Hi Guys,

 

Continuning on from an old topic after my dsg gearbox recall (campaign), I have been experience a couple of intermitent faults and wanted to get some advice;

 

Fault 1: On a morning reversing out of the drive, flick it (quite quickly) straight from 'R' into 'D' apply the power and the clutch doesnt engage with D1/D2 flashing on the display.  I have to turn off and restart to reset.

 

Fault 2: Off the line in kick down mode, goes from 1st to 2nd and red lines in 2nd gear it then gets stuck and wont automatically shift up, I then manually flick up with the paddle into 3rd it then starts flash on the display I try going up the gears, still flashes and keeps driving but stuck in slow gear, I have to turn on and off to get it back to normal.  (Note kick down mode happily works in higher gears when on the motorway seems to be starting in 2nd it gets stuck).

 

I sent it back to Skoda on the basis of the issues coming up after the recall, initally they could not figure out any faults then eventually they came back with it needing a new clutch! Costing £1300.  Now this is car with only 22,000 miles on the clock, am I wrong in thinking this is mad or are there problems with the clutches I am not aware of? (Note: I spoke with tech ref clutch and he didnt seem to sound to convinced that it was the clutch and just gave reference to a slightly low reading on the diagnotics which would link to a wearing clutch).

 

Obviously according to Skoda UK its a wear and tear part and wont say how long a clutch should last for i.e. no liability.

 

To add I have been monitoring the oil consumption from full, after my first 1500 miles it didnt register on the dip stick and took 1 litre to fill it.  I have done another 600 miles since and it is currently nearing the bottom mark of the dip stick.  More monitoring to be done.  Do I try the oil breather mod?  Skoda have quoted £200+vat to do an oil consumption test and the £120+vat to apply the oil breather mod.

 

I have attempted to put a complaint forward to Skoda UK based on all points just to see if I get anywhere and of course no liability to be admitted anywhere let alone admit there have been 'issues' with the earlier engines....

 

Any advice is greatly appreciated.  Love the car just cant stand an expensive clutch maintanence costs so young into the life of the car.

Devnet, what year is the car and is it still under original manufacturers warranty? Or if out of original manufacturers warranty is it covered by an extended warranty from Skoda UK?

 

I'm not great on the history of DSG problems but do know that there are threads in this forum that have been running for a while dealing with DSG issues, I'm not great with search function but there are threads that might help.

 

Oil consumption, dealing with Skoda UK and having an engine replaced is however something I have had personal experience of.

 

Assuming your car is under manufacturers original warranty (assumption of course being the bed partner of danger!) the approach I was advised to take, and it was successful, is to contact Skoda UK Customer Services to notify them of your concerns. Try to keep records of oil used, including if possible the dates of the check, the mileage and the amount of oil being added. Also keep receipts for any oil bought. Ask for a case to be raised by Skoda UK to look at oil consumption. 

 

Skoda UK have tried to pass the cost of oil consumption test onto owners in the past, but I know that the test for ours and many others on here was carried out and paid for by Skoda UK. Courtesy car was also put on by them for time spent in garage for us, and I'm sure for many others.

 

Oil breather mod, if the car has failed the test, has been done on many cars again at Skoda UK expense, sadly this mod isn't successful very often although some owners on here reported improvements. Ours didn't even get this mod, it failed spectacularly and went straight to replacement engine via the Skoda authorised dealer workshop, again covered under warranty by Skoda UK. This cost in excess of £4.5k.

 

Other owners in the midst of the process will be able to tell you Skoda UK are now trying another fix that involves changing oil squirters. I have no experience of this so can't comment.

 

There are a number of threads on oil consumption in this forum, and I'm sure other owners will be here to offer guidance. Unfortunately Goneoffski is in the middle of a break at the moment otherwise he would be your man.

new clutch?! NO.... mechatronics? probably.... fault? yes, make 'em fix it

Devnet, what year is the car and is it still under original manufacturers warranty? Or if out of original manufacturers warranty is it covered by an extended warranty from Skoda UK?

 

I'm not great on the history of DSG problems but do know that there are threads in this forum that have been running for a while dealing with DSG issues, I'm not great with search function but there are threads that might help.

 

Oil consumption, dealing with Skoda UK and having an engine replaced is however something I have had personal experience of.

 

Assuming your car is under manufacturers original warranty (assumption of course being the bed partner of danger!) the approach I was advised to take, and it was successful, is to contact Skoda UK Customer Services to notify them of your concerns. Try to keep records of oil used, including if possible the dates of the check, the mileage and the amount of oil being added. Also keep receipts for any oil bought. Ask for a case to be raised by Skoda UK to look at oil consumption. 

