djj777

Well, despite my earlier reservations at the recent changes, I had my service done and was happy with the service department, particularly Jim who was speaking with me when I collected the car. The call centre experience was not so good but I guess I can't blame the staff here for that. I also subsequently phoned on spec on my way to work in Liverpool, as I thought the car had an oil leak. Jim answered and said I could take it in that day and leave it with them to investigate. As it turned out, there was no visible leak and I wasn't charged. As I've found before, the service department is excellent in my opinion and Jim, who I haven't dealt with prior to my service, is very helpful.

I've not been following this thread recently and have just phoned to book my car in for a service. I asked to speak to Billy or Tony as usual, but was told they had both left and I would be put through to a central call centre to book it in. I declined and said I would think about it. It's a huge shame Billy and Tony have gone. I have been very well looked after by both these guys (and Kris before them) and now they have been swept aside and replaced by a call centre. The personal touch, being prepared to deal with problems at a moment's notice, being greeted by your first name and having a chat about the family means a lot. Do the guys who come in and just destroy this realise what customers really want? Clearly not. I may book it in and give them a chance but like I said, it's the end of an era for me.

The service remains the same however. I had a couple of issues which are well covered in various threads on here, namely the alarm going off randomly and the temperature dropping in cold weather (even though the engine was thoroughly warm) due to a faulty thermostat. The car was booked in for the day after I phoned, for which I was grateful as I couldn't lock it when I parked due to the alarm triggering repeatedly. Both issues were dealt with and sorted. Excellent service, as always, from Billy on service reception.

As you can see from my posts above, Alex Lawrie have looked after my car for a few years now. Even though its well out of warranty, I still choose to have work done there because, even though I didn't buy the car from them, they clearly aren't one of those garages that lose interest once a car leaves the showroom. My car has just had a major service at 97,000 with the brakes discs and pads changed at the front, the brake fluid changed and the tracking sorted. Once again, the service received was excellent, with Billy in service discounting a good proportion of the bill by 15%. I was contacted regularly during the day, including a call the day before the service to check the details. As I've said many times, I can't fault them.

Alex Lawrie came to the rescue again today. Got a bulb warning light on the dash this morning and it was one of the number plate lights that I had changed last year. I had a spare so tried to change it in the dark before I left for work but the new bulb didn't light up. I had no time to look further but as I replaced the holder the bulb flashed briefly then other side went out too. I now had no number plate lights at all with what looked like a wiring fault, so I called the garage at 8am on my way to work. I was told to bring it in at 1pm and they'd have a look. I drove up in my lunch hour, had the car back after 40 minutes, fault fixed and bulbs replaced and car valeted as well. I was back at work by 2.10pm and was charged just £24. I can drive home legally tonight. Great service as usual. Thanks to Tony in the Service department and the techs who sorted it.

I had booked my car in next month to have some work done, including the rear brake pads which I knew were low after 85000 miles. However, I heard a noise from the brakes when coming home from work yesterday and when I checked, the pads were clearly shot. I phoned Kris in service at 9.30am today and he immediately said if I could get the car to them, he'd get the pads changed. I work in Liverpool so had the car with them by 10am. I was run back to work and got a text in the afternoon from Kris with a vehicle report. On his advice I got the brake fluid changed too. Once again, as with my EGR valve, the fault had been fixed within 24 hours of occuring. That's why I keep coming back. I was a sad to hear from Kris that he is moving roles within the Company. He's helped me out with problems on more than one occasion and in my view was a superb Service Manager. However, I was really pleased to see that Billy Keir, who was Service Manager at Lightcliffe Warrington when I bought the car 4 years ago, works there now. His leaving Lightcliffe was one of the reasons I moved to Alex Lawrie. He's a top service guy too and like Kris, is friendly, knowledgeable, helpful and personable. He dealt with me when I collected the car and we had a good chat! Best garage I've dealt with without doubt.

