Dropped the car off at the bodyshop this morning, should have it back in a day or two.

Just had a call from the bodyshop, the bracket on the underside of the o/s headlight is broke and the plug on the horn is also damaged but they say they can repair both, lucky as I don't really want to be forking out for a whole new headlight.

Well picked the car up at 17:30 last night and all looked well. Just coming to giving it a good clean and found a run in the basecoat next to the headlight that appears to have been polished to the point they've taken the clearcoat off as it's now sticky and on the drivers side of the bumper below the wing there a weird lump in the basecoat and if you catch that side in the right light the basecoat is undersprayed and I can see the primer through it...... So I'll be back to the body shop on Tuesday. Atleast I've got it for the week end

Had the handbrake on our SE drop a notch straight after application yesterday; made quite a bang when it went. Felt almost as if I'd engaged it between two teeth and then it held for a moment before dropping.

 

TP

Should I be worried about this ? I sometimes have to park on a little slope behind my house. Yesterday I parked up and pulled the handbrake up only to get back to the car later on and when I opened my boot to get something out I leaned against the rear bumper and the car started creaking and crept forward a little bit. The handbrake was still on as far as it would go. I'm worried I'll find the car in the back of my neighbours audi A2 one day.

Should I be worried about this ? I sometimes have to park on a little slope behind my house. Yesterday I parked up and pulled the handbrake up only to get back to the car later on and when I opened my boot to get something out I leaned against the rear bumper and the car started creaking and crept forward a little bit. The handbrake was still on as far as it would go. I'm worried I'll find the car in the back of my neighbours audi A2 one day.

If you've got a manual car just leave it in gear and it won't budge even if the handbrake fails.

Mine doesn't, it only asks for the clutch pedal to be depressed other than that it can be in neutral or in gear.

Correct, I assumed it was because I had it in gear. I noticed the other day that message appears even in neutral.

Well picked the car up at 17:30 last night and all looked well. Just coming to giving it a good clean and found a run in the basecoat next to the headlight that appears to have been polished to the point they've taken the clearcoat off as it's now sticky and on the drivers side of the bumper below the wing there a weird lump in the basecoat and if you catch that side in the right light the basecoat is undersprayed and I can see the primer through it...... So I'll be back to the body shop on Tuesday. Atleast I've got it for the week end

 

So took it back to the body shop this morning, shown the quality manager all the faults with it and he was pretty embarrassed, said he'll be having words with everyone involved and will be making sure it's right this time.  It's going back in tomorrow.

Well she's back in the body shop again today so they can paint the bumper again, and do it properly this time, unlikely it'll be done by weekend so i'm currently borrowing works '56 plate Astra SXi pool car.  Atleast i've got the fuel card though so it's not costing me anything to drive it

Noticed a handbrake problem with a Honda in last weeks Auto Express.These issues have been found on a large number of different manufactures cars over recent years.But all seem to say. Nothing wrong. Have written to said mag regarding this.

Well spoke to the bodyshop and they were just putting the last bits back on my car, spoke to the quality manager who's been dealing with it personally and he's told me it's fine now and is going to keep it inside out of the rain for me to inspect so fingers crossed by 5 o'clock I should have it back. 

Got it back, much much better and upto the standard i'd expect from a VAG & Mercedes approved bodyshop.  Glad the whole episode is over now and I can forget about it, other than leaving my car i gear on any sort of slope.

Got it back, much much better and upto the standard i'd expect from a VAG & Mercedes approved bodyshop.  Glad the whole episode is over now and I can forget about it, other than leaving my car i gear on any sort of slope.

Other than a few missing stickers that they should have replaced as well ..........

Other than a few missing stickers that they should have replaced as well ..........

Well there is that, I'll just order them from my dealer

Don't blame you - I am going to replace the A pillar trim in mine that the dealer damaged as all they keep doing is taking it off and refitting it then 2 days later it has worked loose again ..........................................

Parked up at home last night, put the handbrake on, gear stick in neutral..... BANG! Handbrake releases itself....... Lucky I was still in it and it's parked on level ground, I always put it into gear after I've shut it down now anyway so it shouldn't crash itself again....

Parked up at home last night, put the handbrake on, gear stick in neutral..... BANG! Handbrake releases itself....... Lucky I was still in it and it's parked on level ground, I always put it into gear after I've shut it down now anyway so it shouldn't crash itself again....

Have you told Skoda your handbrake is still faulty? If there's one there could be many others.

Have you told Skoda your handbrake is still faulty? If there's one there could be many others.

They couldn't find anything wrong when they last looked. Other people have reported the same problem.

OK, sorry guys, just thought I'd mention it just in case Is the Octavia the only one in the VAG family with a regular handbrake then?

 

No the Leon has an old school handbrake too

I parked mine on a hill, pulled the hand brake up as much as I could and once the hill start brake cut out, it started to creak backwards. I moved to a different spot and it hasn't done it since.

 

Not the same problem I know but worrying nonetheless.

They couldn't find anything wrong when they last looked. Other people have reported the same problem.

You need to report it to to Skoda so they'll have a record.

Parked up at home last night, put the handbrake on, gear stick in neutral..... BANG! Handbrake releases itself....... Lucky I was still in it and it's parked on level ground, I always put it into gear after I've shut it down now anyway so it shouldn't crash itself again....

 

How can a mechanical handbrake self release?

It seems the ratchet only holds on by a hair width of metal. Almost as if its a marketing move to make the electric ones seem more reliable and secure.

Why don't those members who have had the handbrake fail and are seriously concerned that it is a significant safety issue report it to VOSA? If there are enough reports then VOSA will raise the issue with the manufacturer.

https://www.gov.uk/report-vehicle-safety-defect

It seems the ratchet only holds on by a hair width of metal. Almost as if its a marketing move to make the electric ones seem more reliable and secure.

Not very good marketing if it hits the news when some woman with a pram gets killed by a big estate car rolling down a hill....