I have also just got agreement for a preemptive replacement! - Car booked in next week....

Alan

Edited 23 August, 201114 yr by barlborough

"Are VAG just trying to avoid bad publicity and a possible recall? They seem to be very willing to help out at the moment which is most unusual!"

... obvious isn't it... Audi garages are still quoting customers the repair cost and billing them. We have a fair few newbies on the forum popping in and telling us the thread saved them £1000 because the garage "was not aware of any issues"... we all know it's a cost cutting excercise, they'll bill the ignorant majority and keep the vocal minority bribed with refunds and "excellent" customer service...

... like I said before, if VAG really gave a cr@p about our safety, why do we keep getting owners from all other countries on our boards asking us how to get them swapped because their VAG is ignoring them?

Make sure you "like" the Facebook page and keep reporting faults to VOSA. Don't let the issue die out now that you're all fixed/refunded!

Thanks

J

Just out of curiosity, how are you getting on with your refund, jfarhead? Are they still withholding some of it? Have you told VOSA what Audi are doing to you? I'm just curious as to what their reaction is! If you have legal assistance (e.g. RAC breakdown), might be interesting to see what they say about it (I'm aware that any recourse would likely be against the supplying dealer, although it might be the case that VAG have a duty of care in this case, and so could be liable).

I'm booked in for next week, woohoo!

I'm not sure that i trust them to do it though, as i haven't had a failure. How do i know for sure that all four injectors and the loom have been changed? I assume i'll get some kind of warranty and documentation? Can anyone confirm this?

Good question onmeheadson - I'd like to know this too...

I'm booked in for next week, woohoo!

I'm not sure that i trust them to do it though, as i haven't had a failure. How do i know for sure that all four injectors and the loom have been changed? I assume i'll get some kind of warranty and documentation? Can anyone confirm this?

I'll make a point of asking for a zero value invoice and/or a copy of the job sheet so I have proof the work's been done

That and part numbers on it too...

As for the refund, VOSA said they are not getting involved, it is between me and Audi UK. Audi will only pay me what they think the job should have cost, ie only 2 hours labour and my mechanic took 6. Although 6 seems a bit much, my mechanic, (like others) diagnosed it to be an ECU issue first, and they headed down that route. Turned out not to be. Then they went down the injectors and loom route. It was not a matter of "oh, it's the injector", bam, 2 hr job...

So now I am due a partial refund, which I have yet to see. Only one preson I know from all these forums has received their refund, and the last batch was being "processed" on the 10th August with a 28 day delivery period... again.

I don't expect to see the rest of that cash, nor the interest that built up on my card because I had no cash to pay for the repair back them... of course they don't care about that.

I had already sent a letter to Audi Northampton before Audi UK started to call people up, so all I will do is thank them for the "initial payment" and request they pay the rest asap because interest is building.

Until then, I'll enjoy my BMW... I've cut my ties with the brand... and I will dedicate my spare time to costing them £1000 a pop by advising people across the VAG range on how to claim their refunds and how to stick it to VAG when they get a "no" as a first response (which they still are).

As for the refund, VOSA said they are not getting involved, it is between me and Audi UK ...

So now I am due a partial refund, which I have yet to see ... I don't expect to see the rest of that cash, nor the interest that built up on my card because I had no cash to pay for the repair back them ...

That sucks. :( Did you think about contacting a legal assistance service? When my relatives had paint problems with their "new" 5 year-old Octavia, the RAC's legal assistance line (part of the basic RAC breakdown cover policy) was very helpful - they advised what the position was, and what to put in the letter(s). Might be worth the cost of a phone call? (a case of explaining briefly the problem to the operator, they then get a solicitor to call you back)

Just a thought (obviously depends how much time is required to sort it out, if you can be bothered to go to Small Claims Court if it goes that way, etc)

My original letter to them was following advice from my legal cover (under the car insurance). I have have however changed cars since, and insurers, so I will need to see whether I'm still covered on issues with the old one. Regardless, they are still in breach of the SOG Act 1979, and I will write to get the remaining cost recovered.

... if they had supplied me with good injectors or swapped them when I asked them to, I wouldn't have needed to repair the car myself and sell it... they owe me.

