'service campaign' DQ200 DSG Oil Change,ECU update, Fabias in UK.

[Rooted]

If a Dealership or Skoda CS's check your VIN and it had Synthetic Oil at the Build it should not need 34F7, 

& they should know if it needs 34H5 if that is from 2013-2015.

[Esseesse200]

Cool ok. So are those numbers a software update reference ?

[Rooted]

2013 World Wide Recall or Service Campaign 34F7 started in 2014 Europe is the Synthetic oil changed to mineral oil and a software update.

If done the stick er '34F7' should be in the spare tyre well.

 

34H5 started end last year, Software update for DQ200 DSG

No idea for which & if just some 2013-2015 or if a Sticker in the boot.

[pearce_jj]

The latest service campaign I was told was related to oil pressure regulation. It's made the gearbox nice and smooth again anyway.

[Rooted]

EDIT.

Sorry this post was supposed to be in the thread on the Power Loss & no Spark Plugs changed yet.

I will leave it here though because doing the Software Update 34F5 and not bother being sure the Consumables / Engines Efficiency is a poor sort of practice by the Technician, but then a suppose the Dealership will say SKODA / VW are only paying for the Service Campaign'.

 

........................

Very risky not checking and changing spark plugs at 33,000 miles considering the knowledge that Skoda Technicians should have from the premature demise of one spark plug even on CTHE engines

& considering how many cars needed Spark Plugs replaced under warranty.

Some Dealerships have been doing Spark Plug replacements at a Major Service and that is not at 40,000 miles as the Service Schedule / Guidelines were in 2010-2012, then 2012 on even after VW changed the OEM plugs then the gap they originally set.

 

Worth getting the 4 spark plugs out and inspected.

Edited 27 May, 2017 by Awayoffski

[Rooted]

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=1647939 

About 34F5

[pee81]

On 29/03/2017 at 19:52, Awayoffski said:

2013 World Wide Recall or Service Campaign 34F7 started in 2014 Europe is the Synthetic oil changed to mineral oil and a software update.

If done the stick er '34F7' should be in the spare tyre well.

 

34H5 started end last year, Software update for DQ200 DSG

No idea for which & if just some 2013-2015 or if a Sticker in the boot.

Just been in touch with suk and I don't have any outstanding service campaigns on my car. (2014 vrs)

[A9X SJ]

Had a look under the boot mat today of mine has 34F7 written on the lane on boot floor 

[SeaGoat]

"Worth getting the 4 spark plugs out and inspected."

How much would one expect to pay to have this done and how can one be confident that it has been done or that the mechanic knows what he is looking for?
It seems to me that the only way of doing this with any degree of reliability is by supplying four replacement plugs to be fitted regardless of the state of the removed plugs.
I tried this on my last service and despite having promised to do so, the "Skoda Approved" garage (Progress Skoda, Harlow in Essex) failed to record from which cylinder each plug had come . . . they also failed correctly to connect up a hose at the rear of the engine - it came undone 20 miles after I collected the car.

[Rooted]

Some Skoda Dealerships wanted over £100 to supply and fit spark plugs even while the car was in for a service.

 

Some now do it in a £269 major service at no extra charge, & VW Dealers might @ a £299 service.

 

You need to ask to talk with a Tech, tell them your concerns and ask them to keep the plugs in order when removed to show you, 

a Skoda Main Dealer Master Tech should know why you are asking this.

 

A VW Independent specialist garage should as well.

Some might want 1 hours labour to do the 30-40  minute job of changing the 4 spark plugs correctly.

[Sittingbull]

I've not been on the forum very much lately, don't like the new lay out. That's by the by. 

 

On opening the mk2 Fabia owners section this thread jumps out. To save me rattling through 6 pages of stuff, will Skoda contact me direct if car has to go in for software update or oil change on the gearbox? I've never heard a peep from them, ours is a 2012 CAVE engine. Anne is away with the wee car at the moment so I can't check for any stickers in boot or otherwise, but to my knowledge we've never been made aware at any point that Skoda had carried out an update.

[Sittingbull]

From my reading of this, if I wasn't contacted first time around back in 2014 because the car didn't need the oil change from synthetic to mineral, and my car isn't a 2013/15 model then I don't need to worry? That's my take on it, hopefully I'm right.

