Result or what

Result!! ...and really enjoying having her back!!

Hi Levnclo, Trevor29 and Paliman

It seems there is another Yeti with a leaking sunroof to add to the list...

Not long after we purchased our Yeti (an ex demonstrator purchased from a dealer at the end of May 2010) we noticed an unpleasant smell which began to get progressively worse. Whilst vacuuming the Yeti a few weeks ago I discovered that the footwell behind the passenger seat (i.e. rear passenger footwell) was "sodden" - the source of the smell had been found.

We contacted our local dealer who advised us to bring the vehicle in for investigation - which we did on the 29th July. We were advised that a leak could not be found and that we should book the car in for further investigation.

We took our Yeti in again on Friday 6th August, and were contacted on Tuesday 10th August and told that no leak could be found - and I was asked whether a window had been left open at any stage...

The situation we now find ourselves in is that the interior of the car has been completely stripped and the contents are still sitting in our dealer's workshop. The dealer, quite rightly, doesn't want to put the car back together without replacing the sound deadening material and carpet - but because they can't find a leak, I've been told "it won't fall under warranty" - so we appear to be in limbo whilst customer services investigate to determine responsibilty...

We are absolutely CERTAIN that we have never left a window open (in fact, my wife has told me that even when she tried to leave the windows open to get rid of the smell, she always came out to find that they'd automatically closed!)

Very interestingly, our point of contact at our local dealer (who has been as helpful as she can be) commented that she remembered the car having an unpleasant smell when we'd taken it in for a modification under warranty only a week or so after we'd taken delivery, and had commented on this to one of her colleagues at the time! To me, this suggess strongly that the carpet was wet when we took delivery...

The case is now with customer services, because I was insistent that if a window had been left open, it must have been whilst the vehicle was being used as a demonstrator, and that the dealer I bought the car from should foot the bill. Discovering this thread and having had some email correspondence with Levnclo this weekend (thanks again Levnclo) I think it's fair to say that the "window left open" theory is extremely doubtful and that it would be grossly unfair for either us or the dealers invloved to foot the bill (when it appears that there is a strong possibility that the drain channels for the sunroof is the issue) . I will be getting on to customer services again tomorrow to suggest that they contact my dealer regarding this thread and not to pursue the "window left open" theory, but to rather take note of the experience of others here.

So far customer services have not come back to me at the times they said they would, and it has left us feeling rather anxious as to what the outcome of this will be.

I would be grateful for any advice - especially regarding similar experiences where dealers have advised "a leak could not be found"... also, whether all Yetis with sunroofs have identical "flaps" where the water drains out, and the same diameter drain channels - and is it the case then that all Yetis with sunroofs could potentially leak? Or is it a case of only a certain batch of Yetis with sunroofs having this "design fault"?

Edited 16 August, 201015 yr by Legal Alien

I hope everything works out ok for you legal Alien. :yes:

Best of luck

I hope everything works out ok for you legal Alien. :yes:

Best of luck

Thanks Macdemon! Worrying times...

This week I stood under my raised rear door in a torrential downpour and looked at the drainflaps. Water was VERY gently dripping out of the bottom of the flaps. I eased up the flaps a fraction and water poured out of drain holes.

It seems to me that the slightest rigidity in these flaps will prevent ANY water draining out and therefore backing up in the drainage channels and leaking into the car.

Mine has been completely dry but even so on reflection I am tempted to keep the flaps open by use of two 5mm lengths of 1mm dia coated copper wire

Legal Alien - Hope that you get a quick satisfactory resolution of your difficulties

Have a look on You Tube type in "yeti taking a leak" don't know if this is of any assistance in tracing the problem?

This week I stood under my raised rear door in a torrential downpour and looked at the drainflaps. Water was VERY gently dripping out of the bottom of the flaps. I eased up the flaps a fraction and water poured out of drain holes.

It seems to me that the slightest rigidity in these flaps will prevent ANY water draining out and therefore backing up in the drainage channels and leaking into the car.

Mine has been completely dry but even so on reflection I am tempted to keep the flaps open by use of two 5mm lengths of 1mm dia coated copper wire

Legal Alien - Hope that you get a quick satisfactory resolution of your difficulties

In my now 'modified' Yeti, the flaps have been removed completely.

