My DPF has failed on my VRS, i tried taking it out for a spin in 3rd gear for 40mins to no joy! So i took it on a long 4-5 hour drive in Germany, where the engine light came on. So i drove back and took it to the garage. The garage in Germany are now saying i went way over the miles i should have and are refusing to cover it under a warranty job. Ive been in contact with Skoda UK where the car was purchased from to see if they could help. The customer service originally told me i would have to drive it to the UK to get it sorted as Skoda Germany and UK are different companies and they couldn't tell them to repair it. The garage in Germany originally quoted €2500 to replace it, but with some contact with Skoda UK they said i would have to pay at least 50% so now they are saying its €1400. The car itself is 6 months old and has done 7000miles, and would regularly be used on long trips most weeks. By the sounds of it Skoda UK would change it as a warranty job. So the sticking point is, is that they wanted me to pull over and to be recovered back to a garage. Is there any one out there who has faced a similar problem, or could give me some advice. Thanks in advance

You went for a 5 hour drive after the DPF failed? I'm not surprised they want you to foot the bill....

here is a link to the warranty T&C's, and you best check anything you received & get in writing from Skoda Customer Services 

what they are agreeing to.

Not stopping when there are Warning Lights or messages is an issue.

 

http://skoda.co.uk/sitecollectiondocuments/brochures/warranty-booklet-single.pdf

Edited 14 January, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

If the warning light comes on, this means that soot has accumulated in the diesel particle filter because of the frequent short distances.

In order to clean the diesel particulate filter, the vehicle should be driven at an even speed of at least 60 km/h at engine speeds of 1 800 - 2 500 rpm for at least 15 minutes or until the warning light goes out with the 4th or 5th gear engaged (automatic gearbox: position S) when the traffic situation permits it. This increases the exhaust temperature and the soot particles deposited in the diesel particle filter are burnt. 

 

 

The warning light goes out after the successful cleaning of the diesel particle filter.

 

If the filter is not properly cleaned, the warning light does not go out and the warning light begins to flash. The following is displayed in the information display: Diesel-particle filter: Owner's manual! appears. Afterwards the engine control unit shifts the engine into the emergency mode, which only has a reduced power output. After switching the ignition off and on again the warning light comes on.

Visit a specialist garage immediately.

 

 

 

The above is from the manual...

 

If the light was not flashing then you were well within your right to carry on driving as that is what it instructs you to do and they should honour the warranty if there is one attached to the DPF......If the light was flashing then it is your fault as it says to visit a specialist garage immediately and I wouldn't expect them to pay.

Edited 14 January, 201511 yr by JamesVRSmk3

here is a link to the warranty T&C's, and you best check anything you received & get in writing from Skoda Customer Services 

what they are agreeing to.

Not stopping when there are Warning Lights or messages is an issue.

 

http://skoda.co.uk/sitecollectiondocuments/brochures/warranty-booklet-single.pdf

Yeah looking that over i might have a chance if i get the work done and send a bill over to UK Skoda, as they were saying they would change it in the UK as warranty, and where blaming Skoda DE for not doing the work. Thanks,

The above is from the manual...

 

If the light was not flashing then you were well within your right to carry on driving as that is what it instructs you to do and they should honour the warranty if there is one attached to the DPF......If the light was flashing then it is your fault as it says to visit a specialist garage immediately and I wouldn't expect them to pay.

Yeah it is flashing now, its been in and out of the garage since before christmas now and even then the garage was telling me it was ok to drive. All the garage has tried to do is drive it in 3rd gear they have not tried to clean it or heat it up to try and burn off the soot.

Sounds like it should be covered by the warranty. I know the car was purchased in the UK but I thought the first year of warranty is Skoda central ( rest is Skoda UK) so it seems odd the Germans won't touch it.  Hmm, obviously recovery to the UK is a PITA  and seems odd that SUK want that.... It's a costly PITA for them too surely.... Or maybe not, they've paid for the breakdown services already.

