Skoda Yeti Elegance 2.0TDi 4x4

I have just returned from my local Skoda dealer having been told that it will cost me almost £550 to repair the aircon on my 2011 Yeti Elegance 4x4 because a stone has punctured the condenser and, as it’s not a manufacturing fault, it is not covered by warranty.  The dealer said that it was probably just a stone being thrown up from the road.

So why is such an expensive component so vulnerable. Surely it's supposed to be a rugged ‘off-road’ vehicle designed to withstand a reasonable amount of gravel being thrown up from a road!  It has never even been off-road!  It bothers me that I could drive the vehicle away from the garage only to find that the same thing happens again as there seems to be no protection to it.

I've written to Skoda to express my dissatisfaction.

 

Am I expecting too much?  Anyone else had the same problem?

 

That's bad luck but it does not cost much to prevent it happening again.

Check this thread out.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/237703-intercooler-trashed/

Don't all cars have it in the same position?

Regards all

Juan

Sent from my iPhone using my thumbs

Seems to me like a basic design fault for a 4x4 which is supposedly designed for some off-road use.  I've never used mine off-road and I don't recall anything significant hitting the front.  If it's so easy to solve, why haven't Skoda sorted it?

 

My opinion of the Yeti has just plummeted!

A radiator has to be in air flow. If they cover it up, it won't work.

small apertured grill to protect it, not rocket science for skoda to come up with something!!

I agree, but better to to sort it yourself than risk a bill for £550.00

A radiator has to be in air flow. If they cover it up, it won't work.

That is the reason why I haven't installed a protective mesh yet... Interestingly, VAG catalogs list a protective grille p/n 1K0820746, 3D0867646 meant to protect lower part of the air con condenser. But I have never seen it installed from factory.

Maybe in a country that actually uses 4x4s off road they might recommend it?

Maybe in a country that actually uses 4x4s off road they might recommend it?

I can only guess which country you might imply  Especially keeping in mind that Yeti is not an off-roader but rather a softroader IMO

Anyway, there are aftermarket condensers that cost less than £100. And it should be relatively straightforward to replace one...

Having suffered a holed radiator on a previous car I did this

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/272262-diy-lower-grille/

 

Nigel

Just a quick update, Skoda redeemed themselves to some degree by accepting 70% of the cost on the basis of my loyalty as a Skoda owner (the Yeti is my 9th).  I'm still hoping to fit a grill of some kind to the lower air intake though!

 

Thanks for all your help.

Good result, great to see your loyalty being (almost) repaid

Regards all

Juan

Sent from my iPhone using my thumbs

Just a quick update, Skoda redeemed themselves to some degree by accepting 70% of the cost on the basis of my loyalty as a Skoda owner (the Yeti is my 9th).  I'm still hoping to fit a grill of some kind to the lower air intake though!

 

Thanks for all your help.

Blimey - nine Yetis is some going

Think he means 9 Skoda's

I've now fitted a grill.  Bought a sheet of black expanded anodised aluminium from the local motor spares shop for £20.  It's probably enough to do the job 3 times.  I didn't make a very good job of lining up the cable ties with the holes so I may refix in time.  However I thought I'd see how it works first.  I've left the ties a bit long until I know if it's OK.  Pictures attached.

Looks good apart from the wire ties, perhaps you could add some clips similar to what 33q (Nigel) has done on his. I once had a similar thing happen to my radiator on a Granada back in the 1980's, touch wood the only time it has happened. I think is is purely just bad luck and do not see it as an Achilles heal of the Yeti.  If so I am sure something would have been done about it by now