat whilst my car is test drove by one of their employees or myself being provided the keys to test drive my vehicle before paying the costs due. After the experiences I've had already I don't like the idea of paying without even at least being shown it's all working as expected. They can hold on to my wallet, bank cards, ID and phone for all I care as insurance whilst I drive off for 10 minutes. I just don't want to be in a position of paying £1100 and turning back 20 mins later because of another mess up you know. I understand not everywhere is the same but surely it's courtesy to show the customer all is working as expected.

Also I've been tempted buddy. It is literally just a slight knock hidden behind the tickover (not overly noticeable) and a jerky experience with the clutch. Praying my car will be back like it was this Friday with the original parts back in it. If so, I think I may wait till I've no choice but to change (thus convert) the dmf to single via Skoda or whatever.

Apparently certain aspects of Skoda do. Skoda UK don't, but Skoda EU (Germany) and SOME local dealers do. VW have the incorrect info down also. I'm unsure as to why they are all conflicting. Today has been a right Ballache and mine field so my apologies for confusion buddy

Thank you buddy for the links. All my details add up, though certain parts stores do hold incorrect info. Why I've no idea. The VIN matches all over my vehicle. It's confused me as to how this mess up has occurred. The parts store had my vehicle down as a non stop-start and others even had it listed as a single mass flywheel despite it being a dual (single once the conversion is done). Skoda have informed me the dual flywheel is a common fault and the conversion is standard across this model now, which may be why some part stores have my car listed as a single mass flywheel

Yeah exactly. It's not the clutch and flywheel replacement that bothers me. It's the unknown with everything else that has come in the meantime from a garage mess up. A part of me wants to demand the garage fix the problems they've caused. They're trying their best though and if they are going to put the old parts back and give me a full refund, I can't say much I don't think no matter how much I feel I have a right to.

Totally get where you are coming from buddy. I am just trying my best to get it sorted. Being 25yrs old and a full time uni student makes finances difficult enough as it is. I regret taking my car to have the clutch and flywheel changed. It should've been straightforward. I'll be lumbered with the costs should the cutting out etc and stop start problems still be an issue once the original clutch and flywheel is put back.... I don't agree with this part mind but there we are ain't it. In a **** situation I am. The Independent garage appear confident all will be back to normal once the original parts are back in - minus the original slight flywheel knock. We will soon see.... PS. Daft part is that the new clutch and flywheel make my car drive sweet despite the problems it's caused - when it ain't causing the above problems. The irony.

No, Skoda have said it requires coding once the conversion is done. So I'm hoping once the original parts are put back in my vehicle by the independent garage that the above problems will not be present. The Independent garage said they will refund the £650 the day I collect my car. Then I will go down the route of having Skoda do the clutch replacement and flywheel conversion asap. I'm not trying to cost cut or anything of that sort. Just panicking in case these issues that have occurred - as a result of the new clutch and flywheel being incompatible - still being an issue. I can only hope once the original parts are reinstalled that my car will be back to normal minus the flywheel knock. I honestly don't know what to do or say should the cutting out etc still be there come Friday when I collect my car. Otherwise it's more money again to figure out what's gone wrong on what should have been a routine clutch and flywheel change. The Independent garage bought the clutch kit and DMF directly from LUK, so have not intentionally mucked up I don't believe. From what they said it was sold to them as being compatible (was cross referenced with my reg and VIN), but that despite being visually identical, the new parts aren't compatible with the stop-start system; thus incompatible and incorrectly advertised.

Hi, there's a connector lead that you can disconnect the stop-start via. That's how we disconnected that. And yeah, I get a message telling me to start the vehicle manually. However, even in instances like the the car isn't starting up. Even when stop-start is working it's repeatedly cycling and having the same issues that are seen in the video when I am cycling the key manually. stop start is working in the sense I put the clutch in and it's trying to start itself. However the vehicle keeps cutting out. Update: Having the old clutch and flywheel put back in this Friday due to the problems the new parts are causing. Apparently the part supplier has my reg listed as non stop-start which would explain the issues with stop-start. Mechanic seems confident once the old parts are back in I won't have any trouble besides those I started off with (clunky flywheel). Apparently the non stop-start flywheel and clutch doesn't pick up the sensors etc relating to the stop-start system. I don't understand it all myself. To make things worse though Skoda don't supply a DMF directly. I tried contacting them and the dealerships nearby. So the only option I will have is to have a new clutch and single flywheel conversion done at the local dealership for a cost of £1500! Apparently the DMF was a common fault and thus no longer provided by Skoda. This is all providing the bull**** that's came after having the new clutch/flywheel fitted are gone. I'll only know this Friday once the original parts are put back in. I'm getting refunded for the clutch/flywheel cost I originally paid (£650) but my head is in the shed! Tick tock and I won't know until this Friday and even then if it's not fixed I'm stuck in a predicament of having to go to Skoda to solve even more issues on top. Meant to be on holidays with the misses at the moment and I've all this crap to stress over and to make matters worst if Friday doesn't go to plan, I'll have to wait until Monday to contact the dealership!

