3 hours ago, CookieMonster87 said:

Had mine done yesterday at the 3 year period. Feel robbed at £75 after reading this!

 

While it was in I asked them to look at the corroded wheel centre caps. They replaced them under warranty but I’m a bit miffed you can see where they prized them off on the alloy.

 

Asked the chap why they didn’t use anything to protect the alloy and was advised to take a picture as my main issue was with corrosion.

 

Should I raise this with Skoda UK or am I overreacting a bit? Granted I’ll probably have bigger stone chips in time but the wheels are in mint (if not, very close to) condition.

 

Sorry to go off on a tangent from the OP!

 

Update on this.

 

Spoke to the garage, they clarified the price for the Brake Fluid change as being £75 for cars under 3 years and £60 therefore after.

 

With regards to the wheels they sent me the photos of the wheels before they carried out the warranty work (Skoda policy) which show the damage being there beforehand. 
 

In all honesty I’d never noticed this, mainly due me only paying attention to the corroded centres. It does look more obvious now that it has shiny new centres fitted.

 

I was polite in my approach to the issue and offered my apology for calling their workmanship in to question as it had genuinely gone unnoticed by my until I was admiring the new ones. A couple

of packets of biscuits will no doubt find their way to the workshop.

Edited 11 June, 20205 yr by CookieMonster87

Re Santa Pod Question.

 

Yes, they are not permanent but various roads have the mobile cameras whenever Santa Pod is on.  They move them about to catch as many people as possible (encourage people to keep to the speed limit).

 

As far as I know the permanent Yellow Cameras are not operational - at least my Radar and Laser detector never registers them.

Edited 11 June, 20205 yr by octavia5

@CookieMonster87

I think they just told a story that is often told about under 3 years and 3 years and older that was true of the old 'Fixed Service Menu' over 18 months ago.

Not showing on the websites now, unless they showed you it in print.

41 minutes ago, CookieMonster87 said:

Update on this.

 

Spoke to the garage, they clarified the price for the Brake Fluid change as being £75 for cars under 3 years and £60 therefore after.

 

Sounds like *******s to me, it doesn’t cost more on newer cars.  
I guess we will have to start a thread to warn forum members to wait until 3 years and 1 day 😂

 

Edited 11 June, 20205 yr by cheezemonkhai

The price offered does come when having a service carried out.  Those are services at 1,2,3 years or more, and extended scope is that you might want at 3 years now.  The offer does not exclude 1st and 2nd services, or a 3rd before the car is out of warranty.

http://skoda.co.uk/owners/servicing-maintenance-fixed-price

 

 

 

Edited 11 June, 20205 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

I was skeptical but that’s what I’ve been told.

This wasn’t carried out in conjunction with a service as my car has been on a flexible plan from new and not due it’s 2nd service for another year. This would explain the premium as suggested by @Roottootemblowinootsoot above.

Edited 11 June, 20205 yr by CookieMonster87

@CookieMonster87

It would explain it.  Makes you wonder why Dealership staff do not just tell that story rather than making one up.

Mine won't be 3 years old when it's done, more like 2 years and 348 days.  Wonder if they'll try and stiff me?!

 

They're also looking at a few things, before the warranty:

 

Sometimes takes a few seconds of turning over before the engine will fire.  Only happens irregularly, but I've read somewhere there's a software update for it.

Rear washer has no output.  I can hear the pump, but nothing happens.  There's rust around the rear wiper spindle - who knows what's happened.  Loose pipe?  Blockage?

Creak from osf suspension when going over speed bumps.  It was mentioned at the last service and 'nothing was found sir'.  It's got worse since.

 

Let's see what the outcome of the above is, eh?

On 10/06/2020 at 11:10, bajabugsteve said:

I've got my 17 plate FL Octavia booked in for its first MOT and the second service under the service plan that came with the car when I bought it at 1 and a bit year old. 

