Hi have just returned from my first ever Skoda's (Fabia 2) first service, 5 months old just below 10,000 miles (dont know how it got to 10,000 so quickly). I have read the discussions previously and just wanted a bit of advice. Would anyone expect at five months old that I would have to pay extra as part of the service for my handbrake stripping down, tightening etc. So this brought the bill to 30% more than had been quoted and to be honest the handbrake doesnt seem any lower or different than it did before.

You may gather that I have absolutely no technical info or background( I know where the windscreen wash goes!!!) and was advised that I needed the handbrake doing due to wear and tear. Have not had a very good experience with this car so far even though I love it overall.

Any good dealer would do this as part of the service.

Any good dealer would do this as part of the service.

Oh dear it is a Skoda Dealer I thought that was probably the case. Thank you

1st service 10,000 miles 5 months should be an oil change service only - oil and filter change. Most dealers will do this for well under £100 pounds. (around £69 would be a guess) - independents much less.

Handbrake issues should be addressed free of charge at 10,000 miles, 5 months under warranty. Not wear and tear at such low mileage. Rear brakes are usually good for 100,000 miles or more and are self adjusting.

Edited 13 August, 201015 yr by xman

1st service 10,000 miles 5 months should be an oil change service only - oil and filter change. Most dealers will do this for well under £100 pounds. (around £69 would be a guess) - independents much less.

Handbrake issues should be addressed free of charge at 10,000 miles, 5 months under warranty. Not wear and tear at such low mileage. Rear brakes are usually good for 100,000 miles or more and are self adjusting.

Thanks Xman. I went to our local garage, one of a chain of Skoda dealers. The price you quoted was half what I was told it would be and then I had to pay for the handbrake. I dont know the rules of this site yet but hope I should be ok if I dont name the company. I paid over £200 quid!!! I think I will put something in writing to them!!! I cannot think of a ladylike way to describe how I feel but dont hold out much hope of getting any positive comeback and my mother recently had a masive bill at her 4 year service also, we expected it to be a fair bit more, but it was hundreds more and we are very realistic. I bought the car thinking that it would be cheaper in the long run than letting my little old and reliable car sudddenly die on the hard shoulder of a motorway with me miles from home. I use the car for work and raised my concerns when I went to collect it but had to pay as I need the car for work.

It appears I am now trapped due to the warranty thingy!!!

Thanks Xman. I went to our local garage, one of a chain of Skoda dealers. The price you quoted was half what I was told it would be and then I had to pay for the handbrake. I dont know the rules of this site yet but hope I should be ok if I dont name the company. I paid over £200 quid!!! I think I will put something in writing to them!!! I cannot think of a ladylike way to describe how I feel but dont hold out much hope of getting any positive comeback and my mother recently had a masive bill at her 4 year service also, we expected it to be a fair bit more, but it was hundreds more and we are very realistic. I bought the car thinking that it would be cheaper in the long run than letting my little old and reliable car sudddenly die on the hard shoulder of a motorway with me miles from home. I use the car for work and raised my concerns when I went to collect it but had to pay as I need the car for work.

It appears I am now trapped due to the warranty thingy!!!

As an ex tech I am a little concerned to hear your story. Most Skoda dealers are very good, very professional, and don't rip you off. I have to say though, without knowing all the details of your handbrake issue it is difficult to make a proper judgement. Your handbrake would be adjusted as part of the service if required, but it should not need stripping down at extra cost unless some damage has resulted in those first 10k miles. Damage would not be covered, nor wear and tear damage, but at 10k there should not be any wear that requires a strip down. This leads me to think it must be damage that needed rectifying and that was not covered under warranty, perhaps caused by road debris or the vehicle being driven onto a high kerb for parking purposes perhaps but catching the operating mechanism and causing damage. This is something you need to pursue for an answer in my opinion. My first service on my Fabia was just £76, which included oil, filter, top up and checking of all fluids, checks on the brakes and tyres and underside of the vehicle. Along with a few other adjustments and lubrications, there's nothing else to do. It isn't just an oil and filter change though as many people believe.

Please can you let us all know how you get on. Insist on a proper explanation for the handbrake work and post back with their explanation please. Good luck. And don't worry...you DID make a good choice in your vehicle. They are reliable and don't give problems, and are not expensive to run.

PS. You don't have to take it to a Skoda dealer for your servicing and warranty work to be done. The law allows you to go elsewhere. Genuine Skoda parts should also really be used. But whoever you go to should be VAT registered to allow Skoda to reclaim the VAT when you present them with a bill. However, think carefully about doing that as my experience of VAG specialist dealers has been very mixed and they can often charge loads of money more than a Skoda dealer. Others too have had that experience.

