Hey all,

Just got my MkI vRS back from the garage (a respected London franchise that will remain nameless for now). It went in for 'wandering steering' issues and had two console bushes (knackered old type changed for upgraded type) and a track rod arm done. Came out feeling crisp and new but immediately noticed the steering wheel was offset to the left by about 10-15 degrees! Turned round and asked them to set it up properly. Got it back 40 mins later but this time the airbag light stayed on. Went back again and the guy explained that he hadn't reset the computer when he took the steering wheel off to correct the steering.

I've had the car back a week and am noticing a new problem. Any road bumps jerk the steering slightly. Not violently, but you can def feel it through the wheel. Pretty sure it didn't do that before! Also feeling very slightly more resistance to turning the wheel in one direction than in the other. My theory is that taking the steering wheel off was a shortcut to re-doing the tracking and that the steering geometry is now 15 degrees off with the wheels running straight. Would that make sense? I need a better understanding before I ask them to sort it out.

Cheers,

Tass

Could be that your worn bushes and track rods were masking the road bump issue? If you've had new, stiffer bushes fitted then I would expect more feel through my steering wheel as the worn rubber isn't just hiding the movement.

Steering wheel shouldnt of been removed!!!!!!!!

Steering wheel needs to go back where it was then wheels aligned!!

Monkeys

Steering wheel shouldnt of been removed!!!!!!!!

Steering wheel needs to go back where it was then wheels aligned!!

Monkeys

+1

OMG. Make sure you let reputable garage do job and then ask "monkeys" to cover bill. Sterring wheel never should be taken out of spine. To adjust steering position you need to do proper alignemnt and if adjustment for offset is needed then that is done on truck-rod ONLY!!! Nothing else should be used to correct it. And please dont tell me that will make a difference in number of turns to left & right because that is load of bull...t. Im reading those stories and it create horror feel on my skin. DONT EVER LET ANYONE TO DO THIS BY REMOVING WHEEL.

That's kind of what I thought.

Cheers Allias & Jase.

Any other views before I ring them up?

Any other views?

No. They've done a shoddy job - I can't think why the airbag light would be on unless they've taken the steering wheel off, which shouldn't be necessary.

this sounds like kwik fit to me :'(

this sounds like kwik fit to me :'(

Does doesn't it...

I wouldn't let them change my air freshener.

As Jase quite rightly says...

As with all chains, it depends where you go. My local Kwik-Fit round the corner used to have a guy called Alistair there who owned a well-maintained Ovni yellow Mk3 Ibiza Cupra. If I dropped my car off there (I owned a Leon Cupra at the time) for anything like tyre fitting then he'd always do it himself or make sure it got done by someone he knew wouldn't **** it up. He left and I stopped going, but I've recently found out that he's just moved branch so I'd have no problems going to where he is now and letting him sort out who was capable of working on my car without a problem.

Everyone has to start somewhere and I'm sure some of the Kwik-Fit apprentices now may well become tuning garage owners of tomorrow, if they're genuinely into it enough. Unfortunately for every one of those there's probably about 50 who don't give a stuff and just see it as a job which might not need many qualifications as they can learn on the job, and they can call in favours and do work on their own cars at the end of the day for free.

Funnily enough, this is one of the London Skoda franchises recommended in the servicing forum, however I'm going to give them the opportunity to put it right (for the 3rd time!) before I name-and-shame.

Funnily enough, this is one of the London Skoda franchises recommended in the servicing forum, however I'm going to give them the opportunity to put it right (for the 3rd time!) before I name-and-shame.

Not the first time that Skoda franchises give answer to off-set steering wheel to remove it and place it in different spot. :S

Funnily enough, this is one of the London Skoda franchises recommended in the servicing forum...

Do you mean the Skoda Retailer Network Reviews forum? That forum is meant to be a complete list of Skoda dealers in the UK and ROI and a medium where members can post their first-hand factual experiences of using those dealers. Inclusion in that list is automatic as new dealers are appointed and does not constitute endorsement by Briskoda.

Woah, I wasn't implying that anyone was endorsed by Briskoda. I went the garage based on the large number of user reviews on here that were favourable. It's the way I pick most stuff! Really suprised I'm having so many problems with them.

Car is booked back in for Sat. Will leave my own review once they've had another chance to rectify the steering.