I used to get annoying rattles coming from this area and like you, tried in vain to trace it. I decided eventually that it must be something outside the car transmitting through to the cabin. I was having a poke around underneath and found that there is a metal protective panel underneath the car on the passenger side that starts just behind the front wheel and runs towards the back wheel. On the off chance I gave it a good tap and the whole thing rattled from stones that had become trapped inside it. When I sat in the car and someone tapped the panel the rattle sure enough sounded like it was in the area you describe. I emptied the stones ( I simply stuck a hosepipe in the back where you can access inside the cover and swished it out, the stones run out of the drain holes with the water. I guess if you're more mechanically minded than me, which probably isn't difficult, you could remove it!) and the rattle disappeared. I need to keep it clear every now and again but problem has been solved for me. Hope this may help

My egr failed last july 8 months out of warranty at 64000 miles. Took it to Alex Lawrie in Liverpool on the off chance and without an appointment. They diagnosed it and fixed it on the same day. They also got a 100% parts contribution and 50% labour contribution off Skoda leaving me £236 to pay off an original quote of £980 for the job. I have a full Skoda service history from new which I was told made the difference.

Nice Yeti! Looks good. I still like gold on my Octy after four years and would have it again on a new one.

I may be in a minority here but I prefer cappuccino. I think it makes the car look classier than it actually is, especially when clean. Ford has a similar colour and I think it makes a huge difference to the looks of the new Mondeo, which I'm not over impressed by generally. But as ever, colour choice is very subjective.

The story is being updated. The software is "subject to approval"

Sky News is reporting that VW has stated that 2016 diesel models may have software that could help exhaust systems run cleaner in tests. It involves the "auxiliary emissions control device" apparently

I have just had mine replaced at 65,000 miles. I've had the car from new and do plenty of motorway miles and regularly give it a blast on the advice of Estate Man when I first bought it. The car is 8 months out of warranty but my main dealer, Alex Lawrie in Liverpool, spoke with Skoda and they offered a contribution of 100% to the part and 50% to labour. The original quote for the work was £980 but the contribution meant I only paid £236 towards the bill. I certainly wasn't going to argue with that having read the potential secondary issues it can cause. This was on the basis that I have a full Skoda service history though. It also included the software update.

Had another visit here yesterday, unscheduled this time. I was out the previous evening and the glow plug light began flashing and the car went into limp home mode. Luckily I was nearly home but when I turned off and restarted the light had cleared. I went out again a couple of times and the fault did not recur. I thought it might be a one-off and was going to see if it happened again, but searching on here, it seemed it could be a multitude of potential faults. I drive 25 miles each way along the M62 each day to work and the thought of going into limp home mode on the M62 at rush hour did not appeal to me. So I decided to call into Alex Lawrie Liverpool for advice the next day on my way to work, but without an appointment. On arrival at 8.10am Kris on service reception said they would immediately hook it up to the computer and have a look if I'd like to wait. An hour later I was called over and told that the fault was the EGR valve and the cost of repair would be £980! I am 8 months out of warranty. However, he had already spoken to Skoda and as I have a full service history from new, Skoda had agreed to contribute 100% to the part and 50% to the labour, leaving me £292 to pay. In addition, they could do the job that day if I could leave the car with them! I was pretty amazed at this to be honest. I've dealt with numerous dealers over the years, good and bad, but to me, this was above and beyond. I was driven into work in the city centre and called at 4pm to say the work had been done. When I arrived Kris gave me a bit more good news. As the required software update hadn't taken as long as thought, my contribution would only be £236. From the fault occurring it had taken me less than 24 hours to have it diagnosed and repaired! I've recommended these guys before. After yesterday, that recommendation is even stronger!

I've just had my 60,000 mile variable service done here. I've used them before for DSG clutch pack replacement and was impressed and once again, I can't fault the service. Always very polite (I dealt with Tony on service reception), he phoned me at work to keep me informed of progress, I was dropped off in Liverpool city centre in the morning and the driver offered to collect me from work in the evening (I already had a lift back). The car was returned clean and driven to the showroom door and all the work they had done was fully explained. Like I said, can't be faulted.

Sorry, I failed to spot yours is a petrol not a diesel. However, for what's it worth, I did a check driving home last night and at a steady 30mph, mine stays resolutely in 5th no matter how gentle I am with the throttle. On gentle throttle, it changes into 6th by 32/33mph then only into 7th at 41mph exactly. Slowing down, it changes into 6th from 7th at 39mph and down into 5th at exactly 30mph. This works fine for the diesel and it seems odd that they have got the ratios right with the diesel but not the petrol 7 speed DSG. The dealer did do a software update on the gearbox a few months ago so maybe that has sometihing to do with it.

Mine only changes into 7th when I'm doing a constant 40mph or more. Below that (say 37 or 38mph) its stays in 6th and if I drop to 30mph it chooses either 5th or 6th depending on the road and conditions. I seldom find it labours and if it does, it quickly changes to a lower gear.

