A sobering tale....

On my way up north for hols, left the Little Chief after breakfast break and found that the air coming out of the vents wasn't as cool as I expected. Tried dropping it to LO, but to no avail. Got all the way to Newcastle on forced air alone and rang the local dealer, only to find that service dept. only available on Monday morning.

Rang back on Monday and managed to get it booked in for the Friday. Friday rolls round and I drop the car off for them to look at it. Two hours later I get a call ffrom the garage to come in. Great! I thought. Nice cool car again!

I got to the garage to meet the Service Manager with a very apologetic look on his face. They hadn't been able to fix the problem. In fact, they weren't going to fix the problem under warranty. Apparently, a stone had entered through the lower grille and had ruptured the condenser. The only cure (according to Skoda) is to replace the unit, which of course is also the radiator. A 5 hour job. AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!

Howard

I think some vRS owners may follow your lead - I've just been outside trying to install my snooper S6R-neo -- I say trying, having a hell of a time trying to find a route for the wire back into the car - anyway thats another story - my point is looking at the lower grille area - I couldn't believe the amount of debris on the lower part of the rad(mainly flies/wasps etc) - but if they can get there - so can the stones !

Why not try calling Skoda Customer care - speak to LadyLoki - I think her real name is Nicki -- you never know could be worth a try

Ouch Howard! :(

Hope you get it sorted soon, especially with the hot weather these days.

Hi Howard,

Thanks for posting details of your problem and sorry to hear about it. Thats certainly an expensive episode and one that I shall also be wary about as I have exactly the same car (except an estate) and cover quite a high mileage (7.5K since mid April).

I will have to have a closer look at the grille section on mine, but it might make you wonder if there is adequate protection for the condenser and whether Skoda should accept responsibility for the repair cost!

John.

Hope it doesn't affect your desire for the springs. Those bits of mesh from Wickes cost a fortune, ya know...

Could this be a protecting mod applicable to Fabia's with air-con too?

all cars with air con are open to stones going through them i would go as far as 5 hrs to fit though but is quite a long job so prevention is better than cure chaps (and by the way warranty will accept no responsabilty for stone damage) belive me i've tried

Jason - no, still on for the springs. Insurance lined up now as well!!

Thanks Big K. I guessed it would be a big job. Somehow I think most of the front of the car will have to come off, as well as the drain down of the coolant etc.

Still hacks me off that the grille isn't doing its job. However, it could have been worse. It could have been the radiator instead.

Cheers,