I was even decent enought to follow up with the new owner and get all his replaced along with the loom regardless, also made him aware before sale about the fault and handed over full repair history... before anyone assumes I simply flogged it off

Nice one! Simon has just called me also. He said SUK have agreed to change my injectors FOC as a pre-emptive measure (i haven't had a failure YET). Great news, i might actually keep the car now.

EDIT: Skoda Watford are playing up now. They're saying that goodwill will only be shown if an injector has failed previuously and then another one has failed. I think thats an old bulletin, the latest info seems to be that they will replace all four FOC even as a pre-emptive measure as is the case with me.

Thats good news... I have just contacted SUK who have stated to me under NO circumstances will injectors be replaced prior to a fault. 4 phone calls, 4 different people, same answer. Any guidance on how you managed to get a preemptive change??

Rich

Thats good news... I have just contacted SUK who have stated to me under NO circumstances will injectors be replaced prior to a fault. 4 phone calls, 4 different people, same answer. Any guidance on how you managed to get a preemptive change??

Rich

Really, wow that seems to go against what me and several others have been told by SUK.

Have you been in touch with VOSA? I contacted them first and was told that VAG should change them as a pre-emptive measure. VOSA forwarded my concerns to Skoda customer services, and then i contacted Skoda customer services. I logged a call with them, and within 24hrs Simon Ackroyd (he deals with all the injector cases apparently) called me back. He informed me there and then that it had been agreed that all 4 injectors plus the loom would be replaced FOC and that i was to call my local dealer to book the car in, which i duly did. I called him back to advise when the car was booked in and who the contact at the dealers was.

The dealer called me back to say they've ordered the parts and that they had authorisation and a claim number from Skoda UK.

If you haven't been in touch with VOSA give them a try. I'm sure Skoda will take notice if VOSA are involved.

Good luck and let us know how you get on

Really, wow that seems to go against what me and several others have been told by SUK.

Have you been in touch with VOSA? I contacted them first and was told that VAG should change them as a pre-emptive measure. VOSA forwarded my concerns to Skoda customer services, and then i contacted Skoda customer services. I logged a call with them, and within 24hrs Simon Ackroyd (he deals with all the injector cases apparently) called me back. He informed me there and then that it had been agreed that all 4 injectors plus the loom would be replaced FOC and that i was to call my local dealer to book the car in, which i duly did. I called him back to advise when the car was booked in and who the contact at the dealers was.

The dealer called me back to say they've ordered the parts and that they had authorisation and a claim number from Skoda UK.

If you haven't been in touch with VOSA give them a try. I'm sure Skoda will take notice if VOSA are involved.

Good luck and let us know how you get on

Bit of an update, after not being happy about the SUK phone call....

Not contacted VOSA yet, I niavely thought that SUK might play the game by now, but after call number 7 to SUK...!! Finally spoke to a really helpful bloke called Chris, he said the policy was to check them and if no faults, then not change them out. I mentioned VOSA, the fact that people had already had preemtive changes, and after some deliberation he said he was going to talk to the "chap that deals with this" for some clarification, and will get back to me. If I hadnt pushed it though, I dont think they would take this any further. Should have an answer tomorrow. If its a negative, I will contact VOSA.

One thing he did say during the conversation was that "we are aware a few people have had these fail at speed... it not very good.....".. Understatement of the year.......

Rich

Edited 25 August, 201114 yr by rustyGT

I was on my way home from holiday in the Highlands (450 miles) when the DPF warning light came on - tried to clear it in the normal way. Then a few miles down the road the glow plug warning light and then the exhaust control warning light came on. Then it went into limp mode. Managed to limp home (NOT a nice experience) and then on the way to the Skoda dealer on 15th July it finally died altogether in busy traffic 300yds from the garage (an even less nice experience) - they towed me in for the final leg when a very friendly techie couldn't get it to start with his computer gizmo. After some head scratching it was decided this was injector failure and this was fixed with Skoda paying the full cost. I was very impressed as my car is a 2007 (56 plate) TDI PD VRS and I have no warrantee.

