Back at last from the long trip to the south of France - a delight in the Yeti, and I'll post more about that later when I've sorted all that piles up at home when you've been away for three and a half weeks!

The only bad news is that, somewhere on a French motorway on Friday, the trim from the front nearside roof rail disappeared - it must never have been properly clipped on and had presumably worked loose during the five weeks or so since I took delivery of the car.

I have contacted the dealer to see if this is a warranty issue and await his reply. However, I don't ever envisage using the roof rails (if they were a 'deletable option' I would have gone for that) and I just wondered - probably a question for The Plumber and his encyclopaedic knowledge - whether Skoda make plugs to fit the holes that would be left if I removed the roof rails completely.

Any thoughts, anyone? Apart from losing something I don't use, shedding a bit of weight and (in my view) improving the car's appearance, it would make reaching the roof when car washing a lot easier!

Back at last from the long trip to the south of France - a delight in the Yeti, and I'll post more about that later when I've sorted all that piles up at home when you've been away for three and a half weeks!

The only bad news is that, somewhere on a French motorway on Friday, the trim from the front nearside roof rail disappeared - it must never have been properly clipped on and had presumably worked loose during the five weeks or so since I took delivery of the car.

I have contacted the dealer to see if this is a warranty issue and await his reply. However, I don't ever envisage using the roof rails (if they were a 'deletable option' I would have gone for that) and I just wondered - probably a question for The Plumber and his encyclopaedic knowledge - whether Skoda make plugs to fit the holes that would be left if I removed the roof rails completely.

Any thoughts, anyone? Apart from losing something I don't use, shedding a bit of weight and (in my view) improving the car's appearance, it would make reaching the roof when car washing a lot easier!

The easier roof washing I can understand but the roof bars, even if superfluous to requirements, add to the SM's character - IMO.

Škoda might not have something official to plug the holes with but I'm sure any body shop will have a generic system they can use in these holes. Or find something from Audi or Land Rover as they both made cars with and without rails.. Just do it in a way that you can put them back for selling time as the next owner might not want a "naked" Yeti!

Hi Andrew,

not aware of any official plugs to fill the mounting points if you decide to remove the rails. As Johann suggests a body shop might be able to help.

Personally mind I'd leave them in place; intrinsic part of the design right back to the prototype. But as I say just my own opinion.

Regards as always,

TP

Hi Andrew,

not aware of any official plugs to fill the mounting points if you decide to remove the rails. As Johann suggests a body shop might be able to help.

Personally mind I'd leave them in place; intrinsic part of the design right back to the prototype. But as I say just my own opinion.

Regards as always,

TP

I think you're probably right. The dealer has just been back to me and, as I thought, has said that it's not a warranty job and that the replacement part costs £25! However, he has agreed to let me have it at cost price (probably about £17) and to fit it firmly for me, so I suppose that's not too bad.

I think you're probably right. The dealer has just been back to me and, as I thought, has said that it's not a warranty job and that the replacement part costs £25! However, he has agreed to let me have it at cost price (probably about £17) and to fit it firmly for me, so I suppose that's not too bad.

Can't really understand why bits falling off a car are not covered by warranty unless some user carelessness or accident damage is involved.

Can't really understand why bits falling off a car are not covered by warranty unless some user carelessness or accident damage is involved.

I agree see my post http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/167580-black-roof-rails/page__p__2042224__fromsearch__1#entry2042224

Mine was replaced under warranty

Can't really understand why bits falling off a car are not covered by warranty unless some user carelessness or accident damage is involved.

+1

I've also lost the cover at the front of my Yeti roof rail - it covers up the rail mounting bolts. The dealer will replaced it at no cost when the part arrives.

However, I'm concerned that this may be an ongoing issue as the way it is fixed does not seem very solid. I'll check that when the new one arrives.

I've also lost the cover at the front of my Yeti roof rail - it covers up the rail mounting bolts. The dealer will replaced it at no cost when the part arrives.

However, I'm concerned that this may be an ongoing issue as the way it is fixed does not seem very solid. I'll check that when the new one arrives.

Any photo's so we can check our roof rails for similar issues before it departs into the great wilderness?

I've also lost the cover at the front of my Yeti roof rail - it covers up the rail mounting bolts. The dealer will replaced it at no cost when the part arrives.

However, I'm concerned that this may be an ongoing issue as the way it is fixed does not seem very solid. I'll check that when the new one arrives.

Interesting that my dealer would not contemplate a no-cost replacement!

When I had my piece of trim replaced by a lad at the garage, he said, 'There you are' when quite clearly the front edge was still quite loose and there was an obvious gap a couple of millimetres wide between the trim and the roof at the front edge. I gave the very front corner an almighty thump with my fist and you could hear a distinct 'click' as it went into place - I suspect this had not been done to the original trim. The piece on the offside front, and both rear pieces, appear secure - but I think that final thump is necessary to fix the trim properly in place!

I'm pretty sure there were no gaps between trim amd rail or roof on mine before the trim went AWOL.

The trim is about 40 cm long. I can see where it clips into holes in the rail near the mounting bolts. The holes are in the front 16 cm of the rail, none at the other end, which does not seem ideal.

I'll try to get a look at the clips on the trim before it's fitted. If there's anything of interest, I'll report back.

Is it worth recording this in the "Identified faults with the Yeti" topic where it may attract others with the same problem?