I would agree, but on the other hand without VW's millions Skoda would probably not occupy anything like its current position in the marketplace and we would probably not all be driving round in one. But like any assistance of that sort it ultimately comes at a price and that price is that VW are now aligning their various brands in the market to suit their needs.

I don't drive a VRS but I had a service done at 45,000 about 3 months ago at a Skoda dealer and was told the brake pads were fine. Last weekend, my local dealer did the MOT at 50,000 miles and in answer to my question, said the pads were still fine front and back with no need to worry. I'm more than happy with that.

I was back in Alex Lawrie yesterday having a service done. I mentioned the issues you were having with your dealer regarding the DSG and how it contrasted with mine, and the response I got was enlightening. The service manager said "We take the view that you drive the car every day and if you tell us there is a problem, there usually is". That sort of attitude gets repeat business.

Alex Lawrie replaced the clutch packs in my DSG in April (see earlier post) and the work done and service I received was excellent, so I booked my car in for its second variable service at 43,000 miles. It was also convenient as I work in Liverpool. I was dropped off in the city centre to save me walking. I was phoned during the day to advise of progress and to inform me that the tracking was out which they offered to correct (without any pressure to go ahead, I would add). I agreed, and at 4pm received another call to say the car was ready. I had asked them to check the brake pads as I do 20,000 miles a year, but was advised they were fine. The overall price came in at less than I was quoted at £295, which I thought was really good value. I received a 2 page print out showing the alignment changes before and after (laser alignment done) which was explained to me, as were all the details of the service work carried out. Once again, I can only praise the service I received (Kris on service reception is excellent) and would recommend this garage to anyone.

Sorry, I'm not tech savvy enough to post pictures, but if you look at the third picture in post 87 of this thread, you will see the rubber adjusters I'm talking about. When you close the tailgate these rest against the metal sill across the base of the tailgate (you can usually see a mark where they make contact). I adjusted them outwards by turning them and then I simply stuck a square of velcro where contact is made on that sill. I ended up putting two pieces, one over the other, on each side. As I said in my earlier post, I hardly get any noise or vibration driving over coarse or broken tarmac in town, beyond some faint road noise (thought there's more noise on some motorway surfaces at speed, but that seems common to many cars). However, I had noticed boominess from the back had escalated again before I realised the velcro had moved out of position. Replacing it quietened this down again, unlikely as it may seem. I actually waited a few days before posting on this thread to make sure I wasn't imagining it! Whilst I'm still not totally convinced the issues you are experiencing are the same, I just thought it may nevertheless be worth a try. I hope this helps a bit.

I have been following this thread for a while and debating whether what I have found with my Octy II FL is relevant. Given that the tailgate seems to be a possible cause I think it may be worth mentioning. I had problems with what I eventually found to be tailgate movement causing rattles and noises from the back of the car 12 months ago. To cut a long story short I found that by turning the rubber adjusters on the tailgate by half to one full turn, as mentioned earlier in this thread, the noise was reduced but not eliminated. However when messing around one day I decided to stick two squares of velcro, the softer strip not the rough strip, on the metal sill where the rubber adjusters make contact with the sill. I found this stopped all noises from the back. Perhaps of more relevance to your issues, I had thought recently that there had been an increase in boominess from the back and was debating fitting two new tyres. However, by chance I also noticed that the two pieces of velcro had moved out of position, caused I guess by movement of the tailgate, so I replaced the two pieces. The result was a very noticeable decrease in all noise, particularly on rough surfaces, and the car is almost silent around town on all surfaces and I am certainly not replacing the tyres now. I know this may be a long shot but maybe one of you might want to try it. I had done nothing else to my car to affect the noise so I assume there has to be a connection. Sorry if its turns out to be waste of time! Bear in mind of course the tailgate will need more of a slam but you get used to that. I got the velcro from Tesco.

Welcome to the forum! I seldom if ever go back to a dealer with rattles. They usually adopt the attitude yours has or simply solve one and create several others. Try if possible to get someone to drive the car while you sit in the passenger seat. You can then better work out where it's coming from and try prodding and pressing the plastic around the area to see if it stops. If it does a bit of padding can usually fix it. Bear in mind that I've found from experience that where the rattle sounds like it's coming from may be nowhere near its actual source. Could be under the bonnet or the trim that runs along the bulkhead under the bonnet. Good luck