Cambelt gone

[Easytiger333]

Hi

 

I've got a 2018 Superb 1.6 SE L Greenline Tdi which has done 65k miles. The cambelt has gone and needs an engine rebuild. 

 

I am aware the cambelt should be replaced at 5 years and I've been told it should last 145K miles. My car hasn't reached either of these. 

 

Skoda UK has rejected our claim for a goodwill repair as we are over 60k miles regardless of that fact they have clearly fitted a faulty part. 

 

Has this happened to anyone else? Has anyone been successful in getting a goodwill repair put of Skoda? 

 

Any help and advice is welcome. 

[numskull]

Appalling. Don’t give up, keep pushing them for goodwill. Has it always been main dealer serviced? What dealer are you using? If they’re not playing ball, call them out and SUK on Twitter, FB, LinkedIn. And write to your MP.

[Easytiger333]

It's not main dealer service history. Although it has been serviced regularly.

 

I'd like to point out that I've only owned it since July and only put  3500 miles on it. It was a lease car prior to that. Car turns 4 years old on 7/2.

 

Its currently sitting at a local garage who are the ones who advised me to get Skoda to repair it FOC and they have not started any work. Happy to get it recovered to a main dealer for them to repair it though. 

 

Skoda told us we simply don't "tick the boxes" so clearly won't consider the circumstances. 

 

Totally at a loss where to go with this. 

 

 

[Ootohere]

@Easytiger333Welcome.

Who told you the cam belt should easily last 145,000 miles, and what is the source they got this from?

 

?

What does Serviced regularly mean, is that and oil and filter change each year / 9,400 miles or 2 years at 18,000-20,000 miles?

That is an Oil Service only.  was there more to servicing than that?

Edited 3 February, 2022 by roottoot

[patrolman]

I would ask the lease company for the service record it might have had repairs out side of the service schedule 

[Easytiger333]

29 minutes ago, roottoot said:

@Easytiger333Welcome.

Who told you the cam belt should easily last 145,000 miles, and what is the source they got this from?

 

?

What does Serviced regularly mean, is that and oil and filter change each year / 9,400 miles or 2 years at 18,000-20,000 miles?

That is an Oil Service only.  was there more to servicing than that?

Was serviced at 20k, 30k, 46k, 60k and 63k. Service records show first 2 were oil services then an extended scope service, then oil and filters change then an oil service. 

 

Info came from an VAG specialist garage and its what VAG have informed them. 

[Easytiger333]

30 minutes ago, patrolman said:

I would ask the lease company for the service record it might have had repairs out side of the service schedule 

I have the details from the lease company. The records show replacement tires and also a repair on the electrical charging system. 

[Ootohere]

OK.

Extended Scope is not much either really.   Assuming things are done as Skoda show yet even Main Dealers Techs might not do all.

Edited 3 February, 2022 by roottoot

[Easytiger333]

1 minute ago, roottoot said:

OK.

Extended Scope is not much either really.

So are you saying that the services have not been carried out correctly? 

[Ootohere]

I am saying there is Oil And Filter and look sees and reports.   The Cam belt is not inspected.

 

The car could have been abused by many or one driver  for 60,000 miles.   It could have had a tuning box fitted or been remapped.

 

No reason that Skoda should give goodwill on it.  

SKODA_Warranty_Terms_November_2021 (1).pdf

[xman]

A session of ERWIN (cost 7 euro for an hours access) you can download lots of info about your particular VIN. Including service manuals and official SKODA service schedules - should be able to see straight away when the cambelt is or was due as specified by the manufacturer. If the car was serviced in the Skoda network the dealer has a duty to inform the customer of any requirement or recommendation whenever the car was/is serviced.

 

Customers are not trained Skoda technicians or mechanics. 

 

erWin is the Electronic Repair and Workshop Information service from Skoda Auto for independent garages, vehicle fleets and all other companies which undertake professional level repairs and servicing of Škoda cars. erWin is also available to private individuals who want to repair their Skoda vehicle themselves.

erWin shows you at lightning speed everything you need to know about repairing and servicing a Škoda. The information is made available online. Always up-to-date. Always the latest details.

erWin contains information specific to individual vehicles, e.g. technical product information or maintenance tables. You have to log on first for this application.

erWin knows even the smallest difference between models.
That is because erWin obtains all the workshop manuals from Škoda Auto together with many other useful items of information, to help you improve your service.

[Easytiger333]

5 minutes ago, roottoot said:

I am saying there is Oil And Filter and look sees and reports.   The Cam belt is not inspected.

 

The car could have been abused by many or one driver  for 60,000 miles.   It could have had a tuning box fitted or been remapped.

 

No reason that Skoda should give goodwill on it.  

SKODA_Warranty_Terms_November_2021 (1).pdf 462.9 kB · 0 downloads

And yet your screenshot above clearly states check drive belts so the cambelt has been checked. 

 

So basically an inferior part that doest last the length of time the manufacturer says it will is the customers problem and the customer shouldn't expect the manufacturer to repair the damage caused from the inferior part!! 

