My Skoda Octavia vRS (from January 2006, bought in May 2011 from Progress Skoda) had its the cambelt snapped, 18 teeth have been stripped, pistons and valves have impacted... I did check my car's Service book (fully serviced by Skoda) and see that the belt was replaced on 20 July 2010, when the car had done 47,481 miles. So this cam belt had less than two years (half the time recommended by Skoda to have its cambelt replaced) and only done 21,472 miles (one third of the time recommended by Skoda to have its cambelt replaced) since 20 July 2010, which means that the belt has failed well within Skoda's recommended change interval. I have a report from the garage and pictures were taken too. Skoda UK is refusing to pay for it and is trying to claim that it was not the belt which snapped but some engine component that made the damage, this way trying to avoid paying for the repairs... Skoda UK ordered an inspection to a garage they chose, they said they "would like to take care of everything from now on" and now is refusing to pay even for the inspection they ordered and trying to pass the bill on to me... any expert mechanic here that would like to see the report and pictures? any comments on this? anyone here had made complaints to Skoda UK under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 or products within their guarantee life?

Edited 22 June, 201214 yr by aredorange

Was the belt changed by Skoda?

Is there still in warranty?

I would say Skoda UK definitely have some responsibility for this. I think it will just be a matter of persistence with this one!

Phil

All service has always been done by Skoda, including naturally the cambelt (which has a 2 years guarantee as any other parts). Skoda UK doesn't even want to pay for the inspection they ordered at their chosen garage!!! And they said to me "we would like to care care of this from now on, so you do not have to worry" and now trying to pass on the inspection bill to me and refusing to repair the damages, as it certainly will need a new engine (but that is not my fault!)...

It is possible that something else failed in the engine failed and caused the belt to snap but the mileage on the car is pretty low and with it having full service history should count for something.

You have taken it a skoda garage and followed skoda's service schedule that they set out in order for the car to last.

Just keep on at them with it. Will need some dedication and you need to be dealing with managers etc.

Phil

I would be booking myself an appointment with my solicitor and letting them take it on...... Good luck..

sent from my phone....

I have sent all correspondence, garage report, pictures and a detailed account of what's happened to Motorcodes who are now helping in this case...

What part do they say had failed?

What part do they say had failed?

Not sure what you mean here... the garage thinks it is the cambelt but Skoda UK is not totally convinced and is trying to say is some other engine component... that is all I know... have the report and pictures in case anyone is interested (I know nothing about mechanics really)

If you are going to use the Sale of Goods Act then I think it can only be taken up against the dealer that sold you the car. Skoda may choose to respect their warranty or simply exercise good will towards you and the dealer.

You would have a pretty solid case under SOGA I would imagine but if you start down the warranty route then you are playing on Skoda's ground to their rules.

here's the report from the garage chosen by Skoda UK (Palmers Motor Company):

" I have found that the toothed belt teeth have stripped off along the crankshaft pulley axix the compression readings are 1=0 bar 2=5 bar 3=0 bar 4=6 bar as this a considerable loss of compression I have had this engine spec BWA valve touching and also piston damage but without a complete engine strip I am unlikely to find out conclusively. I have been requested by customer care to send a technical query I have a cambelt that has stripped and the valves have touched on piston crown the belt is a parts warranty issue as it was only changed 19 months ago I am attaching pictures as the belt is under warranty I would like to proceed with an engine replacement unless there are anymore checks I am required to carry out"

and here's the reply from Skoda UK:

"Looking at the photos I am not convinced that the belt has failed judging by the amount of teeth that have been stripped, I would say something else has failed which has then ended up with the belt stripping several teeth which is what you will need to investigate. From a technical point of view I am happy that your diagnosis of an engine is correct, however I do not believe at this time that the belt is the cause of this damage"

Please note that a new engine needs to be replaced due to the damages and it is only naturally that Skoda UK is trying to find a way out here not to pay for it...

I supose if the water pump wasnt changed and it started to leak causing the belt to break you wouldnt have a leg to stand on as Skoda recomend the pump is changed with the belt although it is down to the customer to pay the extra.

