Hi all......

Wondered if anyone else has had this issue

Had my 2010 VRS Octavia Estate just over a year (10 days out of warranty) when the H1 headlight bulb for high beam stopped working on the nearside, tried changing the bulb and no luck, even tried a couple of other bulbs just incase I'd got a dodgy bulb but still no joy

Went to a local mechanic friend and a wire fault between the bulb and the connection to the car as diagnosed, this was annoying as it's a sealed unit so couldn't get to the wiring easily so took a trip to Skoda. Even though I told them what had already been found they took my car for two hours to investigate before telling me it wasn't the bulb that was broken and was a wire......this went in a little while before I was told it required a new light unit and this would cost around £450 fitted!!

Pretty amazed at the price and pretty p*****d at the amount of time it'd taken to tell me what I knew as well as all the dramas of offers if 'good will' as my car has FSH etc only to be told that neither wiring or headlamps were covered on the warranty so no good will could be offered.......even more annoyed!!!

Anyone else had this headlight problem and any ideas where I might find a replacement, I've tried ebay and a few local scrappies but no joy any help would be awesome!!

They have a goodwill matrix, but not sure if this only covers warranty items?

I'd still be pressing for a contribution. You would expect the headlight unit to last the life of the car, and certainly just over three years!

If you have always had it looked after by Skoda, they should help if asked.

Ask the service manager to call Skoda UK for you as a starter for 10.

Apparently this has all been done, allegedly due to my cars age and mileage they won't make a contribution apparently as it's 4 years old and done 52k that's out of their matrix!

I was initially told wiring wasn't under warranty and then when I was told it was a unit fault they added that this wasn't in warranty......I wouldn't expect any 'good will' but from the off they mentioned it and said they would be able to do something on the price etc if they'd not mentioned it i would never of brought it up!

The complaint email is in so wait and see what comes back

Interested as to why 52k/4 years would be "outside the matrix". That is either right on average mileage for those who feel that 12k a year is right, and low mileage to those that agree that 20k/year is more realistic.

A Skoda dealer won't bother attempting to properly diagnose and fix a wiring issue. They are parts fitters not proper mechanics.

 

It is far easier to charge you £450 and simply swap the whole headlight assembly.

 

Find a local auto electrician, I guarantee the headlight is fixable by someone competent.

Grovestarr, mine is just over 4 years old and at 53k, and I have just received a 25% matrix, 25% dealer & 25% Skoda UK contribution to a repair (leaving me just the last 25%).

PM me if you need more detail!

Grovestarr: which dealer?

A Skoda dealer won't bother attempting to properly diagnose and fix a wiring issue. They are parts fitters not proper mechanics.

 

It is far easier to charge you £450 and simply swap the whole headlight assembly.

 

Find a local auto electrician, I guarantee the headlight is fixable by someone competent.

I agree with this!

My speedo LED died. Skoda wanted to replace the whole instrument binnacle at around £1000. I found an auto electrician who did it for £100.

My near side indicator bulb went, same problem crap wire had snapped inside headlight, what i did got the snapped piece of wire joined a piece onto it  drilled a hole threw the indicator holder and fed wire to connector and soldiered it on to terminal been like that since december.

 

Pretty dear xenon lights crap internals and the side light bulb is another story, what i would do is have a good look see if wire has broken.

My near side indicator bulb went, same problem crap wire had snapped inside headlight, what i did got the snapped piece of wire joined a piece onto it  drilled a hole threw the indicator holder and fed wire to connector and soldiered it on to terminal been like that since december.

 

Pretty dear xenon lights crap internals and the side light bulb is another story, what i would do is have a good look see if wire has broken.

Does doing all this get rid of the warning light on the dash as wells someone said it wouldn't

Grovestarr: which dealer?

Beadles Skoda, Aylesford, Kent.

Apart from salesman promises that never materialised they've been spot on since, we went there after the Skoda Dealer literally a couple of miles away in Tunbridge Wells were really poor!!

Grovestarr, mine is just over 4 years old and at 53k, and I have just received a 25% matrix, 25% dealer & 25% Skoda UK contribution to a repair (leaving me just the last 25%).

PM me if you need more detail!

PM'd

Interested as to why 52k/4 years would be "outside the matrix". That is either right on average mileage for those who feel that 12k a year is right, and low mileage to those that agree that 20k/year is more realistic.

Exactly what I was surprised at, I did have to smile when he told me that and almost laughed

I have no warnings on the dash never had any trouble mate.

Shame your not closer as I could have fixed it and I wouldn't charge you anything like £450!

On a defence note for the dealer, as a technician I would never 100% trust the diagnosis from someone / somewhere else - its sort of understandable they wanted to check it out for themselves.

That said however a break in the wire inside the headlight should take a max of 30 mins to diagnose :-(

Edited 10 August, 201411 yr by xpower

Beadles Skoda, Aylesford, Kent.

Apart from salesman promises that never materialised they've been spot on since, we went there after the Skoda Dealer literally a couple of miles away in Tunbridge Wells were really poor!!

You mean Caffyn's. Not to name and shame of course.

Might of been......... Ha ha.

Did you get it sorted

Still not sorted yet......emails gone off to Skoda Customer 'Care' and had a response requesting more details so that's the ball back to them, I'll add an update nice I get one.......failing this they are about £260 on ebay

If you did fancy the trip and it was a broken wire in the headlight I'm sure I could fix it for a lot less than that. Offers open....

Just a quick update for you guys, Skoda UK called me today and between them & the dealer they've offered to cover 65% of the cost for the new light, which I'm more than happy with bringing the cost down from £450 to £120!!

I'm not gunna push my luck, think I'll take that and run!!

Good result

Bite their hand off

If you have a FSH, it counts for quite a lot when theres a problem out of warranty

Yep, I'd take that.

Well done Grovestarr! Top work.

Went & got the light fitted today, and I don't know why but the guys at Beadles Skoda, Aylesford didn't charge me at all in the end!! Complete result for me!!

Really good stuff, as well as the usual friendly service this made up for all the previous drama!!

There are ways and means....