Today I had a long trip to Thurrock and back, I went with a loaded Yeti and the back seats at home. An uneventful 3 hour 40 minute journey for 221 miles.

On the way home, now empty and with no seats, Yeti is a van! After a little while and when I drove on the quiet type of tarmac I heard what sounded like diff whine, not subtle, a proper full on diff whine like an old Chevette!

I continued on my journey and noticed that the noise got louder the further I travelled and on overrun it was worse than during acceleration.

Yeti is on the drive now, no oil leaks or any obvious signs of damage so I will see what it is like tomorrow and if it is still whining I will get it booked in at the dealer, still got 8,000 miles left on warranty as it is 90K or three years.

Anybody else got a dodgy diff?

Out of interest, how often is the fluid changed?

I have looked through the service book and it has had 4 services at about 18K intervals, on each service check sheet the only things ticked are engine oil change and filter! So I guess leaseplan has authorised 4 oil changes in 80000 miles after reading this I removed the air box to look at the filter, it looks original as does the fuel filter housing looks untouched too, so diff oil or haldex etc I would say have never been touched!

I will be asking questions with the dealer tomorrow as they have the service history.

Note, I do not hold the dealer responsible as they can only do what lease plan authorise.

Doesn't look good though.

I recently had the Haldex oil changed. Dealer said this needs to be done every 3 years, but he didn't mention a mileage figure. Maybe with the kind of mileage you've done ... ? I'm on about 56k miles.

I have looked through the service book and it has had 4 services at about 18K intervals, on each service check sheet the only things ticked are engine oil change and filter! So I guess leaseplan has authorised 4 oil changes in 80000 miles after reading this I removed the air box to look at the filter, it looks original as does the fuel filter housing looks untouched too, so diff oil or haldex etc I would say have never been touched!

That doesn't sound right to me.

At least if that's what Skoda say it's covered by the warranty.

I was surprised at the warranty, when the heated seat failed they replaced the seat heat pad for free and explained the 90K warranty.

I am over near the dealer tomorrow and will call in to see if I can get a print out of the service history.

I am disappointed with lease plan as they obviously couldn't care less and fail to service correctly in the hope nothing goes wrong and they maximise profits.

The warranty is 2 years unlimited manufacturers but the third year covered by SUK restricted to 60k.

http://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/warranty

4 year extension takes it to 80k and 5 to 100.

TP

My car isn't two yet and Mitchells said it is for 90K, would leaseplan extend a warranty?

Yeti is two on 20th August.

I recently had the Haldex oil changed. Dealer said this needs to be done every 3 years, but he didn't mention a mileage figure. Maybe with the kind of mileage you've done ... ? I'm on about 56k miles.

I though the 4th Gen Haldex oil change interval is based on distance rather than time, unlike the 2nd Gen Haldex. I think it's 60,000km, which is 37,500 miles ish.

I recently had the Haldex oil changed. Dealer said this needs to be done every 3 years, but he didn't mention a mileage figure. Maybe with the kind of mileage you've done ... ? I'm on about 56k miles.

My service book states, in the service intervals section, every 60,000 Km but gives no date :wonder:

That's just over 37,000 miles so I'll me getting mine done at the 40k service latest.

TP

My car isn't two yet and Mitchells said it is for 90K, would leaseplan extend a warranty?

Yeti is two on 20th August.

Might be different as a business purchase but as far as I'm aware up to two years is as state unlimited in terms of mileage but more than 60,000 by the end of those two years then that's the end of the warranty.

TP

I turned over 37,000 today, so I guess it will be done in 3,000 miles at the next service.

Must confess I never looked at the service book, just assumed the dealer would advise me when something needed doing. I'll have to be more alert in future!

There is an unavoidable conflict between bean counters and engineers. The longer the service interval and the less that is done the cheaper the payment. I once bought a car at the end of such a lease (a mate's company car) and regretted it.

Most of my former company cars were leased and the cost cutting they put on dealers was horrendous, telling them not to replace this, that, and the other until it was absolutely necessary, and this cost cutting often ended up with more serious problems later in the cars life. Regarding the wararnty still being valid at almost 90k, I would be amazed if the lease company took the extended warranty when purchased to cover this. I could not even get them to take additional breakdown cover on any of my cars when the original cover had expired..Best of luck with your Yeti

I rang the dealer today, they confirmed that in the previous four services that only oil and filter had been approved for change, no air filter in 80K miles, no pollen filter, I have had a set of brake pads but that is all.

The diff whine is worrying as the dealer states it should be done every 40K, I am now at 80K and it hasn't been changed, the Haldex is in the same oil (or so I am told)

The Yeti is booked in for Tuesday morning to have the Haldex oil changed IF Leaseplan will authorise it.

We pay for a "worry free" service on fleet cars off leaseplan and they don't pay for maintenance, should we get some money back off them for none provided services?

Leaseplan used to be very good about servicing cars (or they were when i had vehicles via them).

I suspect the world has moved on as Lex (our current fleet supplier) don't even send cars to the dealers for services.

Halfords do very well out of them though!

You've put me off buying fleet vehicles!

best is I am only offered an oil change even though the diff is whining.

The Skoda New Car Warranty includes the following under General Terms and Conditions:

Exclusions. Types of damage not covered by the warranty include, but are not limited to:

Damage or defects caused by not having the vehicle serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s technical guidelines.

So anyone who scrimps on servicing could come unstuck with warranty claims.

best is I am only offered an oil change even though the diff is whining.

Look on the bright side, at least the tightwad leasing company own the wreckage when it fails. If it happens often enough the auction price for non-runners will bite them in the b*m.

and they will be liable to pay for the new diff/Haldex if it fails, I think whilst it is whining it will be left in situ. Feel sorry for the punter who posts up on here in September 2014.

"Bagged a Bargain Yeti" high miles but with full dealer service history......... No mate you bought a neglected ex leaseplan Yeti.

I'm with BossFox in avoiding ex-Leasplan vehicles in future. Thanks for the storyline though!

How many other modern lease companies don't give a stuff about the long term life of the car, taking the risk they can get away with neglecting service items, knowing that the problems will likely all be inherited by the next owner who thinks the car comes with a "full service history"? Last car I had off lease was an Arval/PHH Renault Scenic 5 years ago now, when it was two years old. But as I'd been its driver from day 1, I knew it had received fresh oil every 9000 miles and been properly serviced. I carried on that pattern, so it was still going strong at 145,000 miles on its original turbo, DPF, etc. and not using any oil between changes, when I swapped it for the Yeti 6 weeks ago.....

Just to throw another idea in here but whining noises, mistaken for gear/diff issues, have been associated with certain brands of tyre when a certain stage of wear is reached. This was certainly an issue on the Mk6 Golf.

Not saying that it is the problem here but it is worth checking before spending money on expensive repairs.

I did think tyres as I have just had four new continentals on the Yeti, but the noise is there on all road surfaces, I will get it in and have the oils changed anyway, should have been done twice by now anyway!!!!

Tyres is a good shout though.