I have a SKODA Octavia 1.6 with the 77kw (105) diesel engine from new on a 2012 plate. I have had no problems EVER with it.

9th December Car Sails through MOT with 89,662 on clock emissions OK and everything fine

Putting up Chrissy decorations I find the letter from SKODA UK inviting me to have the  to correct the NOx defeat software, they call it EA 189 service action - basically a new firmware for the car. 

Ring WINCHESTER MOTOR COMPANY and book car in for the 18th December

17th December - phone call from service team - JUST to confirm you must have NO faults on your dash or old ones in the memory or any old ones in the memory or they wont do it - NO CURRENT or OLD FAULTS so happy they can proceed

18th December 08:00 - arrive at dealer, car running fine mileage 89,838 Again asked to declare NO Faults active or old and sign a bit of paper authorising the service action, ALL OK and start to wait for it to be completed. fifteen min task takes just over TWO HOURS  an just before I get the car back they email me a video of an inspection of my car with no faults noted except two perished stops. I eventually get my car back I am presented with a certificate of completion and a copy of the TRUST BUILDING MEASURE to assure me my car would be no different after the fix and they guarantee some items for a further 2 years or up to 160,000 miles. advised oil a bit low and as had been told after the fix some cars use oil so not surprised to be told to check it.

I drive out the dealer car seems ok and head up to the motorway to drive home  when get on the motorway the engine starts becoming rough and noisy still driving so complete journey off the motorway to home address so I can ring dealer.

I take a video of the engine and noise as it is so odd I have never heard it before.

Dealer initially says it must be something I have done since left the dealer explain 15.5 mile is total journey to home - reminded them that the warranty they have LITERALLY just given me says about noise and they say well you will have to bring it back for us to look at it and also can't go anywhere else or warranty voided.  Had to got to a GP appointment so started to return the car to dealer couple of hours later. Car started again rough I pulled out of my road and onto a slight hill and the engine started to seriously misfire a slight press of the accelerator and boom smoke from under the bonnet and the car grind to a halt. Mileage is now 89,854 - 16 miles total (so much for the excuse that part of the delay was a test drive of the vehicle to check it out because unless they disconnected the speedo sensor there is not enough millage on it)

 

I ring dealer this time very definite that the fault must be mine am I sure nobody has been tampering with the car. - again NO - it has now done only an additional 30m. I insist they honour the warranty. I Am told if any body else touches the car warranty is voided but they along with ALL the other main dealer in my area DONT recover vehicles even warrantied ones.

 

£120 pounds later I arrive at the dealer with the car - brief look under bonnet and they say without even undoing anything YES it is definitely down to miss servicing at some time. (I can only assume SKODA have x-ray equipment). I push that I am not accepting that and the car gets left with them to look at an I get a loan car.

 

21st December text message to ring which I do and am told dealer is now certain that somebody has removed my injectors and put them back in without the washers and used old bolts because one has snapped off and was under the cover on top of engine - pointed out full service history is with themselves and one other specialist over two years ago so highly unlikely. THEN THE BUMMER - BUT SIR CAN YOU PROVE THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS TOUCHED IT - this became their go to comment whenever I ask a probing question.

 

Told that they would not do anything else unless I paid to have the engine opened and inspected (£200)  BUT if I take it anywhere else warranty is voided. I felt over a barrel as I needed a car to get to my keyworker job. - Agree to allow further investigation. -  get a phone call that the engine is completely wrecked and will cost about £5,800 to fix, dealer confirmed car worth £3,500 - told to come and get it out of there garage and return the loan.

I then ring SKODA UK on 0800 298 6839 and they raise a case but it is before Christmas and unlikely to get speedy reply. 

 

23rd December arrive at garage to find a £200 pound inspection involves removing the rocker cover and two injectors  (I suspect they removed themselves mind you) and apparently looking in the cylinder with a borescope.  Again definite that the cost would be £5,800 to fix and would probably not be warrantied didn't tell me to definitely SCRAP the  car but was quite supportive of that suggestion. Thankfully I had a mate with me and have been able to arrange off road storage so car is still intact albeit with a small box of bit's in the boot.

 

For my job as an emergency driver we use SKODA's as Rapid response and one of my works mechanic's suggested that the inject may have failed and caused a "hydrolic"?? lock and literally blown the injector out by force - I wonder if anybody here has heard of this happening around the reprogram.

 

Apart from a call on 30th DEC that failed to connect properly I rang back on 0113 733 400 immediately I have Heard NOTHING from SKODA UK although my email assures me that they will contact me quickly.

 

What I am trying to get from the forum is how likely is it that a perfectly working car no faults etc would suddenly pick the 15 miles after the fix to blow up.

PLEASE ANYBODY with any advice please feel free to chip in as I am way out of my depth here.