So far so good.

Good luck to all with this frustrating issue.

Regards,

Levnclo.

Hi Levnclo, Trevor29 and Paliman

It seems there is another Yeti with a leaking sunroof to add to the list...

Not long after we purchased our Yeti (an ex demonstrator purchased from a dealer at the end of May 2010) we noticed an unpleasant smell which began to get progressively worse. Whilst vacuuming the Yeti a few weeks ago I discovered that the footwell behind the passenger seat (i.e. rear passenger footwell) was "sodden" - the source of the smell had been found.

We contacted our local dealer who advised us to bring the vehicle in for investigation - which we did on the 29th July. We were advised that a leak could not be found and that we should book the car in for further investigation.

We took our Yeti in again on Friday 6th August, and were contacted on Tuesday 10th August and told that no leak could be found - and I was asked whether a window had been left open at any stage...

The situation we now find ourselves in is that the interior of the car has been completely stripped and the contents are still sitting in our dealer's workshop. The dealer, quite rightly, doesn't want to put the car back together without replacing the sound deadening material and carpet - but because they can't find a leak, I've been told "it won't fall under warranty" - so we appear to be in limbo whilst customer services investigate to determine responsibilty...

We are absolutely CERTAIN that we have never left a window open (in fact, my wife has told me that even when she tried to leave the windows open to get rid of the smell, she always came out to find that they'd automatically closed!)

Very interestingly, our point of contact at our local dealer (who has been as helpful as she can be) commented that she remembered the car having an unpleasant smell when we'd taken it in for a modification under warranty only a week or so after we'd taken delivery, and had commented on this to one of her colleagues at the time! To me, this suggess strongly that the carpet was wet when we took delivery...

The case is now with customer services, because I was insistent that if a window had been left open, it must have been whilst the vehicle was being used as a demonstrator, and that the dealer I bought the car from should foot the bill. Discovering this thread and having had some email correspondence with Levnclo this weekend (thanks again Levnclo) I think it's fair to say that the "window left open" theory is extremely doubtful and that it would be grossly unfair for either us or the dealers invloved to foot the bill (when it appears that there is a strong possibility that the drain channels for the sunroof is the issue) . I will be getting on to customer services again tomorrow to suggest that they contact my dealer regarding this thread and not to pursue the "window left open" theory, but to rather take note of the experience of others here.

So far customer services have not come back to me at the times they said they would, and it has left us feeling rather anxious as to what the outcome of this will be.

I would be grateful for any advice - especially regarding similar experiences where dealers have advised "a leak could not be found"... also, whether all Yetis with sunroofs have identical "flaps" where the water drains out, and the same diameter drain channels - and is it the case then that all Yetis with sunroofs could potentially leak? Or is it a case of only a certain batch of Yetis with sunroofs having this "design fault"?

Good luck..and remember, at first the leak in my Yeti was in doubt after extensive water testing by two different dealers. If I hadn't taken the footage I'm sure I would have had to accept the 'window open' route..despite knowing it was closed!!

John Good at SUK was very helpful. I believe Beadles in Maidstone are also repairing Trevor29's Yeti.

Regards,

Levnclo.

Update

I’ve been in to see our local dealer this morning to discuss the findings of various contributors to this thread... whilst walking out to the yard I tried to explain what I’d read on this forum to the Service Advisor, yet he was still adamant that they could not find a problem with my car and that Skoda UK had been contacted and that there were no known faults with the Yeti, that could result in a leak.

So here is what happened this morning...

• reading the owners manual last night, I discovered that vehicles fitted with a rain sensor (i.e., vehicles with the Elegance trim) have a feature where the windows will automatically close if it begins to rain – even if the car is switched off. First thing I did this morning, was to ask the Master Technician to confirm whether this setting had been activated. Yes it had! Hmmnnn... “window left open†theory looking even more unlikely.