There is a UK member in the Fabia MK2 Section that had the Failed 1.4 TSI vRS Engine replaced in Mainland Europe

@ Skoda UK's Expense.

After all the parts are coming out of the Factory in Mainland Europe.

 

Best get your Skoda UK CS Handler to get onto Germany & the Dealer or Skoda in Germany.

Maybe ask SK UK CS to get a Customer Services Manager like John Good, Dan Wilson or Tom Chadwick onto it.

Edited 14 January, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

There is a UK member in the Fabia MK2 Section that had the Failed 1.4 TSI vRS Engine replaced in Mainland Europe

@ Skoda UK's Expense.

After all the parts are coming out of the Factory in Mainland Europe.

 

Best get your Skoda UK CS Handler to get onto Germany & the Dealer or Skoda in Germany.

Maybe ask SK UK CS to get a Customer Services Manager like John Good, Dan Wilson or Tom Chadwick onto it.

Ive been in contact with the company i brought the car off, and now there saying that because i have gone over the 150kms and i didn't go direct to a garage that i should just bite the bullet and pay it as its the best offer i'm going to get over here, which i understand i wont get it for cheaper but its a massive kick in the teeth

Sounds like it should be covered by the warranty. I know the car was purchased in the UK but I thought the first year of warranty is Skoda central ( rest is Skoda UK) so it seems odd the Germans won't touch it.  Hmm, obviously recovery to the UK is a PITA  and seems odd that SUK want that.... It's a costly PITA for them too surely.... Or maybe not, they've paid for the breakdown services already.

Massive headache for me, but there literally saying you should go to any VW group garage in mainland Europe and get the repair done by them. Which I'm sure if you were in France or Spain they would draw up a massive bill which you would have to pay on the spot and then try and claim back off Skoda while they try to wriggle out of paying it.

Its surprising that in Germany where i would guess the parts are made they pretty much double the price than in the UK. I would love to know exactly how much the DPF costs at trade but I'm sure it wouldn't be €1800 there trying to claim it to be.

Get it in writing from the Warranty Provider, not what someone or another says.

 

Ask the Warranty Provider in writing and ask for the reply in writing.

Key point for me is that the DPF failed within 7k miles from new and was unrecoverable by methods listed within the manual. That's a warranty fault.

I understand that the owner drove it for a little longer than recommended after the fault appeared, but the fault already existed and surely the engine should protect itself from further damage by entering into and then remaining within limp mode.

Shocking response from Skoda and a good reason to avoid VAG diesels for those who do moderate or mostly city mileage. Glad I went petrol.

Key point for me is that the DPF failed within 7k miles from new and was unrecoverable by methods listed within the manual. That's a warranty fault.

I understand that the owner drove it for a little longer than recommended after the fault appeared, but the fault already existed and surely the engine should protect itself from further damage by entering into and then remaining within limp mode.

Shocking response from Skoda and a good reason to avoid VAG diesels for those who do moderate or mostly city mileage. Glad I went petrol.

This will be my last diesel, i got it because i drive to the UK 5-6 times a year with fuel prices going down its not worth it for me anymore. Petrols the way forward!

with fuel prices going down

 

I'm not entirely sure I'd be banking on them staying down... I have no doubt they will head back up again at some point.  But I'm in the same boat - my mileage has decreased since I got my TDI, and I'm pretty sure I'll be going back to the green pump next time around.

As you can see from a previous post I made on one of the other forums, had a similar issue with a  2012 Roomster TDI 1.6 and the EGR radiator going while in Italy from the UK. After some initial uncertainty resulting from the fact that rest of Europe Skoda warranty is only 2 not 3 years, all was sorted after a few emails and calls between me, the Italian dealer, my UK dealer and Skoda UK customer services. In the end all agreed and confirmed that as the Warranty booklet states, repairs in the 3 year are carried out by the Italian dealer 'as if for an Italian warranety' in terms of the documentation and entries into the Skoda intranet and reporting of the fault and work, I then pay, and get re-imbursed once back in the UK by Skoda UK via my UK dealer who does the paperwork for the claim from my side once home. It is key you get a case reference number from Skoda UK when you get in touch with them. They were able to confirm that the car was still under warranty in their system and that this was the way to proceed. It is also vital that the non-UK dealer logs everything 'as if it was a local warranty job'. It is also crucial you have a full Skoda dealer service history and the non-UK dealer is a Skoda approved dealer locally.

