Hurrah- success - well sort of. I have been away for a few days looking at Fabia's for my wife. Now we have found and bought one I got back on the case with this problem.

After a very frustrating conversation with Skoda Warranty I got back on the phone to the supplying dealer and they were extremely helpful. Wayne rang Skoda Warranty on my behalf and they have agreed to do 50/50 on the repair. Result

Now all I have to do is persuade the local Skoda dealer that this is all set in motion and get the car booked in. (I see more phone calls)

But hey, this is looking good.

Out of interest I did a Vagcom scan and this was the result:

VAG-COM Version: Release 409.1-US

Chassis Type: 1Z - Skoda Octavia II

Scan: 01,02,03,08,09,15,16,17,19,25,37,3D,42,44,46,52,55,56,62,69,72,76,77,7D

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 01: Engine

Controller: 03G 906 016 F

Component: R4 2,0L EDC G000SG 6201

Coding: 0000072

Shop #: WSC 73430

1 Fault Found:

18104 - Powertrain Data Bus: Implausible Message from Steering Column Controller

P1696 - 000 - - - Intermittent

Readiness: N/A

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Skipping Address 15-Airbags

End

Before the dealer registers the warranty, they must do a used car multi point check on the vehicle and rectify any faults before the warranty starts. Clearly, the supplying dealer has not done this as the cruise control would have been fixed. I can fully understand why the Extended warranty won't cover this fault as it was almost definitely there before the warranty commenced.

You're best option is to insist that the supplying dealer repairs the fault at no cost to yourself.

Plus cover your costs to return the car to them along with your time...

I've had similar problem with BMW UK. A simple rattle from the engine that they tried to convince me was 'characteristic' of the engine(a silky smooth 3.0l straight six), turned out they replaced the auxilary belts, tensioners, wheels, then the crank vibration damper, then all the timing gear, chain, sprockets, to finally after 3months moaning, replace the big end bearings!!! This eventually fixed the problem... not so 'characteristic'...

So, lesson i learnt was never back down, if it's not right, get it fixed... they are multimillion pound companies, that are trying to get away with with treating the consumer as monkies! If I wasn't a car nut, I probably wouldn't have noticed... luckily i did...

VAG-COM Version: Release 409.1-US

Chassis Type: 1Z - Skoda Octavia II

Scan: 01,02,03,08,09,15,16,17,19,25,37,3D,42,44,46,52,55,56,62,69,72,76,77,7D

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address 01: Engine

Controller: 03G 906 016 F

Component: R4 2,0L EDC G000SG 6201

Coding: 0000072

Shop #: WSC 73430

1 Fault Found:

18104 - Powertrain Data Bus: Implausible Message from Steering Column Controller

P1696 - 000 - - - Intermittent

Readiness: N/A

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Skipping Address 15-Airbags

End

That version isn't really suitable for your car, you need either the Hex+CAN or the MicroCAN.

The code you have is most probably related to the Cruise Control.

Update. Car now booked in for two weeks time!!! Couldn't do sooner. Never mind. At least it will be sorted - and enough time for it to work. not work. work. work. not work. not work. not work..........

Car now fixed! Last time I took it in they "diagnosed" that the Cruise Control/Indicator Stalk needed replacing. Doh! I told them that when I took it in. They had to order the part then they forgot to order the part. Doh! Then I finally had the car in yesterday and now it has a new stalk and it works. Hurrrah!!!

(they left great big muddy foot prints on my mats though - not hapy about that )

Glad it's all sorted for you.

You're best option is to insist that the supplying dealer repairs the fault at no cost to yourself.

Including collection from and return to your home plus supply of a replacement vehicle while yours is being fixed.

Including collection from and return to your home plus supply of a replacement vehicle while yours is being fixed.

Yes, they collected from and delivered back to my house. (Not supplying dealer but local dealer) Wife was not best pleased though as they said it would be just after 9am so she waited in for them to finally arrive at 12 noon!!! Not happy at all.

I had the option of a courtesy car but declined this time as it cost £10 for insurance for the day. I took my wife's Fabia as she was not needing it so not really an issue.

Just relieved it is now finalised and sorted.

I take it Skoda have upgraded the stalks so there should be no more problems with the cruse control???

I take it Skoda have upgraded the stalks so there should be no more problems with the cruse control???

Yes, it does appear to be slightly different from the old one. Well the white text/diagrams are different. I have heard on here that there are upgrades from the original fitment

Don't get me started on "approved warranties"!!! There are several threads in the Fabia section about how we were stuffed by a "nearly" local dealer who supplied what we understood to be a Skoda "approved" waranty with SWMBO's second hand Fabia. However when the paper work turned up it was an independant company.

We had loads of problems which we proved were the result of their mechanics negligence, which the warranty company wouldn't cover, (can't blame 'em for that!). However we kicked up such a stink and got the MD involved that in the end they recalled the car, fixed all the faults & gave us a 2 year Skoda Elita waranty, which was the bees knees, after we showed them we had been miss sold the scheme in the first place! Any other problem we had were fixed by our local dealers under that scheme with no problems! Even having to have the piston rings done was gladly covered!

I found emails to the MD copied to trading standards with proof from the AA did the trick in the end!

I still keep the emails & have an odd laugh at them, although I didn't laugh at the time!!