Anyone had problems with the Fabia 1.4 16v and coking-up? I bought a 3-year old a few months ago and it broke down, necessitating a full de-coke at less than 30,000 miles. Skoda say carbon build up is natural and so not covered by warranty. I am left wondering what's the point of the warranty. All feedback welcome.

:confused:

bit drastic to need a de-coke on a new engine, i did one on my old ford cvh engine but that was years ago

It will be due to naff piston rings if its an AUB or AUA but at three years its probably a BBY or BBY.

They do clog up, glorious EGR for you.

And besides if its over 3 years old its out of warranty anyhow.

Did you buy this from a Skoda Dealer?

I'll bet the piston rings are shot, a problem well known to Skoda UK on the 1.4 16v engine, it's said the newer engine doesn't suffer from this but there have been a few people on here reporting problems. Do a search on here for piston rings.

My guess is 'Blow by'/ engine gasses passing worn rings has sent crankcase oil and vapour up into your throttle body to be burnt by the engine. This doesn't burn great and hence your engine is all coked up.

Sure did. Allams at Epsom.

It will be due to naff piston rings if its an AUB or AUA but at three years its probably a BBY or BBY.

They do clog up, glorious EGR for you.

Re warranty - this was a Skoda Approved extended warranty - which doesn't seem to cover much.

So, Skoda have sold you a 3 year old skoda fabia, just out of warranty with only 30,000 miles on the clock with a Skoda Approved Used Car Warranty.

Understandably, you were probably a little nervy when buying a used car. But to take away some of that uncertainty you went to an approved skoda dealer who offer a whole host of checks, warranties and the like so all you had to worry about was choosing the right car for you.

Just so you knew your used Škoda was in good shape, Skoda's fully qualified technicians gave your fabia a comprehensive workshop check before they delivered to you.

Sadly you have broken down. Skoda have then informed you that your engine is all coked-up. The engine that has covered only 30,000 miles.

Skoda UK have said this isn't covered by their comprehensive parts and labour warranty. Apparently Skoda say it's perfectly normal for a Skoda Fabia to be coked up after 30,000 miles.

I have been informed that Allams only found out after the event so my post was a bit unfair on them so I have edited it.

Did you not take it back to where you bought it?

I think it should have been covered by warranty and you should have been able to have the work done anywhere. I don't accept it normal for a 3 year old, 30,000 mile engine be 'coked-up'.

I think it indicative of another problem that the engine was coked up.

Your summary is pretty much along the lines that I am thinking. I have been corresponding with Skoda UK keeping Allams copied in. The de-coke was done a local dealership.

Seems I'm falling between various stools. Skoda UK don't seem to want to underwrite their Approved Vehicle scheme. The extended warranty company are wheedling out their "Peace of Mind" guarantee on a technicality - they could not link a faulty coil with the carbon build-up.

Allams have so far remained silent. Another letter to them is in the post. More information when I get it.

How much have they charged you for this decoke? Did it involve new piston rings?

Have a read of the advice in the link below from Consumer Direct, which includes this statement:

When buying from a dealer, the law says a car must be:

Of satisfactory quality. It must meet the standard a reasonable person would regard as acceptable, bearing in mind the way it was described, how much it cost, the age and the mileage on the vehicle. Amongst other things, this covers the appearance and finish of the car, its safety and its durability. The car must be free from defects, except when they were pointed out to you by the seller.

Consumer Direct - Buying from a dealer

How much have they charged you for this decoke? Did it involve new piston rings?

Total bill was just short of £1000, although they did replace the cambelts while they had the engine apart. Didn't change the piston rings. The engine is a BBZ, by the way.

£1k?

Yoinks, im sure a recon engine aint a lot more than that (supply only).

Have a read of the advice in the link below from Consumer Direct, which includes this statement:

When buying from a dealer, the law says a car must be:

Of satisfactory quality. It must meet the standard a reasonable person would regard as acceptable, bearing in mind the way it was described, how much it cost, the age and the mileage on the vehicle. Amongst other things, this covers the appearance and finish of the car, its safety and its durability. The car must be free from defects, except when they were pointed out to you by the seller.

Consumer Direct - Buying from a dealer

I have written to Allams in Epsom with my view that the car was not of satisfactory quality. No reply yet.

To conclude this story, both the dealer (Allams) and Skoda UK eventually contributed to the cost of the de-coke. Let's hope it doesn't happen again!

I've just paid £1600 for the piston ring problem (Cam belt & waterpump while it was apart) for my wifes 1.4 16v at 41,000 miles

Roger

I've just paid £1600 for the piston ring problem (Cam belt & waterpump while it was apart) for my wifes 1.4 16v at 41,000 miles Roger

Out of interest (my wife's Polo has a BBY engine), what age of car and if you know - what engine type?