Sick Fabia vRS

[FabiaJames]

Right so I've owned my vRS for a week and already its been back to the garage twice. The first time I had the engine management light come on. It turned out to be the mass air sensor so that was replaced the day after it was ordered. All seemed good until saturday when I was on my way to the beach. Consistant 70mph on cruise control or up to 80 to over take. Began slowing for a roundabout and oops no gears could be selected but 6th. So I pulled off onto another road and pulled over. Stopped the car, turned it off and pumped the clutch a little. Turned the car on and tried the gears and only 1,2,3,5 could be selected so i tried pulling away in 1st and the car would 'jump'. So I called AA and he drove it onto the ramp, it was making a horrible grinding noise and wheels were 'juddering', and the guy said it seems like it could be the differential. I spoke to a couple of older guys from work and one said could be the cv joint bearings, another said it could be the selector in the gearbox. I phoned the garage this morning and the guy said he thinks i've blown something in the clutch (which is only a couple of thousend miles old by the way), they're going to strip it today and find out what parts it needs and hopefully I can pick it up tomorrow.

What do you guys think is the most likely explaination?

[KenONeill]

What sort of total mileage has it done?

I know you say it's standard, but are you certain it's not been remapped?

[FabiaJames]

It's got 100k, do you have any idea of what it could be? It's under warrenty luckily enough.

[FabiaJames]

I just had the dealer phone me again, turns out 1st and 2nd gear have sheared off. He tried blaming me for it, he told me I must have done it ramming it into 1st and 2nd gears, and I reminded him, I was coming down the motorway in 6th, slowed for a roundabout and couldn't select anything but 6th gear so what does this have to do with pulling away in 1st and 2nd gears. It also just so happened that I was competeing against a friend who drove to the beach earlier in the day, to see how many MPG we could get out of our cars so flooring it wouldn't be very clever.. He and myself were confused, and as he said, how did this happen when 6th is the other side of the gearbox? Is it possible?

They almost ordered a gearbox from germany which would have taken a week to ten days. Luckily, they found one oop' north and will have it tomorrow and he said it'll be back on the road wednesday.

Could a damaged drive shaft have cause all of this, as he also said they have to fit a new drive shaft as well as a new gearbox?

Edited 7 June, 2010 by FabiaJames

[MoggyTech]

6 speed box is a triple shaft box, so quite possible for 1st and 2nd gears to pack in. Modern boxes are so tightly packed, that any debris from a failing gear/syncro or bearing has nowhere to go, except into all the other moving parts. Unless the dealer has stripped and inspected the box, it is impossible to say exactly what failed.

[FabiaJames]

6 speed box is a triple shaft box, so quite possible for 1st and 2nd gears to pack in. Modern boxes are so tightly packed, that any debris from a failing gear/syncro or bearing has nowhere to go, except into all the other moving parts. Unless the dealer has stripped and inspected the box, it is impossible to say exactly what failed.

I'm not certain mate to be honest. He also said to me over the phone this morning that I need to learn how to drive a turbo'd car. I was a little p****d off as you could imagine, he said when I pulled out of the junction I shouldn't have wheel spun the car because driving like that when the engine is cold will crack the turbo. I had nothing to say and said to phone me when you have found out the problem.

This happened when I took the car there for a new sensor to be fitted. A 5 minute job. Waitied for around 15 mins, the engine was still at 80c when I jumped in and I was on the phone to a mate with the engine running for about a minute and a half, so the car was warmed up and I only wheel spun out of the juction because I was trying to get out in front of traffic. Completely innocent but not impressed with the way I was spoken to.

Must say, he was a lot 'kinder' on the phone the second time.

Felt accused of 'blowing the clutch', because of the way he spoke to me. I don't drive this car hard. I don't have the cash to be spending on fuel right now and already within 1 week it's been back to the garage twice!

My Dad's vRS has been mapped to 170 odd HP since it was only a couple of months old and he has always driven it hard. The only problem he's been confronted with after 72k miles is a dead battery. Hmm, makes me wonder how the car was treated before and by who (no sexsist here ladiers ) the new, flywheel, clutch, gearbox and driveshaft replacements :hmm:

[MoggyTech]

Sounds like the dealers miffed as the car has developed two faults within a week of sale. The second fault being rather expensive to fix. The gearbox in the VRS is fitted to VAG cars with a lot more power than the VRS, so even if driven hard the box should handle it no problem. Oh well, look on the bright side, you are getting a new gearbox.

[FabiaJames]

Sounds like the dealers miffed as the car has developed two faults within a week of sale. The second fault being rather expensive to fix. The gearbox in the VRS is fitted to VAG cars with a lot more power than the VRS, so even if driven hard the box should handle it no problem. Oh well, look on the bright side, you are getting a new gearbox.

I know, my dad was going crazy, he's fabia was on the first batch of vrs's and was remapped by JabbaSport after a couple of months. They did however tell him to take it back after a few thousend miles for another remap for more power. But, as I said, he drives it HARD and hasn't had any issues, not even clutch slip, gears still smooth as aged whiskey.

New gearbox? For free? YES PLEASE

I had plans to go and find some megs cleaning bits today and give the ol' gal a good old spit 'n' shine. Hmm, just as well as the weather doesn't look promising for the next few days.

