You could try the Motor Ombudsman and register a complaint if Skoda/VW aren't interested, or the small claims court.

 

Its probably a matter of making sure the complaint gets to the right person. I used to work in trading standards and we always recommended a written letter to the registered head office with a signature (or at least recorded delivery). Give them a set day for reply (about 10 days), be specific about what you want done, and include any written reports/photos you have. Keep all correspondence and date all communications, try to do everything in writing rather than online chat or phone calls, and you'll have plenty of evidence for the small claims court if needed. In civil cases you only have to prove on the balance of probability you are correct, and the chances are they won't want to bother with sending someone off to court if they can't defend the case.

They sent me the ombudsman details, what I asked for was an address for the small claims paperwork but they didn't send one. I've asked again so if they actually give me the address I'll send a letter before action laying out what happened and pointing out how totally dismissive the customer services people were.

Looks like their registered head office might be this address :

Head Office. Skoda Brunswick Court Yeomans Drive Blakelands Milton Keynes MK14 5LR.

Thanks, I'll send them a letter soon as I get a moment.

On 04/07/2019 at 00:25, Eeeekkk said:

Thanks, I'll send them a letter soon as I get a moment.

 

How is this issue coming along, do you have the part number of the "kit" supplied to your repairing non-franchised workshop yet?

On 04/07/2019 at 00:25, Eeeekkk said:

Thanks, I'll send them a letter soon as I get a moment.

 

Again one week on, same question, do you have the part number of the "kit" supplied to your repairing non-franchised workshop yet?

 

Also any progress yet?

Sorry, been very busy so the letter hasn't been written! That's my job for the weekend now I have some free time to do it properly.

 

No part number, just "fuel injection repair kit".  At a cost of £71.81.

21 hours ago, Eeeekkk said:

Sorry, been very busy so the letter hasn't been written! That's my job for the weekend now I have some free time to do it properly.

 

No part number, just "fuel injection repair kit".  At a cost of £71.81.

 

Thanks, that is quite a lot for just some bolts and seals, though maybe more was in that kit than that, I'd expect that there is only 2 seals per injector, one for the rail<>injector inlet and one for the injector body<>cylinder head, and then 4 M6 bolts, interesting!

Letter was sent, just got back a "we're looking into it please don't take us to court yet" reply.

As a goodwill gesture, with no liability admitted, the cheque is in the post.

So that is as good as it gets I suppose, it would be good if they had given you some assurance that VW Group had recognised this potentially dangerous situation and outlined what moves they were/are/had made to remove this issue.

 

Hiding problems and refusing to admit that they were design/manufacture problems, does seem to be Skoda's way of doing things, I wonder if this way of thinking extends out to all VW Group brands?

On 21/06/2019 at 18:13, Eeeekkk said:

Ex demo, picked up at about 400 miles and done about 44k of perfectly happy miles since then.

 

There was enough petrol running out to cause me serious concern when the AA man decided to start the engine for a look! 😀

 

This is where I pulled up and switched the engine straight off.

 

On 21/06/2019 at 18:13, Eeeekkk said:

Ex demo, picked up at about 400 miles and done about 44k of perfectly happy miles since then.

 

There was enough petrol running out to cause me serious concern when the AA man decided to start the engine for a look! 😀

 

This is where I pulled up and switched the engine straight off.

First off, happy new year everyone! I've just went out to give a friend a lift, thought it was chilly so I turned on the A/C. Intense smell of fuel, so I turn the car off and inspect it, nothing obvious. Then I move the car to see a spill like this, the smell is most intense around the passenger side headlight. Perfect start to 2020, this picture looks like a similar place to my issue. Just curious to ask you how much it costed to repair? I'm really hoping it isn't going to cost an arm and a leg, the car is only a couple of years old (Monte Carlo). I doubt I'll have any warranty as I've modified the car. Would appreciate any insight whatsoever, I'm absolutely gutted. 

 

** Edit: Apologies, I see that it costed around £80. However, as I said if you could provide any insight that would be much appreciated.**

Edited 31 December, 20196 yr by Lemto

That was the part only, total was £331.81 at a non Skoda garage, but Skoda paid up on receipt of my letter before action.

1 minute ago, Eeeekkk said:

That was the part only, total was £331.81 at a non Skoda garage, but Skoda paid up on receipt of my letter before action.

Ah, brilliant. Starting the year skint, love it. Thanks for the information mate!

13 hours ago, Eeeekkk said:

That was the part only, total was £331.81 at a non Skoda garage, but Skoda paid up on receipt of my letter before action.

I took a closer look today, this is what is happening. If you know, does this look like what happened to your car? If you can see whereabouts it is in the engine bay that is! 

