Hi,

before I ordered my new O3 elegance estate 1,2TSI, I, of course, did quite some reading on the net to learn what people think about the car, and so on.

 

I noted that some felt the suspension setup to be a bit on the firm side and they would prefer it to be more comfy.

 

Anyway, I ordered in December and got the new car in March. I also felt that the suspension really was a bit more stiff than what I was used to from my 2007 O2. Nothing out of the ordinary and I expected it would soften a bit after a couple of thousand km.

 

On my way to work I have to drive over some speed bumps. I do that always carefully but noticed in the moment when the front wheels were over the top and reached normal road level again and the suspension gets suppressed a noise which (if it would be on an old car) I would say come from from worn parts in the suspension which have some play.

 

I did some search on the net, but this did not seem to be a known issue. However, it was there every time and it did not seem right on a new car.

 

I went to the dealer and did a testdrive together with a service manager. I expected he would say, as dealers tend to, that everything is just fine. To their credit I have to say that he agreed with my observation and promised to investigate if any service bulletins or upgrades applicable to my car were issued.

 

There was nothing issued from the factory, so I delivered the car to the dealer for further investigation. They test drove again and confirmed the noise.

 

They then took a closer look at the suspension parts and noticed that some sort of transport protection on the suspension had not been removed before the car was delivered to me back in March. I do not know what precisely that transport protection looks like but it seems to be some plastic or rubber parts restricting suspension travel (maybe someone here knows more?)

 

Anyway, the ride is now very different from what it was and really smooth in my view.

 

 

Sadly, this is not the first time this has happened and I doubt it will be the last, glad to hear that you know have the car sorted.

Yep, well documented.

Enjoy your new, more comfortable ride.

Another messed up PDI then. I think Skoda need to start fitting those huge orange tags they use on fighter plane missiles, "REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT"

not removing all the transport blocks seems to be a bit of a skoda epidemic, I don't know that many people with newish skodas and it has happened to 2 of them.

Another messed up PDI then. I think Skoda need to start fitting those huge orange tags they use on fighter plane missiles, "REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT"

 

As far as I'm aware they do now put a big warning tag on the rear-view mirror, however this must just get cut off and ignored.

 

The blocks themselves on mine were a nice pastel blue though - you'd think they'd make them a bright colour to be easy to check in a hurried PDI!

Interesting to read your comments. I had never before heard of a case like this, otherwise I probably would have taken a look...

 

Anyway, one would expect that there is a checklist of all activities to be performed in PDI. But these days one can not be sure anymore that people can read, and if so that they actually bother to do so...

I'd ask for a set of new front struts to be fitted - if you have done that kind of distance with the shocks keep hitting the transport blocks .....

I'd ask for a set of new front struts to be fitted - if you have done that kind of distance with the shocks keep hitting the transport blocks .....

I have no idea what these transport blocks look like and what are hitting and how they are restricting movement. Maybe someone could enlighten me?

 

Thanks in advance

They look like this...

3 on each side. They're approx 3cm thick each

Excellent, thank you very much  :beer:

 

I will approach the dealer to get at least a written confirmation that if any problems with front suspension arises also outside warranty period they will cover it.

I'd ask for a set of new front struts to be fitted - if you have done that kind of distance with the shocks keep hitting the transport blocks .....

there would be no damage at all.

 

I think the latest ones look like this.  It's really stupid because they are under the dust cover and not easily seen.

 

The Octy Mk2 units.  More visible - would be even better in orange.

there would be no damage at all.

 

I think the latest ones look like this.  It's really stupid because they are under the dust cover and not easily seen.

 

 

Those are the transport blocks - they restrict the movement of the front strut by limiting the piston travel, unlike the O2 version which clamped the spring externally.

 

If you have done a few thousand km with these keeping bottoming out then the associated forces are being taken by the underside of the top mount and also the top of the outer casing of the shock absorber, which is not designed to take any direct force at all. If you look at it under the dustcover it is fairly thin steel.

 

At an absolute minimum I would want it in writing that any issues with front shocks will be covered whilst the car is under warranty. Otherwise they are only covered for 6 months as wear and tear items.

