I bought a 60 plate Fabia VRS from Gordon Lamb's Derby. 

 

After buying my car, the same day the exhaust system warning light came on, so I got RAC out who said it was 'TURBO OVERBOOST CODE', and cleared the code.

 

(FOR MORE INFO CHECK THIS FORUM.... http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/308890-exhaust-control-system-light-vrs-just-got-it-home/ 

 

This fault came back on in total 5 times, each time I took it into Lambs, who on two occasions kept the car for 2 weeks. They admitted they were not sure what was at fault but replaced a sensor before on the last time me complaining to Lamb's HQ. The head of service then rang me from Derby to ask some questions and once I asked about the turbo over boost code, he said he had 'never heard of that mentioned'.....despite me giving them the RAC report with the diagnostic code on and me telling them! 

 

After this phone call/kick up the arse...they found a crack in a turbo pipe so replaced that. They then found something wrong with the ECU so replaced that. I then decided seeing as it had been in for 2 weeks already that they could replace my rear badge (which had white worm) which they were more than reluctant to do...and ended up in me point blank saying...I don't care who pays but you will replace it....(ended up sales having to fork out the cost...fork out?...its only about £10!!!!). 

 

I am still awaiting the return of my car, from this episode, but I really don't think I will be using Lamb's again. In the mean time they lent me a 14 plate fabia demonstrator which I have managed to rack up a good 500ish miles onto it. More worryingly though I came back to it in the car park yesterday to find the rear near side brake light (just the lens) smashed...by I presume another car/person. So no doubt they will try and make me pay for that. It's only the plastic cover that is smashed, not the bulbs or bulb holder and I can see skoda parts sell them for £50ish pounds (but then there is labour). 

 

Im guessing from reading other forums that, I have to either pay for the repair or for the excess of their insurance....despite anyone explaining or pointing anything like that out to me. 

 

If they do try and make me pay, Im tempted to get back onto Lamb's HQ or Skoda UK....

 

I understand I may be liable to foot the repair which, down to research I guess will be about £70-£100....but Ive been fk'd about so much by them and not had my car hardly at all since buying it that they should be offering me compensation not giving me a bill for a repair. 

 

Any advice or suggestions/experience would be really appreciated. 

 

George Tyler 

 

I'm afraid the the two points you are making are not related. You are responsible for the car and any damage, so have to pay. If you don't pay they will argue that case when you ask for compensation. Why not just order the light unit from another dealer and fit before the car goes back.

Find a replacement light on ebay. Should be able to replace it yourself in 20 minutes tops

The two are not related. Provided it is just the lens (no paint/bodywork damage), I would expect them to fix it at cost. Call them ASAP so they can have the part when you take it back. Then it's a quick fix and it's not off the road waiting for a part.

This is a no brainer to work out what you should do.

Imagine receiving your car back from the dealer with a broken light, and then being told that they think you should pay for it. You would go ape.

Responsibilty is a 2 way street.

You could try TPS in Derby for the part and fit it yourself. Otherwise I would only pay for the repair to the light once it has been completed. I have seen hire cars before where charges have been made damage but then had the car back a few weeks later with the damage unrepaired.

GL Derby are rather hit and miss on the service side. It took them 4 goes to fix my airbag wiring. One time it went in they had the car for the whole day and all they did was clear the fault code and airbag light, they obviously didn't even read the job card as it explicitly said that further investigation was required.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

So if you had your own car back are you saying you wouldn't have parked there and no damage would have happened? As above your responsibility

Sent from my Hudl HT7S3 using Tapatalk

I'd go with Darkheros suggestion.

Ive come clean to the dealer and will wait to hear back from the head of service on Tuesday. While I completely agree I am liable and understand everyone's view that I should pay. I also think that I have been messed about with my own car so much that I should present the entire situation to them and see what they say. 

Don't see why you think you shouldn't pay.

In fact I can't for the life of me understand why you should think otherwise.

If it was your own car you would have to.

 

Probably better to get it fixed and say nothing but I guess that's too late now.

Ive come clean to the dealer and will wait to hear back from the head of service on Tuesday. While I completely agree I am liable and understand everyone's view that I should pay. I also think that I have been messed about with my own car so much that I should present the entire situation to them and see what they say.

Good move. After all, it is their car.

Minor damage happens all the time. The two things that dealers hate, is a bodge repair job and not knowing about the damage until the car comes back, as it means that they can't lend it out to another customer who needs a courtesy car.

A neighbour had an Audi A6 when he took his car for a routine service. The same thing happened to him. He decided to replace the lens himself and broke the ball fixings :(

Take some photos of the area around the light fitting, so you have a record of damage.

I know what I would have done.

 

£36 delivered to your door, genuine item.

 

Fitted in minutes, very easy to do.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKODA-FABIA-MK2-2007-REAR-TAIL-LIGHT-PASSENGER-SIDE-N-S-/331131498076?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&fits=Cars+Year%3A2010%7CCar+Make%3ASkoda%7CModel%3AFabia&hash=item4d18f9ae5c#ht_1362wt_1001

2 Nuts, bosh done. I'm a idiot with a spanner but even I can manage it. 

I've not had a single problem with GL. They were excellent through the sale of my Monte over the New Year, (despite a long wait which was nothing of their fault). 

 

We felt so impressed that my dad is looking in to trading his current '60 vRS from TC Harrison for a new 14 plate that GL have.

The sales team at GL are pretty good (though some of the to and froing into the back to consult "the mighty computer" is rather comical). The service guys are a bit more hit and miss.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

The eBay light above is described in the ad as follows:

'Aftermarket High Quality Item, not Genuine'.

