New Fabia - but where's the service history?

[Beanfeast]

Hi All

 

A week ago yesterday we collected a Fabia 1.0 TSI 110 from our local Nissan dealership, they sit next door to a Skoda dealer under the same name of Bristol St Motors, it's a 2018 with 26k on the clock.

So far we've loved the car, I'm amazed at how speedy a little 1.0 can be! And also impressed I actually managed to get the Skoda Android Auto working.

We already have an 8 yr old Yeti that has been brilliant and so have some trust in Skodas.

 

It's only been a week, so early days...but...

My concern is around service history, I've taken the dealership on their word that the car comes with a full service history. But because it's all online I have no proof anything has been done, and assumed I'd just be able to log in to some website or app and view this. How wrong I was!

I've now searched this forum and online extensively and come up against a brick wall. It seems there is an app called MySkoda, or at least there used to be, as I cannot find it anywhere. The nearest I've found is called Skoda Connect, but this doesn't show any service history - just the same information my car already displays i.e countdown to the next service.

 

This morning I watched my wife leave the drive in it and I'm sure I noticed a tinge of blue smoke from the exhaust, even in cold weather on a cold start I'm pretty sure I shouldn't be seeing this from such a new car. I need to do some more checking to confirm if what I saw was right.

We've taken out a 3 year warranty, and currently still under the 3 week 'money back if you don't like it' guarantee - so feel pretty secure that we're covered if anything goes wrong.

Reason being our trade in for this was a 5 year old Nissan Note we bought less than a year ago, that then had engine troubles, had to go to the dealership and ended up with £3k repair costs out of warranty. We managed to negate this with a decent trade in price and much reduced repair costs - but it's made me a lot more wary.

 

So has anyone actually managed to find their service history online or through an app recently? Or should I just go through a Skoda dealership to gain this info?

Also, any thoughts on the blue smoke? If it is right what I saw - and I'll update when I've checked it again over the next couple of days - should it be a case of hand it straight back for another car or check the oil and just keep an eye on things since I've got the warranty anyway?

 

 

[GaryL]

MySkoda app still works for me and us correct up to my last service and is the only route I've found.  However, the app now has a banner saying support withdrawn from 10th December.  Separately, I've had an e-mail saying MySkoda and SkodaConnect apps are to be merged from 4th December in the PlayStore.  I guess we'll have to wait and see what the new app offers.  Other than that, it's probably easiest to get a Skoda dealer to print it out for you.

[pikpilot]

When we bought our Fabia last February, we asked the dealership to give us a print out of the service history as there was no Service Book. Any Skoda garage can do this for you.

[FZS1]

Does anyone know how to check if the bodywork inspection has been carried out for warranty purposes? Should it be checked on all services, (fixed/variable)? Also, how is this logged on the Skoda database, or does it merely say Oil Service or Oil inspection service, can it be seen with the Skoda app, and how should this show on the paperwork given to the customer, if at all?

[Ootohere]

Yes the Body Inspection should be done at every service and logged on the system.

If there is a claim for paint or corrosion Skoda UK often say 'No record of inspections being done'.

 

They have said this for 8 years since they stopped Service books.

 

So Full Main Dealer Service History tells them Who and Where are not putting Body & Glass inspections on the System.  Their approved Repairer / Dealerships.

 

Customers need to ask for their print out.  Dealerships need to give the print outs.

Contact Skoda UK and get them to send the car Service & Warranty history.

[Jim H]

Is there any way of getting a service book for the Fabia?  We use independent or small family run garages who probably won't have access to the service database. If in the future if decide to sell/trade in the car or even use different garages, how would they know the service history and what has been done?

[Ootohere]

You buy a Service Book Online,  ebay / amazon or where ever.    It is just a Book, matters not if Skoda is on the cover.

But that is just as those that make fake Service Histories do and did and get it stamped up when ever and where ever.

 

Just as easy to get The Invoice & receipt from the VAT Registered Garage or Mechanic with their details and Part Numbers and cost and keep that in a folder, 

as you can do with Main Dealers Paper Work you ask them for.

 

There are Independent Garages & Specialists with all the licensed gear and more than an idea, they get TPI's and Service Campaign Information and some can even do Warranty work  and put the Service Details onto the system.

 

These will usually be Ex Main Dealership Techs and Master Techs that care about servicing and maintenance and customers coming back.

They left the VW Group Main Dealerships who really do very little at a service and charge well for doing that very little.

 

Edited 3 December, 2020 by e-Roottoot

[SurreySlowCoach]

When I sold a Fabia to We buy any car the stamped service book was quite a factor in actually almost getting the quoted price. Paper bills seemed to be of no interest. I can print a service history from My Skoda (or can until it dies next week) but it doesn't look convincing, is the history from a dealer any better?

