So I had my 54 plate Fabia VRS serviced today and I'm a little concerned that things may not have gone to plan.

They have replaced the brake fluid when I specified when booking in that I didn't want it doing as it had already been done by them in March (unless I'm really thick and its not a two year renewal rate......won't be the first time I've been wrong ). I also asked for the longlife variable service and according to the paperwork they've used long life oil - however they've put the next inspection date in my service book as 90k (thats a 10k gap when I thought the car would tell me when it needed a service). According to the paperwork they've topped my screenwash up - which would be a strange thing to do when I filled it up 2 hours before the service myself and it was still full when I dropped the car off. I also had a side light out but forgot to mention it when I dropped the car off - it hasn't been picked up on the service and they've documented my lights are "all working ok".

I was in a rush to get home and wasn't given the paperwork until after I'd paid so I didn't check it as I usually would have. Now feel like a muppet for paying for stuff I didn't think I needed. Please can someone tell me roughly what the renewal rate for brake fluid is and would there be anyway I can easily check they've set the service indicator correctly? Being female isn't fun when dealing with most garages so I just want to get my facts right before I ring up and have a chat tomorrow

Thanks!

did you get it serviced at a skoda dealership???.....i work in the workshop of a audi dealership and yes you are right brake fluid is every 2 years, the longlife servicing comes up every 10k and they've robbed you for some screenwash that they blatently topped up with water and they just havent done there job properly if theyve missed yours sidelight bulb isnt working... i know what they're like lol

Where in the north east are you ?

I know a fantastic vag specialist if your willing to travel ?

Edited 30 December, 201114 yr by R1chard

I may be wrong, but I thought you could not buy a vRS with Variable servicing (was not an option either). I know that cars who have this need special oil sensors that monitor oil quality in the engine and a few other sensors too, obviously long life oil is required. Don't worry about the oil as you can still use it on cars with Fixed services anyway.

PS. adding Screenwash to the service bill is a well known thing to do which ever garage you go to. If you are lucky you may find a bottle of it for you in the boot or glove box, but most garages just put it on the bill.

Edited 30 December, 201114 yr by Jim H

longlife servicing is more to do with the dealers to get more money out of you, its more the newer cars which have the variable servicing which needs resetting properly on the vag computers, most older cars are set to fixed servicing the dealers mite just try to sell it as variable...

As Jim H has said, your Fabia vRS cannot be set for variaable service intervals. See the thread below for why not.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/11588-can-the-fabia-vrs-be-programmed-andor-modified-for-variable-servicing/

longlife servicing is more to do with the dealers to get more money out of you, its more the newer cars which have the variable servicing which needs resetting properly on the vag computers, most older cars are set to fixed servicing the dealers mite just try to sell it as variable...

Any decent indie can reset as well. Oddly variable services are either the same or cheaper than fixed according to most members reports on pricing. So figure that one out!

The mk1 as above is fixed only.

Yeah I had it done at a Skoda dealership. I live in Durham and don't mind driving distance if the place is good. So far I've been to a few up here and haven't found one I can trust yet. I did find that Wearside Audi were fab - they did my timing belt, brake discs and pads when I first got the car in 2008 and they are still going strong despite 70k of crazy driving. The last service I had was a variable done by the same dealership as this service.

I may be wrong, but I thought you could not buy a vRS with Variable servicing

I belive the Variable service was a no go because the brake pads had no wear sensor on them. If you fitted OEM or aftermarket brake pads the wire was cut off as there was no where to conected it to.

I'm afraid that in my time of having cars with warranty and so using main dealers, even although the workshop guys do their jobs quickly, the car washing (I can do that myself) and sorting out the paperwork tends to take far too long, seems most dealers need at least an hour after the workshop guy has actually completed the job before they can hand the bill over. It's stupid nonsense and unecessary as the customer's time gets wasted. So, as the OP discovered, when the time comes for paying, you just want to pay up and grab the car - maybe that is what is intended?

