Hi all, new here and am just here to vent some frustrations at what I thought was a robust car and brand. Also here to see if similar problems have occurred with early mk3s.

 

Previously owned Honda accord, then Mazda 6 and last Feb I bought a 2016 220 DSG Superb with only 16k miles on the clock as a SKODA approved used car from my local dealership.  1 month in, I was very happy with the car, then started getting vibrations through the floor.  Couldn’t work it out, no error messages, no flats, no missing weights on rims.  It felt like driving over thick paint strips when approaching a roundabout.  Took it to SKODA, they couldn’t book me in for 4 weeks, I made a fuss in the sales area and eventually the head mechanic agreed to take it out.  He came back said everything was fine but agreed to put it up on a ramp to double check ,and lo and behold coolant everywhere.  They took it in and supplied a little runaround while they got the parts in (water pump and thermostat failure).  2 weeks later and still no parts, made another fuss and they put me in a superb diesel.  Car eventually fixed after 4 weeks in SKODA.  Driving home the car has no power, manage to limp home and call out SKODA response, who diagnoses that the turbo pipe hadn’t been connected properly.  Fixed, now all good.  Or so I thought.

 

1 week later error on dash, coolant stop car.  Check under the bonnet and coolant level down to 50% and sticky mess in undertray at front of engine again.  Car gets taken to SKODA where I state I want a replacement as I have had enough with this car.  Finding a replacement 220 of similar age/cost takes another 2 months, SKODA give me 190 diesel to use while I’m waiting.  By July I am presented a similar 2016 220 DSG but with 33k on the clock, I take £1k in cash for my troubles and the difference in mileage. 

Roll forward 4 months and what do you know, same again, error on dash – coolant!  SKODA response tow me home as garage is closed.  Call up SKODA next day and they cant see it for 2 weeks as they are too busy.  Luckily the car gets towed to a paint shop as previous week someone hit me very slowly up the rear, so at least I get a car from the insurance for a week.  Car is now in SKODA garage again having its water pump replaced.  Its been in there for 10 days now (they have given me a Kodiak tank to use).

 

So 2 cars, 3 failed water pumps and I’ve only been driving the 220 Superbs for about 5 months in total.  Am I unlucky?  Yes, Is this typical?  I suspect so as there seems to be quite a few stories of waterpump / coolant leaks on superbs and octavias.

 

Towards the end of  car 1 ownership, I wrote a ****ty letter to SKODA Marshall head office, I didn’t get a response from them as they just passed it to my local dealership to deal with which was disappointing.  Really just unsure where to go with this.  I like the car when its working but I think I will be constantly checking the coolant levels expecting another failure.  Are these failures due to the parts or the bits on the engine they bolt to?  I'm not mechanically minded so I am struggling to see how this can keep happening.

It sounds as though the first car's water pump was replaced with a similarly faulty pump.

 

Hopefully by the time you got your replacement Superb and it's waterpump replaced, they've revised the design.

 

At least this isn't an example of various multiple faults, the issue is consistent, a weakness in the design, or a manufacturing defect.

 

Either way, as you say, Skoda have had various issues with their waterpumps across a few different models. If you've got a new one in now and all is good then hopefully this will be it.

 

Does the 220 TSI have a cambelt or chain? If the former then it'll need a cambelt on its fifth birthday, at which point it is recommended to replace the pump (for an extra cost) anyway.

Wow I feel relieved as I almost swapped our Kangaroo Karoq 1.5TSi for a used Superb 220 because my Octavia 245 has been so reliable and fun to own over 28 months and 28,000 miles but gave the local Marshalls dealer the chance to apply a software fix which appears to have worked and after 20,000 frustrating miles jerking pulling away it now a genuine joy to drive like it should have been since new. Sorry to hear and read about your nightmare Skoda journey.

I ran a 220 MY 17 for 30 months without a single fault so an example of ths other end of the spectrum I guess. Maybe it is the dealer you need to change?

Why? Because they have demonstrated their inability to resolve the issue and their lead times are ridiculous.

220 TSI is camchain.

 

According to this guy the pump is driven off the balance shaft via a small belt. Many failures are simply down to poor installation at factory and during replacement.

 

 

Took delivery of my Supeb Sportline + July 1st, 9,000 miles later no issues, 1.5TSI, does this problem seem to occur in the 2.0l?

