Hi,

Please read this story. Does that mean i wot be able to use my car if its raining.

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I own a FABIA bought from AUTOGRAPH in MUMBAI. Car number MH-04-DN-8208.

On July 28 there was water clogging in mumbai in many places. I stay in borivali and we had the same problem. Though the water was only 1 to 1.5 feet in most places.

I took my car to the bank. On my way back there was a lil water clogging & hence a lil traffic. In front of my eyes an ALTO & SANTRO went thru the water easily. But as soon as my Fabia went in water, the engine died on me. I was shocked. So pushed the car out from the water and got it toed to NUMMER EINS MOTORS. They informed me that the repair would cost Rs. 60000. I said what the *@*% !!!

TATA AIG quietly refused saying it was CONSEQUETIONAL DAMAGE. And all tries to convince NUMMER EINS that the car was ****, failed. I got tired and told them to repair it at my cost.

I got a call from NUMMER EINS after 7 days, saying they have to put a new HALF ENGINE at a cost of 185000 !!! That did it for me. Also, if at all i say yes, they will order and it will take 15-20 days to come. Add another 6-7 to repair.

The simple problem is, when fabia goes in water, the turbo pipe in the hood, instead of taking in air, takes in the water and damages the engine. The connecting rod and the block gets broken.

I decided i am not paying for it !! I have asked the company to repair it for me under warranty. If not, i will make sure that NO MORE FABIA GETS SOLD IN INDIA. Have also met my lawyer and have decided what steps to be taken to take this to the consumer court.

You'll hear from me soon in papers and also on this site.

SKODA defi not made for india. **** technology !! They should sell fabia with STATUTORY warning - KEEP AWAY FROM WATER. Or just sell it in MIDDLE EAST where they won't have to worry about water.

I read in paper that another guy got a bill for 5 lakhs from skoda for some technical prolem ! Am calling him up today, to pay my condolences.

" 1.5 feet water !! 185000 !! " My wife says I was talking in my sleep last night.

Dont know if this is the right thread, team BHP pls post it where it should be.

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If some tw*t drives through water too fast, and his engine intakes water, it's own dumb fault!

If some tw*t drives through water too fast, and his engine intakes water, it's own dumb fault!

Too true

Its not a 4X4.

Its a small European hatchback which was never designed to go through any water deeper than a puddle on the way to Tesco's to buy some Quilted Velvet for when Val and Deardrie come next weekend.

There have been floods up here in Wales - not 1.5 feet - I wouldnt even attempt to go through water like that, the little water I have come across I went through first gear at around 5mph.

Next time go more carefully or buy a car that is fit for the conditions.

They are under no obligation to fix the car.

Manubalasree, sorry to hear of your problems. I speak as an ex motor technician and of course a Skoda owner. 'Hydraulic Lock'...the induction of water into the engine cylinders is not uncommon on any make of car...but less so on big four wheel drive all terrain vehicles because they are designed for running in limited depths of water of course.

This condition is never covered under warranty.

It is the owners responsibility to avoid going into deep water that could harm your vehicle. 1.5 feet is much too deep to safely go into. You could get away with it...but only if the water was completely calm and there are no oncoming bow waves from other vehicles heading your way. And of course, you would have to drive very very slowly. The air induction unit is high up on Skodas (fabia's) so they are better at traveling through water than many other cars, but 1.5 feet is too risky even driving slowly as even a small bow wave from another vehicle will kill your engine.

I know you are cross about this but you must try to look at it from every view point. It isn't Skoda's fault. It is yours for not being careful enough. I hope you get your car fixed soon.

If some tw*t drives through water too fast, and his engine intakes water, it's own dumb fault!

Seconded.

It isn't Skodas fault, it's the fault of the driver.God help him come monsoon season....

Manubalasree, sorry to hear of your problems. I speak as an ex motor technician and of course a Skoda owner. 'Hydraulic Lock'...the induction of water into the engine cylinders is not uncommon on any make of car...but less so on big four wheel drive all terrain vehicles because they are designed for running in limited depths of water of course.

This condition is never covered under warranty.

It is the owners responsibility to avoid going into deep water that could harm your vehicle. 1.5 feet is much too deep to safely go into. You could get away with it...but only if the water was completely calm and there are no oncoming bow waves from other vehicles heading your way. And of course, you would have to drive very very slowly. The air induction unit is high up on Skodas (fabia's) so they are better at traveling through water than many other cars, but 1.5 feet is too risky even driving slowly as even a small bow wave from another vehicle will kill your engine.

I know you are cross about this but you must try to look at it from every view point. It isn't Skoda's fault. It is yours for not being careful enough. I hope you get your car fixed soon.

This is actually not my problem but came across this on a popular Indian forum a nd posted it here as i was shocked to hear this.

It's an accident/misjudgement the same as driving the car into another car or object, and it is ludricous to think that in any way that this will be covered by the manufacturers warranty. Can you not claim on your car insurance?, as you would for any other accident.

Dont try and drive thru deep water and your Fabia will be fine. Its not a problem to use them in the rain , just as well or UK sales would be 0....lol!!

It's an accident/misjudgment the same as driving the car into another car or object, and it is ludicrous to think that in any way that this will be covered by the manufacturers warranty. Can you not claim on your car insurance?, as you would for any other accident.

Depends on what Indian insurance companies are like...

Though I managed to get my brother covered under his insurance policy, bout 10 years back. When inside of the 1st week of installing a cold air intake. A freak downpour put his Acura Integra GSR out of commission. Possibly because of the $12k bill the insurance company wouldn't renew the policy... Car wise though AEM offered a good solution with it's "Air Bypass Valve". Recall them showing a vid of it's development on an NSX revving to the red line with it's intake in a bucket full of water!:eek:

You might have others in the same situation try this as a preventive measure.

1.5 feet of water should not be traversed in a fabia in my opinion!

Another aspect is that the Skoda dealer in question has had his franchise removed as of last week as they have been removing parts of customers cars and replaccing them with spurious ones

I went through some floods the other day, I live in an rural village in England so I had no choice. They weren't too bad, but deeper than your average, I don't know the depth, nowhere near 1.5 thought. I just took it very easy through them.

On the way back I went another route back home to avoid them.

Wouldn't 1.5 metres be over the bonnet? If so, no wonder you screwed your engine. A fabia is not a submarine!

Wouldn't 1.5 metres be over the bonnet? If so, no wonder you screwed your engine. A fabia is not a submarine!

1.5 Feet, not metres. Wouldn't be over the bonnet, but you'd probably get it leaking into the cabin through the lower door seals.

Should have put a snorkel on it if you wanted to be a boat :P