Roomster 1.6 TDI advice desperately needed - to fix or to scrap?

[Kwinny]

Hello all

 

I have been searching the web for information since we were told yesterday that there are several things needed to be fixed on our 2012 1.6 TDI Skoda Roomster and this forum has been enlightening. So, I’m wondering if any of you knowledgable folk have any advice about our current situation. Nice to meet you all by the way.

 

We have had the car for just over a year and have had recurring issues with it. Got it to a Skoda dealers yesterday and they have listed the following repairs needed:

 

- EGR requires new. Also requires strip, clean and adjust of throttle body.

 

- NSF track rod and tie rod requires new + alignment.

 

- Rear brake discs heavily corroded, requires new

 

- Auxillary belt excessively cracked, requires new.

 

Total cost of repairs including labour: £2,039 (Merry Christmas!)

 

There are also some other non urgent repairs needed which come to another £500 (air con, parking sensor, wiring loom for air pressure).

 

Now, my partner has lost all faith in the car and wants to get rid, but I am undecided. The car had no issues when we bought it so maybe we have just been unlucky and if we get the work done on it we’ll get a few more good years. But we are honestly pretty clueless and it’s difficult to know what the best solution would be. We’ve been offered £1500 as part exchange, and would love to get a Yeti instead (we live in the Scottish Highlands), but it’s a lot of money and we may end up in a similar situation with a different car.

 

If anyone has any comments or advice I would really appreciate it.

 

We are currently in Northampton staying with family over the Christmas period and we only have a week before we need to go back up to Scotland, not ideal really! We could go to an independent mechanic to get the work done but with time not on our side and £132 already spent on the diagnostics and health check I’m hesitant to go with a different garage at this stage.

 

Thank you in advance 

 

Kirsten

[Ootohere]

@Kwinny

Welcome.

 

Was that list done @ Arnold Clark Inverness by any chance?    Is that who took £132?

EDIT.

Doh, sorry was that a Main Dealer down @ Northampton?

MARSHALL NORTHAMPTON?

 

HOPEFULLY SOMEONE HERE KNOWS A GOOD INDEPENDENT DOWN THERE>

 

Are the rear discs really heavily corroded?

?

Has the car had the Emissions Fix carried out in the past 2 years?

http://skoda-auto.com/services/recall-actions

 

 

Maybe an Independent like at Nairn could do the work the car does need at a proper and fair cost if you are near there.

Edited 28 December, 2019 by Roottootemoot

[ChrisTids]

What issues are you having with the car, presumably with the engine?

 

You do need a second opinion from another garage before you make any decisions as I am sure the work can be done for much less. 

[KenONeill]

1 hour ago, Kwinny said:

Total cost of repairs including labour: £2,039

Easy and cheaper fix- Lower and remove garage. Install and raise new garage.

[Kwinny]

Thank you for your responses.

 

Yes it was the Marshall Northampton dealership that looked at the car for £132. 
 

Just checked and the emissions fix has been done. And yes it’s very likely the rear discs are heavily corroded as we had to have the front ones replaced before it’s last MOT in September and the mechanic who did them flagged it with us.

 

We drove down from the Highlands with the engine warning light on and the glow plug warning light coming on about every ten seconds and the car going into limp mode, had to bump start it so many times. We figured the glow plug light didn’t come on and we didn’t lose power if we were very gentle with accelerating, but it was still very hard going and I don’t know if we can go through that again. Hence why we want to get it fixed before we return to Scotland. I guess we could upgrade our breakdown cover to ensure we get towed home if we do break down.
 

I will try and find a reputable independent garage in the Northampton area to get a second opinion. 

[Jonny5ive]

Get it over to see Alistair at UNIT18 in MK. Not Northampton, but not far. He, I'm sure, will give you an honest and fair second opinion.

[bobspark]

It seems to me the main issue is with the running of the car engine,limp mode etc.The other issues unless an MOT is due are just there burden you with worries.

Try and separate what the major problems are from general wear and tear maintenance items

A lesson learnt by everyone who drives in my family,is to never go anywhere near a main dealer ,unless you have pots of money or have bought a car from them under warranty which needs attention.

A good independent honest family run garage ,wants you to come back year after year.And you can usually actually talk to the person doing the job ,not some receptionist type sat behind a desk.

And once you find one all your motoring troubles just melt away and you find yourself travelling miles out of your way to visit them.

Brake discs will corrode but how bad is it are there cracks in the discs?I only have to wash my wheels and the discs go rusty.

Always a good one for testers to put on an MOT advisory ,as most people will say just do it.

Hope it all works out OK

 

[peter3197]

I don't know an independant in Northampton but there is DG Motors in Wellingborough and MJP in Kettering who are both good independant VW specialists. I have used both in the past on VAG cars and would recommend them both. DG is 01933 227277 and MJP is 01536 483909. Dom at DG is spot on.

[Kwinny]

On 28/12/2019 at 21:40, Jonny5ive said:

Get it over to see Alistair at UNIT18 in MK. Not Northampton, but not far. He, I'm sure, will give you an honest and fair second opinion.

We are heading over there this morning, thank you so much for the tip.

[Kwinny]

Hi 

 

just wanted to say a huge thank you for all of the help and advice, we managed to get the main work mentioned in my initial post done for £1k cheaper at UNIT 18 in MK (thank you @Jonny5ive!) We picked the car up today and it’s running great. The garage was brilliant and Alistair was super helpful, he got right back to us with a quote and we had our car back within 24 hours. Excellent service!

 

Happy New Year to you all.

 

Kirsten

 

 

[peter3197]

Very pleased you got sorted. I've had work done by Unit 18 as well as the other 2 I mentioned and was very happy with them. Had a nice walk along the canal as well.

Edited 31 December, 2019 by peter3197
spelling

[Jonny5ive]

1 hour ago, Kwinny said:

Hi 

 

just wanted to say a huge thank you for all of the help and advice, we managed to get the main work mentioned in my initial post done for £1k cheaper at UNIT 18 in MK (thank you @Jonny5ive!) We picked the car up today and it’s running great. The garage was brilliant and Alistair was super helpful, he got right back to us with a quote and we had our car back within 24 hours. Excellent service!

 

Happy New Year to you all.

 

Kirsten

 

 

Awesome. Great to hear. Happy New Year!

[silver1011]

I'm a little late to this one, glad the car has lived to see another day.

 

I can see that you've confirmed it has had the emissions fix (EA189).

 

When was the fix applied and what is the current mileage?

 

It if was less than 2 years ago, and the car has covered less than 160,000 miles then you'd have been able to get the EGR valve replaced for free under Skoda UK's Trust Building Measure...

 

https://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/ea198-trust-building-measure

 

Marshall's of Northampton are well aware of the TBM, did they not mention it or does the car no longer qualify?