67000 miles in my 4x4 sportline,

Edited 31 December, 20196 yr by Esseesse200

cheers for the info guys, great vid Xman, I think I may forward this to the head of service department.  Definitely seems like poor installations, apparently the head technician left just before my car went in so they do appear to be lacking in expertise.  In fact they are still advertising for technicians here and have been for over 6 months.  If I didn't work opposite the SKODA garage, then I would use another one, but that is a good 30 miles away.  Well I got the call yesterday that my car is ready to be picked up so I am off to get it now.  Will let you all know of any other failures!

Jesus, you couldn't script it.  Got to the dealership and the girl on the service desk wasn't expecting me.  Being a Saturday its only her and the sales crew.  Takes her 30 mins to find my car then comes to me and says sorry, the coolant light just came on moving the car to the forecourt, I don't think I should let you have the car.  Can I get someone to ring you on Monday?  
 

FFS, don't use Reading SKODA Marshall guys, the place is a joke!

I have a 220 SEL and no problems with cooling. I do agree about Marshall Reading, avoid them, they quoted me £671 to replace my rear disks and pads. Will never go there again.

2 hours ago, Maffa said:

Jesus, you couldn't script it.  Got to the dealership and the girl on the service desk wasn't expecting me.  Being a Saturday its only her and the sales crew.  Takes her 30 mins to find my car then comes to me and says sorry, the coolant light just came on moving the car to the forecourt, I don't think I should let you have the car.  Can I get someone to ring you on Monday?  
 

FFS, don't use Reading SKODA Marshall guys, the place is a joke!

 

I suspect that your car has had, by now, some bodge or damage to the water pump / engine mounting. Perhaps they used liquid gasket to try and seal the last 2 or so water pumps and now in scraping it off they may have compromised the poor design. No doubt they will deny that.

 

You need to get a case raised with Skoda UK and written assurance that any repair carries a full two year parts and labour warranty.

 

Pity you didnt reject the car within the 6 month timeframe, although the issue occur well within this timeframe and remains unresolved.

 

Some form of compensation seems in order.

Xman, this is the first time there has been a problem with the water pump on this car, the previous 2 times it was with another car that I asked them to replace after only owning it for 4 months. 

So, had the call from SKODA this morning, apparently there must have been an air bubble in the coolant that worked its way to the top of the reservoir when the car was moved.  It made the coolant level just drop below the sensor hence the light came on.  Whether this is true or not, I don't know but aren't they supposed to check things like this?  Well they have taken it for a test drive, rechecked the coolant and removed the floor pan to check if there has been any more leaks. Apparently it is bone dry, they are doing a second test drive this morning so I should be able to pick it up again today.

 

We'll see how it goes this time!

Took me 30,000 miles for my water pump to fail on my superb luckily still under warranty.  Exact same thing happened in my 2014 Octavia vrs too which cost £500 to replace. 

14 hours ago, SkodaDean said:

Took me 30,000 miles for my water pump to fail on my superb luckily still under warranty.  Exact same thing happened in my 2014 Octavia vrs too which cost £500 to replace. 

 

Strange thing is, I was told that the water pump is not covered under the 12 month used car warranty.  SKODA paid 50% parts and 70% labour and the dealership picked up the rest of the tab out of good will.  All parts and labour for this fix is guaranteed for 12 months apparently

@Maffa

Who told you, and did they show you in the T&C's of the Warranty where the failure of the 'Water Pump' is in the Exclusions.

 

Were you communicating in Writing with the Warranty Provider and not just with a Dealership member of staff?

32529_skoda_approved_used_warranty_doc_v3.72110e7831bce3d9427fded26bdd2652.pdf

Edited 10 December, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

2 hours ago, Roottootemoot said:

@Maffa

Who told you, and did they show you in the T&C's of the Warranty where the failure of the 'Water Pump' is in the Exclusions.

 

Were you communicating in Writing with the Warranty Provider and not just with a Dealership member of staff?

 

 

It was the girl on the service desk over the phone at the dealership, so no not the warranty provider.  The pdf you posted doesn't have any parts like the water pump excluded from it so sound like she was making it up

Skoda / VW screw over dealerships and customers.  It is their Corporate Mission.  Make them bend over and take the position. 

 

With the likes of something that is a valid Warranty Claim which the VW Group owned underwriter so themselves should pay so fake 'Price of the part and labour'  comes up then with this 'Gestures' and Dealers Contribution crap.  Over inflate something then sometimes ask for a contribution from the customer.

 

Sad thing is VW have had decades to source good water pumps since they stopped doing air cooled engines and the greedy barstewards are still euro pinching.

Edited 10 December, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

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