 

Skoda UK have tried to pass the cost of oil consumption test onto owners in the past, but I know that the test for ours and many others on here was carried out and paid for by Skoda UK. Courtesy car was also put on by them for time spent in garage for us, and I'm sure for many others.

 

Oil breather mod, if the car has failed the test, has been done on many cars again at Skoda UK expense, sadly this mod isn't successful very often although some owners on here reported improvements. Ours didn't even get this mod, it failed spectacularly and went straight to replacement engine via the Skoda authorised dealer workshop, again covered under warranty by Skoda UK. This cost in excess of £4.5k.

 

Other owners in the midst of the process will be able to tell you Skoda UK are now trying another fix that involves changing oil squirters. I have no experience of this so can't comment.

 

There are a number of threads on oil consumption in this forum, and I'm sure other owners will be here to offer guidance. Unfortunately Goneoffski is in the middle of a break at the moment otherwise he would be your man.

Contact Skoda UK CS via an email using the Skoda website contact section.

 

Send initially to Tom Chadwick Customer Relations Manager.

 

Give car Registration, age ,mileage and warranty status.

 

Dealership undertaking the previous work and likely future servicing /warranty work.

 

As for you individual case No to be raised in their reply.

 

The high oil consumption testing procedure ,certainly if car is within Skoda warrant or third party, should not be paid for by you.  Skoda UK know that a % of this product will have inherent faults. Hence the warranty history held in the Skoda UK files against Vin No's. Both with engine and DSG.

 

Outline you particular uses  with both engine and gearbox and work carried out to date by you dealer. 

 

Hope that helps.

 

Do ever thing in writing and ask for emails outlining details raised in any phone conversation had. ( If they don't, then you do,by follow up.) 

 

Send copies of your email to Skoda UK to your dealer,keeping them in the loop. 

Edited 23 February, 201511 yr by vrskeith

Hi Guys,

 

Thanks for the replies so far, for reference the car is out of its manufactures warrenty (no extended warrenty) bought privately, 2011 registered CAV engine.  No other works carried out in its history other than general servicing by Skoda.

 

I did consider the mechatronics unit, expecially on the basis of it having the wrong oil in it for first 20k of its life.  But withouts futher recorse in saying its not the clutch, keep looking I am a little stuck.

Good luck there, these posts (if founds via google search) will certainly make any future potential owners think very carefully before buying the car, Skoda (i hope) should ensure 100% that the Mk3 has better R&D than the Mk2 should they bring out a VRS version.

Edited 23 February, 201511 yr by Hudson1

Hi Guys,

 

Thanks for the replies so far, for reference the car is out of its manufactures warrenty (no extended warrenty) bought privately, 2011 registered CAV engine.  No other works carried out in its history other than general servicing by Skoda.

 

I did consider the mechatronics unit, expecially on the basis of it having the wrong oil in it for first 20k of its life.  But withouts futher recorse in saying its not the clutch, keep looking I am a little stuck.

 

I'm hoping that someone on here is au fait with Consumer rights and laws as I feel you may be in deep water here due to the car being out of warranty and bought via private sale. Skoda stance already indicates that they don't count themselves responsible for oil consumption or DSG issue on your car and that will be a major stumbling block to getting their help. Or I should say they may well help but will insist you pay.

 

VAG know that there are a minority of 132/136kw 1.4tsi Cave engines that have developed faults, and have records of oil consumption problems across the group affecting Audi A1 TFSI, Polo Gti, Ibiza Cupra and Bocanegra as well as the Mk2 Vrs. Skoda UK are most certainly aware, given the amount of engines they have changed not to mention oil breather mods, and now oil squirters that they have fitted, plus the number of cars that have gone through the consumption test and been told the car passed VAG self set tolerance level.

 

As such it might be, in the circumstances of no warranty and private sale, that you approach Skoda UK in a conciliatory fashion to see if they will consider bearing all or any part of the cost of the testing process and eventual replacement of engine. As a corporate entity VAG are very aware that they somehow or other managed to produce a minority of these twin charged engines that weren't up to the task, and developed excessive oil consumption through flaws in either manufacturing process or parts used. Only VAG know the specific reasons why this has happened, but the key argument is that they do know that it has happened and the proof lies in the hundreds of these engines they have changed under warranty.

 

You may need legal advice either from CAB or Solicitor on any rights you may or may not have should Skoda/ VAG choose to play with a dead bat, which unfortunately I suspect they will.

 

The mechanic in our work has a Renault Kangoo automatic (60 plate) that needed a new gearbox just after it went out of manufacturers warranty period. Renault agreed a goodwill gesture to meet half the cost of replacement, but it still cost the chap £2800 and that was on a refurbished unit. At least if Skoda offered similar it would be better than nothing and you being left with an oil user that you have lost confidence in.

 

Sorry I can't be ultra positive.

Any Update on this?