Thanks again to all who provided information and shared their views!  :clap:

 

The dealer confirmed now in writing that the suspension is covered under the same warranty as the car, which is 5 years/100000 km here in Norway. From that perspective is should be ok.

 

Once I have made space in my garage I will do a close visual inspection of the suspension parts to look for anything that might indicate damage/wear. Anything specific I should look for?

That is interesting, as in the UK the shocks are a wear and tear item and only covered for 6k miles and 6 months ............

 

Check for damage to the top of the strut piston and any leaks - I doubt there will be any, but at least you have it in writing that your suspension will be covered come what may

They should follow the motorbike disc lock method and have a bright yellow cable from the transport blocks to the steering wheel.

Also, check the dust cover for the shock absorber. Mine was replaced as it was torn to shreds and wasn't doing a very good job of keeping the dust out!

 

On the topic of shock absorber damage, my dealer was very reluctant to replace them, apparently they are only covered under warranty for the first 6 months (in the UK at least). The transport blocks I had were dinted from when the shock absorber had bottomed out.

 

Also, a final point, I asked for my dealer to check the tracking of my car - they refused - but when I had it checked anyway all was fine. May be different for you if you have been running around for longer with the blocks in.

All those recommending "remove before flight" style tags - don't forget the vehicle has to be driven before the PD is done.  eg: To get a car down here it goes from factory to holding yard onto transport to dock holding yard onto RORO to dock holding yard to dealer holding yard to dealer pd area.  That's why it has the blocks - to stop all the transport drivers from ripping out the front bumper & sump (because they drive with such love & care :p ).  It appears the issue is an inadequacy of the PD documentation or the training / competency of those doing the PD.

 

I can't see how it would damage the damper but I can see how it would kill the top mount.  Stranger things have happened at sea so it's best it's on file

Who does a PDI at the dealer? Is it the techs, service manager or other?

Who does a PDI at the dealer? Is it the techs, service manager or other?

 

Definitely not a Service Manager job.

 

Otherwise, it depends on the dealership I'd think. I worked at a Toyota Dealership in the mid-80s.  The cars were washed and PD'd by the yard guy as it wasn't considered work worthy of a tech.  It's mainly checking levels & making sure stuff works so you just needed somebody that knew their way around cars and had an eye for detail.  The fitment of accessories (AirCon, towbars, etc) was dished out among the various techs (we had about 15).

 

For reasons unknown, PD was regarded as being part of sales rather than the workshop.

I had the same issue on my Superb. Not an unusual occurence unfortunately. Since mine was an ex-demo (Service cordinator for a four dealership group wife's car I later found out!) they had to admit it was their problem for a poor PDI. The PDI was done nearly two months before registration on 1st March, so it was a quota special as well

Edited 14 June, 201511 yr by Bristolf2b

Who does a PDI at the dealer? Is it the techs, service manager or other?

The dealer is saying, it's done in Oslo where the cars get first when entering the country....on the other hand, who would believe everyting a dealer says....

Edited 14 June, 201511 yr by jogo

The dealer is saying, it's done in Oslo where the cars get first when entering the country....on the other hand, who would believe everyting a dealer says....

Doesnt the cars arrive in Drammen on ships?

Sounds a bit odd that they do the PDI there, since a large number of the cars will be shipped elsewere.

The PDI on mine was done by the local dealer here in Tromsø.

Doesnt the cars arrive in Drammen on ships?

Sounds a bit odd that they do the PDI there, since a large number of the cars will be shipped elsewere.

The PDI on mine was done by the local dealer here in Tromsø.

 

Drammen might absolutely be right, however, the dealer stated Oslo. I bought a new Skoda from them earlier and back then the PDI was done here locally. Maybe they found it just too embarrassing to admit that they screwed up again, who knows... 

Drammen might absolutely be right, however, the dealer stated Oslo. I bought a new Skoda from them earlier and back then the PDI was done here locally. Maybe they found it just too embarrassing to admit that they screwed up again, who knows... 

 

All cars imported by Møller use Oslo as the port , more specificly Bekkelaget. Currently the ship Autoprogress service the route between Bremerhaven and Oslo. Jogo, do you mind PM with your dealer? as I am talking delivery of my new Octavia this friday.

Edited 15 June, 201511 yr by Oyvind