Oh and even if he is a little 'miffed' ( I had to search the term ) he still had no real reason, apart from the fact it's costing me nathing to have the car fixed, to talk to me in the way he did. He told me I'd blown the clutch (which is a couple of thousend miles old), and then told me 'I've' damaged the 1st and 2nd gears because I'm 'ramming' it into gear. Hmmm, no.. not me, just wish I had told him that 1st was crunching if I changed down whilst on the move. Only reason I didn't is because it stopped doing it after 100 miles.

Edited 7 June, 2010 by FabiaJames

[Ad Lav]

Dealer does sound miffed - I wouldn't take any back chat on being told how to drive though!

Have you seen the way some technicians drive our cars when they're in for a service!!

[FabiaJames]

Dealer does sound miffed - I wouldn't take any back chat on being told how to drive though!

Have you seen the way some technicians drive our cars when they're in for a service!!

I know, I didn't but not to he's face. I went off in a strop, I didn't want him to say b****x you can fix the car youself haha. Of course I know to let a car warm, modern cars only need around 30 seconds to get the oils flowing etc am I right?

You know what, I bet because it wasn't moving too quickly because of all the grinding and juddering, the mechanic just hurried it the f*** up just to get it into the garage.

Edited 7 June, 2010 by FabiaJames

[Ad Lav]

I always let mine idle for 1 min before setting off, then drive normally until the car reaches 90, then another 5 mins before any fun

If its under warranty you could have toild him off and reported it to Skoda UK! If its from a Skoda dealer that is?

Where'd you get it?

Edited 7 June, 2010 by Ad Lav

[FabiaJames]

It is a Skoda Dealer mate, it's Saunders Abbott in sidcup. Wish I'd knew this before hand. Are you going to the maidstone meet on the 12th? I don't remember whether you answered the PM :p

[Ad Lav]

I did, but not going mate, busy with the boss

[FabiaJames]

Shame really. I'd like to see your car in the flesh. It looks real good in the picture.

Heres a suspension photoshopped version of mine.

http://i897.photobucket.com/albums/ac180/FabiaJames/Fabia%20vRS/FabiavRS2.jpg

[mattupnorth]

This sounds like what's happened to my newly acquired 03 plate Fabia VRS (on my 2nd day!), except no warranty for me :'( I just lost 1st and 2nd gear. Finally got it to a gearbox specialist today and will find out the damage tomorrow when they strip it.

[FabiaJames]

This sounds like what's happened to my newly acquired 03 plate Fabia VRS (on my 2nd day!), except no warranty for me :'( I just lost 1st and 2nd gear. Finally got it to a gearbox specialist today and will find out the damage tomorrow when they strip it.

Sorry to hear that mate, hope its nothing expensive. Maybe jus the gear selector linkage? If it's the gearbox there are some pretty cheap 6 speed vw boxes on ebay. I'm sure they can be fitted but I'm far from being an expert.

[national]

I just wish I had told him that 1st was crunching if I changed down whilst on the move. Only reason I didn't is because it stopped doing it after 100 miles.

You are joking arn't you? Apart from ripping the gearbox out it may have flung you through the windscreen

National

[FabiaJames]

You are joking arn't you? Apart from ripping the gearbox out it may have flung you through the windscreen

National

Could that seriously happen? I wish I did tell them about it strait away. Like I said, only reason I didn't, was because it stopped doing it. I assumed the gears got a bit stiff (if at all possible) because it was sitting in the garage for a while.

[marcrp]

It is a Skoda Dealer mate, it's Saunders Abbott in sidcup. Wish I'd knew this before hand. Are you going to the maidstone meet on the 12th? I don't remember whether you answered the PM :p

This has to be the worst Skoda garage. This is where my car originally came from new. When it was under warranty still when I bought it I had my 2nd year service done there and they charged me £300 which is just an oil change!!

I then had the leaky door problem, but it was still under warranty. So I took it in and they supposedly sealed all the doors. However when I got it back they obviously didn't use the proper trim removal tools as the doors were scuffed in places and they even broke the passenger and drivers hand rest trim which I had to return to them the next day to get the part as it was out of stock. They got the horrible black sealant all on the back seat which I had to wash off.

Then to top it off the back door still leaked I had to return it again for them to fix.

Lastly a few months ago I wanted the radio removed so I poped down there thinking they'd have the radio keys to remove it. Well, they did but they were all bent and no good, they tried for a few minutes, but were just forcing it so I said I'll try another dealer.

Absolute nightmare.

[wootton59]

I dont think i will be going to the your delear anytime soon, going by the problems you have had! Skoda in Milton keynes are spot on apart from if you need to order some parts.

Best of luck with getting your car sortted! I dont think I have ever heard someone have so many problems!

[FabiaJames]

Skoda dealer in Gillingham are good too. These are terrible, wish I just waited a little bit longer and found a better car in a better garage.

[marcrp]

Not sure where you live, but the Dartford Skoda dealer seemed more professional when I used them.

[convictvrs]

rainworth skoda in mansfield have always been very good,especially when ordering bits,always been rated very highly

[kentmike]

I have to echo FabiaJames' comments, I bought my VRS from Sherlodge in Gillingham after an extensive search, ( I knew what I wanted, only took me three months!!!) and the guys there have been ace, I suspect I have been a pain in the whatever, I have been back there a few times to take advantage of their warranty, and every time the service guys have been great. if you are close I cant reccomend them enough.

Edited 9 June, 2010 by kentmike

[kentmike]

couldn't spell, apologies...