Gadgetman - if you read the various posts correctly - I state it was on variable from new & always has been - they serviced it as variable a year ago (on their advice) - charged me for it, the book.paperwork states 'variable' service, but they then reset the service indicator to show a fixed period/regime ! Your comments on the display make sense - I only saw the miles.

Not to worry, it is now booked in for Friday & will go onto fixed from now on. Even further discussions with the 'service' manager this morning, didn't convince me that they have half a clue as to what they have done/should do/need to do...he wanted to just reset the indicator & for me to leave it another year, if i wanted to - completely missing the point & contrary to the VAG advice.

Thanks for all the advice guys, it has been invaluable - however I am becoming very disillusioned with the service I have had from this particular dealer (including the fact that they want to charge me £20 a day for a 'free' courtesy car). I am pretty sure I will go indepedant once the warranty expires. The car is great but the J.D.Powers etc surely didn't get much feedback on this dealer.

Gadgetman - if you read the various posts correctly - I state it was on variable from new & always has been - they serviced it as variable a year ago (on their advice) - charged me for it, the book.paperwork states 'variable' service, but they then reset the service indicator to show a fixed period/regime ! Your comments on the display make sense - I only saw the miles.

Not to worry, it is now booked in for Friday & will go onto fixed from now on. Even further discussions with the 'service' manager this morning, didn't convince me that they have half a clue as to what they have done/should do/need to do...he wanted to just reset the indicator & for me to leave it another year, if i wanted to - completely missing the point & contrary to the VAG advice.

Thanks for all the advice guys, it has been invaluable - however I am becoming very disillusioned with the service I have had from this particular dealer (including the fact that they want to charge me £20 a day for a 'free' courtesy car). I am pretty sure I will go indepedant once the warranty expires. The car is great but the J.D.Powers etc surely didn't get much feedback on this dealer.

Hmm, if they really did service it as variable last time, and really did change the servicing to fixed, then in theory I guess by just resetting the schedule, it might be ok because the oil sensor will just reduce the miles because the oil will be much dirtier than if the oil had been changed. So you'd probably find yourself on a very short variable scheme!

This assumes though that your car is currently asking for a service because of TIME though, not oil quality! If the latter, you'll have the service light come right back on again after the schedule is reset. If time, then the problem is you'll be back to the max, i.e. 2 years, so if your car use is light, you might find that there will be a problem there.

Now that we have all the facts clearly (I've learned something about how the service indicators work myself), you might be ok by just getting the service indicator reset, but make sure you pay attention to the TIME before you service it next time, becuase it might allow you to go over the max?

This might seem like I'm changing my tune on this, but it's been hard to get a clear picture of what's been done to your car. Now I think I can see exactly what's happened, I think you may be ok following the dealer's advice, with a few conditions...

thanks riph72...I am possibly partly at fault by not being totally clear at the beginning...but that was partly because I was confused by exactly what had happened myself...by looking thro' the paperwork/books, I have been able to build up some info & confirm the scenario...

I have decided it is not worth taking the risk...or wasting any more time on trying to resolve it...I am just going to take a hit & get what will effectively be a 'repeat' inspection service carried out. Having checked, this is what they did the last time, when I reckon it should have only been an oil change (it's not quite that straightforward given the time I bought the car at & the variable default setting).

Having just looked at the task list for an inspection service...it is basically a visual check of a few items in addition to an oil change...it's amazing that they can justify charge over £250 for it !!! (& still want £20 p/d for a courtesy car!)

Thanks again guys ! Will keep you posted !

Harveys, use another dealer!

To be fair as long as you do 25 miles per day that the car is used you will be ok on variable.

I actually leave the car on variable but fo an oil drain and refill at half distance. Keeps the full service history and also changes the oil more often as it can certainly get crufty after 2years/18k.

If you only do 9k per year you might actually be batter off on fixed anyway.

I wish it was as simple as using another dealer...there is nothing else close/ accessible to me - not without having to take time off work. but surely its not unreasonable to expect a half decent service for the £'s paid !

It's a shame, but in my case (& many others local to here it seems!) a poor dealer service is tainting an otherwise good ownership experience. I think the whole Spec Cars group are just too big to care about the customer any more. The sales army have been boosted, but the service side hasn't caught up. Until someone else gets the franchise - unlikely as they have VW/Audi/Skoda & Seat up here, I don't think it will improve?!?

Unfortunately I can't afford to be changing my car again yet...so I guess it'll just have to be a case of put up & shut up for the time being!

Thanks again for all the sensible advice/comments on this one...I still don't know if I am doing the right thing, but I am going to play it safe...maybe Friday will provide another twist ! I will update on my latest experiences...if anyone is interested.

What town are you in?

Thanks again for all the sensible advice/comments on this one...I still don't know if I am doing the right thing, but I am going to play it safe...maybe Friday will provide another twist ! I will update on my latest experiences...if anyone is interested.

