Having had my yeti for exactly one month today, I had a rather interesting conversation with the previous owner, id contacted him to see if he had the spare key to save me some money. He asked if I'd had any problems with the yeti, which I thought was strange, so I asked him why he'd sold it. The dreaded 1.8tsi timing chain issue. Skoda had told him it was going to cost up to £6k to repair, so he part exed it for another one, with skoda. So I phoned the dealer to see what had been done, and they said the timing chain and tensioner had been replaced. They said there had been no further damage to the engine, and the previous owner had been given the option to try this repair first, but at the risk of later finding out that internal damage had been done. As it was out of warranty, he would have had to have paid for diagnostics, so it figures I guess. The dealer couldn't tell me if the chain and tensioner had been replaced with the updated version if these parts, only that it had been done in August last year. Does anyone know if they will have neen replaced with the redesigned parts? Ive read that they are of a much better design, and dont fail like the old ones. Id been considering replacing them myself anyhow, but obviously if skoda have already done it, itll save me a fortune.

Aside from holding my breath a little every time I start it, I really love the yeti, it impresses me every time I get in it. And hopefully I wont be worried about timing chain issues any more!

Thanks

So was it a Skoda Approved Used Car when you bought it and did you get a 12 month Warranty?

 

The Dealer or Skoda UK Customer Services can print out the Warranty Work, parts & labour invoice for you.

That is if it was a Skoda Approved or VWG Workshop doing the work.

If the Dealership paid for the parts used to do the repair then they have a 2 year warranty on them.

(Maybe the Dealership got Skoda Goodwill!!)

 

 

?

Are you going to have or have you already put a Skoda extended warranty on it.?

I would.

That's the bit I don't get.....I didn't get it from that dealership, it was at a toyota dealer. I did get a 2 year warranty off them, but ill be finding out what sort of warranty skoda have put on the work..

Skoda UK will have put no Warranty on the work.

 

The parts will have a Warranty on the Manufacturing and material.

The Workshop should guarantee their work, but thats not worth the paper it is not even written on.

 

So you have a 2 year Warranty from somebody, and if any issues, they should not say 'Know Issue', 

because the issue was dealt with at a Skoda Dealership.

 

Best ask the Skoda Dealership, or Skoda Customer Services for the record on the Skoda System of works done on your car.

Nah, I meant warranty on the parts. I e done some more reading, and from what I can gather, as long as they fitted the new design, it should be all good from here...

Sorry, what do you mean "know issue"?

Sorry Typo.  'Known Issue'.

 

Some Warranty Companies have been saying Known Issue with different Volkswagen Group Engines with high failure rates.

But that is because Volkswagen Knew and took no actions, just replacing engines or the likes of Chain Tensioners when owners complain long enough and loud enough.

 

VW / Skoda / Seat / Audi even have the nerve to say repairs out of Warranty are under Goodwill, when they KNEW THE ISSUES, 

when the Manufacturers Warranty was valid.

 

Anyway, hopefully you are all sorted, 

just ask Skoda to Confirm the Updated / Improved parts were fitted, 

and not jusr replaced with those with 'Fundamental Design, Manufacturing or Quality Control Issues'.

Ahh, sorry, I should have realised. I have wondered whether that would be the case. I phoned them to check and they said it would be covered, but one single claim can only be up to £5k, so I could still be hit with quite a bill.

That was the conclusion ive come to, too. To replace so many of the same part under "goodwill" is basically admitting it. Apparently there have been numerous service bulletins for this fault, but no recall. Im just trying to find copies of them now.

And ive just read somewhere that the new chain and tensioner superseded the old ones, so the old ones shouldn't have been available in August last year. Im going to phone the dealer again tomorrow and check....fingers crossed!

Surely dealerships don't even hold known substandard parts let alone use them as replacement ones.

As a mechanic I'd be aghast at the prospect of doing a shoddy job like that.......and be looking for a better employer.

You are joking are you not.

Volkswagen built faulty twincharger engines 2009-2012, and sent replacement engines to Australia and the UK which were the same as those failing and they were fitted and some replacements failed.