Sadly when I picked it up they warned me that it wasn't quite right and there may be a problem with the fly-wheel - they advised that I should test it and let them know if it was feeling like that before the warning lights and failure. I left it with them as it was most definitely not like that before I left it with them - a week earlier it had been happily flying around the highland twisties without a care in the world. Now it was undrivable with a gut-wrenching judder whenever I attempted to accelerate in any gear. They quoted £1200 to fix it and are still working on it. They are attempting to get something paid by Skoda as part of the original injector fault but they didn't sound very hopeful and I have yet to find out - later today.

Whatever it ends up costing me I hope it feels good when they've finished with it and that I am not left driving around in a car that I have lost confidence in and that may never feel quite the same again after such major surgery. I've had it 18 months and it has about 55,000miles on the clock and so far (including the possible £1200 today) it has cost me about £3200 to keep it on the road (including tyres, brake disks, cambelt & servicing).

I was led to believe (by the Skoda salesman among others) that these diesels are unbreakable and run forever - 55,000miles on a 2007 car is not 'forever'. I even believed that the old Skoda jokes of the 80s no longer applied. Was I wrong to believe all this?

I love driving it though. Hopefully still will when I get it back.

Jonjc

Yet another variant on this theme. I have a PD170 VRS (registered Sept 06) and phoned SUK to query what is happening with the injector issue. They told me that the problem is with a certain batch of injectors and in response to my concerns have agreed for the car to be checked over by a dealer (at their cost) to see whether the injectors fitted to my car are from this batch. If so, they will replace them all as a pre-emptive measure.

Thats good news... I have just contacted SUK who have stated to me under NO circumstances will injectors be replaced prior to a fault. 4 phone calls, 4 different people, same answer. Any guidance on how you managed to get a preemptive change??

Rich

If it helps, this is the wording I used when I mailed them

I own an Octavia VRS PD170 reg no xxxx xxx fitted with the Siemens Piezo injectors

As you will be aware, VOSA are currently dealing with around 180 live cases of injector failure with this engine across the VAG group.

Following my extensive discussions/email with John Fitch at VOSA I am concerned that, as a travelling salesman driving 30,000 motorway miles per annum, any injector failure on my vehicle will cause instant engine shutdown which may well occur at 70mph in the 3rd lane of the motorway.

A risk assessment of my individual circumstances would probably conclude that, on balance, pre-emptive replacement of these injectors with the uprated Continental injectors would be appropriate, and I look forward to your assistance in this regard.

I will be replacing my car in the next 18 months, and the nature of your response will obviously inform my decision as to whether to remain with the Skoda brand.

They then agreed to replace pre-emptively

If it helps, this is the wording I used when I mailed them

I own an Octavia VRS PD170 reg no xxxx xxx fitted with the Siemens Piezo injectors

As you will be aware, VOSA are currently dealing with around 180 live cases of injector failure with this engine across the VAG group.

Following my extensive discussions/email with John Fitch at VOSA I am concerned that, as a travelling salesman driving 30,000 motorway miles per annum, any injector failure on my vehicle will cause instant engine shutdown which may well occur at 70mph in the 3rd lane of the motorway.

A risk assessment of my individual circumstances would probably conclude that, on balance, pre-emptive replacement of these injectors with the uprated Continental injectors would be appropriate, and I look forward to your assistance in this regard.

I will be replacing my car in the next 18 months, and the nature of your response will obviously inform my decision as to whether to remain with the Skoda brand.

They then agreed to replace pre-emptively

Thanks for that... very helpful. If most of my driving was town based, I wouldn't be worrying as much, but like you, motorway and dual carriage way is mostly where I spend my time.. big difference a failure at 20 mph than 70....

I will post again when I hear something from SUK..

Rich.

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Thanks for that... very helpful. If most of my driving was town based, I wouldn't be worrying as much, but like you, motorway and dual carriage way is mostly where I spend my time.. big difference a failure at 20 mph than 70....

I will post again when I hear something from SUK..

Rich.

sent via HTC

I'd ham it up a bit and say that you have left full details of all correspondence with your next of kin, so when you get wiped out on the motorway they'll know who to sue!!