Well, we've come this far, might as well see it through to conclusion

the south side of Aberdeen...

Seems like you either have to travel 20+ miles north or west, or stick with them.

Personally, I'd take a drive....

Unless you have found a dealer I don't know about, the closest official dealer is 120 round trip, one of the better ones according to the lads on here is 130 miles round trip & a former one...which may be able to service/repair/do warranty work is still 80 miles round...like I say, it may be doable with a day off...but should it need to be??

Škoda - Retailers - Retailer Search

This is your next closest dealer that services:

Škoda - Retailers - Victoria Garage

I haven't re-read the thread I'll admit, but they might have actually given the correct advice in the circumstances, so are they really as bad as all that?

I'm sure they are capable of servicing your car, so what's the big problem, if there are no easy alternatives?

I am fairly sure they didn't give the right advice & certainly didn't back up that advice by setting the service indicator correctly (in line with that advice)...that is the crux of this whole issue.

Thanks for showing an interest in the whole epsiode & taking the time to try & help me find alternatives. BTW I am not sure where Skoda measure their 26 miles to Maud from, but it's not Aberdeen that's for sure ! Door to door for me, it's 39.5 according to the RAC. Of course neither could be right...only a drive there would confirm it for sure!

It was an interesting link however, as I hadn't check out the Skoda retailers info - I'd only looked on Briskoda...which says a lot for Briskoda I think. Anyway, I now know I can go to Maud if I can get over the logistics, but I will give Spec Cars one more go this time around, given the times involved.

Ok - service was 'completed' today - car was dropped off last night & I relied on 'mates' for lifts over 24hrs (didn't like that !) & was ready at the specified time - 4pm today. So how did it go?

• Skoda badge on bootlid peeling...creamy white in parts - Replaced under warranty
  
• 
  
• Still fogs up badly at times (although not as bad as the early days) NFF (no fault found ) apparently - strange...same as last year...& other occasions it has been in for this...My comment o the job card about water running down the inside of the tailgate when opened was marked as "normal" !
  
• 
  
• Poor starting i.e takes ages to catch on starter - NFF started first time!!!
  
• 
  
• Still a knocking from around the gearstick & a rumble/vibration/squeal on moving off (particularly a hill) ...NFF, apart from it is maybe related to the back seat (apparently!) IMHO it's nothing to do with the seat, it's a mechanical problem/noise.
  
• 
  
• Loud pop from the radio (I've noticed that should be an easy fix, as common) ...might be a known common (on here!) but not to the dealers it seems...another NFF (or GFF in this case???)...all working ok today apparently!
  
• 
  
• Flap on boot lock recess, sometimes 'lazy' in resetting. Yes, you've guessed...NFF...
  
• 
  
• Condensation in O/s rear light cluster - ...following a 'test'....NFF again
  
• 
  
• & the brake service they did, charged me for, but never recorded in the book ! Now completed
  

Feels like Groundhog Day - almost the same number of NFF's as last year !

On a positive note...it should now be on the fixed cycle & was given a 'fixed' service with 0W40 oil put in....so need to get some of that & ditch the 5W30 stuff I have!

I am not sure I've got the energy to argue about any of the outstanding things any more...if any reoccur/get worse...I'll maybe put it back in (but consider the Maud option - if they are prepared just to do the fault finding???), otherwise I'll either just have to live with them or get rid.

Thanks again for all your advice guys.

On a positive note...it should now be on the fixed cycle & was given a 'fixed' service with 0W40 oil put in....so need to get some of that & ditch the 5W30 stuff I have!

If you just want oil for inter-service top-ups then the 5w30 will do fine. You may as well use it up before buying any 0w40 (which is probably Mobil1 at a guess).

Condensation in the light cluster(s) is normal, I am sure it mentions it in the user manual somewhere. It'll probably go away once the bulb has warmed up!

Can I still use the 5W30 now that the 0W40 is in? What affect will it have...for the sake of a few quid, it's maybe best I just buy some of the 0W40.

...I've just had a raid thro' the garage & really must chuck out the old Duckhams Hypergrade stuff I still have - various grades - petrol & diesel + all the other stuff I don't need any more...I am sure there is even still some of that funny stuff for the Citroen suspension !!!

Can I still use the 5W30 now that the 0W40 is in? What affect will it have...for the sake of a few quid, it's maybe best I just buy some of the 0W40.

Assuming it meets the VW spec for your vehicle then for interservice top-ups - no dramas. They all mix.

What burn rate does your engine have?

• Still fogs up badly at times (although not as bad as the early days) NFF (no fault found ) apparently - strange...same as last year...& other occasions it has been in for this...My comment o the job card about water running down the inside of the tailgate when opened was marked as "normal" !
  