 

Now in your case, as it is not in the 'extra' 3rd year of the Warranty, but in the 1st, if I understood correctly from my case, the repair should be carried out as if the car us under the local waranty (i.e. the German dealer should do it as if it is one of their own cars that needs a warranty repair, and you don't need to to the whole re-imbursment thing), but maybe I misunderstood. I can't see if this was resolvable for a car in the last months of the 3rd warranty year, why it should be such a big deal for one just a few months in.

Edited 14 January, 201511 yr by ReneR

Not sure where you stand with the mileage you drove it with warning lights on. They may have a point - but you'd still expect a reasonable contribution at that low a mileage !

 

Arguement between Germany & U.K. sounds like a load of rubbish though. First 2 years are Skoda (international) warranty, it's only the 3rd year that is Skoda U.K.  So saying 'it's a different Company', isn't really true.

 

When I worked at a U.K. Jeep Dealer years ago, I did have a customer who had engine trouble, paid for repairs in Germany or Austria (can't remember which) and brought his receipts back to us in the U.K.  We claimed it back for him from Jeep (U.K.) and he got his money back a couple of months later.  So as suggested earlier, maybe you should be pushing it through Skoda U.K.?

We need a little more information here.

 

Which lights came on and when. There is the DPF light, EML (Engine Management Light) and glowplug light. Some stay constant, some flash.

 

As I understand it the OP had reason to believe the DPF had an issue. I'm therefore guessing he had the DPF light illuminate.

 

Following the instructions in the manual (40 min drive) did not see the light go out.

 

As recommended by the manual the OP continued driving in an effort to clear the DPF light, albeit a long drive.

 

During this prolonged journey the EML illuminated, at which point the manual suggests taking the car to a garage ASAP - which as far as I can tell was the case.

 

How is this a warranty refusal. Where are the mileage limits stipulated? 

 

Regardless of the miles driven the DPF has failed under warranty, at less than 7,000 miles it appears to be a manufacturing defect rather than too many short journey's.

Its surprising that in Germany where i would guess the parts are made they pretty much double the price than in the UK. I would love to know exactly how much the DPF costs at trade but I'm sure it wouldn't be €1800 there trying to claim it to be.

OEM parts are generally a little cheaper in Germany but only due to exchange rates etc. I would expect the part to be circa 800 - 1000 euros with a significant chunk of labour.

I remember being quoted £960 for a Volvo V50 DPF plus 6 hrs of labour to replace, as it was due at 6 yr / 72000 mile service - needless to say I got shot at 5 yrs old! For comparison ECP at the time were selling patent DPF at £290.

....and a good reason to avoid VAG diesels for those who do moderate or mostly city mileage. Glad I went petrol.

Bit of an overreaction. It's only the first report I've read on here of this failure. On top of that I've got the diesel vRS and only make a 14 mile round trip to work (7 there in the morning and 7 back in the evening) and I've only had the light on once in 8 months which was only due to me interrupting 2 or 3 regens so my fault.

The myth you need to do 15,000 is year or whatever figure people pluck out of thin air to be better off with a diesel is bull. If you compare a diesel vs petrol vRS you make your money back after only 6000 miles.

Bit of an overreaction. It's only the first report I've read on here of this failure. On top of that I've got the diesel vRS and only make a 14 mile round trip to work (7 there in the morning and 7 back in the evening) and I've only had the light on once in 8 months which was only due to me interrupting 2 or 3 regens so my fault.