 

Then in 2012 they upgraded the engines, 

Yet the failing 2010-2012 cars with the First Engine Type were getting fitted with the Original type, right up to 2014/15.

 

Never take anything for granted with VW, Skoda, Seat or Audi.

 

Obviously the Latest Upgraded Chaintensioner should have been fitted,

& the Replacement 1.8TSI was not really going to be £6,000 to fit.

But, 

you had no guarantee the New or Factory Refurbished engine that arrived at a Dealers would have the latest components fitted.

Again obviously it was likely to, but thats always in doubt with VW/ Skoda.

As a mechanic, a total transplant involves blind acceptance as a fix.

I'm referring to a strip down and use of KNOWN substandard parts as a fix.

Surely dealerships don't even hold known substandard parts let alone use them as replacement ones.

As a mechanic I'd be aghast at the prospect of doing a shoddy job like that.......and be looking for a better employer.

Id like to think so too, but having worked in the motor trade, I know that isn't always the case. If the dealer wanted to repair it as cheaply as possible, they'd just bolt anything they had on the shelf on. Shouldn't happen, but it does. We are talking about the same group who openly lied and cheated emissions regulations....

Id like to think so too, but having worked in the motor trade, I know that isn't always the case. If the dealer wanted to repair it as cheaply as possible, they'd just bolt anything they had on the shelf on. Shouldn't happen, but it does. We are talking about the same group who openly lied and cheated emissions regulations....

Our dealerships only survive on their repeat sales as there is so much brand competition.......you get surveyed on your impressions, such as after a service, which I suspect, is done for the importer principal looking to protect his/her brand's reputation.

The service devision bends over backwards to satisfy us, you get a reminder and they remember your name.

Of course a loan car is always available or mini bus into town, and ours is always returned washed......not like 'the good ol' days' at all.

Social media can also destroy you these days.

I hope the price you paid for the car is reflective of the history. To be honest the one key would have put me off - I would certainly have insisted that a second key was supplied and the missing key deactivated.

I also find it suspicious that the Skoda dealer off loaded the car to the trade and were not prepared to 'risk' putting it out through their approved used sales. Accepted the 1.8TSI is a bit of an 'orphan' so harder to sell, but dealers are normally crying out for used Yetis to retail.

Insofar as come back with Skoda or the dealer that did the work - afraid not. Your 'contract' is with where you bought the car. However, the good news is that you now have evidence of a pre existing problem so if it recurs you have comeback, even if the used warranty doesn't cover it.

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Edited 14 February, 201610 yr by Falmouthboy

Our dealerships only survive on their repeat sales as there is so much brand competition.......you get surveyed on your impressions, such as after a service, which I suspect, is done for the importer principal looking to protect his/her brand's reputation.

The service devision bends over backwards to satisfy us, you get a reminder and they remember your name.

Of course a loan car is always available or mini bus into town, and ours is always returned washed......not like 'the good ol' days' at all.

Social media can also destroy you these days.

I would really hope that to be the case, but im not convinced....

I hope the price you paid for the car is reflective of the history. To be honest the one key would have put me off - I would certainly have insisted that a second key was supplied and the missing key deactivated.

I also find it suspicious that the Skoda dealer off loaded the car to the trade and were not prepared to 'risk' putting it out through their approved used sales. Accepted the 1.8TSI is a bit of an 'orphan' so harder to sell, but dealers are normally crying out for used Yetis to retail.

Insofar as come back with Skoda or the dealer that did the work - afraid not. Your 'contract' is with where you bought the car. However, the good news is that you now have evidence of a pre existing problem so if it recurs you have comeback, even if the used warranty doesn't cover it.

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I cant really say it was.....I came away thinking I'd got a good deal, but I'm starting to wonder now. Ive bought second hand cars with only one key a few times over the years, it didn't really ring any alarm bells. When I went to look at the car, I told them I wanted a good long test drive, and they didn't disappoint. I got nearly 30 miles of mixed driving, and they even let me take it up a snowy lane to test the 4x4! They really didn't give the impression they were tryito hide anything, and the car drove like new.