Hi buddy, I did rev it in the video as that was the only way to get the car to turn over in the end. I don't normally rev or touch the accelerator mind. I normally just press the clutch pedal and turn the key as you mentioned. And with the growl I've no idea. It's right next to the air intake system and something is growling nastily when the car is playing up. This growl is not there when the above issues are not present. I am also conscious of the battery as you stated. Particularly given repeated startups will drain it.

Hi guys, to answer your questions, the battery is in good working order. I have a stop start button to the side of my steering wheel (it's not illuminated on startup). My mechanic temporarily disconnected the stop-start but to no avail. What I mean in explaining my situation is that my stop-start does not kick in instantly from when starting the engine. It's only automatically engaged when having driven so far (apparently due to the battery voltages and sensor detection etc relating to the stop-start system - this has always been the case and never posed an issue before. I drive so far, maybe a mile or so, then the system starts cutting my engine out as and where needed providing the stop start light isn't illumanited. This never posed an issue until now. Now when the engine is cutting in and out my car just doesn't want to start; it growls and revs proceed to go up half way to it's normal rev range, before cutting out) As far as I know all sensors etc are in good working order. None of these issues were present beforehand when I took the car to the garage to have the work done. It's only been since I've had the work done. My mechanic is trying to cross reference the new parts put on as best as they can. Skoda were provided the VIN in addition to the reg, though they are insistent my vehicle doesn't have DMF nor stop-start when it has both! I've no warning or codes whatsoever when starting the vehicle. The video doesn't pick it up well but the dreadful growl on startup also was not there before. My mechanic contacted me this evening and they said upon starting the car from cold none of the issues were present. Though after driving around the block, once stop-start starts to kick in at junctions etc, the above issues are there again. I am at a loss with it all to be honest. I've no problems in terms of preference with stop-start. Though I shouldn't really have to lose out on a feature that never caused any issues before. I struggle to understand how a new flywheel and clutch has brought the above issues about. I drove maybe 15 miles (if that) before having to turn back - I'd only picked up my vehicle 40 minutes prior. The mechanic still has my vehicle and are working as best as they can. I'm honestly at a loss though with it all and am unsure as to what's brought all this about. They've ran the vehicle for fault codes and I am assuming they would've double checked the battery by know too. In relation to coding I've no idea as to whether the clutch and DMF needs coding or has been coded. I've never heard of the transmission area needing coding before if I am honest.

Hi all, I've just had a dual mass flywheel and clutch replacement due to premature DMF failure (clunking with mileage at just over 20k!) Have wrote previous posts in relation to this so won't repeat myself. However, the DMF and clutch replacement has caused issues with my stop and start technology! Has anyone else had issues with this? Once the battery is warm and stop-start is running, the engine growls and cuts out via the stop start. Have tried contacting Skoda. They say my vehicle has a single flywheel and NOT stop start technology. They are wrong on both of these points. The original flywheel is a dual and it had stop start from new. Anyone got any advice as to what the hell is going on? New flywheel and clutch is sweet but it's caused these problems. I don't want to be in a position of having to put the old parts back in, getting a refund off of my gearbox specialist and getting a dmf and clutch replacement for double the price via a Skoda dealer. I'm literally at a loss. For reference my vehicle is a 2015, 1.4 tdi (roughly 90bhp). Thanks. Attached is a video link. The stop start causes the car to do this. Then I have to repeatedly cycle the keys and hope for the best until it works. Even then there is a dreadful growl from the air intake area that you cannot really hear on the video. When the stop start isn't playing up this dreadful growl is likewise not there. https://streamable.com/azeree As said I am at a total loss. Skoda themselves say my vehicle has a single flywheel and no stop start!! If Skoda don't have the right information I've no idea what to do. The original flywheel is 110% a dual!