 

One just for George, whom I've not spoken to for a while. The new franchise general manager at Skoda Hamilton is a decent lad, don't think the old lad is involved any longer at the Service desk either. Hopefully improvements all round, albeit I'll kind of miss the hellishly bad erroneous information the old chap dealt out so helpfully.

[pearce_jj]

Since mine had the pressure regulator update it's been a bit temperamental:

 

• unable to creep up hills - clutch eventually disengages and engine revs freely
• occasionally misses second under full throttle (again engine revs freely)
• near stall situation due to slow de-clutch in emergency brake situation

none of those issues have been present before the update.

[Rooted]

Be down to SKODA / VW to sort that out then, new Mechatronic Control Unit or a new Gearbox.

Their Fundamental Design, Manufacturing, Materials, Software or Fluid failings since they changed the DQ200's to Mineral Oil from the factory.

[pearce_jj]

It's under warranty but I can't be bothered TBH, more time off work etc and I've only got it for another month. Just posted for info for everyone else really in case there is a pattern,

[Rooted]

There is a pattern.  Failing of some DQ200 built and with mineral oil after the World Wide Recall but only the European Service Campaign 

& VW Group needing to try a Software Update Fix as a cheepo fix, and maybe as time goes on having to get a better fix.

 

It is a pity yet again that not properly fixed vRS's and other cars will go back into the trade and another buyer will get landed with a lemon.

[Rooted]

Sadly more are reporting issues as it comes up for 4 years since the Service Campaign '34F7' to put in Mineral Oil instead of the Synthetic and do a Software Update.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/444027-201718-dq200-dsg-34f7-service-campaign-any-further-issues 

[Sittingbull]

Just to add another point of information on this thread, really a warning of sorts I suppose.

 

Our car is an April 2012 CAVE engined vRS. The original engine was changed at 26,000 miles in September 2014.

 

Our car was never required to undergo service action 34F7, nor was it ever required to undergo service action 34H5 as our car is pre 2103. Checks to see if our car needed to be involved in either or both of these service actions were made during the period of our ownership and confirmed as not necessary by SUK.

 

However, given that our Mechatronic unit within the DSG has spectacularly failed now at 66800 miles, there is a question that other owners who have had an engine change might want to be asking SUK, and that is if the engine being changed has any bearing on the need for their car to undergo either or both of those service actions following the engine change. 

 

Symptoms for transmission problems may be slightly different where there has been an engine change, to the extent that ours caught out Master Technicians at two Skoda dealerships. In our case, and I know it to be the case in at least 3 other cases now, instead of a flashing gear cog in the top right corner of the MFD (Multi function Display) you will be presented with a flashing diagonal white spanner. Technicians at both dealerships understood this to represent the car requiring an Inspection (major) service and that the symbol would disappear once that service had been carried out and symbol reset. For the sake of other owners, this should not always be accepted as 100% correct as evidenced by our car, and indeed that of other owners.

 

In terms of driving and/ or noticeable symptoms, this is somewhat more difficult to pin down until it gets to nigh on disastrous stage.

 

Our car was driving perfectly in all modes at all times prior to the white flashing spanner appearing, no hint of any problems whatsoever. When the flashing spanner appeared, it did so without any prior indication that something was going wrong, the car was still driving perfectly in all modes. Even after the spanner appeared, the car drove perfectly for a time. However, after lying idle for a week due to my wife having flu, and a distance travelled of less than 200 miles, on its next use the car would throw itself out of whichever gear was selected, in any mode, and lose all forward or rear movement. This is because the oil leak within the Mechatronic unit was still ongoing whether the car was idle or being used. Once the oil leak had caused enough damage, the car became a non runner, with an inability to select any gear in any mode never mind make any movement.

 

If you are out of warranty, and we are, even if you have a full service history, which we have, then the cost of diagnostic check plus replacement amounts to £1750 at the Skoda Dealership. Our diagnostic revealed a pump had failed within the Mechatronic unit, just as was the case with the other owners previously mentioned, meaning a new unit required.

 

If you are out of warranty you will discover the inconsistencies of the approach taken by SUK Customer Services. In the other cases, some have paid as little as £155 to have this job done. Others, including me, have paid anything from that amount to the full amount.

 

Prior to buying the car in June 2014 I did some basic homework on the car and what to expect. There were two main issues known to affect the car, both very expensive repairs and both occurring not uncommonly. One was the 1.4tsi 132kw engine being prone to failure, the other was failure of components within the 7sp DQ200 DSG gearbox. We have now been affected by both, and are not alone.