Edited 22 June, 201214 yr by 07 vRS Taxi

If you are going to use the Sale of Goods Act then I think it can only be taken up against the dealer that sold you the car. Skoda may choose to respect their warranty or simply exercise good will towards you and the dealer.

You would have a pretty solid case under SOGA I would imagine but if you start down the warranty route then you are playing on Skoda's ground to their rules.

You are right about SOGA, that it is applied only to the dealer. That is one side of the picture. Another side is that the belt is under the guarantee. Another side is the misleading si****ion where they say "we will take care of everything, so you do not have to worry", ask me to send the car to their chosen garage for them to inspect it and then refusing to pay for that inspection and trying to pass on the bill to me... Skoda UK also already said there's no good will from them here... Motorcodes is now helping me on this case...

I'm guessing here that if the teeth have been stripped from the Cambelt then it means that the Cambelt itself had stopped and another toothed component was still rotating against the belt which caused the teeth to strip. If the belt had snapped then there would be minimal teeth stripping? Does this make sense.

I think you would need to look at what component stopped the belt from running and what component was still rotating causing the stripping.

Not siding here, just playing devils advocate

I supose if the water pump wasnt changed and it started to leak causing the belt to break you wouldnj have a leg to stand on as Skoda recomend the pump is changed with the belt, although it is down to the customer to pay the extra.

I bought the car from Progress Skoda a few months after the car was serviced, so I really do not know if the water pump was replaced or not. I would trust that Progress Skoda garage knows what to do and if they didn't change the water pump because the previous owner didn't wanted it, which is weird, then they would know that the car would not last long and they would have the moral obligation to tell me so before selling the vehicle to me. I would assume that all were replaced, as it is supposed to be, otherwise they would know in advance that the car would not last long...

I'm guessing here that if the teeth have been stripped from the Cambelt then it means that the Cambelt itself had stopped and another toothed component was still rotating against the belt which caused the teeth to strip. If the belt had snapped then there would be minimal teeth stripping? Does this make sense.

I think you would need to look at what component stopped the belt from running and what component was still rotating causing the stripping.

Not siding here, just playing devils advocate

It makes sense to me what you are saying, even me knowing nothing of mechanics. But Skoda UK asked for an investigation, which they did not finish as per the garage report above. Now the question is who should pay for the further investigation? They asked me £990 if I wanted that further investigation and mentioned that there would be no guarantees a conclusion would be reached...

Not sure what you mean here... the garage thinks it is the cambelt but Skoda UK is not totally convinced and is trying to say is some other engine component... that is all I know... have the report and pictures in case anyone is interested (I know nothing about mechanics really)

Skoda UK and the Skoda dealer are different legal companies. Skoda UK does not own the dealer. You have not bought a car from Skoda UK - you bought it from a dealer. You don't have to deal with Skoda UK at all.

The dealer supplied and fitted the belt and so are liable if it snapped (unless they can show you were negligent in some way). It does not matter to you if it was caused by a manufacturing defect or faulty installation. The dealer may need to deal with Skoda UK, but you don't have to.

Tell the dealer to fix it. If they believe the belt was faulty, then it is for them to claim from their supplier.

I bought the car from Progress Skoda a few months after the car was serviced, so I really do not know if the water pump was replaced or not. I would trust that Progress Skoda garage knows what to do and if they didn't change the water pump because the previous owner didn't wanted it, which is weird, then they would know that the car would not last long and they would have the moral obligation to tell me so before selling the vehicle to me. I would assume that all were replaced, as it is supposed to be, otherwise they would know in advance that the car would not last long...

id still look into it because that would be their defence "We can only guarantee the work we have been paid to do".

Skoda UK and the Skoda dealer are different legal companies. Skoda UK does not own the dealer. You have not bought a car from Skoda UK - you bought it from a dealer. You don't have to deal with Skoda UK at all.

The dealer supplied and fitted the belt and so are liable if it snapped (unless they can show you were negligent in some way). It does not matter to you if it was caused by a manufacturing defect or faulty installation. The dealer may need to deal with Skoda UK, but you don't have to.