Are you running the heating/aircon on auto? If so this will cure your issues

• Still a knocking from around the gearstick & a rumble/vibration/squeal on moving off (particularly a hill) ...NFF, apart from it is maybe related to the back seat (apparently!) IMHO it's nothing to do with the seat, it's a mechanical problem/noise.

Damaged exhaust mount? Heatshield?

• Loud pop from the radio (I've noticed that should be an easy fix, as common) ...might be a known common (on here!) but not to the dealers it seems...another NFF (or GFF in this case???)...all working ok today apparently!
  

Common issue, FW update CD will sort this

• Flap on boot lock recess, sometimes 'lazy' in resetting. Yes, you've guessed...NFF...
  

Lazy how?

Assuming it meets the VW spec for your vehicle then for interservice top-ups - no dramas. They all mix.

What burn rate does your engine have?

Out of interest, I was reading my user guide yesterday and it stated that an engine that was run-in properly will use less oil. I'm yet to need to top-up at all yet after over 11k miles, although it's been mostly motorway. Is this in any way a useful indicator of engine condition?

(I often wonder about how many engines are really run in as per the recommendations...!)

Out of interest, I was reading my user guide yesterday and it stated that an engine that was run-in properly will use less oil. I'm yet to need to top-up at all yet after over 11k miles, although it's been mostly motorway. Is this in any way a useful indicator of engine condition?

(I often wonder about how many engines are really run in as per the recommendations...!)

Mine doesn't use any oil, which I think good. Also engine pulls well, has excellant fuel economy and spins nicely to redline - all good things IMO.

My run in consisted of a 40km drive home along a motorway in 3rd gear. I'd accelerate on 1/2 to 3/4 throttle to about 4000rpm then let it slow down & repeat. The next day we had to go down the coast 200km and the accelerate/decellerate thing had lost its appeal so I just drove normally but only used 4th or 5th gear and just kept pushing the revs a bit harder - you could feel when it wasn't happy. On the way home SWMBO drove and she kept forgetting to change gears & she couldn't hear the engine, so it got revved a bit. After that I drove normally/used all the gears but I didn't use cruise control until about 4,000km.

I think a lot of people don't realise that you are also bedding-in brakes, bearings, gears, seals, suspension, etc.

My father had a Legacy 2.5 and he babied it from new. I bought it off him after 100,000km and it always felt underpowered, didn't like to rev and the fuel economy was shocking. I'm sure it was because of poor run-in procedure.

On the car fogging up I had to do the following:

- Take out the old pollen filter and put it in the bin, having a new one ready.

- Hoover the area where the filter went and remove any leaves from the floor.

- Clean all the glass with a car specific glass cleaner.

(I found the megs one to be really good. I'm usually a use whatever works and is cheap, but this really does work so much better IMHO)

- New pollen filter in and all closed up.

Go for a 30 minute drive and run the A/C as follows

10 Minutes on freezing cold (lo), 10 minutes on full heat (Hi) then 10 minutes on econ to allow the generated water to drain away before you park up.

Hopefully this should help you

If by burn rate - you mean, how much oil does it use...I've only topped up by just over 2 litres in 10,000 miles - which sounds reasonable to me?

As regards the 'fogging up'...I've tried it on all the combinations possible. It can't be put down to one specific thing/condition - other than if it's damp/been raining or the car is washed...it generally will fog up chronically...sometimes before I even get in, sometimes just after I get in & even sometimes a half mile down the road...to the point you've no choice but to stop & wait for all the windows to clear. The garage have tried a few things - checking the likes of the pollen filter, replacing the door seals, the rear wash motor (which was suspected as the culprit at one point). I've no wet carpets etc. But do sometimes get the deluge of water into the boot when opening the hatch after it gets wet.Is the pollen filter an easy DIY change? if so I may tackle the CM option.

They have apparently tightened the heat shield before...made little or no difference.

They had no idea about the radio code issue - but I will enlighten them.

On the boot latch cover - sometimes it stays stuck down & will only reset if helped, sometimes it resets immediately & sometimes it will reset sometime after the hatch has been opened...previously the latch started to only reset with the help.

I plan to take the car back in, when I am on holiday in a few weeks & take the servce manager for a drive, then ask him to drive it - last year after a drive he agreed all the NFF's were unjustified & replaced the windscreen, a shocker, bush? & fixed a couple of other things...but it shouldn't really take repeat visits IMHO !

Hi Harveys,

I've just had a very similar situation to the one you described and I thought I would log on to Briskoda to get the full SP.

My spanner came on with 2800 miles (no days) then 2700 miles and a day later flashing spanner with no miles at all (I'm on variable servicing). Having read this thread, I now realise that it is time (one year) and not mileage related. It's still very confusing however, when you believe that you still have another 2800 miles left to arrange a service.

I think that I will adopt the same approach as you and change to fixed service interval and then at least I will know where I am.