I too find it suspicious that skoda didn't sell the car through they're own network, I assumed the previous owner had traded it in where I bought it.

IF the parts have been replaced with the redesigned ones, I'll be happy enough. If. Its only what would have been done if VAG had done the right thing and recalled the engines anyway. But that does remain to be seen....

I too find it suspicious that skoda didn't sell the car through they're own network, I assumed the previous owner had traded it in where I bought it.

 

 

The dealers usually only sell newer used cars with low mileage so I wouldn't worry

 

Other than the cam chain issue - now resolved - the 1.8tsi is a really good engine.

 

Going forward to look after the engine:-

• Make sure you change oil regularly and ensure sump plug is removed to drain (essential with engines from any vendor with cam chains) - change to fixed service intervals
• Never allow the engine to turn backwards (can release oil pressurised tensioner) If you have to park in gear on a hill ALWAYS leave it in first if pointing down a hill or reverse if pointing up a hill

I noticed that some of your dealerships have a fairly restricted amount of space and, I suspect they reserve it for their own spotless FSH and low mileage ones .......the 'rates' they pay probably means they need to be capable of giving maximum return on area taken up and pass on anything that doesn't quite measure up eg age, odo distance missing key etc......it's all about profit margin I suspect.

Edited 14 February, 201610 yr by Ryeman

Never allow the engine to turn backwards (can release oil pressurised tensioner) If you have to park in gear on a hill ALWAYS leave it in first if pointing down a hill or reverse if pointing up a hill

This sounds like a good tip! Does it apply only to the 1.8 or the 1.2 and/or 1.4 as well?

Thanks

Jim

It is a 2010 Yeti, so last August was out of Manufacturers warranty by near 2 years unless it was on a 5 Year Warranty, 

so never really going to be sold at a Skoda Dealership.

 

Monday & you can find out the part number of the Chain Tensioner Kit, and the other work done while at the Skoda Dealership, 

or someplace else if they did not do the work.

This sounds like a good tip! Does it apply only to the 1.8 or the 1.2 and/or 1.4 as well?

Thanks

Jim

 

Applies to any chain cam engine with oil pressurised tensioner - so yes this includes the 1.2/1.4 EA111 engine (exhaust/turbo at the front of the car). On this engine also ensure the correct oil filter is fitted and don't over-tighten

 

The newer 1.2/1.4  EA211 totally different engines are cam belt so this does not apply to these (exhaust/turbo between engine and bulkhead)

Edited 14 February, 201610 yr by bigjohn

Dealers don't keep spare parts "on the shelf" nowadays, especially not parts like cam chains and sprockets. They have to order them in for next day delivery, so it is extremely unlikely that "old stock" would have been sent from the Skoda Warehouse.

And I have never seen any professional advice that says that chain driven cam engines should not be "run backwards".

'Very unlikely',  is not 'Could never happen'. 

 

So best learn from the experience of others, and from previous actions at VWG Dealerships.

 

Skoda Yeti Rear Coil Springs should not expire prematurely, 

and the replacements coming from TPS should be an upgrade on the failures, but are they?

 

VORSPRUNG DURCH TECHNIK

Dealers don't keep spare parts "on the shelf" nowadays, especially not parts like cam chains and sprockets.

 

Agreed 

 

 

 

 

"And I have never seen any professional advice that says that chain driven cam engines should not be run backwards"

 

Only passing on advice I received some time ago

 

If you turn an engine backwards that has a lot of "gubbins" on the cam shafts (eg high pressure fuel pump) you are putting a lot of force on the "slack" side which can put pressure on the tensioner which can force it back if oil pressure fed (I think the later revisions of the tensioner may have a ratchet mechanism , but it probably won't be very robust).The tensioner then has a long way to travel once the oil pressure starts building up after the engine is started - meaning the chain is potentially slack for a short while - fine when new, but..  