Welcome to the forum.

 

So you actually approved the 'Fix' and went out of your way to get it. 

 

There was not just the Engine Management / Software update done, there is the flow device in the air intake.  (on the 1.6TDI CR's)

 

Why o why did you allow them to touch your car, for them to get paid for doing it, and you just getting a 24 month Peace of mind Guarantee from Skoda . VW Group?

'Simply Clever' is,

The first thing that happens is every attempt from Skoda to blame the Dealership that did the work, and the dealership to blame the driver and the car.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 2 January, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

22 minutes ago, davidlpalmer said:

21st December text message to ring which I do and am told dealer is now certain that somebody has removed my injectors and put them back in without the washers and used old bolts because one has snapped off and was under the cover on top of engine - pointed out full service history is with themselves and one other specialist over two years ago so highly unlikely. THEN THE BUMMER - BUT SIR CAN YOU PROVE THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS TOUCHED IT - this became their go to comment whenever I ask a probing question

 

Talk to that other specialist about what they did with the car, if you're not sure already. What was that visit to the specialist for?

I suggest getting legal advice straight away if the other specialist can confidently deny having done anything to the injectors, and say that they will put that on record.

 

9 minutes ago, e-Roottoot said:

So you approved the 'Fix'. ? - YES

 

There was not just the Engine Management / Software update done, there is the flow device in the air intake. - THATS ODD

 

Why o why did you allow them to touch that, for them to get paid for doing it, and you getting a 24 month Peace of mind Guarantee from Skoda . VW Group?

http://skoda-auto.com/services/recall-actions - Because car may need to go into Europe at short notice and it is mandatory I have been told 

 

?

Do you have the paperwork setting out their promises to you? -  Yes will upload when scanner available

 

Have answered your questions above

 

Can I just check they CATEGORICALLY DENY ANY spanners touched the car at all apparently didn't even remove the plastic cover. Which when I got to it was a little off seated now I think of it.  They said some engines had to have a bit but mine didn't - ENGINE NUMBER is CAYCP75307 I don't know how to check what they would have had to do.

Up in smoke: the VW emissions ‘fix’ has left our car undriveable | Money | The Guardian

 

May be worth contacting the Guardian with your problem 

2 minutes ago, Wino said:

 

Talk to that other specialist about what they did with the car, if you're not sure already. What was that visit to the specialist for?

I suggest getting legal advice straight away if the other specialist can confidently deny having done anything to the injectors, and say that they will put that on record.

 

O he was very certain about not touching the injectors. I sneakily asked him about the work he had done on the injectors and he checked his records and replied we never did any one because the invoice had no refitting kit on it and as he put it I don't do stuff for free I then advised him about what the dealer said and he said 20,000 miles on a dodgy fitted injector they where having a laugh 

So you can probably prove that no-one else has buggered about with the injectors better than they can prove that someone has.   Talk to a solicitor, a respectable one not a 'no win no fee' bottom feeder.  

@davidlpalmer

What exactly are they saying is wrong with the engine that makes it a total write off and a new engine is required.

 

I read your comment about the oil.

 

So was your oil a bit low when the car was handed in, when had you last checked it, and did they top up the oil for you while they were doing the 'Fix' that VW Group are paying them to do?

 

???

Was the last service over 2 years / 20,000 miles ago at the specialist, and has there been no Oil & Filter service in the past 2 years, 

or do you do that?

 

????????

Who actually told you that after the FIX / 'Software Update' that some cars use more oil and watch for that?

Was that a technician or Service Desk  staff?

 

If that is the actual case and they know this is the case then the VW Group should have that in writing along with the statement they make that there are no changes after the Voluntary Update.

They should be providing or paying for extra oil if there are cases of extra oil use.

Edited 2 January, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

55 minutes ago, e-Roottoot said:

@davidlpalmer

What exactly are they saying is wrong with the engine that makes it a total write off and a new engine is required. - they say the head is destroyed because the injectors have worn the head by moving round they also say the bolt cannot be removed so its a complete new head and possibly other stuff wouldn't give a proper quote

 

I read your comment about the oil.

 

So was your oil a bit low when the car was handed in, when had you last checked it, and did they top up the oil for you while they were doing the 'Fix' that VW Group are paying them to do? - I hadn't checked it since the MOT on the 9th December when it was just above mid stick

 

???

Was the last service over 2 years / 20,000 miles ago at the specialist, and has there been no Oil & Filter service in the past 2 years, 

or do you do that? - its on the variable service program and I have been trying to get it into the Nearly 4 months but each time I ring no courtesy cars available had tried to get it done when the fix was being done but not possible

 

????????

Who actually told you that after the FIX / 'Software Update' that some cars use more oil and watch for that?