Edited 14 August, 201015 yr by Estate Man

Catch 22 situation

Both Fabias, Ibizas and Polos alike never seem to have the rear drum brakes adjusted correctly giving the handbrake long travel from the factory. You can adjust the cable a little but this doesn't solve the issue properly. We wont be paid to do it on PDI, not properly anyhow so it gets left until the first service. It's not covered by warranty as it's not a manufacturing defect a d adjustments to brakes aren't covered.

My Fabia had its first service earlier this year at £70, but I was quoted £122 by another Skoda dealer so your figure is excessive. I can sympathise with you, talk to the dealer and ask why youve had this work done and if you get no joy speak with Skoda Customer Service.

Im afraid this sort of thing happens a lot, a friend of ours has a good mate with a 2007 Octavia thats just out of warranty. He had a loud screaching sound coming from the car on acceleration. He booked it in with a Skoda main dealer, and was told the car needed a new flywheel and the cost would be around £1000 in all so he went to another dealer for a second opinion.... the result was a slipping fanbelt, which they sorted for free!

Now thats disgusting as is your case.

Thanks to the last three of you have posted responses. I will ask for an explanation although I did at the time but didnt receive one but "wear and tear". Have not hit any curbs or smashed into some large holes or similar (lucky considering the roads earlier in the year). will let you know how I go on.

Julie

Dare I say you paid more for being female.

I helped a lady out at a Ford dealer where they were so obviously trying to rip her off. She got sorted, and my while you wait service took another hour as my punishment!

Thanks to the last three of you have posted responses. I will ask for an explanation although I did at the time but didnt receive one but "wear and tear". Have not hit any curbs or smashed into some large holes or similar (lucky considering the roads earlier in the year). will let you know how I go on.

Julie

Who is the Skoda dealer?

Hi Gadgetman..I think you could be right on that one but I dont have access to rent-a-fella. There are advantages to being female, often a bulb is put in for you when it would just be given to a fella.

Dibujo, being new I dont know the rules about naming places and want to give the head office a chance to respond(if they do) to a written request for information. I am however based in Yorkshire.

Julie

Remember prices vary as labour rates differ. Book time for a first service will be something like 0.9 hours labour. Ibiza first service is around £145 according to menu pricing, just changes depending on what oil is used.

Remember prices vary as labour rates differ. Book time for a first service will be something like 0.9 hours labour. Ibiza first service is around £145 according to menu pricing, just changes depending on what oil is used.

That will be for an annual inspection service. At 5 months old, only a lubrication service is required.

She was ripped off for being a pretty lady and made the assumption she was dumb. The rear brakes are self adjusting, if the brake handle travel was incorrect from the factory, it is clearly a warranty issue.

That will be for an annual inspection service. At 5 months old, only a lubrication service is required.

She was ripped off for being a pretty lady and made the assumption she was dumb. The rear brakes are self adjusting, if the brake handle travel was incorrect from the factory, it is clearly a warranty issue.

I am female but not pretty sorry am defintiely dumb in the ways of mechanical stuff but in nowt else. Will ask for a better explaination from the garage but not holding my breath, but will be asking you guys and gals at a later date where you would recommend in the future.

thanks for all the comments info and support it has been a great help as I like to get my facts right before I approach anything. I think the person who put the catch 22 comment could be right... think I am stuffed!!

That will be for an annual inspection service. At 5 months old, only a lubrication service is required.

She was ripped off for being a pretty lady and made the assumption she was dumb. The rear brakes are self adjusting, if the brake handle travel was incorrect from the factory, it is clearly a warranty issue.

I will double check next week when im at Skoda but im pretty sure the Fabia II runs interval servicing like the Ibiza (which is on fixed only as SEAT dont run variable). So there is no lube service anymore, they have joined the lube and the annual into the same service which is 0.9 hours, its a lube plus tyre check.

And the brake warranty issue wont wash if it was left until the first service, if it was brought back earlier then maybe.

Edited 16 August, 201015 yr by Lummox

And the brake warranty issue wont wash if it was left until the first service, if it was brought back earlier then maybe.

I think that really depends on whether she requested the brakes be looked at, if a dealer did this to me without asking I'd certainly not be paying. It also sounds like she had no idea there was an "issue" to start with!

I take my car to it's first service and list all the warranty issues, all of which generally get sorted (or at least a decent explanation given if not), or they don't get their courtesy car back; simple.

Edited 16 August, 201015 yr by phsroberts

I think that really depends on whether she requested the brakes be looked at, if a dealer did this to me without asking I'd certainly not be paying. It also sounds like she had no idea there was an "issue" to start with!