 

I have always stuck up for the little car, describing it often as perfect for our needs, practical, easy to run and insure and still with the ability to put a smile on your face performance wise if the notion took you. And when the wee car returns to us this week I will continue to do so, after spending the cash to look after it you have too don't you?

 

But I do have to say, especially to anyone now considering buying one of these as a 5 to 8 year old used example, do so very much at your own risk and only do so after a thorough check of the vehicle history, and only with a comprehensive warranty in place to protect you. If you don't, it's the motoring equivalent to strapping yourself to the post and awaiting the firing squad taking aim.

 

And the reason for this? Well, very simply put, VAG very clearly have not built all of these cars, or the Cupra/ Cupra Bocanegra, Polo Gti or the A1 tfsi (all sporting the 132/136kw 1.4tsi engine) to last the test of time and ownership. A significant minority have had engine changes, DSG changes or both in some cases.

 

For a multi billion dollar business in the 21st Century, that is unacceptable.

[Sittingbull]

And by means of an update to this thread, and another pointer as to what other unfortunate owners might expect should the worst happen, our car is still with the dealer some 4 weeks after having it trailered in.

 

The report from last weekend that the car was all good to go was in fact incorrect. The job hadn't been started in fact. The adverse weather had put paid to delivery schedule and also impacted on staff levels at the dealer. That's fair enough given how severe the weather was.

 

During the week we got clarification that the Mechatronic unit was on back order ie all units at factory had been used. Of course according to Skoda Mechatronic unit failure is not a known issue with the 7sp DQ200 variant of the DSG.

 

Having received the Mechatronic unit, which is ordered direct from factory using vehicle chassis number for part syncing, it transpires that the dealer has so far been unable to install/ upload the basic settings required in order to make the vehicle driveable again. They're in discussion with Skoda Technical on how best to resolve this. 

 

Again, and especially since failure of the mechatronic unit is not recognised as an issue by Skoda UK, it's worth pointing out that our car is one of two the same dealer has in at the same time with the exact same problem, and also that they're unable to get the basic settings installed on the other one either. It's co-incidence that 2 are in at the same time with the same problem, to suggest otherwise might cast doubt on Skoda UK vision of how effin brilliantly well built these cars were.

 

I'm hopeful that we will get the car back this coming week.

 

Given the cost, and the frequency with which this non issue occurs, especially once the car has gone beyond 60k miles, can I venture forth the view that parting with £300 or so for the extended warranty to cover all components would be the best option for many? Because when this non issue occurs, it will cost around £1750 to put right.

[Nortonpuch]

Looks like I'm about to join the list. Coming home his evening just before going around the roundabout to join the A34, no change down then suddenly dropped into 3rd. Thankfully I was not on the A34 at the time. In the end limped home with only 1st and 3rd selecting, flashing D symbol on the display along with a flashing spanner and Engine warning light. Car is 2012 done 80K and has been fault free and and has a FDSH. 

 

Just bracing myself for the bad news!!

[Rooted]

Sorry to hear this. What engine has your car?

 

Sittingbull has still not got his car back after the new MCU fitted as still faulty, just waiting to hear how he gets on.

[Sittingbull]

Nortonpunch that sounds quite similar in some ways to ours with respect to the flashing spanner where the gear indicator normally sits. If you've had an engine change, i'd be a bit hesitant about moving it any time soon other than to the nearest dealer. Flashing spanner where it would normally indicate the gear you're in meant transmission issues with ours, and some others, and that's after an engine change.

 

Apart from that, if you're squeamish, look away now.

 

I visited the dealers today for an update as we still didn't have the car back and no updates forthcoming from them or Skoda UK. Earlier in the week my wife, who owns the car, contacted both and got a reaction.

 

Anyway, the technician working with our car at the dealership was very helpful and more than willing to discuss the exact nature of the problems facing him, and us. When our car was taken in it was undriveable. Couldn't select any gears, forward or reverse in any mode. On doing the diagnostic and visual inspection, the fault showed as a pump within the Mech Unit failing due to lack of pressure, where it should have been reading 40 bar it was reading zero. This was because the fluid within had leaked out, leading to loss of pressure and eventual seizure of the unit. The visual inspection showed that the clutch packs were fine, as were the swarfs, bearings and other necessities. 

