2nd hand Skoda problem.

[Kev627]

I was due to test drive a 58 Skoda 1.4 TDi today but as it was being driven to it's MoT the dealer noticed it was sluggish, down on power. He phoned me and explained the car would be fixed before I drove it but what would be a big red flag as to cause this that could have long term implications?

[UrbanPanzer]

could be numerous things.................let him fix it first.

[Kev627]

2 hours ago, UrbanPanzer said:

could be numerous things.................let him fix it first.

Problem with the turbo.

[UrbanPanzer]

could just be a split intercooler hose.......if the turbo is fubar, then def let him fix it !!!

[Kev627]

Message from dealer.

Specialist looked at car with VW/VAG software and is fairly confidant car needed a good drive and some cleaners. Cleaning treatment has been used on car and has been driven with no issues.

Edited 23 February, 2019 by Kev627

[seriesdriver]

Its your money are you willing to bet it on "fairly confident" there are plenty of 2nd hand cars out there. What sort of warranty are they offering ? 

[Breezy_Pete]

Cleaners almost never fix anything.

[2ndskoda]

Cleaners? - NO!!!

[Kev627]

4 hours ago, seriesdriver said:

Its your money are you willing to bet it on "fairly confident" there are plenty of 2nd hand cars out there. What sort of warranty are they offering ? 

6 months.

 

[spartacus68]

Get the fault codes from the dealer and post them up. If the car was on reduced power (limp mode), it could be literally anything. I'm not a fan of cleaners as it just masks the prob,em. The only thing I'd ever use is Forte diesel conditioner. You can use that neat in the fuel filter to reduce emissions and clean injectors. You replace filter (top up with fresh diesel) afterwards after driving it hard.

[Kev627]

I bought the car and wife collected it and drove it 50 miles home without any issues on Saturday. This morning I'd driven it 2 miles and the control system for exhaust light cam on and the car went in to limp mode, coming home from work the light was on but engine power was ok for the first 10 miles before suddenly going to limp mode again.

[seriesdriver]

You will now find out how good the dealer and warranty are I suppose.

[KeithCheetham]

 What model of 1.4TDI, Greenline, 1, 2, 3 or Sport?

[Kev627]

22 minutes ago, seriesdriver said:

You will now find out how good the dealer and warranty are I suppose.

I've just got off the phone to the dealer and he is going to drive the 50 miles to me, drop off a courtesy car, take my car to be fixed and then return it.

[seriesdriver]

2 hours ago, Kev627 said:

I've just got off the phone to the dealer and he is going to drive the 50 miles to me, drop off a courtesy car, take my car to be fixed and then return it.

 

Lets hope they do a better job fixing it this time around.

[Kev627]

On 04/03/2019 at 19:16, seriesdriver said:

 

Lets hope they do a better job fixing it this time around.

To be honest if absolutely anything, no matter how minor goes wrong with the car in the next few weeks it's going straight back and I'm getting a full refund! Over the last few days I've had this nagging thought that this car could easily end up being a money pit... 

[seriesdriver]

You have given them a chance to fix it which is a fair and reasonable thing to do but as you say if they can't manage it in a reasonable time frame then I would quickly reject it.

 

[Kev627]

<sigh> The dealer turned up on Thursday to take the car but he also had a mechanic with him who had a tool kit. They took the car away somewhere to fix it and returned a couple of hours later. I drove the car about 30 miles Friday with no problems at all but this morning exactly the same problem occurred in almost exactly the same place!

I got home from work, phoned the dealer and told him car obviously has fault in engine and I want my money back. He persuaded me to give the car one more chance, initially he said he would take the car, fix it, drive it around for 1 day to check it's ok and return it to me. I said he was to fix it and I was to give it 1 weeks driving it to and from work to see if it has been fixed ok (properly?) and he agreed to this so new car part 3 starts tomorrow.

Yes, I am getting very frustrated by this! 

[seriesdriver]

You gave him a chance to fix it he couldn't  I feel you have more than ample grounds to reject the car and have a refund if it was me I would be driving it back to them tomorrow. If it is overboost due to sticky turbo vanes then I sounds like they have tried easy fixes (cleaning etc ) and it wants a new turbo.

What miles has the car done ?

[Kev627]

@seriesdriver 90,000. I too think he simply cleaned the engine and it needs more in depth work that he thought he could avoid. 

[seriesdriver]

I think you have been more than fair, the time has come to be firm I think that car needs rejecting and returning.

[mrgf]

...As mentioned, it could be anything! Could be turbo, DPF (If fitted), EGR, air flow meter, valves, and so the list goes on. Ideally, the car needs main dealer fettling, with the proper software analysis to determine and rectify the issue. So vote, people go round and round in circles, trying to swap this, swap that until quite by chance, they swap the correct part!

 

Either reject it or let them fix it properly and make them promise if this issue arises any time again within the six months (And only count that from when the car IS fixed), they will then give you a FULL refund, without quibble. Of course they WILL wan tot test the car to se it is faulty as the won't want a free six month test drive/loan!

[seriesdriver]

Did you get this sorted to your satisfaction ?

[Kev627]

1 hour ago, seriesdriver said:

Did you get this sorted to your satisfaction ?

The first day I drove the car after the engine clean all seemed absolutely fine but the following day exactly the same thing happened. I phoned dealer and told him engine is obviously faulty and I would like my money back, I spoke clearly, concisely and to the point so dealer knew I was serious. We discussed it and he said he would get car booked it to nearby Skoda dealer to look at engine. I agreed to this as car was good for single day it worked OK and it is going in tomorrow.

[2ndskoda]

Kev627

please be aware that Dealers mechanics are not the brightest tool in the box unfortunately. Any further problem - reject the car without hesitation.