 

I've just had a call from the call centre that deals with the bookings asking if I want the brake fluid changing as well. I would've thought that would be included under the service plan? Or is it another money making thing? Besides - does brake fluid degrade that quickly?

My 15 plate Octavia has done 165k and still has the original brake fluid and I had the mechanic check the viscosity of it. It was perfectly fine. Feels like a bit of a sales scam by Skoda tbh.

3 hours ago, bajabugsteve said:

Mine won't be 3 years old when it's done, more like 2 years and 348 days.  Wonder if they'll try and stiff me?!

 

They're also looking at a few things, before the warranty:

 

Sometimes takes a few seconds of turning over before the engine will fire.  Only happens irregularly, but I've read somewhere there's a software update for it.

Rear washer has no output.  I can hear the pump, but nothing happens.  There's rust around the rear wiper spindle - who knows what's happened.  Loose pipe?  Blockage?

Creak from osf suspension when going over speed bumps.  It was mentioned at the last service and 'nothing was found sir'.  It's got worse since.

 

Let's see what the outcome of the above is, eh?

With regards to your suspension noise I've had the same since 30k miles and I've had various MOT testers, Taxi inspections and mechanics all looking at it and nothing has been found. Also had the front shocks recently changed and the noise remained. So apart from changing all the bushes, droplinks etc I reckon I'll never find what the noise is. My suspicion is that it is the anti-roll bar bushes.

It appears to be the latest thing by a lot of car brands; we're not making as much on new car sales, so let's make up for it in the after-sales.

 

And using things like brake fluid to make you think 'god what happens if it fails and I've my family in the car?!?!!'. If there was an issue with the brake fluid, you'd know. I didn't bleed my brakes properly on my track bike when I was faffing with braided lines and the lever did nothing; no feeling of resistance when pulling it nor any real stopping power. That was a fairly instant thing to see, but if you're brake fluid was contaminated to such an extent so quickly, you've a bigger issue.

 

A little while ago, BMW started to charge an absolute fortune for their services and only after receiving low scores from all sorts of places have they realised you can't start charging people extortionate amounts for things which don't need replacing as often as they were making out.

In comparison my local vag specialist charges £44 for full brake fluid change, which is more reasonable than dealers. It takes garages with the equipment minutes to change.

Just been looking at buying a brake bleeder. You can buy them from £40 for a decent one and that would pay for itself after one change. Plus you can change the fluid yourself without having anyone pump the pedal for you.

27 minutes ago, Ecomatt said:

Just been looking at buying a brake bleeder. You can buy them from £40 for a decent one and that would pay for itself after one change. Plus you can change the fluid yourself without having anyone pump the pedal for you.

 

I bought a bleeder kit for the bike and they are worth it

On 11/06/2020 at 21:15, gm73 said:

With regards to your suspension noise I've had the same since 30k miles and I've had various MOT testers, Taxi inspections and mechanics all looking at it and nothing has been found. Also had the front shocks recently changed and the noise remained. So apart from changing all the bushes, droplinks etc I reckon I'll never find what the noise is. My suspicion is that it is the anti-roll bar bushes.

'Lithium grease' has been applied to the offending creaky part - there's a technical bulletin apparently. We'll see how long that stops the creaking for....

On 11/06/2020 at 15:55, CookieMonster87 said:

Spoke to the garage, they clarified the price for the Brake Fluid change as being £75 for cars under 3 years and £60 therefore after.

 

To which the obvious retort is, brake fluid on that car is not supposed to be changed on a car under 3yr old so why was I charged £75?

 

 

@Scot5

People can change Brake Fluid when ever they want, and if checked and there was excess moisture before 3 years old people might just do that.

 

People who might not be getting the car serviced for another 2 years because on Variable might have the brake fluid changed when ever.

It could be 5 years old at the next service, especially if a pre WLTP car that sat bunkered for months before sold.

