I had a thread on here back in December when my timing belt failed leading to me having a new engine in my 2011 Fabia. Skoda paid 90% of the work and it has a 2 year warranty. This morning going to work there was a thud and then an awful grinding noise and the car stopped. The driveshaft has now fallen off and isn't connected to the engine. I got it taken to the Skoda garage and they tell me that a bolt holding the driveshaft in place has sheared off and there may also be a hole in the gearbox casing.

I've obviously said I believe it's connected to the work in December and they said that they will look at it tomorrow and contact the warranty department if that's case.

can I have some advice please....I know nothing about cars but even I know the driveshaft doesn't just fall off!

Thanks in advance.

Sounds like the driveshaft bolts weren't tightened up correctly. Either not enough or too much. Probably bet they weren't replaced either.

When they rang me today they said the bolts were new when I had the work done, but I obviously don't know if it's true or not.

All work/genuine parts done at a skoda dealer is automatically covered by a 2 year unlimited mileage warranty. As they claim the bolts were new then I would say you have a valid claim against skoda/dealer for full warranty repair.

Looks like it will all be covered. The gearbox is cracked so has to be replaced. But they haven't got a courtesy car until Monday and seem unwilling to do any to help which I'm not happy about. Not a great service for something which should never have happened.

Call Skoda UK Customer Services. Lodge a complaint, it is Warranty Work the dealer made an error probably.

Plenty of Staff at the Dealership will be driving perks of the job at the Dealership, some still registered to Skoda UK.

There are Demonstrators there that can be lent, or the Salespersons 'Management car'.

 

Or the Warranty Provider can have a Hire Car arranged for you.

These Dealership Employees seem to think they are doing Customers a favour.

 

The Dealership should be bending over backwards, you could be claiming off their Insurance, 

and getting a Courtesy car and Invoicing them maybe.

 

A call to the Dealer Principal tomorrow might be worth your time.

Edited 1 March, 201610 yr by GoneOffskiroottoot

Thanks for the tips, Trouble is they are too busy making money this week with all their new cars going out. Ill try and get something sorted with Skoda this morning....it's not easy when you're at work at all day!

I now have a courtesy car! Still waiting for confirmation that the work will be covered under the warranty.

They might want to talk Warranty,  but it might be an actual mistake in the Technicians work. 

That is them needing to rectify that if it was what happened, and that seems likely.

chriscan , yes you are right, it's a bit manic in a car dealership the first week in March. Glad you got a courtesy car, just be patient, polite and firm that it's THEIR fault the driveshaft came off and you should get on fine. Technicians are only human and things DO go wrong in every workplace, the best companies always want to fix the problem and get your loyalty.

Having a courtesy car effectively gives you an advantage, don't give it back until you are satisfied!

Yes you are correct and human error is very likely. I'm sure it will be rectified but I have lost faith in the car and really don't want to get back in it. I will probably change if now even though it will have a new engine and gearbox.

Why lose faith in the car because some idiot can't tighten a bolt? Don't go wasting money over this its not worth it.

Edited 4 March, 201610 yr by Outofthi5world