Hi all. I have been watching the site for a couple of years, but this is my first post.

I have had two Skoda Octavia Estates, the first a 2000 Ambiente which did 138000 before we sold it,.stll running well, and now a 2005 Elegance Estate with 80000 miles on the clock. Neither was bought new although both had service histories. I always used an independent garage and have been happy with them and with the cars until fairly recently when I moved from Lancashire. The car has started to develop all sorts of electrical faults, culminating in the engine management light and the airbag lights coming on permanently. The local garage has repeatedly had the car in and fixed both problems for a while but back they come.

Although I used to do most of the maintenance myself, at 78 I am a bit past it so I thought the answer was to take it to Winners in Cinderford the local Main dealer. The result is shown below. I did not take up their offer to waive the diagnostic cost if I let them do all the work! Neither my wife or can detect the £735 of harsh vibraition mentioned.

Question is, does any one know a reliable Independent who knows Skodas in my area? Alvington Glos GL15 6BJ Even a good Skoda aware mechanic would be a help?

Thank you all in advance.

John Mitchell

Service Advisories

The left outter drive shafter gaitor is split and leaking grease badly £131.03

The wiper blades front and rear are worn and smearing £51.88

The brake fluid change is due £45.00

The rear brake discs are excessivly corroded- new brakes on the rear £202.80

The front brakes are 80% worn £233.32

The front wishbone rear suspension bushes are worn £204.43

The flywheel is badly worn, causing harsh vibration when driven- with new clutch kit £735.68

On further elctrical diagnostics

The wiper stalk we suspect to be causing the intermittent fault with the wipers £92.69

The high level brake light unit is faulty £69.23

The exhaust gas recuriculation valve is faulty and 1 of the reasons the engine management ligh is coming on £174.97

The glow plugs on cylinders 2,3 and 4 are not performing- advise a new set £150.96

The side air bag drivers side has an internal resistance causing the air bag light to be on £346.32

The ignition switch is showing an intermittent contact fault £108.70

The left indicator side repeater is full of gunge and is cracked, is not clearly visable and is in poor condition £85.67

Todays work

Service charge £129.00

2 hours diagnostic charge £144.00

Tail gate washer pipe re-connected £36.00

Current service total due £309.00

(We understand that this is a large bill to swallow, what my manager is offering is that if all of the above advisiories are carried out with us we will wave the 2 hours diagnostic charge for todays work)

All of the prices shown include VAT

Please let me know how you would like to continue as we have your vehicle on the workshop lift at the present time

Kind Regards

Jason Morgan

Service Adviser

Winner Garage Ltd

01594 829800

Other than possibly the flywheel vibration, I don't see anything untoward for an 80k vehicle mentioned in any of the Service elements. You could get the wipers yourself.

And to be honest, if you have been having the car serviced regularly then some of the "faults" should have already been picked up, even by a non-Skoda expert.

Wow! Just under £1900 if you dont touch the clutch and have already paid for the work already undertaken, for those running a total here.

Could you sell for parts, save the 2K and get something less broken.

I just dont undertand how the car has got to this condition, no offence but I havent seen a 12 year old car needing this much work all of sudden'

Look here for fixed price servicing you can save some money on the brakes here. As for getting them done at this price, you will need to ask the garage if they are part of this fixed price regime, if they are not they dont have to offer the fixed price.

The airbag light might be a well known break in a wire, search this site for more info as I dont want to advise wrongly with something as dangerous and important as an airbag.