• I walked the Master Technician around to the back of the vehicle, opened the boot and pointed out the drainage grommets – which looked firmly shut... with the Master Technician watching I prised open the grommet – and water poured out...followed by the Master Technician exclaiming “there’s your problemâ€. I took a video clip of the Master Technician opening the other grommet and although water did trickle out it wasn’t nearly as much as came out of the first drain.

The Service Advisor said he would get onto Customer Services straight away and report what I’d shown them. Whilst writing this post I’ve had a call from customer services advising that the car will be put back together with new sound deadening and carpet, and this will be covered under warranty... great news and a relief of course.

It’s just a pity that it’s taken two visits to the dealer, our Yeti being completely stripped and in the workshop for a week so far - and it ended up being down to me to show the dealer what the problem was... surely there is a serious breakdown in communication at Skoda? My dealer was adamant that they’d spoken to Skoda UK and there was no record of any issues that could result in a leak in a Yeti. (Despite what has been reported by other contributors). I asked Customer Services about this and was advised that despite extensive testing a leak wasn’t actually found, and they still don’t know for sure where the water is coming from. So there isn’t actually a confirmed issue... huh? I’ll be sending this thread to Customer Services with a suggestion that these findings are communicated properly to the dealerships as soon as possible so that customers and dealers alike who experience this problem will not have to spend days stripping and water testing vehicles at what I'd assume to be a considerable cost - when their first port of call should be to check the drainage channels!

So, all I can say is thank goodness for this forum and the good people that contribute their experiences – otherwise I’d probably still be having sleepless nights and a lighter pocket!

Thanks for the messages of support, and advice from Levnclo in particular.

Hopefully the sound deadening and carpet don’t need to come from abroad!

One thing I forgot to mention... our driveway is slightly sloping and tilts to the left... this is similar to Levnclo, who I understand only experienced the leak when the car was parked on a slope at an angle... the wet carpet is on the left side of the car... although its also possible the car was already wet when we took delivery - perhaps the sales representative who had use of the car when it was a demonstrator also has a sloping drive!

Update

I’ve been in to see our local dealer this morning to discuss the findings of various contributors to this thread... whilst walking out to the yard I tried to explain what I’d read on this forum to the Service Advisor, yet he was still adamant that they could not find a problem with my car and that Skoda UK had been contacted and that there were no known faults with the Yeti, that could result in a leak.

So here is what happened this morning...

• reading the owners manual last night, I discovered that vehicles fitted with a rain sensor (i.e., vehicles with the Elegance trim) have a feature where the windows will automatically close if it begins to rain – even if the car is switched off. First thing I did this morning, was to ask the Master Technician to confirm whether this setting had been activated. Yes it had! Hmmnnn... “window left open†theory looking even more unlikely.

• I walked the Master Technician around to the back of the vehicle, opened the boot and pointed out the drainage grommets – which looked firmly shut... with the Master Technician watching I prised open the grommet – and water poured out...followed by the Master Technician exclaiming “there’s your problemâ€. I took a video clip of the Master Technician opening the other grommet and although water did trickle out it wasn’t nearly as much as came out of the first drain.

The Service Advisor said he would get onto Customer Services straight away and report what I’d shown them. Whilst writing this post I’ve had a call from customer services advising that the car will be put back together with new sound deadening and carpet, and this will be covered under warranty... great news and a relief of course.

It’s just a pity that it’s taken two visits to the dealer, our Yeti being completely stripped and in the workshop for a week so far - and it ended up being down to me to show the dealer what the problem was... surely there is a serious breakdown in communication at Skoda? My dealer was adamant that they’d spoken to Skoda UK and there was no record of any issues that could result in a leak in a Yeti. (Despite what has been reported by other contributors). I asked Customer Services about this and was advised that despite extensive testing a leak wasn’t actually found, and they still don’t know for sure where the water is coming from. So there isn’t actually a confirmed issue... huh? I’ll be sending this thread to Customer Services with a suggestion that these findings are communicated properly to the dealerships as soon as possible so that customers and dealers alike who experience this problem will not have to spend days stripping and water testing vehicles at what I'd assume to be a considerable cost - when their first port of call should be to check the drainage channels!

So, all I can say is thank goodness for this forum and the good people that contribute their experiences – otherwise I’d probably still be having sleepless nights and a lighter pocket!