The myth you need to do 15,000 is year or whatever figure people pluck out of thin air to be better off with a diesel is bull. If you compare a diesel vs petrol vRS you make your money back after only 6000 miles.

 

Agreed, DPF technology has come on leaps and bounds since they were first introduced, however if you only do 20 miles a day in city traffic I think it my struggle.

 

I'm a firm believer that its best to "properly drive" a diesel from time to time to give it the proverbial clear out.

 

I've had mine since March and covered 30k without any issues, however that's not really a comparison as I do a lot of motorway miles as well as city/rush hour traffic.

Bit of an overreaction. It's only the first report I've read on here of this failure. On top of that I've got the diesel vRS and only make a 14 mile round trip to work (7 there in the morning and 7 back in the evening) and I've only had the light on once in 8 months which was only due to me interrupting 2 or 3 regens so my fault.

The myth you need to do 15,000 is year or whatever figure people pluck out of thin air to be better off with a diesel is bull. If you compare a diesel vs petrol vRS you make your money back after only 6000 miles.

 

The price difference must be negligible then? Or are you relying on resale values? I keep my cars until they're worthless, so there's little resale value whatever fuel I pick. I compared a 2.0TDI 150 vs. the 1.4TSI 140 when I bought mine, the diesel being £1700 more on the list price. Assuming it's only £1500 more in reality and using 46mpg for the petrol and 57mpg the diesel (taken from real usage figures at Honest John's site - believe them or not they're better than the EU cycle figures) the difference in fuel cost was 2p/mile (around £1.42/litre diesel and £1.35 petrol at the time). On that basis you'd need to do 75,000 miles to get the £1500 back.

 

I tried to cost the whole thing including insurance/tax/service etc. and reckoned that with no major repairs the diesel would be £1500 cheaper over 6 yrs and 100k miles. Apart from the fact that I consider this to be negligible compared to the total cost over this period, I think the diesel is more likely to eat up this £1500 in DPF/EGR/turbo/DMF problems. Alright so the petrol has a turbo and a DMF, but the DMF should be less prone to failure in a petrol than a diesel and you can't avoid a turbo these days (and who would want to, given the performance benefit!).

 

Considering my last car (my only diesel car) was binned earlier than planned due to a combination of these problems and I actually preferred the petrol this time, it was a no brainer.

I did say the vRS in my post so the figures you are using are completely different for both price difference and MPG.

It was simply based on buying new and including car tax (£30 in the diesel vs £145 in the petrol I think from memory) - there's a good calculator here - http://www.which.co.uk/cars/driving/driver-tools/petrol-vs-diesel/petrol-and-diesel-fuel-costs/

Just to be clear I meant after the first year of only doing 6000 miles you would be saving money. Doing 10,000 a year you would save money from month 6 onwards. Both them calculations are excluding the car tax saving of £100ish so in reality you'll save the money even sooner.

Edited 15 January, 201511 yr by JamesVRSmk3

Hmm possibly your pressure sensor has failed and the continued driving of the vehicle (not your fault as told to do so by the dealership) has killed the DPF.

Way I look at it sadly **** happens. I would push for a repair under warranty given that 1. The DPF shouldnt fail in such short timeframes and 2. Dealer advice likely caused the issue in the first place. Once fixed i'll be surprised if you then experience problems again as the DPF implementation in the O3 is pretty foolproof unless you do nothing but v short stop/start journeys and interupt regen attempt after regen attempt.

Bit of an overreaction. It's only the first report I've read on here of this failure. On top of that I've got the diesel vRS and only make a 14 mile round trip to work (7 there in the morning and 7 back in the evening) and I've only had the light on once in 8 months which was only due to me interrupting 2 or 3 regens so my fault.

The myth you need to do 15,000 is year or whatever figure people pluck out of thin air to be better off with a diesel is bull. If you compare a diesel vs petrol vRS you make your money back after only 6000 miles.

My commute is 5 miles each way and I've never seen the DPF light, nor did I in the 2 years I had my mkII vRS CR.