At my 25000 mile service, my local Skoda-approved garage, who have a fine reputation, discovered that my front shock absorbers needed urgent replacement. I was surprised that a top-of-the-range L&C Skoda should need new shockers after a mere 24000 miles, and asked if the work could be done under warranty. They said that although they were empowered to do servicing, for warranty work I must use a Skoda dealership. I duly took the car to a nearby Skoda dealership, and they examined the vehicle and said that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the shock absorbers.

 

I explained this to my local garage, who insisted that they were 100% certain of their diagnosis, and invited me to examine the shock absorbers for myself, with them. I declined, because I don't consider myself competent to 'referee' between two sets of professionals. They suggested that perhaps the dealership were just trying to save Skoda money!

 

So I have a dilemma. Who do I believe? If I go with the local garage, I'll have to pay over £700, and that money will be wasted if the dealership were right. On the other hand, if I believe the dealership I risk further damage to the car and a potentially dangerous situation if it turns out the local garage was right. I don't feel like taking it to another Skoda dealership or approved garage, partly because I don't see why I should have to fork out another £60 for a diagnosis, and partly because I still couldn't be sure that I was being told the full truth.

 

The only solution I can see is for Skoda to authorise replacing the shock absorbers under warranty.  That way, I would have peace of mind, and it wouldn't matter much to me which garage was either making a genuine mistake or telling porkies, and it wouldn't matter to me if it turned out that the replacement hadn't really been necessary. But I don't suppose Skoda will like that suggestion. Has anyone any other ideas, please?

Did the "Skoda Approved" garage give a detailed reason as to why both front shock absorbers needed "urgent" replacement?

Edited 28 August, 20205 yr by Liger1956
Punctuation.

I'd go back to Skoda Dealership and tell them that if they won't replace them under warranty then you will contact your insurance company to send their independant accessor to access it. If he finds in your favor they will need to do the work and pay the accessor fees. If he finds nothing wrong, you will need to pay his fees, but I'd cover off that cost by getting the indy guy to pay for the accessor if he finds nothing wrong. 

In other words, if both are so confident that they are right, get them to put their money where their mouth is. 

A little searching on the forum came up with these threads which may be useful.

 

If you are not willing to even look with your own eyes then you might as well toss a coin and believe who you wish.

 

And as for asking strangers on a forum who to believe without even looking to describe what you saw or taking a photograph......................

 

Maybe a tarot card reader?

Get your Indy to take a photo showing the reason they believe the shocks to be faulty. Either take that to the main dealer or post it back here for a more informed response. 

Thanks to UndertheRadar, Liger1956 and AJAMESR for your thoughtful and helpful replies, which I will act on.  

I'd say as a minimum you ask for the investigation by the dealer to be recorded against the car so if the front shocks fail you have a chance of getting it (and any knock on damage) repaired under warranty even if out of cover period.

Unfortunately ŠKODA dealerships have a guideline to work too on shocks, if oil is leaking below the spring cup then they can be  possibly changed under warranty, but if it’s above the spring cup the claim would get rejected, sounds strange but ŠKODA are insistent on it and the dealers hands are tied, even if you got a independent assessor out and he said yes they are leaking ŠKODA won’t pay if the oil leakage isn’t deemed to be in Skoda’s guidelines, also never heard of a 25000 mile service seems a strange interval for a service. Normally 10k on fixed or 18 to 20k on flexible intervals, obviously won’t affect the complaint though

May be of interest....