Thanks for the messages of support, and advice from Levnclo in particular.

Hopefully the sound deadening and carpet don’t need to come from abroad!

Ahh.,..wonderful news!!

My car has been put back together very well and has no after effects..Yeti ownership has become a joy again.

I must admit however, that my trust in the Skoda brand has been affected by all this..not in the quality of the vehicle, which is just what we expected, but in the quality of service, which, as you have discovered, can be good as best, but deeply frustrating, even offensive, at worst. Whatever you were told, SUK DO know about the problem..astonishing then that it was not considered immediately!!

I look forward to reading about the successful return of your Car.

Regards,

Levnclo.

In the days when factory fit sunroofs were the common must have accessory (before universal A/C) internal water leaks form blocked sunroof drains was a known issue. Drain pipe ends tended to terminate in a colapsable rubber membrane (stop air from forward movement pushing 'up' or being drawn into the pipe I believe), unfortunately dirt and bits of leaf would block these up. Obviously our modern Techs get a bit lost if it's not showing up on the diagnostic box :S

TP

Ahh.,..wonderful news!!

My car has been put back together very well and has no after effects..Yeti ownership has become a joy again.

I must admit however, that my trust in the Skoda brand has been affected by all this..not in the quality of the vehicle, which is just what we expected, but in the quality of service, which, as you have discovered, can be good as best, but deeply frustrating, even offensive, at worst. Whatever you were told, SUK DO know about the problem..astonishing then that it was not considered immediately!!

I look forward to reading about the successful return of your Car.

Regards,

Levnclo.

The Service Advisor at my dealer advised that "the computer" said there were no reported issues that could result in a leak for the Yeti. (They apparently don't actually speak to anybody at customer services - they have to look it up on a computer to see if there are any reported issues.) It would seem that either the dealer who looked at your car hasn't yet submitted a DISS report (not sure what that stands for) or if they have, it hasn't yet made its way through the system. My dealer assures me they will be writing up a DISS report straight away. Apparently once these reports are on the system, then it becomes a known fault.

Our dealer has worked within the confines of the system and have actually tried their best I suppose, but they too seem to have been let down by the system. I get the impression they're relieved that my repair will be done under warranty - so that they can get paid for the time they've spent on the vehicle.

I've been told the sound deadening (underlay) and carpet are on order and in stock and I should be getting the Yeti back on Wednesday or Thursday. If and when a proper modification is made for the drain channels I will get notified and can take the car back for the modification. In the meantime - its the scissor treatment I guess!

The Service Advisor at my dealer advised that "the computer" said there were no reported issues that could result in a leak for the Yeti. (They apparently don't actually speak to anybody at customer services - they have to look it up on a computer to see if there are any reported issues.) It would seem that either the dealer who looked at your car hasn't yet submitted a DISS report (not sure what that stands for) or if they have, it hasn't yet made its way through the system. My dealer assures me they will be writing up a DISS report straight away. Apparently once these reports are on the system, then it becomes a known fault.

Our dealer has worked within the confines of the system and have actually tried their best I suppose, but they too seem to have been let down by the system. I get the impression they're relieved that my repair will be done under warranty - so that they can get paid for the time they've spent on the vehicle.

I've been told the sound deadening (underlay) and carpet are on order and in stock and I should be getting the Yeti back on Wednesday or Thursday. If and when a proper modification is made for the drain channels I will get notified and can take the car back for the modification. In the meantime - its the scissor treatment I guess!

Hi Legal Alien..does that mean you are getting your Yeti back with new carpet etc but without the leak issue being fixed?

My Yeti (with sunroof) is going to be built in week 41 (early October). So I do hope they make running changes to the sunroof by then so that I don't get a mobile swimming pool! But glad to hear you have yours back.

When did you order yours matey ?? I ordered mine with sunroof at beginning of May and still have no build date yet ??

:S

So are you folks saying that the problem with the leakers has been the diameter of the drainage channels ??? Surely if thats the case then that should be a very easy issue for the factory to deal with for new Yeti's and if that is the problem then it would suggest there would be an awful lot more leakers around so hopefully Skoda will be aware of the problem on a larger scale ?