I'm pretty sure there were no gaps between trim amd rail or roof on mine before the trim went AWOL.

The trim is about 40 cm long. I can see where it clips into holes in the rail near the mounting bolts. The holes are in the front 16 cm of the rail, none at the other end, which does not seem ideal.

I'll try to get a look at the clips on the trim before it's fitted. If there's anything of interest, I'll report back.

Is it worth recording this in the "Identified faults with the Yeti" topic where it may attract others with the same problem?

Looking as though this may be an 'identified fault' in the making, although I'm not sure if 3 recorded instances qualifies just yet!

Filling with fuel the other day I put my hand on the end piece of the roof rail (rear off side), the plastic bit that curves down to the car roof. Guess what, there was a definite "click" as it settled into its proper position. I checked the other three and they are all OK, and tried to move this one but it was now firmly in place.

???

tom

3 and a half recorded now?

Filling with fuel the other day I put my hand on the end piece of the roof rail (rear off side), the plastic bit that curves down to the car roof. Guess what, there was a definite "click" as it settled into its proper position. I checked the other three and they are all OK, and tried to move this one but it was now firmly in place.

???

tom

So there you are, as I suggested - a few swift blows all round should keep your roof rail trims in place!

(Potentially) good news - having alerted my dealer to the postings here that show at least two other instances of roof rail trim falling off and being replaced under warranty, I have had an email from him today saying that he is making a warranty claim on my behalf.

It pays - at least, I hope it will - to be persistent!

It pays - at least, I hope it will - to be persistent!

That yes, but more so to be a member of the lovely Briskoda community! Without whom I would surely have not known to ask for my £300 lateness compensation nor got the £250 back because my mirrors did not fold!

Good luck. I'm sure this claim won't be rejected if others had already been approved!

Congrats Andrew. My new trim has been fitted - the only delay was waiting for the part to arrive due to all those "bank holidays".

I had a look at the trim, which seemed to fit very well and has a lip that secures it at the back end. There are clips near the front end that did take a bit of a dunt (Scottish word) to locate them.

I'm still puzzled as to why it fell off, unless it was not properly fitted when I collected the car (28 Feb 2011). I have been thinking it might be connected with fitting and removing the (proper Yeti) roof-bars. They were fitted for me by the dealer before I collected the car and I removed them before the roof-rail trim disappeared. I wonder if fitting/unfitting the bars can slightly distort the rails, just enough to push up the trim which fits very close to the roof at the front. I might experiment with this when I refit the bars.

My right front roof rail  cover has fallen off too.  Drove 3 miles, there at the start, gone at the end. I had just washed the car, perhaps I had lifted one of the clips, but not enough to show?

01/05/2012

From above reading, I understand I’m not the only one- as I was told today at the service center. Mine (right back side) went off yesterday (5 days after collecting my new Yeti) while driving on a highway at 90-100 km/h. Heard a slight knock at the back from outside. Saw in the mirror a black object flying and rolling away behind my car. Couldn't even think it was from my 5 days new car, untill I stopped to inspect the car and realize it was the rail back end cover. Put today a warranty service claim and waiting for the answer. My car wasn't yet washed at a washing station, but it lights for me a red light about what may happen there ! I'm thinking to secure the covers with black ties for electrical cables, together with the metal end pieces.

02/05/2012

After sending the service a link to this useful forum, got answer from Skoda Service Israel.

Good news- they will replace the part for free, also as their client satisfaction policy.

Still thinking about securing the trims in an elegant way.

Thanks and enjoy your Yetis

01/05/2012

From above reading, I understand I’m not the only one- as I was told today at the service center. Mine (right back side) went off yesterday (5 days after collecting my new Yeti) while driving on a highway at 90-100 km/h. Heard a slight knock at the back from outside. Saw in the mirror a black object flying and rolling away behind my car. Couldn't even think it was from my 5 days new car, untill I stopped to inspect the car and realize it was the rail back end cover. Put today a warranty service claim and waiting for the answer. My car wasn't yet washed at a washing station, but it lights for me a red light about what may happen there ! I'm thinking to secure the covers with black ties for electrical cables, together with the metal end pieces.

02/05/2012

After sending the service a link to this useful forum, got answer from Skoda Service Israel.

Good news- they will replace the part for free, also as their client satisfaction policy.

Still thinking about securing the trims in an elegant way.

Thanks and enjoy your Yetis

I can't think how the dealer would be able to avoid paying for the replacement. The car is not of "merchantable quality" (British Sale of Goods law) if it cannot remain attached at normal speeds. And you should be able to go through a car wash . . .

Chris

Interesting that when I was checking over my wife's Suzuki SX4 yesterday before she set off to visit our daughter in Milton Keynes, I thought the front piece of trim on the nearside roof rail didn't look quite right and, on pushing it, found that it was quite loose but snapped back with a firm thump. Is this an endemic problem across a number of cars? Why?

Because the trim is simply a push-fit bit of plastic, and is subject to vibration, temperature variations, meddling fingers, etc.

On my old Freelander I regularly used to give them a "thump"

I can't think how the dealer would be able to avoid paying for the replacement. The car is not of "merchantable quality" (British Sale of Goods law) if it cannot remain attached at normal speeds. And you should be able to go through a car wash . . .

Chris

Not sure (Graham will know) but I don't think the British Sale of Goods law applies in Israel.