MSB in Darlington tend to get a lot of praise on here, I used to use Pulmans in Durham and they were spot on too.

I'm currently getting any work and servicing done by S-Cars in Spennymoor, it's not a huge garage by any means, a proper back street garage to be honest but they are apparently VAG specialists!

I'd highly recommend them to anyone.

Was it a Skoda garage in Sedgefield that you used by any chance?

The Fabia MK1 is not capable of being set to Variable servicing as the engine does not have all the sensors required for the oil quality to be monitored. Most if not all main dealers now use longlife oil regardless of service regime as it means less stock for them to carry and its fully compatible with fixed or variable servicing.

The screenwash thing is what annoys me the most, and its why I now use a local garage for servicing where I know the owner so I dont get ripped off like some other garages.

I'd say a dealer which charges for topping up an already full screenwash reservoir needs to be named and shamed, so everyone else can avoid them.

The last service I had was a variable done by the same dealership as this service.

Servicing - sorry but you've twice mentioned variable servicing. The Mark 1 Fabia vRS CANNOT BE PUT ONTO VARIABLE SERVICING. It had a fixed time/distance servicing regime which should be adhered to - even if it is rather confusing at times. If this garage cannot even advise you of that fact how can you trust it to do anything else properly. If as your evidence suggests ("...they've put the next inspection date in my service book as 90k (thats a 10k gap...") they've actually done a fixed term service then don't worry about this.

Service indicator - if it's not still on it's been reset. You don't need to worry about it in any case since your car is on a fixed time/distance servicing regime as everyone's stated.

Brakes - you asked for this NOT to be done so demand a complete refund. It should have been obvious in any case since the date of fluid change should be recorded on the engine cover.

Screenwash - my garage leaves me the bottle with the remains of the fluid in. They would have tested the wipers and hence used fluid so it wouldn't have been fully topped up. They could then have put in the required amount of fluid and minimally topped up with water. HOWEVER they probably haven't put it in with a strong enough mix to mitigate freezing. I use a 50/50 mix this time of year.

Bulbs - I instruct garages NOT to replace bulbs having previously had a Subaru numberplate bulb replaced without being asked at a charge of £15! You should quiz them on why they thought all lights were OK.

Incidently, how much did they charge you?

.....They have replaced the brake fluid when I specified when booking in that I didn't want it doing as it had already been done by them in March.....

I was notified by my local Skoda dealer that they were offering a brake fluid change for £20 so that is likely to be the cheapest price you can get the job done for at a Skoda dealer.

If you pointed out that you did not want the fluid changed when you booked in, then you should expect a refund of £20 minimum. No discussion - no argument - they are bang to rights.

Tell them that you want a further refund for them not noticing a faulty bulb and supposedly topping up an already-full screenwash reservoir (if this was charged for seperately in addition to the cost of the service.

Don't concern yourself with apologies as they cost nothing.

Demand the cash refund, accept no excuses and point out that your next step will be to contact Trading Standards and whatever Motor Trade Association they belong to.

Irrespective of the outcome, don't use this garage again as there is plenty of competition for your business.

Edited 31 December, 201114 yr by BOBAD

Just ask for your screen wash.

Usually service parts are pre picked ready, it's booked to the job and put aside for a technician to pick up for the job. At this point we do not know what your screen wash level or content is. Legally we are not allowed to place a bottle of screen wash in your car, it doesn't have a safety cap on it and should a minor or a person of diminished responsibility drink the toxic liquid we can be held accountable believe it or not.

But your bill should be explained to you fully before you leave and any complaints or adjustments made at this time.

Sorry haven't read the full thread but if you're after a VW specialist (best around here) go to Steve Howe at Triple H motorosport in Benton. He really is a specialist and there is not a thing the guy can't sort out.

When I got mine some years ago ,I asked two main dealers about oil periods .Same story -the engine oil is checked by sensor if set to variable servicing .Seems that a lot of Skoda dealers don't know this[ certainly if thi post is anything to go by