I received a new Skoda Roomster on the last day of February 2014 on the Motability scheme.

 

The vehicle has automatic transmission and is perfect except for a single very annoying problem.

 

There is a rattling sound coming from the fascia area above the air conditioner / heater / radio and when it is going full blast, it sounds like a Geiger counter.

 

It only happens when going over rough road surfaces ( viz. those not as smooth as glasslike tarmac ).

 

It has been back to the dealership 3 times and they can find nothing wrong with it, although they did say that a part needed tightening on the windscreen wiper installation ( this, the second time I returned it to the dealership and only when I told them where I thought the problem was ).

 

When this noise is happening, it ceases when I switch on the windscreen wipers - it stops as the blades are going across the windscreen but then starts again as the windscreen wipers return to their original position.

 

After taking it back to the dealership for the third time, they said they had gone as far as they could with this problem ( one which they acknowledge exists ) but they couldn't locate it precisely and it might take days for them to locate.

 

The cause is going to be something silly and I know it isn't an engine fault or anything electrical.

 

Problem is, I am left without any help because when you get a car from Motability, it is leased to you for 3 years.

 

I must admit though, I haven't approached Motability yet so I don't really know what their procedure will be.

 

But I am not looking forward to the prospect of tolerating this damned infernal noise for the next 2 1/2 years.

 

Anyone have any sensible suggestions as to what might be causing this problem and has any member experienced this same problem before?

 

Cheers everyone,

 

Terry ( kolymagold ).

It can be really difficult to pinpoint where noises are coming from.  Our Roomster developed a buzz after the windscreen was replaced, and I had resorted to inserting various bits of sponge between the dash top and the windscreen, without success, thinking that they were rubbing and resonating.  Driving along one night, and dipped the rearview mirror due to the following car's headlamps, and the buzzing instantly stopped.  Instant fix.

I have a rattle, nearside dash near the air vent. Damned if I can track down exactly where though....

Similar to Kenty, dash top on nearside, it was the airbag cover chattering at its furthest left, partial cure we cut a long strip of the very thin rubber off the wiping surface of an old wiper blade, eased that in the gap, better, but tends to vibrate loose, might put a drop of something to attach it to the lid; obviously mustn't interfere with the airbag deploying, so perhaps best if attached to the lid rather than loose?

Richard

Hi Terry and welcome to Briskoda.  I'm surprised your dealer has been unable to trace the source of the rattle, given the very specific set of circumstances under which you can make it disappear.  

 

You have given your dealer three opportunities to fix the problem (without success) and now your dealer claims he can take it no further.  I feel the time has come for you to contact Skoda UK.  Many on here have found Skoda UK very helpful.

if running wipers make the noise disappear, the reason would be loose mounting for wiper motor or linkage, basically when wiper arms work against the glass the motor is pressed against the car's body (by the amount of torque it takes to move the wipers), when motion ceases the motor is free to move about again. Probably some screws not tightened or clips not put in correctly, etc.

 

Best complain to SUK, explain how specific the sound is, and use another dealer in future if this one fobs you off.

I had exactly the same experience as Terry with the addition that it seemed worse on a cold day! My Roomster was bought new 5 years ago and went to the dealers several times, including an overnight stay in the middle of a frosty spell, to try and locate this rattle. Mine was diagnosed as a lead to my SatNav on top of the dash. How on earth a wire taped in position could be thought to be causing this noise, I just do not know! I removed the lead and SatNav to prove that the problem was definitely nothing to do with that at all. Unfortunately the warranty had expired by then, and it was apparent that I would have to pay for future investigations myself, so gave up.

My hearing has deteriorated, and presumably my brain is now programmed to expect this rattle, so I take no notice nowadays! If anyone ever solves the problem, I'll be the first to tell my dealer how wrong they were!

 

Peter

First of all, thank you all very much for the advice offered on this annoying problem.

 

Regretfully, the problem is still there but the service engineers keep saying they cannot trace it.

 

Currently, it is back with the service engineer on the advice of Skoda UK, whom I contacted back in September.

 

I was led to believe by them that they had resolved the problem and that it was the suspension and the noise it was creating was reverberating through the car to the dashboard.

 

Okay, I know next to nothing about the mechanics of motor vehicles but I'm not bleedin' stupid - and it turns out that Skoda UK did not have a solution, merely a suggestion for the service engineer. 

 

I have an idea the service engineer thinks I'm 'hearing' noises. Well, if I was a paranoid schizophrenic, I might believe him on that score but my good lady has heard it too and so have other passengers in the vehicle.

 

I have an idea that this is not going to be resolved this time - and while I have it in mind, the courtesy car I have ( Black Edition ) has only 770 miles on the clock and I'm getting an annoying rattle / vibration from this as well!

 

But I have reached a decision.

 

It is patently obvious to me that neither the service engineer nor Skoda UK can resolve this annoying problem so since my car is on lease from Motability ( and the lease has 2 1/2 years left to run ) I intend to contact Motability to ask them for help in resolving the situation. More specifically, can I exchange the car?

 

I found all of your advice invaluable and once again, thank you so much for your time.

 

Cheers,

 

Terry Walsh.

 

PS - I will keep this forum informed of developments.

 

 

Edited 15 October, 201411 yr by kolymagold

Okay - so now it has gone back to the Dealership ( on the instructions of Skoda UK ) and they are now telling me it is the drive chain / timing chain?

 

They have replaced it, tell me they have road tested it but there is still a rattle / tapping sound and I am not pleased at all.

 

Something inside the engine compartment ( or somewhere within the fascia ) is loose and it is taking me to heights of being totally ****ed off that I have never reached before.

 

I doubt if the problem is within the engine itself: if it was, the engine would have seized up, overheated, blown up - whatever.

 

I think my best bet now is to drive the car for a couple of weeks and see if I can pin down precisely where this tapping noise ( new ) is coming from and then I will E Mail Skoda UK a full report.

 

If they cannot resolve the problem and continue to instruct me to return it to the dealer, then I'm afraid it's a no go. If it has been back to them four times and replacing the drive chain has not completely resolved the issue, then I will seek advice from Motability from whom I lease the car.

 

I will keep you informed of progress.

 

Cheers kiddies,

 

Terry Walsh.

There is a rattling sound coming from the fascia area above the air conditioner / heater / radio

 

It only happens when going over rough road surfaces ( viz. those not as smooth as glasslike tarmac ).

 

When this noise is happening, it ceases when I switch on the windscreen wipers - it stops as the blades are going across the windscreen but then starts again as the windscreen wipers return to their original position.

 

... the Dealership.... are now telling me it is the drive chain / timing chain?

 

That almost defies belief    

 

Sorry to hear your problems, Terry. That is unacceptable. I still find it unbelievable the dealer cannot trace the rattle, given the very specific circumstances under which you can make it disappear.  I feel it is time for Motability to either reject the car back on the dealer, or for Motability to insist you keep the courtesy car for as long as it takes the dealer to find a permanent fix on yours.

 

Hope it all gets sorted soon.