 

& from the other thread on the Motabiliy cars, Brake fluid can be changed 2 months before 3 years old and a car handed back.

 

Edited 15 June, 20205 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

On 11/06/2020 at 21:10, gm73 said:

My 15 plate Octavia has done 165k and still has the original brake fluid and I had the mechanic check the viscosity of it. It was perfectly fine. Feels like a bit of a sales scam by Skoda tbh.

 

   That should have many an armchair expert jumping up and down.

 

Have always said that stuff like brake fluid should be tested. Why would anyone throw away perfectly good brake fluid?  As I keep saying, fluid change was ever 2yr, then it went to 3yr then 2yr thereafer and I yet to read anyone coming up with any scientific or mechanical answer as to why that should be. Nobody ever questions it, they just come away with stupid throwaway lines like " if you love your family then.."  Perhaps they see themselves as budding Jeremy Clarksons

3 minutes ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

@Scot5

People can change Brake Fluid when ever they want, and if checked and there was excess moisture before 3 years old people might just do that.

 

And who checks it?  And how many people's brake fluid has failed b4 3yr? And how many MOT failures have you seen where fluid is the cause?

 

It's all theory...   never once seen it or read about it in practice.

 

Brake fluid is recommended to be changed after yr 3...      That applies to Ms daisy in Wick as it does to 17year old youth impressing his friends in London. It applies to Southern Spain as it does to Norway. One rule for all? Common sense tells you that can be right.

 

It does not apply to you or anyone that wants to do their own thing. 

 

Many Technicians and mechanics check brake fluid for H20 with a tester.

Many people that take their cars to track days check brake fluid, upgrade and replace fluid regularly.

 

It can only be a general recommendation,  because people might be in Wick.

 

@Scot5

You have never said yet what your trade or profession is?

Just guessing you are not a Heating Engineer, or Safety Inspector or in any job where regular checks and maintenance is carried out.

 

 

 

annual-planner.pdf

 

 

 

 

Edited 15 June, 20205 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

Good bit of info on why brake fluid is changed;

 

https://www.kwik-fit.com/brakes/information/why-brake-fluid-is-important

 

Depending on how you drive the car would depend how severely you’d feel the effects I guess e.g. track driving vs long motorway runs (although you’d likely use different brake fluid for track).

My MK1 Octavia went to the scrapyard at 17 years old and 525000 kms with the original brake fluid.

 

I do some teaching of English at the Lycée pro where mechanics, paint sprayers, logistics & lorry drivers learn their trade, fully equipped modern workshop, my car went through the checks every year that we offered to the public to raise money for the Téléthon, it never once showed any moisture content on the brake fluid testers that were sent off and calibrated every year.

 

I was not reassured & would have been happeir had it shown something, I would not put it past a French certification body to calibrate & certify a non finctioning piece of equipment every year so I bought my own tester from Ali-Express which was dead on arrival and I never got refunded for either 🙁

Brake Fluid change first at 4 years might well become the recommendation but maybe it will be a decade on from when VW Group changed it to 3 years in this world region before that happens.

 

 

 

Took my Karoq in for an oil service today at a dealership. Was told that I needed the brake fluid change and it would be £65. However I was later handed a bill for £90 which includes the actual brake fluid and VAT. Their pricing is misleading.

 

Annoyed after finding this thread and seeing that Halfords for example used to do this for £40.

On 10/06/2020 at 11:14, shyVRS245 said:

Brake fluid is normally changed at 3 years from new and then in year 5, 7, 9 etc. It will be an extra cost. It absorbs moisture over time which reduces the braking systems efficiency leading to longer braking distances and if you love your wife/kids safety is number one consideration.

Moisture in the brake fluid can lead to brake fad but it takes some extremely hard driving braking from high speeds to get hot enough for that actually happen in a modern car.   Otherwise, it will normally make absolutely no difference to the stopping distance whatsoever and certainly not to a single emergency stop. Ex vehicle examiner