 

In addition "if" the tensioner is pushed back as the engine turns - whilst this is happening the crank is turning, but the cam shafts aren't

 

 

You also have to be careful in fitting the right oil filter and fitting it correctly  - If something wrong here then oil drains back overnight which can delay oil pressure buildup on startup the next morning. I'm sure I've also read somewhere on this forum somewhere that the first step when investigating a  timing chain issue is to fit a revised oil filter

Edited 14 February, 201610 yr by bigjohn

Is sucking oil from dip stick not good for tsi engines for changing the oil?

I noticed that some of your dealerships have a fairly restricted amount of space and, I suspect they reserve it for their own spotless FSH and low mileage ones .......the 'rates' they pay probably means they need to be capable of giving maximum return on area taken up and pass on anything that doesn't quite measure up eg age, odo distance missing key etc......it's all about profit margin I suspect.

 

 

The dealers usually only sell newer used cars with low mileage so I wouldn't worry

 

Other than the cam chain issue - now resolved - the 1.8tsi is a really good engine.

 

Going forward to look after the engine:-

• Make sure you change oil regularly and ensure sump plug is removed to drain (essential with engines from any vendor with cam chains) - change to fixed service intervals
• Never allow the engine to turn backwards (can release oil pressurised tensioner) If you have to park in gear on a hill ALWAYS leave it in first if pointing down a hill or reverse if pointing up a hill

 

 

 

It is a 2010 Yeti, so last August was out of Manufacturers warranty by near 2 years unless it was on a 5 Year Warranty, 

so never really going to be sold at a Skoda Dealership.

 

Monday & you can find out the part number of the Chain Tensioner Kit, and the other work done while at the Skoda Dealership, 

or someplace else if they did not do the work.

 

Thanks for that guys, I'd not really thought of it that way, but that does  make sense. I'll get the info off the dealer tomorrow, and hopefully should be all good from here. I think the engine is fantastic! Its by far the smoothest 4 cylinder I've ever driven, and the low end torque is remarkable. I've only once revved it over 3k rpm once since I bought it, and that's just coming into the maximum power band. So far, it has far exceeded my expectations of owing a 4 cylinder petrol turbo. The Yeti is a joy to own and drive generally, it can get me much closer to the snow line, then put a grin on my face on the B road home. I hope I can keep it for some time.

 

I've never heard that about cars with cam chains, but what you say does make sense. It'll certainly not do any harm, and will be a good thing to get into the habit of doing.

 

 

Dealers don't keep spare parts "on the shelf" nowadays, especially not parts like cam chains and sprockets. They have to order them in for next day delivery, so it is extremely unlikely that "old stock" would have been sent from the Skoda Warehouse.

And I have never seen any professional advice that says that chain driven cam engines should not be "run backwards".

 

 

I know that should be the case, but a combination of my luck, the fact that this is a fairly common fault makes me want to confirm it with the dealer. It shouldn't happen, but it sometimes does.

 

 

Agreed 

 

 

 

 

"And I have never seen any professional advice that says that chain driven cam engines should not be run backwards"

 

Only passing on advice I received some time ago

 

If you turn an engine backwards that has a lot of "gubbins" on the cam shafts (eg high pressure fuel pump) you are putting a lot of force on the "slack" side which can put pressure on the tensioner which can force it back if oil pressure fed (I think the later revisions of the tensioner may have a ratchet mechanism , but it probably won't be very robust).The tensioner then has a long way to travel once the oil pressure starts building up after the engine is started - meaning the chain is potentially slack for a short while - fine when new, but..  

 

In addition "if" the tensioner is pushed back as the engine turns - whilst this is happening the crank is turning, but the cam shafts aren't

 

 

You also have to be careful in fitting the right oil filter and fitting it correctly  - If something wrong here then oil drains back overnight which can delay oil pressure buildup on startup the next morning. I'm sure I've also read somewhere on this forum somewhere that the first step when investigating a  timing chain issue is to fit a revised oil filter

 

Thanks, I usually just get filters from the motor factors down the road, but in that case, I'll probably go genuine. Do you know if the revised filter superseded the old one, or are there 2 part numbers?

 

Thanks for all the replies, info and suggestions

Edited 14 February, 201610 yr by Fisheyonadishey