I have an issue with extreme rocking of the engine in my 1.2 HTP Roomster 1

 

A video can be seen at http://www.it-headache.com/data/Video.mp4

 

The garage has suspected that its a head gasket issue, have tried to order a replacement, but the warranty department will not authorise a replacement until the engine is stripped and the head can be inspected. For this the garage will want £500-£600 if it turns out the head has no fault.

 

It's a catch 22 that they won't replace it till its inspected, but wont authorise the inspection... Seems absurd for UK Car Care Plan who underwrite the Skoda approved used warranty to do this. Surely a customer should not be expected to identify and present the broke parts on a plate?

 

Look forward to hearing peoples thoughts on both issues here, the warranty and the fault itself

Thanks

Henry

 

 

That can't be right!  You have asked them to fix a problem.  How they do it is up to them so why should you pay for for their mistakes?

 

Can't they check the head gasket with a compression test?  WHy do they need to strip it down?

Well they have done a compression test, 2 in fact. Passed it Warm, but failed cold. I know why a compression test fails, and I think that surely a failure cold and pass warm shows a possible expansion of some sort filling in the crack right? Strangely however, no coolant or oil leaking and no sludge(gunk / yellow custard) under the oil filler cap like I would expect to see with a head gasket failure).

 

However I am not sure this always happens...

 

I have emailed their CEO asking for him to look at my case, just got a read receipt today, also copied in my friend at the BBC (often does the trick)...

 

Also copying in Skoda customer services in the hope that they will budge the 3rd party warranty company which they provide...

Isn’t marvellous you do the right thing and take out a warranty to cover your self against something going wrong, and this is how you get treated. Hopefully UK Car Care Plan will get their act together and get the problem sorted.

£500 to 600 is not a trifling amount to pay out, for something that may or may not be a faulty head gasket!

Time and again you see in the press insurance companies (and this is a form of insurance),refusing payment over legitimate claims.

I’ve bought used  car warranty’s (for the first year), in the past and luckily never had to claim ,but when you read the terms and conditions you often wonder will they pay out if there’s a problem.?

Makes me very annoyed!

I do hope after all the stress they put you through ,it all comes good for you

 

Bob

On the 1.2 3 cylinder engines, when they misfire and are down on compression, 9 times out of 10 it's due to the valves becoming faulty.

I've seen bits of valves missing, valves mushroomed and seats ruined.

 

Skoda/VWAG actually have a complete repair kit that includes a new head with new valves etc (need to re-use the cam), all the bolts, sealant and gaskets needed and a new cat convertor (which is apparently the cause of the valve failings)