[ApertureS]

Cam belt failure is very very non discript. 
what failed, was it the belt -if so, how

was it a pulley - if so, how

 

need to know all of this before blame can be placed anywhere at all 

[Ootohere]

@Easytiger333  There you go then, bring that up with Kate Laws at Skoda, she is a Resolutions Officer. Senior Executive.

 

They visually inspect belts they can see, they do not remove covers.      Was the Extended Scope Service at a Main Dealers then?

Edited 3 February, 2022 by roottoot

[Easytiger333]

Just now, ApertureS said:

Cam belt failure is very very non discript. 
what failed, was it the belt -if so, how

was it a pulley - if so, how

 

need to know all of this before blame can be placed anywhere at all 

I can only go by the information I have which is the cambelt has gone after nearly 4 years when the manufacturer states it should be changed at 5 years and the car requires an engine rebuild.

 

[Easytiger333]

1 minute ago, roottoot said:

@Easytiger333  There you go then, bring that up with Kate Laws at Skoda, she is a Resolutions Officer. Senior Executive.

 

They visually inspect belts they can see, they do not remove covers.      Was the Extended Scope Service at a Main Dealers then?

None of the servicing is main dealer. 

 

Do main dealers remove the covers for inspections of the drive belts? 

[Ootohere]

Then the Extended Scope means nothing as the is what Skoda Shows.   Ask the Servicing Garage what they did. 

 

 

If the VW Independent got that 145,000 from Skoda and not VW then perfect.

 

I wish Skoda were so good giving info to Customers / Owners about Cambelt life.

 

 

SKODA UK. Not VW.  Not Independents.

Edited 3 February, 2022 by roottoot

[Easytiger333]

2 minutes ago, roottoot said:

If the VW Independent got that 164,000 from Skoda and not VW then perfect.

 

I wish Skoda were so good giving info to Customers / Owners about Cambelt life.

My engine number is identical to what is fitted to a VW passat so surely having the info from VW rather than Skoda shouldn't make any difference. Surely the requirement for an engine model should be the same regardless of if it fitted in a VW or Skoda if its an identical engine? 

[Ootohere]

Surely it should  should it not.

Factually they give different Guidelines / Recommendations or if they ever commit to calling them 'schedules.' 

 

So best you get in Writing from Skoda UK what they say.      They should last 145,000 miles, yours never. 

Edited 3 February, 2022 by roottoot

[ApertureS]

7 minutes ago, Easytiger333 said:

I can only go by the information I have which is the cambelt has gone after nearly 4 years when the manufacturer states it should be changed at 5 years and the car requires an engine rebuild.

 

Honestly every other comment here about what you should do is fairly null and void without this information

 

possible failures could be

- oil contamination 

- fuel contamination 

- coolant contamination 

- physical damage to something

- something hitting the belt or pushing cover

- pulley bolts being left loose or loosened through something or someone

- pulley having dust or dirt ingress and bearing failure 

- seizing pulley or water pump

- incorrect coolant causing the above

- fuel pump seizing 

- camshaft seizing and ripping teeth off

- rodents 

- vacuum pump binding

 

these are only a few possible causes so unless exact specifics of why it failed are found, there is no chance of going anywhere with it 

[Easytiger333]

Just now, roottoot said:

Surely it should not.

Factually they give different Guidelines / Recommendations or if they ever commit schedules. 

 

So best you get in Writing from Skoda UK what they say.      They should last 145,000 miles, yours never. 

But that is what we have done and yet they have still rejected our claim. 

 

I'm looking for advice on how best to get my car back on the road. I've been quoted about £2 to repair but advised to replace the engine from my garage unless Skoda are willing to do the work due to the inferior part. 

[Easytiger333]

2 minutes ago, Easytiger333 said:

But that is what we have done and yet they have still rejected our claim. 

 

I'm looking for advice on how best to get my car back on the road. I've been quoted about £2 to repair but advised to replace the engine from my garage unless Skoda are willing to do the work due to the inferior part. 

Meant to say £2k to repair 

[Ootohere]

?

Did Skoda say the Cam Belts life should be 145,000 miles?

 

I understand why they knocked back your claim as you have not an Approved Repairer Inspect the Engine, unless your VW Garage is a Approved Repairer.

 

@ApertureSHas told you what they need to be identifying as the cause of the failure.

Edited 3 February, 2022 by roottoot

[Easytiger333]

24 minutes ago, roottoot said:

?

Did Skoda say the Cam Belts life should be 145,000 miles?

 

I understand why they knocked back your claim as you have not an Approved Repairer Inspect the Engine, unless your VW Garage is a Approved Repairer.

 

@ApertureSHas told you what they need to be identifying as the cause of the failure.

To be honest we asked Skoda customer services about the life of the cambelt and was told "I have no clue but I suppose I could find out" so they rejected the claim without the info on the life of the part. 

 

Like I say happy to have it recovered from one garage to another if required. 

 

I'll talk to my garage tomorrow and ask for full diagnostic info. 

[UrbanPanzer]

look in the serivce book, should show interval for cambelt.