Tell the dealer to fix it. If they believe the belt was faulty, then it is for them to claim from their supplier.

I am aware that Skoda UK and Progress Skoda (the dealer) are different entities. I all started when I left a message on Skoda UK Facebook page asking for help, as I didn't know what to do... and Skoda UK replied saying they would like to take care of it and asked me to send it to their chosen garage for them to investigate... that's how it started... now they are saying that they will not be paying for the investigation they ordered and trying to pass that bill to me (£700)... I also got in touch recently with Progress Skoda and they asked me to send the car to them so that they could look at it... but I cannot take the car out from Palmers Motor Company while someone doesn't pay for the investigation Skoda UK ordered them to do...

Unusual case really, vag,s are not known to brake belts, it's must be an engine part the caused the damage.

Must get mine done soon!

Is it petrol or diesel?

Edited 22 June, 201214 yr by Davidsr20

I just spent all my economies buying that Skoda in May 2011 and wanted to buy from a dealer instead of a private, so that I could rest my mind and the car would be fit for purpose. Then, one year later, this happens and the prospect of a £4,000 is just scaring the hell out of me... there was no driver mistake here, definitely a cambelt problem or an engine component, which means a mechanical failure... the car was always serviced by Skoda and that exists in order that the car is fit for purpose... it is not supposed to fail like this... :-(

Edited 22 June, 201214 yr by aredorange

I am aware that Skoda UK and Progress Skoda (the dealer) are different entities. I all started when I left a message on Skoda UK Facebook page asking for help, as I didn't know what to do... and Skoda UK replied saying they would like to take care of it and asked me to send it to their chosen garage for them to investigate... that's how it started... now they are saying that they will not be paying for the investigation they ordered and trying to pass that bill to me (£700)... I also got in touch recently with Progress Skoda and they asked me to send the car to them so that they could look at it... but I cannot take the car out from Palmers Motor Company while someone doesn't pay for the investigation Skoda UK ordered them to do...

Skoda UK ordered the inspection not you. Unless you agreed to pay for the investigation in some circumstance (did you sign anything), then Palmers cannot keep your car. Their claim is with Skoda UK. Make this clear to them.

Skoda UK ordered the inspection not you. Unless you agreed to pay for the investigation in some circumstance (did you sign anything), then Palmers cannot keep your car. Their claim is with Skoda UK. Make this clear to them.

You are totally right and I have not been told that I would be the one paying for it (otherwise I would have asked immediately how much it could be), neither did I sign anything.

Skoda UK ordered the inspection not you. Unless you agreed to pay for the investigation in some circumstance (did you sign anything), then Palmers cannot keep your car. Their claim is with Skoda UK. Make this clear to them.

But Skoda UK is now refusing to pay for it and Palmers do not let me take my car out while someone does't pay for it.

But Skoda UK is now refusing to pay for it and Palmers do not let me take my car out while someone does't pay for it.

Not your problem. If necessary, call the Police on the non-emergency number. Tell Palmers that is what you intend to do.

The Police don't usually get involved in garage disputes where a car is being held until payment is made, but your case is different, as any claim cannot be held against you (or your car).

You need to make it clear to the Police that...

You are not in dispute with Palmers.

You have no contract with Palmers to do the work.

You did not ask them to do the work.

You did not agree to pay for the work.

Skoda UK contracted Palmers to do the work.

I assume the above is correct

Not your problem. If necessary, call the Police on the non-emergency number. Tell Palmers that is what you intend to do.

The Police don't usually get involved in garage disputes where a car is being held until payment is made, but your case is different, as any claim cannot be held against you (or your car).

You need to make it clear to the Police that...

You are not in dispute with Palmers.

You have no contract with Palmers to do the work.

You did not ask them to do the work.

You did not agree to pay for the work.

Skoda UK contracted Palmers to do the work.

I assume the above is correct

You are totally right. And I have just sent an email to Palmers. I will now give a call to the Police. And I think it would be a good idea to let all motor press to know about this case too. I will be compiling a list of media press, as I am feeling really abused here and unfairly treated.