:|

When did you order yours matey ?? I ordered mine with sunroof at beginning of May and still have no build date yet ??

:S

I feel for you. I ordered mine on the 6th of April and got my build week on the 21st of June as being week 41.

DISS: Direct information System Service. It works like this: An official dealer reports a fault (often accompanied by either pictures/movie clips or sound files and reports from the diagnostic machine), the importers service centre receives, sorts, reads and translates the message from the dealer. If the importer does not have a solution to the problem, the message is forwarded to the Skoda service centre in CZ. IF and only IF there are enough complaints regarding one specific fault, the tech people at the factory try to create a solution to the problem. This solution / TPI is then posted in a part of the ELSA system, which is available for certified dealers. The factory could also issue a recall based on the feedback they receive from the dealers through the DISS system.

There are no official repair solutions concerning water leaks on the Yeti in the ELSA system at this time. I checked today.

I have not checked if the panorama roof/drains on the Tiguan and the Q5 share parts with the Yeti, but my guess is that they do...

:yes:

Hi Legal Alien..does that mean you are getting your Yeti back with new carpet etc but without the leak issue being fixed?

Hi Levnclo

For now, the leak issue will be fixed in the same manner as yours... by cutting the flaps away on the rubber "grommets" on the drainage channels (sorry, thats what I meant by "the scissor treatment". )

I was told that if at a later stage a proper fix (i.e. a newly manufactured drainage channel "grommet") becomes available, I would be able to take the car back for the proper fix...

So, what purpose do the flaps on the rubber grommets serve?

So are you folks saying that the problem with the leakers has been the diameter of the drainage channels ??? Surely if thats the case then that should be a very easy issue for the factory to deal with for new Yeti's and if that is the problem then it would suggest there would be an awful lot more leakers around so hopefully Skoda will be aware of the problem on a larger scale ?

:|

Its not so much the diameter of the drainage channels themselves... its that at the end of the drainage channels there is a rubber "grommet" (not sure if thats what its called) which has a flap that opens to let the water out - except it doesn't actually open properly so the water doesn't drain out properly. The "fix" is to cut the flap off to allow the water to drain out freely. Levnclo has posted some pictures on this thread... it's post #92 that has the link to Levnclo's pictures.

Edited 16 August, 201015 yr by Legal Alien

So, what purpose do the flaps on the rubber grommets serve?

Not entirely sure, but post #112 by The Plumber seems to give a feasible explanation....

Not entirely sure, but post #112 by The Plumber seems to give a feasible explanation....

Hi all, I would like to let everyone know that my roof leak has been fixed, it did not leak in the torrential rain we had last weekend. Beadles fixed the roof, they had the vehicle from thursday till the following friday and I felt that other than not collecting the car the service they provided was excellent, they dealt with my anxieties and were polite and respectful at all times, they did deliver the car half way back which was a help. I am glad to get my Yeti back, and say goodbye to that Roomster (I hated it!!!!!) they kindly lent me.

I also had a phone call from Skoda UK (John Good) to check I was happy!

So I am satisfied with the service I received. Thank you Levenco for passing the details to me, I benefited from your misery so to speak.

Thomas

EXCELLENT news Thomas, lets hope the info gets back to SUK so any future probs with other Yetis' can be expedited quickly :yes:

Hi all, I would like to let everyone know that my roof leak has been fixed, it did not leak in the torrential rain we had last weekend. Beadles fixed the roof, they had the vehicle from thursday till the following friday and I felt that other than not collecting the car the service they provided was excellent, they dealt with my anxieties and were polite and respectful at all times, they did deliver the car half way back which was a help. I am glad to get my Yeti back, and say goodbye to that Roomster (I hated it!!!!!) they kindly lent me.

I also had a phone call from Skoda UK (John Good) to check I was happy!

So I am satisfied with the service I received. Thank you Levenco for passing the details to me, I benefited from your misery so to speak.

Thomas

Great news Thomas29..and mine is now perfect thanks to Beadles and SUK.

We had that Roomster for 40 days...!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was dearly the end for my wife!! I had to drag her out of a Subaru showroom and hide her credit card!!