Booked my vRS in to add the cruise control (MY13 didn't have it standard) with the local dealer in Cardiff. When ordering I mentioned to the parts manager that there were two different stalks and they need to make sure to order the correct one - some of us do their homework via Briskoda!

When I dropped the car off on Thursday morning as prearranged I wanted to book it in for its last 'free service' and its first MOT. Booked this in for a few weeks time - no worries. A few hours I had a call saying that they could do the service and MOT the same day to prevent me having to come back in.... all good me thinks! They follow up by saying they have ordered the incorrect stalk for the cruise control and offered me another car for the night. I declined as didn't need a car.

Today I receive a call after lunch, hoping they will tell me it's all done. I am told that the stalk is the correct part but they are having problems with the activation code. I mentioned that they may need to look at the VCD's (as seen on this forum by a dealer in Rochdale), I was told they don't do this, they only input he activation code!

Surely they are the specialists a should be able to code this, seems plenty of other people have managed this.

They dropped the car off this evening, MOT'd but not serviced and not with working cruise (as I need it for the weekend). I am planning on taking it back in on Monday but should I pay full price? I feel I have been messed about a lot and inconvenienced, however they have been nice about it all.

Sorry about the rant....just pi$$es me off when people don't do their job properly!

Dealers don't use vcds and are generally incompetent

I mentioned that they may need to look at the VCD's (as seen on this forum by a dealer in Rochdale), I was told they don't do this, they only input he activation code!

Surely they are the specialists a should be able to code this, seems plenty of other people have managed this.

Dealers can (officially) only use their VAS tool, not VCDS, so they do not have the same flexibility to deal with any unusual problems as owners who use VCDS.

The activation code hasn't activated CC in either the ECU or steering controller, common as muck and can be sorted with either VCDS or ODIS coding system.

Dead easy to rectify and erase the codes once the retro fit procedure is complete.

In the dealership workshop we're free to use what ever diagnostic equipment we see fit provided it's not used for warranty repairs, ODIS has to be used to record vehicle information and test plans to support claims.

- James (incompetent VCDS using Skoda Master tech)

The activation code hasn't activated CC in either the ECU or steering controller, common as muck and can be sorted with either VCDS or ODIS coding system.

Dead easy to rectify and erase the codes once the retro fit procedure is complete.

In the dealership workshop we're free to use what ever diagnostic equipment we see fit provided it's not used for warranty repairs, ODIS has to be used to record vehicle information and test plans to support claims.

- James (incompetent VCDS using Skoda Master tech)

Thanks James, I will bring this up with them on Monday. I did mention this to them over the phone following reading your post on another thread!

Thanks James, I will bring this up with them on Monday. I did mention this to them over the phone following reading your post on another thread!

If I can get one in the workshop tomorrow I'll find you the adaption channels that need altering.

Sorry if this is a bit of a hijack but Is there only a limited selection of options that can be retrofitted or is everything available? Since taking delivery I am kind of regretting missing out adaptive cruise control and internet capabilities.

The coding should read as follows:

ECU byte 5, bit 5/6 should read 25

Steering controller byte 0, bit 4/6 14 (full coding 1410)

Both modules must be clear of cruise related faults to function.

Having known a lot of dealers and independent of many different car brands, I'd say that, in general, there's no definite rule about which category is more competent. It's all up to each one's intelligence and willingness.

 

Generally speaking, in today's hyper-computerized car world, an official dealer should be more knowledgeable about each own brand – at least about electronic issues – if only because they get mandatory training and direct info from House.

Independents tend to be more flexible and building a wider experience – working on many different models – thus often being more helpful about odd and strange issues, expecially if purely mechanical.

 

The downsides are that officials are sometimes narrow-minded and unwilling to go outside the easy – and cheaper! – route, while a lot of independent tend to be less than masters of competence and prone to bodging to keep their price below those of official ones.

 

As said, it's all up to single companies/persons. Unfortunately, you have to find it by yourself, unless there's a "trusted reviewer" on hand.

Thanks James and others for your comments.

Any thoughts on if I should push for a discount? Sounds like an easy job to me!

If you feel that you've been hard done to then there's no harm in asking for a little bit of money knocked off the final bill.

The worst they can do is say no.

Any thoughts on if I should push for a discount? Sounds like an easy job to me!

Have I misunderstood? They've agreed to install cruise control and now they still want to charge full price even though it's not working? I would definitely be looking for a discount. They haven't delivered what was agreed.

I am taking the car back in Mondy for them to finish the job. I will be taking a printed copy of James' instructions above too!

I'm sure the job will be done, just not in a timely manner and at my inconvenience.

Thanks all (and James!), dealers managed to sort the coding and I now have cruise control all working well. I managed to get £20 knocked off the price, better than nothing!

white dove by any chance?

Can I ask how much it cost you In total for it to be fitted? 

Can I ask how much it cost you In total for it to be fitted?

Should have been £292 all in. I did have an MOT at the same time tho. I would hope they know how to do this now, if you choose to go with them I would print James post above and leave it on the dash!

Funnily enough I am having the exact same experience today.  My vRS went to a dealer today to have cruise control retro-fitted, but by the end of the day they told me that they hadn't been able to get it to work properly due to a coding problem.  I already had a courtesy car (FOC) for today, which they told me I could keep until I could come back at my convenience to collect my car (once they've sorted the problem).  Looks like they need the information in this post!

Dead easy to rectify and erase the codes once the retro fit procedure is complete.

 

Can I ask what you mean by this? Which codes need erasing once the retro-fit is complete?

 

Thanks.

There tends to be a switch position fault logged which needs erasing before the system will function.

Cruise control has now been successfully fitted to my car, though the windscreen wiper stalk now has unnecessary and non-functioning controls for the trip computer. Pointed this out to the service guy and he was perplexed. He checked the part numbers, and it seems there is no appropriate part for a car with a MFSW. He did say he'd check it out on Monday, and if there was an alternative correct part, they would change it.

Can I ask how much it cost you In total for it to be fitted? 

 

Mine was £210 all inclusive, including a courtesy car. Not sure if the dealer made a mistake, as the Skoda internal accessories website states a fitted price of £276 (not sure if this is inclusive of VAT). Got quoted £350 by another dealer, so definitely ring more than one if you are planning to get this done!

They ordered the wrong kit for your car, they should have ordered the part with the option "without computer" and it will come with a blank wiper stalk without buttons.

They ordered the wrong kit for your car, they should have ordered the part with the option "without computer" and it will come with a blank wiper stalk without buttons.

Thanks. I told them this when I booked it in, but they obviously decided they knew best. I did wonder if the part "without computer" would be missing something that would also prevent the MFSW from working, but you saying this suggests it won't. It doesn't help that the Skoda Accessories website states that the other part is for cars "without trip computer or multi-function steering wheel", so this clearly confused them.

The only thing it doesn't have is the buttons, everything else is there.