I take my car to it's first service and list all the warranty issues, all of which generally get sorted (or at least a decent explanation given if not), or they don't get their courtesy car back; simple.

Hi There definitely wasnt a brakes issue that I was aware of so no reason to take it back. I had a phone call about 30 mins before I was told it would be ready at the latest to say that the hand brake needed striping down. I certainly hadnt noticed it coming up very far. I was told it needed doing so since I needed the car for work later that evening(about 2 hours later) I had to give the ok even though I told them I wasnt happy that work needed doing which wasnt under the warranty deemed as "wear and Tear". When I asked for further details when I went to collect it was to the effect (well word for word if I am honest) that it was needed for wear and tear and was classed as a part of normal vehicle maintenance.

Hi There definitely wasnt a brakes issue that I was aware of so no reason to take it back. I had a phone call about 30 mins before I was told it would be ready at the latest to say that the hand brake needed striping down. I certainly hadnt noticed it coming up very far. I was told it needed doing so since I needed the car for work later that evening(about 2 hours later) I had to give the ok even though I told them I wasnt happy that work needed doing which wasnt under the warranty deemed as "wear and Tear". When I asked for further details when I went to collect it was to the effect (well word for word if I am honest) that it was needed for wear and tear and was classed as a part of normal vehicle maintenance.

Im going to be off line for a good few days and havent got any further details to add. Thanks to all.

I will double check next week when im at Skoda but im pretty sure the Fabia II runs interval servicing like the Ibiza (which is on fixed only as SEAT dont run variable). So there is no lube service anymore, they have joined the lube and the annual into the same service which is 0.9 hours, its a lube plus tyre check.

And the brake warranty issue wont wash if it was left until the first service, if it was brought back earlier then maybe.

A handbrake shouldn't need stripping after 5 months. As you said earlier there is am issue from the factory then that's vag's issue to cover the costs as they clearly went sold as fit for purpose.

Catch 22 situation

Both Fabias, Ibizas and Polos alike never seem to have the rear drum brakes adjusted correctly giving the handbrake long travel from the factory. You can adjust the cable a little but this doesn't solve the issue properly. We wont be paid to do it on PDI, not properly anyhow so it gets left until the first service. It's not covered by warranty as it's not a manufacturing defect a d adjustments to brakes aren't covered.

Hopefully they explain why on the paperwork given to the op so she can complain to skoda about it. I myself would have demanded a report on why it was needed. I'd also get into your local BBC stations consumer show to take this up for you as well.

Why would it not be fit for purpose? The handbrake works no doubt, just needs adjustment as a lot do, sometimes the shoes need adjusting, sometimes its because the cables has stretched as people yank on the lever harshly.

Difficult situation really, but the customer shouldnt be charged for it that is for sure. You can do it without stripping down the brakes just need to remove a wheel bolt and have a long spike to flick the adjuster down a couple of clicks. Problem is I think the auto adjusters dont work all that well, someone did say something about a stronger spring to pull down on the wedge, sounds like a good idea but not one ive seen as yet.

The rear drum brakes are self adjusting as has 99% of drum brakes on cars in the last 15 years+. If they dont adjust properly at 5 months and 10,000 miles then I'm sorry but a court of law would say its clearly a warranty issue and I would say its not fit for purpose.

Wear and tear in brakes are linings or surface wear that necessitates replacement - simple.

ilk said she was unaware of any problem - gear lever travel - no graunching noises etc.

I'm pretty certain my service manual still lists an "oil change service" (QG0) and I'm sure I've seen it listed onmy dealers price board.

Ill be in a position to check on Monday next week for sure.

They still list it as an oil change service and on QG0 but they dont do the 0.5 hours oil and filter change anymore.

Finally I can update you all on this issue and I didnt need to send my rather long letter to the head office. Thank you for all the posts above it really helped me.

I was dealing with DM Keith at Ossett (Wakefield). I received a courtesy call from them just to check everything was ok on 18/8/10 and I raised my concerns when I returned their call. I was promised a call back after it had been investigated the day after but did not receive a call back (am aware that there has been some sick leave factors involved so they can be forgiven to a point). I rang them to chase them up this morning and the person I had previously spoken with was not there but was put through to Chris (Service manager or Aftercare manager or something) who had been on holiday when the service was perfomed.

With no quibble Chris immediately agreed with me and I now should have a cheque in the post.

Good man Chris he is well thought of within my family (other skoda drivers) I now just have to take it back for the number plate refixing..was put on a bit wrong and is rattling!!

Chris knows that I will be posting this and that I am now naming the business.

thankfully appears to be sorted if it has been a bit long winded.