I'm afraid I left mine in the hands of the garage and never saw it being fixed, because I had to borrow a car and get to work.

Hum, once again out of maybe selfish interest I'm very interested in what has failed - as maybe VW Group should be - "2 swallows do not make a Spring" - but even so -------- !

On 02/01/2020 at 08:51, Eeeekkk said:

I'm afraid I left mine in the hands of the garage and never saw it being fixed, because I had to borrow a car and get to work.

 

4 minutes ago, rum4mo said:

Hum, once again out of maybe selfish interest I'm very interested in what has failed - as maybe VW Group should be - "2 swallows do not make a Spring" - but even so -------- !

I left my car yesterday with my local mechanic, found out today that it was due to a screw in the fuel injector failing. He's not sure if it was over or under tightened when the car was made. Thankfully wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. 

 

Contacted Skoda about it but because it wasn't one of their technicians that done the work I can't be compensated. I had figured my warranty was voided as I have modified my car, so never even tried them. It's a bit of a bummer, but I suppose it could've been much worse. 

I'd be guessing that that is an M6 bolt that holds the fuel rail down onto the engine and in doing so traps/retains the injectors, ie exactly the same mode of failure has the OP for this thread.

 

I also wonder what the "quality" of that bolt is and if the "quality" of the replacements that probably came in the "repair kit" that the OP ended up getting fitted to his car.

 

I'd think that there is a TPS or whatever they are called out for this sort of failure and the recovery action is to replace all the seals and bolts with more suitable bolts.

 

Maybe a picture taken of the top of the head of that bolt would show what the quality of strength of that bolt was.

 

My worry is that that failed bolt looks like being a SS one, and so limited a bit in available higher grades, ie quality or strength.  Typical grades of bolts are 8.8,  9.8, 10.9 and 12.9, and most available for an M6 cap headed bolt like that one is.

Edited 4 January, 20206 yr by rum4mo
Corrected bolt size from M4 to M6.

9 minutes ago, rum4mo said:

I'd be guessing that that is an M4 bolt that holds the fuel rail down onto the engine and in doing so traps/retains the injectors, ie exactly the same mode of failure has the OP for this thread.

 

I also wonder what the "quality" of that bolt is and if the "quality" of the replacements that probably came in the "repair kit" that the OP ended up getting fitted to his car.

 

I'd think that there is a TPS or whatever they are called out for this sort of failure and the recovery action is to replace all the seals and bolts with more suitable bolts.

 

Maybe a picture taken of the top of the head of that bolt would show what the quality of strength of that bolt was.

 

My worry is that that failed bolt looks like being a SS one, and so limited a bit in available higher grades, ie quality or strength.  Typical grades of bolts are 8.8,  9.8, 10.9 and 12.9, and most available for an M4 cap headed bolt like that one is.

It's all a bit too advanced for me mate, my mechanic ordered in new bolts but I'm not sure which type he used. I'd like to think he chose better quality ones. You can kind of see the head of the bolt here. 

@Lemto @rum4mo I'm not dead sure of the grade, but that set screw was either flawed or over-tightened based on the break.

Oh, it looks a bit like that bolt is an 8.8 grade of bolt, so right down there as low as it gets for that sort of graded bolt, I'd like to know what the latest version of that is grade wise.

1 minute ago, KenONeill said:

@Lemto @rum4mo I'm not dead sure of the grade, but that set screw was either flawed or over-tightened based on the break.

I appreciate the insight Ken, my mechanic thought the same therefore I'd be inclined to think that is what has happened. Hopefully this may come in handy for someone who runs into a similar issue in the future.

 

It's crazy that something as simple as an over-tightened or flawed screw can create a an issue that has the potential to be catastrophic. 

Just now, rum4mo said:

Oh, it looks a bit like that bolt is an 8.8 grade of bolt, so right down there as low as it gets for that sort of graded bolt, I'd like to know what the latest version of that is grade wise.

I'll ask my mechanic what grade of bolt he purchased as a replacement, hopefully have that for you tomorrow. 

Just now, Lemto said:

I appreciate the insight Ken, my mechanic thought the same therefore I'd be inclined to think that is what has happened. Hopefully this may come in handy for someone who runs into a similar issue in the future.

 

It's crazy that something as simple as an over-tightened or flawed screw can create a an issue that has the potential to be catastrophic. 

 

It will be the same on most applications, though if effectively under spec'd for the situation it has ended in, then its game over for some of them even if flawless or correctly torqued up at initial build.  Modern engineering is not like Victorian engineering and thank goodness for that, so this sort of thing can happen, it is how the design authority react that really matters to remove this risk, VW Group for looking elsewhere right now I think.