steve.petrina

Hee Hee

I agree that it is reasonable to expect to replace wearing parts at around 160,000 km. My car has gone through three DMFs. The car is very reasonable on other wearing parts. It's still on original brake pads. I don't think it's reasonable to expect me to pay ongoing large sums of money to replace parts that fail because they are not up to lasting the reasonably expected life span of the car. If a manufacturer chooses to put a car on the market that is not fit for purpose because of design flaws then the manufacturer needs to cover the cost of keeping it fit for purpose. By marketing a car with obvious ongoing component failure Skoda are putting the cost of research and development onto Skoda owners unless they (Skoda) are offered the opportunity to cover the cost.

I think car companies and especially 2nd hand car dealers are financially viable only because most people are ignorant of their rights under consumer protection laws.

The basis of NZ Consumer Protection as pertaining to motor vehicles. http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/consumerinfo/motorvehicles/mv-problems/faultymv-pre-15-Dec.html This trumps all manufacturers warranties and removes any reason to purchase warranties.

I bought it brand new!

Not DADDY.

New Zealand consumer protection laws are based on the premises of "fitness for purpose" and "reasonable expectation". Skoda N.Z. initially agreed to pay for the parts but not the labour on the latest DMF failure. They subsequently agreed that when the fly wheel disintergrates the car is not "fit for purpose" and that it is "reasonable to expect" that a fly wheel will not fail at 40,000 km. They paid parts and labour and will continue to do so as long as key components do not last the reasonably expected lifespan of their cars.

I purchased my vRS in December 04. December 07 at 122,000 km it suffered engine failure as follows: Stuck valve that wore a lobe off the cam shaft requiring new cam shaft, valves, injectors D.M.F. and clutch. Off the road for 8 weeks. No cost to me. December 08 at 146,000 km it suffered engine failure as follows: Inhaled a nut left in the top of the engine from previous rebuild that broke a valve and damaged a piston. Engine rebuild. New DMF. Off the road for 8 weeks. No cost to me. December 09. 176,000 km: DMF disintergrated. New DMF and clutch. Off road for 4 weeks. No cost to me. The car has now done 186,000 km. 10,000 km of trouble free motoring!! In spite of the history it is still the most efficient car I have ever owned.

Hi. Sorry to hear about your problem Did you replace alternator, turbo etc as assumptions that faults in these maybe causing power loss? Check out my posting "Update on sick Furbie vRS" and stick to your guns. The car was not fit for purpose when you bought it.

I posted the sad story below in December. Grieving Fabia vRS owner I own a Fabia vRS that was purchased new 3 years ago and has done122,000 km. It has begun smoking and has developed a drivetrain vibration under acceleration. Computer diagnosis was inconclusive so by elimination 2 injectors were replaced which reduced the smoking but not the vibration. Dismantling of the transmission revealed a damaged fly wheel and excessive clutch wear. Investigations show some reports of fly wheel failure in VW golfs with the same engine and trans. This car has not been driven hard as it''s still on original brake pads and only its 2nd set of tyres. Either this is a one off and I have bought a "lemon" or.... the drive train and transmission are not robust enough to cope with the torque production over time. Has anyone else run a Fabia vRS for as long as me and encountered similar failures? Clutch and flywheel have been replaced and missfire and smoking still apparent. Problem has been traced to a stuck valve that has worn a lobe off the cam!!!???? I begin the wait for these parts to be delivered apparently from Czech republic via Pluto to Tauranga NewZealand. Travel time 2 - 3 weeks. It has taken 12 weeks to diagnose so far!

Thanx. The upside is I have had the use of a Roomster and an Octavia since the Fabia has been laid up!

I own a Fabia vRS that was purchased new 3 years ago and has done122,000 km. It has begun smoking and has developed a drivetrain vibration under acceleration. Computer diagnosis was inconclusive so by elimination 2 injectors were replaced which reduced the smoking but not the vibration. Dismantling of the transmission revealed a damaged fly wheel and excessive clutch wear. Investigations show some reports of fly wheel failure in VW golfs with the same engine and trans. This car has not been driven hard as it''s still on original brake pads and only its 2nd set of tyres. Either this is a one off and I have bought a "lemon" or.... the drive train and transmission are not robust enough to cope with the torque production over time. Has anyone else run a Fabia vRS for as long as me and encountered similar failures? My Fabia has been off the road for 8 weeks and God I miss it!!