[Ootohere]

WBAC are not getting many 'Stamped Service Books' with Skoda's from 2012 or so.

 

A Full Main Dealer Service History can be more a history of what was not done.

A car could be serviced every year with Skoda Dealers and at 5 years old maybe not had the Brake Fluid changed at 3 & 5 years, maybe not had the wheels off and never had the Air Filter or Spark Plugs changed.

Still has a FMDSH though.

Edited 3 December, 2020 by e-Roottoot

[FZS1]

Thanks for the replies.  Just to be clear then, if the warranty history just says Oil service or Oil and inspection service and nothing else, does Skoda not assume that it's been done bearing in mind that it's actually part of the service schedule? If not, should it say for example, Oil and Inspection service, Body + glass inspection.

[Ootohere]

A Warranty History is a history of Warranty Work, TPI's carried out.

A Service history to keep a Manufacturers Warranty Valid is different.

'Serviced to manufacturers recommendations or guidelines using OEM fluids and parts',  or what ever it says in the T&C's. *It does not say Schedule.*

*** They should make the Recommendations easy to follow, and Skoda Dealerships should service Skoda Approved Cars to the recommedations yet they might not, but they will sell used ones with an Extended Warranty & FMDSH.

 

 

Services were Minor / Interim & Major.   Now they are Oil & Inspection Services & extended Scope each 3 years.

 

Unless there is a Itemised Invoice or information on what was carried out the likes of  car that has Guidelines / Recommendations / Schedules for a DSG oil Change @ 40,000 miles, 

or Haldex @ 3 years might not have unless the owner paid for that.

even on a Service Plan that might not have been done, most likely not.

Edited 3 December, 2020 by e-Roottoot

[Beanfeast]

Hi

 

Thanks for the replies on this. Going by quite a few of them and more online digging it does seem going digital on service histories does leave a gaping hole unless assumptions are made that an 'Inspection with oil change' includes checking all sorts of things. But will Skoda back that up under warranty circumstances?

 

I also contacted 2 Skoda dealerships end of last week to try and get hold of my Fabia's service history. 1 of them I phoned on 2 separate days to be told I'd get a call back, which I'm still waiting for... The other I phoned once and had a call back within 20mins, a really helpful guy in the service department took my details and emailed me a copy of the service history almost straight away. He also helped with a bit of info about the blue smoke I initially mentioned. So I know which garage I'll be using for work in future!

I'm told it's ok to see a bit of blue smoke on a cold start, so long as it doesn't continue - which is right, soon as the car is driven away there's no longer any blue smoke so I'll stop worrying about that for now.

 

Lastly, I noticed my Skoda app has changed to a MySkoda app now but still doesn't work. On talking to Skoda UK it seems they're having a few glitches with it and it may take a few days to become fully available again.

[James@RRG_Skoda_Rochdale]

PM me your reg and an email address and I'll send you your service history. It takes about 5 seconds for any dealer staff to obtain.

 

The bodywork inspection is an interesting subject. I've been asked about it at 2 different brands and the answer from "those in the know" (brand area managers, warranty auditors, technical trainers etc) is that it's an additional operation separate to the service and mechanical inspection. This means that it carries an additional cost then logging online with a different operation code to the service. The cost has put pretty much everyone that I've dealt with off. 

 

I was never given an exact figure of what the aforementioned cost should be 🤷🏼‍♂️

[Ootohere]

The Body & Glass inspection was shown on the Skoda Websites as a Service Action up till January this year.

It was on the page after the Services for each 2nd service when there were service books.

 

Dealerships were quoting £100 for Body Inspections when vehicles were not getting Dealership Servicing a few years back.

 

As it is the Paint and more importantly the corrosion warranty Skoda / VW Group Manufacturers do not even mention, annual, bi-annual or regular Inspections to have a valid Manufacturers Warranty.

 

It is only Skoda UK that says there is no record of inspections being carried out.

 

 

SKODA_Warranty_Terms_August_2018_New_Car-1.pdf

Edited 8 December, 2020 by e-Roottoot

[Ootohere]

No point 'Inspecting bodywork'  unless then noting and reporting damage that might void the corrorsion warranty, also bringing that to the person paying for the services attention.

Edited 8 December, 2020 by e-Roottoot

[James@RRG_Skoda_Rochdale]

I've seen it in hundreds if not thousands of service books, always blank 🤦🏻‍♂️

 

It's surprising how many of those items that Skoda UK are claiming are part of services on their own website that don't actually form any part of the service schedule tasks on the online maintenance sheets that they provide based on the vehicles age and mileage 🤷🏼‍♂️

[Ootohere]

It has been this way for over a decade and something owners should remind Skoda UK about and their Resolution managers and before it ever gets to that the Dealership managers and Area Warranty managers.    It is mis-advertising by Skoda UK and they know it is.  All there for Trading Standards or any solicitor to see.