UPDATE 

 

Head of service rang me today to give me the peace of mind that the light was covered by their insurance (I'm guessing as it's a demonstrator it may have slightly more coverage than a courtesy car that I gathered I would be expected to pay excess on). 

 

However he also said that, bear in mind I was told I could expect my car back today or tomorrow (after 2.5 weeks), that the ECU was on back order and would not be getting it in until earliest late this week! 

 

All of this was left on a voicemail so although the light was great news, I am furious about the car now. I understand nothing can be done regarding back orders but i really feel all these problems and the time it has spent in with the dealer, is not what you expect of any car purchase - never mind from a skoda dealer. So I rang Gordon Lamb HQ today to make a further complaint regarding the issue and entire experience and told them I should see some sort of money back ect. The lady was very understanding and hopefully I will hear back off someone soon. Maybe even before I get my car back! 

They are letting you off paying for the damage their car suffered whilst under your responsibility and you're still being a pain in the arse to them because Skoda can't provide them the parts needed to fix your car?

What do you expect them to do? Fashion them out of cake?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

They aren't letting me off....their insurance covers it!!!

 

Im still being a pain in the arse??? You try buying a car from a skoda dealer (APPROVED USED) and then having all these faults go wrong with it and it taking 2 months to rectify and 4 trips into the dealer?! I don't see how its my problem at all. If any one is trying to tell me that if you bought a car from a skoda dealer at only 3.5 years old that you'd expect this much hassle and to be without the car for over a month on and off now....that you wouldn't do anything about it???!!!!

Edited 6 May, 201412 yr by gtyler

They aren't letting me off....their insurance covers it!!!

 

Im still being a pain in the arse??? You try buying a car from a skoda dealer (APPROVED USED) and then having all these faults go wrong with it and it taking 2 months to rectify and 4 trips into the dealer?! I don't see how its my problem at all. If any one is trying to tell me that if you bought a car from a skoda dealer at only 3.5 years old that you'd expect this much hassle and to be without the car for over a month on and off now....that you wouldn't do anything about it???!!!!

To be honest you sound like a nightmare customer.

Things fail, its a fact of life. Its not their fault a needed part is on back order and they have been good enough to give you a courtesy car which is costing them.

Nightmare customer? I think if that was the case on the forum related to this issue people wouldn't be in such agreement with me. I agree and did acknowledge that nothing can be done about a back order part. But you don't expect this many things to go wrong with a car you buy from a approved dealer! Skoda UK are in complete agreement! I have never been nasty to the poor people on the phone or the service guys as Im sure it isn't there fault but at the same time, this dealership has, I have since found out a notorious reputation for poor service and warranty jobs. Whilst I agree it is not necessarily no one's fault, equally you don't fork out a lot of money for a car, from anywhere come to that, and expect ally these problems. 

 

You really think its been a good purchase and you'd be fully satisfied on your 4th return to the dealer with the same problem! They have had the car longer than I have since I purchased it in March! 

Think you'd be changing your tune if it was your purchase, your car and your experience in question! 

I don't doubt its annoying and I to wouldn't be too chuffed however from what you've said they have done what many others would, limit cost to themselves.

rover220,  

Skoda and Skoda UK Customer Services and Technical department are the Nightmare.

 

Skoda have replaced dozens of engines in the 1,800 2010-2012 CAVE 1.4 TSI Twinchargers at around £4,400 a time.

(& some of the revised from 2012 engines have also required replacing.)

 

The cost to the Dealer in Zero,

they get paid for the Oil Consumption tests, the Brreather Valve Mod,

then the next Oil Consumption test , then replacing the Engine.

Some Dealers have had to replace a 2nd engine in the same car.

 

There are a supply of Remanufactured Engines from Germany in the UK.

 

So the ECU's on Back Order is well out of Order,  as is Skoda & VW for not communicating the problems with these cars.

Letting many now out of Manufacturers Warranty stay in the Franchised Dealers Approved Used Skoda Stock.

 

Maybe if Skoda/VW put their hands up to the Faults with their Design and Quality Control,

less customers would be driving Loaners for weeks on end.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/294051-cave-cthe-14tsi-kust-reply-please-if-you-have-had-an-engine-replaced

They aren't letting me off....their insurance covers it!!!

 

 

The chances are that they probably are, it wouldn't be worth them paying their excess, making a claim and a premium rise for the sake of the £100 it'll cost them.

 

In giving you a loan car for the duration it seems like they've done everything to make it as painless as possible for you.  The loan car is at the dealers expense whilst Skoda who made the faulty car and have insufficient supplies of spare parts in the country are getting off quite lightly.

There is more of a story as i understand it, but the OP can maybe confirm..

(i might have read some of it wrongly.)

 

He had a Warning Light,  Exhaust Emissions,

called the RAC, Many of the cars need an ECU Update and have not been getting them.

Some have had Remaps by previous owners and the ECU is not checked before Resale.

 (The cylinder with Spark Plug being cooked on these engines due to the Fueling and the Inlet Manifold,

some plugs are failing at half the Skoda/VW schedule of 40,000 miles, but VW/Skoda have not changed that schedule, so many are failing and have not been checked., the coils are failing)

 

the Dealer then did work, the wrong work possibly, changed a sensor,

then a pipe, then claimed not to know about the fault codes from the Original reason for getting the car in, so issues not resolved,

 

Then they go for it being the ECU needing replaced.  It is the Blind leading the blind.

 

george

 

An example of how some plugs are at under 25,000 miles on 1.4 TSI Twinchargers.