Had my car stop on me last week, plugged it in and got injector failure no 1. Priced the job to do myself and was horrified when it was £2500 or there abouts. Found this thread phoned the local skoda agent and they said can i get it to them to check, took it in yesterday and was told that a goodwill form will be submitted to skoda and they will contact me in due course. Didnt have to threaten or even ask about this matter they knew all about it and even said "oh allready done one of them this week". So am waiting to see what is going to happen about mine.

My original letter to them was following advice from my legal cover (under the car insurance). I have have however changed cars since, and insurers, so I will need to see whether I'm still covered on issues with the old one. Regardless, they are still in breach of the SOG Act 1979, and I will write to get the remaining cost recovered.

Cool - you obviously know the position (I was assuming it was a breach of SOGA, but didn't want to say in case I was wrong, as obviously I didn't know the full details) - it's frightening how many people think/are told they have no rights once the warranty runs out. :(

If your insurers won't help you with the legal side due to changing cars, personal RAC membership is only £38.50 - depending on the amount you'd be needing to claim, it might be worth it. (don't want to seem like I'm "pushing" it, just trying to help!)

VW aren't exactly showing themselves in a good light over this (although reading Honest John's forum, some people with VW's have had them replaced FOC without prompting - nice consistency there!). :( Hope you get your money back.

I was even decent enought to follow up with the new owner and get all his replaced along with the loom regardless, also made him aware before sale about the fault and handed over full repair history... before anyone assumes I simply flogged it off

All credit to you!

Sadly when I picked it up they warned me that it wasn't quite right and there may be a problem with the fly-wheel - they advised that I should test it and let them know if it was feeling like that before the warning lights and failure. I left it with them as it was most definitely not like that before I left it with them - a week earlier it had been happily flying around the highland twisties without a care in the world. Now it was undrivable with a gut-wrenching judder whenever I attempted to accelerate in any gear. They quoted £1200 to fix it and are still working on it. They are attempting to get something paid by Skoda as part of the original injector fault but they didn't sound very hopeful and I have yet to find out - later today.

Just to update on my own post...

The quote for replacing flywheel and clutch was £1290 but with a goodwill payment from Skoda this was reduced to £990. Still a massive unexpected bill but I'm quite happy.

I'm not sure how injectors and flywheels might be connected but it seems too much of a coincidence for them both to go at exactly the same time.

Unfortunately I can't drive it until tomorrow afternoon as I've been to hospital for some tests that involved injecting something nasty and am advised not to drive for 24 hours (I probably need a new flywheel myself)! So I had to cope with Mrs driving it home from the Skoda garage. As a passenger it felt and sounded OK - allowing for the fact that being a passenger is a position I always avoid at all costs as it never feels quite right!

Regards,

Jonjc

Now got my car back with brand new injectors and it seems to run better- smoother and quieter.

Not sure about economy though

Now got my car back with brand new injectors and it seems to run better- smoother and quieter.

Not sure about economy though

Likewise actually, but I wasn't sure if that was just me. What would brand new injectors do for the running of the car? My old ones had done 92,000 miles...

For those in limbo, my 56 plate vRS had 92k on the clock and had all 4 injectors replaced FOC having gone through Skoda Customer Service.

Likewise actually, but I wasn't sure if that was just me. What would brand new injectors do for the running of the car? My old ones had done 92,000 miles...

For those in limbo, my 56 plate vRS had 92k on the clock and had all 4 injectors replaced FOC having gone through Skoda Customer Service.

Mine had done 75k

I suspect old injectors may be blocked slightly over time, so even replacing them with identical new injectors would give an improvement

But the new Conti injectors might be better still

I assume they haven't remapped the car to alter the injector duration but until they post me the paperwork I don't know what they've done

ALWAYS a good idea to get paperwork as you can prove the work has been done and might help resale value.

I'd ham it up a bit and say that you have left full details of all correspondence with your next of kin, so when you get wiped out on the motorway they'll know who to sue!!

I am determined not to be fobbed off... !! We will see in the next couple of days..

Rich.

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Hi Guys

Been looking through this thread with lots of interest as just about to go down and sign for a Oct 2 on a 60 plate 170 VRS unless i have missed it does this apply to this model or the previous facelift or are they all the same (injector wise)

Any info would be appreciated specially as i have just bought done everything but sign for it

Cheers Stewy