Electric Window Failure

[RS3100]

Went to open the drivers side window to get the ticket to access a car park and there was a crack like breaking plastic and motor went but no window drop.  Motor works fine, but no movement on the window and the car is only two days short of its fourth birthday.

 

Took the car straight round to Skoda and apparently it is the cable connecting the motor to the mechanism that snapped due to the cable becoming frayed.  Now waiting for a new cable but the garage couldn't find why the cable had become frayed.  Must be either a cable that was faulty when the car manufactured or there is a rough edge on the guide and rollers, again which must be there when the car made, but without dismantling the whole door and removing every component for an inspection, the garage won't do any more unless I pay for it.  The repair will be £250 and a thorough inspection is likely to double the price so I think I have to bite the bullet and hope this is just a one off.

 

Anyone else experienced this type of failure?

[GaSelle]

Quite a common fault on VAG cars. The wires cracks due to rust.

[Leifmjcb]

Yeah same's happened to mine but got a feeling it could be the relay.

[numskull]

Quite a common fault on VAG cars. The wires cracks due to rust.

 

Quite a common fault on ALL cars, TBH.

[RS3100]

Very disappointing considering the car when not in use is in the garage at home or an under cover car park at work.  My mountain bike gets cleaned once in a blue moon but left to drip dry outside and the cables on that haven't ever gone rusty in the 10 years I've owned it so Skoda or VAG group as a whole must be using some extremely cheap poor quality parts.

 

You would of thought the cable could have a plastic protective coating.

[silver1011]

You should always ring or email Skoda UK and let them know of the issue.

 

Quite often on cars that have full Skoda service history and in cases where you can prove brand loyalty (previous Skoda cars owned, the wife drives a Skoda etc.) then they are sometimes able to offer goodwill gestures towards the cost of repair on cars up to 5 years old.

 

For the sake of a 2 minute phone call or 30 second email it's worth a try.

 

If not then ask the dealer for the replaced parts to see for yourself if it is likely you could demonstrate to Skoda that the issue is due to a potential manufacturing defect rather than fair wear and tear.

 

You can contact Skoda UK customer services here...

 

http://www.skoda.co.uk/about-us/contact-us

[jonathan.tong]

sometimes able to offer goodwill gestures towards the cost of repair on cars up to 5 years old.

 

and in fact even beyond 5 years as I experienced when yet another reverse parking sensor failed on our Mk 1 Superb after 6-7 years of ownership.

[RS3100]

Thanks Silver 1011, will definitely do this

[Leifmjcb]

You should always ring or email Skoda UK and let them know of the issue.

 

Quite often on cars that have full Skoda service history and in cases where you can prove brand loyalty (previous Skoda cars owned, the wife drives a Skoda etc.) then they are sometimes able to offer goodwill gestures towards the cost of repair on cars up to 5 years old.

 

For the sake of a 2 minute phone call or 30 second email it's worth a try.

 

If not then ask the dealer for the replaced parts to see for yourself if it is likely you could demonstrate to Skoda that the issue is due to a potential manufacturing defect rather than fair wear and tear.

 

You can contact Skoda UK customer services here...

 

http://www.skoda.co.uk/about-us/contact-us

Very wise briskodian, will bare this in mind. Even though I own a Mk1 octy haha.

[RS3100]

Spoken to customer services and I need to take the car to the dealership I go the car from which is 70 miles away as the local dealerships near me have a poor reputation!

 

I will have to pay the inspection cost which is £100 and show the car has main dealer service history, which it doesn't as the last service a couple of months back was by a Skoda specialist local to me that has a very good reputation and they secured the window in the upright position.  So Skoda Customer Service have said no guarantee that I would get the a good will gesture, it all depends on what is found when the fault is inspected, so I could be spending more than is necessary as the independent has come back with a price all in of £218 for the repair which includes £45 discount and I haven't paid for the inspection, so if I don't go with them, I'll have to go back and pay an inspection fee just so the car was secure as you could slide the window down just by pushing it!

 

So now at a bit of a dilemma, should I go with the independent or try my luck at the good will?

 

Shame I had no internet access over the weekend while I was at the Classic Car Show in Birmingham to post this.  Hindsight is such a wonderful thing ;-)

 

Now going to think over my options.

[silver1011]

The upfront £100 inspection cost would put me off although I'm surprised Skoda UK were still willing to considor a goodwill gesture despite the lack of a full main dealer service history.

 

It is a dilema, you are right, I think I'd be saving myself the hassle of the 140 mile round trip and the uncertainty and go with your local trusted indy.

 

Good luck with whichever route you choose!

[RS3100]

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions, it definitely gave me food for thought, so I feel I've at least made an informed decision, only time will tell if its the correct one.

 

If Skoda decided with a good will repair, there was a chance I'd get the inspection fee back, but no guarantee, so the max cost would be at least £400, the least would be £45 as I'd have to go back and pay the local specialist for doing the inspection and securing the window.  Therefore I've decided to go with the local independent specialist at £218 and they won't charge for the inspection.

 

If it goes in another four years, I'll do what I did with the Ford Capri RS3100 when Ford stopped making the parts and start to stock up on the rare parts and the parts most commonly prone to failure with age.

 

I think the law changed a while back meaning that a car under warranty could be serviced (and the warranty maintained) by an independent, provided branded (in this case VAG Group) parts are used.  Normally the car goes to a Skoda main dealer near to my parents, just unfortunate that the last service didn't coincide with a visit to them and nearly got done in Belgium due to work commitments, but I was unable to find a dealer in the Brussels area that people would recommend, guess there aren't many from Belgium on the forum.