Was that a technician or Service Desk  staff? - was something I saw on the internet with people saying the constant regeneration to clear the DPF might increase oil usage

 

If that is the actual case and they know this is the case then the VW Group should have that in writing along with the statement they make that there are no changes after the Voluntary Update.

They should be providing or paying for extra oil if there are cases of extra oil use.

Answers are above in red

 

Have added car details to my profile as @Wino suggested

@davidlpalmer  

?

Was the oil low when the car was handed in, and did they top it up before letting the car out of their workshop, 

and has the car had an oil & filter service in the past 2 years / 20,000 miles?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 2 January, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

4 hours ago, davidlpalmer said:

Putting up Chrissy decorations I find the letter from SKODA UK inviting me to have the  to correct the NOx defeat software, they call it EA 189 service action - basically a new firmware for the car. 

 

The fix was released back in 2016, this surely can't be your first letter about it if you've owned the car since new? Pretty sure the last reminder letter they sent me was back in 2017 which I happily ignored. Are you saying they've sent this recently?

 

2 hours ago, davidlpalmer said:

they say the head is destroyed because the injectors have worn the head by moving round they also say the bolt cannot be removed so its a complete new head and possibly other stuff wouldn't give a proper quote

 

The injectors shouldn't be touched during the update. It's a software update via the OBD port and a 'flow transformer' which is just a plastic mesh near the MAF.

 

Had an injector simply failed, it should be covered under the TBM (trust building measure). Would a failed injector cause any movement, let alone so much as to wear the head to failure in just 16 miles. A seized bolt suggests it hasn't been out recently. Even if an injector is fully stuck open, I can't it passing fuel quickly enough on a running engine to cause hydrolock and pop an injector. What are peoples thoughts, something doesn't add up to me...

 

Anyway, my only advice would be getting a full independent inspection to find out what caused the engine failure and then consider legal action if it's shown to be negligence on the dealers part.

I also wondered about the fix not being done before especially as many dealers were doing it without permission, its almost like they know of the risk on the 1.6 tdi engine & left them well alone, however they had to contact all the registered keepers and probably are obliged to make contact again now for those that have not been recorded as converted.

 

My UK neighbour like you Langers has refused the fix but they keep writing to him, he is a very nervous sort and will never have a main dealer look at his car for fear that they will convert it, in doing so he has protected himself from their incompetence.

 

I did a VCDS scan once for him and as a wind up said that while I was at it I had installed the latest ECU programming, he freaked out

It's extremely easy to tell the difference between a previously snapped off injector bolt and a freshly snapped off one.

 

Check how bright, shiney and new the fracture surfaces are.  Did the dealer snap off injector bolts in the head while trying to get them out for the inspection camera?

 

BTW missing or leaking injector washers puts a carbon mist up onto the head.  I've seen it on a mates old Focus.  Looks like melted coal has been poured around the injectors.

@davidlpalmer what a shamozzle... It all seems very co-incidental and the dealers attitude is um, very restrictive and prescriptive, and their diagnosis does raise a few questions.

 

I agree with @langers2k it seems the only way to get some clarity is to get someone recognised as independent to report on the failure. It will cost some money but the consequence of the failure is sure to cost a lot more.  It is possible, I suppose, as well, that the independent report indicate it is an unrelated failure which could possibly support the dealer. However, there is the secondary issue then, that as pointed out, some of the parts likely to be involved would be under the trust building measure that apply post the update anyway.

 

Proof is always a sticking point but the report will go a long way,  in any case they (the dealer) ought to appreciate it is on the balance of probabilities.  And there are a fair few things swinging against them, a lot of co-incidences.  Just because the there has been one independent service at sometime in the past doesn't mean the dealer is off the hook. It is never a 100% proof matter in civil matters.  

 

I'm not an expert of diesels or the fix which is another reason why I would suggest someone independent takes another look. Other option would be approaching skoda uk saying you have an issue with this dealers approach, application of tbm and diagnosis.  However, they will likely accept their expert opinion at best, they may offer another Skoda dealer to look, would you trust their opinion now as independent?

Edited 5 January, 20215 yr by TheClient
typos

Trying to get the case officer from SKODA UK to contact me is proving extremely hard.

 

Blew up on 18th and still waiting for call back from case officer I am beginning to wonder if the dreaded Coronavirus has got to them. Problem is until they ring difficult to know which way to go as independent assessment is costly and if they make me an offer that money would be lost if good enough.

 

I have however found that the dealer seems to put approximately 100% mark up on the cost of the injectors if they are broken and we are talking genuine VDO not OEM pattern parts and brand new so beginning to wonder if quote was deliberately high to stop me even considering a fix.

 

as parts seem to be adding up to under £750 for the two injectors and fitting kit. and if head or valves involved will be higher but so far dealer keeps saying IF

Any update David