A story of a minor defect, a broken rear washer on my Combi; Skoda UK being extremely short sighted and mean; but my excellent garage helps once again.

 

The story begins when I realised a few weeks ago that the rear washer was spraying the car behind or the road whenever I used it. Not a drop on the tailgate window.  I had a look - no apparent adjustment to stop the excess rear spray, so into my local New Forest dealer, Meadens. Their mechanic took a look last weekend. "You adjust it like this..." he said as he approached the car. "Oh no you don't...there's no adjustment". So a new part ordered. And fitted today.

 

When I went to collect, it turned out that Skoda have quibbled the warranty and declined to pay. I'm told because it was a 'part which broke'. Makes you wonder what the warranty is for?

 

To be fair, now the new one is on, I can see a spray nipple where the previous one (after it was broke and I looked at it in detail for the first ever time...like the mechanic) had a hole. This clearly explained the road washing tendency. I've no clue though why it broke (though I suspect Skoda think I fiddled with it and it broke. Wrong. Not the sort of nipple I'd fiddle with given half a chance...). 

 

So, I'd never touched it, and so far as I know (failing unknown intervention by the Phantom Rear Washer Nipple Crippler of South Hants) the part failed for reasons unknown which imho include manufacture fault or poorly fitted.

 

Anyway, I debated with my garage - this is a piece of equipment which broke for no reason, under warranty (and arguably safety kit at that). To be fair they'd already discounted it for me as they sympathise, but I declined even that. And kindly they've agreed they'll press Skoda again tomorrow as a warranty replacement.  I hope Skoda see sense,  as that is very depressing - worrying even. A warranty which doesn't cover 'parts which break'...what is that? 

 

So seeking info please...anyone else had a problem with the rear washer on a Combi (Nov 2015 delivery) failing? Or experienced the parsimonious rejection of a warranty on this or a similar part? I'm not irritated, but only because of the kindness of my own garage...not Skoda's rubbish random rejection. B'stards M'lud. 

Look at the warranty T & C's for exclusions. The rear washer is not on the list and it cannot be considered a "wear" component like brakes etc which are excluded simply because its not a part you would ever expect to replace.

 

Thus if i was in your position I would make it clear to the dealer (its nothing to do with Skoda since your contract is with the supplier and not the manufacturer) that if the component is not replaced under the warranty you will be starting a case at the small claims court.

 

I would suggest you visit Citizens Advice before starting a case but beware, some of their advisers are hopeless. Some years ago I bought an electric drill from a well known DIY shop and when it failed within the warranty period the dolls head at the store told me that consumer legislation did not apply to them so no warranty. I contacted Citizens Advice and unbelievably they agreed with the store assistant. Back to the store and spoke to the manager who appeared to be stunned by his colleagues knowledge and immediately agreed to send the drill back to the manufacturer for repair. A few weeks later the dolls head was working at our local gym.

 

Even though Skoda UK have no liability to you directly it would be worth copying them into any correspondence simply because they may decide its better to pay the garage to do the work.

 

Here is a link to the procedure.

 

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-courts/legal-system/taking-legal-action/small-claims/small-claims/

Went back to the dealer today...they said Skoda have relented. Warranty job. Also PM'd from three other owners with rear washer issues...suggestion they get broke by automatic car washes. Theirs also warranty replacements.

I would take a punt that the dealer never asked Skoda about the Warranty work.  They just expected you to believe what they said.

 

Trust no one 

Edited 25 August, 20178 yr by Auric Goldfinger

Glad you're getting it sorted.  Shame we often have to push the dealers that bit extra just to get them to do what they're suppose to.   agree with the above comment also - they probably never asked in the first place!