Thanks all.  I have been out to see if the Haldex oil change has made a difference.  The sound is significantly more muted, so something seems to have changed, but there is still more transmission noise than I can believe there should be - very noticeable at 60 and above.  VAG technician agreed on test drive following change that there was still an unusual noise.  Essentially, my mind is not put at ease.  It *may* of course be that this degree of transmission noise is normal, but it's certainly not something I'd happily put up with on a long journey, and it does worry me that this kind of noise has for others been the first sign of major Haldex/diff issues.  The garage attempted to assess the level of oil in the Haldex unit, and found it was not up to the level of the input plug (where I'm told it should be).  They tried to dip a cable tie in as far as it would go down the channel to see how low it was, and apparently the inlet channel was empty.  They then drained the unit, and it wasn't empty, but apparently lower than should have been.  

Contact from dealer (prior to my latest road test) suggested that if issues persisted, I take it to a main dealer and try to get it resolved on goodwill from Skoda (which I think is unlikely to happen).   He hopes oil will have cured it, and that level being a little low shouldn't lead to premature wear (no justification given).  He has said he will cover any diagnosis/repair costs for any significant issues, but suggested that I keep quiet with any dealer I got to for the time being that the car is recently purchased/dealer-sourced as this may reduce the likelihood of goodwill.  This clearly leaves me in an awkward position of taking the car to a main dealer, not being upfront about the issues, incurring potentially steep diagnosis costs and just hoping for a goodwill gesture which I may well not get, and then having to hope that the dealer follows through on his promises when I'm left holding the invoice.  Even if he does end up covering my costs down the line, I'm definitely the one currently carrying the can for the stress and legwork of trying to get this sorted, all while not quite knowing how strong my case is - after all, car has not gone bang, it is just noisy in an unexpected and worrying way.  Dealer has stated he will not cover costs of diagnosis if no fault is forthcoming, but this could be expensive to try to track down (independent specialist said it had him stumped, but suspected Haldex/Diff), and dealer may well just shrug and hand back the car with an inconclusive diagnosis and a few hours of labour at £100/h.

 

Thinking of calling Which Legal Services tomorrow - has anyone used them and able to recommend?  Can't get to a solicitor before Saturday as work is crazy, and Sunday will be my 30th days since sale...

 

 

 

 

 

This noise is obviously a concern to you so in the absence of any proper legal advice I think I'd be sending a registered letter (to get a signature so there is no question that it didn't arrive) saying that to protect your legal position you are rejecting the car.  The seller might respond that you can't reject it  - I don't know what the law is around such matters but you have at least made your position clear. Perhaps back the letter up with an email to the same effect. Then get an appointment with a solicitor for as soon as you can to establish your precise legal position and the best way to take things forward. The seller may be completely legitimate and sort your concerns out to your satisfaction but with the clock ticking you can't hang around. 

 

(Worth spending a bit of time to get the "rejecting the car" letter right - you want to be firm but if the seller is legitimate and wants to sort things out you don't want to come over as aggressive and unreasonable, just a concerned buyer who feels he has a legitimate complaint that needs to be resolved without cost or inconvenience to you).

 

It's a pity  that for you this has taken the shine off what for many of us is great little car.

Pauls  advice is absolutely correct, so act on it. 

Send the letter as suggested. Written concerns are far more weighty, and evidential than phone calls or emails that sadly, people who are receiving possible notice of action,  conveniently claim they've never received....!! In the meantime DO NOT take your car to any other garage. Reject it NOW. 

The solicitor will doubtless, in my experience, suggest that you are furnished with a suitable courtesy vehicle free of any charge to enable  you to continue your day to day life until the matter is resolved to your satisfaction. 

As of yesterday.... Keep a note of all costs and expenditure, and retain all documentation and bills that you incur in sorting this out. You will be able to reclaim all of this  (costs)  through your solicitor once they commence action. 

I spent many years in the legal profession. I am retired,  and so I cannot offer you legal advice or get directly involved.

But with 2 international lawyers and a barrister in the family, I know that the longer you delay this, the more tiresome it will get. 

Send a simple letter, copy to your solicitor, to advise your seller of your position and action and then leave it to the solicitor to communicate with the seller. 

Play hardball. You'll get nowhere if you don't. 

 

 

I have never noticed any extra noise from the haldex system, and to be honest, if they are in good condition there should be none. 

 

You are loosing or have lost confidence in this car, so I suggest the only way to go is reject it, following the procedures as above. I know that leaves you in a bit of a hole, but I suspect it will be for the best later.

 

And sorry to say it, but buying the cheapest way isn't always the best. 

Dear all, I can't tell you how grateful I am for your advice, and the time you've taken to give it. 

 

I have today rejected the vehicle by email and recorded delivery hard-copy, following a couple of very helpful sessions on the phone to Which Legal.  For anyone wondering, their advice is very good - you can speak to a solicitor within a very short space of time, and their advice is tailored and to the point.  For £29 for the year, unlimited, I think it's a great service, albeit that they can't do the various other things such as write letters etc. 

I'll have to wait and see what the seller says.  If he comes up with a convincing plan for trying to rectify the fault fully at his own responsibility and cost, then I'll consider it, but I'll probably just push the rejection route.  Deeper inspection turned out the Haldex oil level couldn't be found even sticking a cable tie end as far as it would go down the inlet hole to try and find it.  It's never been replaced and isn't leaking, so was apparently too low from the factory.  Replacing it has lessened the noise a bit, but it's still very much droning/whining (worst at 60 MPH and on coast).  Regular strange clunks from under the car around town too and a funny intermittent bursts of electrical clicking noise from the centre console (not CD noise, something like a cicada chirping).  Also, I got hold of the digital service record, and the first service was ~6000 miles and 5 months late (15800 miles), and the 2nd service was ~2000 miles late.  I'd be concerned enough about longer term reliability given these combined red flags that only a replacement of the Haldex/diff would really satisfy me - just flushing with new fluids to temporarily mask the noise isn't really going to be a 'solution'.

Thanks again so much for your moral support and advice, these forums really are a credit to everyone and an all-too-rare seam of human decency.

On variable servicing it comes around about every 18k miles so those intervals are actually sooner than really needed.

Hello Sam

I have just bought a 2014 Yeti 2.0 TDi 4x4 with pretty much the same problem you describe except my 'note', so far, has not gone away.  Just wondering if you ever got to the bottom of your problem before i start the undoubtedly lengthy process of finding out what could be wrong.

Many thanks

There seems to be a sealed for life servicing mentality, and I suspect, in particular, lease vehicles coming on to the second hand market.

Edited 27 April, 20188 yr by Ryeman