 

So a Mechatronic unit was ordered, and after delay due to being on back order and then transportation delays due to the severe weather, the unit was fitted. The unit comes coded to the vehicle chassis number from the factory, and comes with some basic codes already installed for each particular vehicle. In theory, once fitted and all accompanying actions are completed (refilling oil etc) it should be a matter of installing/ uploading basic settings to the unit using an externally powered source. Ours would install so far then stop and kick the installation into touch. A new error code would show, error code 6 indicating that it's jammed in gear.

 

The technician can manually move the gears by hand, he can see the 4 levers within the gearbox and has checked using a mirror on a magnet to see if all is well within the part he can't physically open up. Nothing appears to be obviously kaput. On placing into auto mode, whether D or S, there is no movement, Clearly it is jammed and therefore not driveable at the moment.

 

So we are now anxiously awaiting news from Skoda technical (who have been involved for some days) and VW in Germany to see what the next steps are. The chap has worked through the TPI for this job and various bulletins that he has been referred to, but cannot move to the next stage (once settings are onboard, test drive, then more codes) until he can get the basic settings installed. Unfortunately we may require a new gearbox rather than a mechatronic unit, increasing the cost of the repair substantially, in fact by more than 100%.

 

Those following this tale will recall in an earlier post how I described contacting 2 different dealerships about the flashing spanner. Both gave the same response, not to worry about it as it was only telling us that an inspection service was due. In fact, had Skoda UK along with VAG made known to dealerships that this flashing spanner (following an engine change) could in fact be related to a serious transmission failure, then the car would not have been driven at all, and would have arrived at the dealership still running and most likely needing only the Mechatronic unit changed as the car would not have been jammed in gear. Skoda UK and VAG have knowledge of this happening before but have neglected to advise their network of dealerships. Had they shared their knowledge, our problem would not be so overwhelming.

 

Our view has always been that the failure of the components is not normal wear and tear, the gearbox should be a lifetime item on the vehicle as opposed to disposable in the way that you would expect to change discs and pads. Gearboxes should last longer than 5 years, and certainly longer than 60,000 miles. VW, so far, have accepted no responsibility and offered no goodwill towards the repair. We are now 6 weeks past without the car, and perhaps could be a few weeks yet.

 

That's the gist of it.

[Sittingbull]

UPDATE

 

Dealership advising needs gearbox and mechatronic unit. Quote to supply and fit is £7100. No goodwill being offered by Skoda UK. I have asked that case be escalated to Executive Office. Unless that stance taken by SUK changes, car is finito. Kaput. Dead in the water.

 

Shellshocked, devastated by the news and also by the attitude shown by SUK. On a mk2 Fabia Vrs Owners page on Facebook and discovering more and more folk reported same issue, flashing spanner after engine change, some covered by warranty, others not, some covered by warranty still had to pay £1200 others nothing, those out of warranty it varies.

 

For the record, from the outset, we declared our view we thought it was transmission related and were rebuffed twice by dealers who thought otherwise. Also we declared our willingness to pay, including all of the previously quoted £1750 it would have taken.

 

Thoroughly, thoroughly disappointed in SUK. I cannot imagine we will ever buy another VAG motor, and that says something as almost everything bought over the past 30 years has been from their stable.

 

As Roberto Duran once famously said "NO MORE" 

[Brian69]

Shocking, Sittingbull - you’ve been treated appallingly. I can only hope someone at SUK with a sense of fairness intervenes. 

[Nortonpuch]

Today I heard from my local Skoda dealership - fault code G488 and that means a new Mechatronic unit at £1920.00. The car has 80K miles on it and also due a service, so it looks like it will be scrapped. The car has been owned by me since new and has FDSH from the dealer who sold to me, and has never had an engine change.  In this day and age I would expect a car to outlast 2 pairs of windscreen wipers and two sets of brake pads, but this seems not to be the case. 

 

Though nice to drive, it has totally put me off VAG DSG boxes, the quality, reliability and support when things go wrong is scandalous, how can VAG knowingly sell cars that they know full well will be written off at less than 80K miles. The fact it drops from 7th gear to 3rd when this fault occurs is a danger on dual carriageway or motorway, another reason why VAG should act quickly to resolve this DSG issue. 

 

Looks like the car will be sold on Ebad this weekend starting price £0.99. SE Estate, One owner, factory fitted alloys and sports suspension, FDSH, fog lights, privacy glass, protection pack, only one easily fixed fault according to Skoda, grab a bargain!