Several questions, really....

[pcspinheiro]

Hello good people,

I have a few small questions that hope someone can help me with...

1- Does anyone know what kind of factory finish is applied to the Orion 16" rims (paint or powder coat)? I had ALL FOUR!!! damaged in a tire swap operation and the "repair" done at the cost of the workshop (twice already) is complete sh** ! They supposedly sent them for a rim specialist but both times all they did was apply a bad coat of metallic silver paint. Never corrected the metal they removed from the edges and the paint has uneven coverage/dirt (especially in the holes for the bolts, edges all around and inner spoke surfaces) . I'm taking this legal now, since they refuse to admit this is an unacceptable job (plus they damaged them again mounting the tires, but still don't care... it was in Norauto, btw). It's not even the same kind of silver satin finish, it's a very shiny, metallic flaky finish... A few pics to illustrate obvious defects are added.

 

2- I seem to have one or more warped discs since I feel some vibration when braking. Though they are still very new (I make a very defensive driving and use the brakes sparingly) and the pads half used, Skoda said it was time to change everything (obviously!...). However, I think they can simply be machined and there's a local place that does this well at acceptable costs. Is removing the discs and replacing the pads something I could do myself? I'm used to doing it in other cars (no ABS), and I'm good around cars in general, but never touched something as "new" (car's from 2017). Anything special to pay attention to? I suppose I can find tutorials but just wanted a heads up.

 

3- I have a "swooshing" sound coming up usually at or above 40 km/h. Steering is aligned, wheels balanced and the tires are still almost new, and I don't remember this before they assembled the tires after the last rim "repair". Could it be a bearing starting to fail?

 

Strangely, the braking vibrations and "swooshing" sound all appeared after the car went to said workshop (some 10k km ago) for the tire change that damaged the rims... Coincidence?...

 

Thanks in advance for any input!

Cheers.

 

[bubib5]

I can only give advice on 2. - as you have electric park brake, some form of diagnostic tool is needed, and take care not to extend the parking brake cylinder when they are not mounted, as that leads to taking it to a repair shop, as i think you cant retract them if you make an error, as for replacing the discs and pads, its pretty much the same for cars with and without abs, difference comes in bleeding the brakes if you try to change your brake fluid, its mandatory for cars with abs to bleed the abs pump as well, and its done via a diagnostic tool as well..

[Bap33]

On 24/04/2022 at 21:57, bubib5 said:

its mandatory for cars with abs to bleed the abs pump as well, and its done via a diagnostic tool as well..

I haven't read anything like that in Skoda workshop manuals (downloaded from cardiagn.com), when I did it by myself.

 

[Ootohere]

You keep the fluid level right as you bleed the brakes and then there are no issues with the ABS pump. 

[bubib5]

4 hours ago, Bap33 said:

I haven't read anything like that in Skoda workshop manuals (downloaded from cardiagn.com), when I did it by myself.

 

interesting, i remember having to do the abs bleed via vcds several times on my A6, but i admit that was a few years back, and it was an older car, my 2009, so i guess its not anymore.. 

[Bap33]

9 hours ago, bubib5 said:

interesting, i remember having to do the abs bleed via vcds several times on my A6, but i admit that was a few years back, and it was an older car, my 2009, so i guess its not anymore.. 

Note: If you a take a look to my "how to guide":

I've used a pressurized filler system. The process may be a little bit different if you don't have such a system. I remember the workshop manual describing 2 different ways to change the brake fluid depending on the way to fill the system.

May be it's necessary to bleed the ABS pump in the procedure w/o pressurized filler system... 🤔 Sorry I can't remember. Check on cardiagn.com to be sure.  

[pcspinheiro]

Thanks for the replies! 

 

I recently did the front brakes and ended up bleeding out the excess oil at the callipers instead of sending dirty oil up the system.

 

Coming back to my point 3, after much insisting from my part they looked at the car and found a bent rim. I've been complaining from high speed vibrations ever since I got the car, so I probably drove it like this for the best part of 75000 km... luckily I hardly ever exceed 120 km/h but I think this may have caused other harms... Together with this swooshing sound above 40-ish km/h that did not go away with having the wheels refurbished, the fact that it always comes from the right side, that the car always pulls to the right, I think that my bearings may be going out... In fact, when the wheels were off I spun the rear hubs by hand and on the right side it's was considerably looser and made a higher pitched sound, despite no play (yet). And, of courses the bent rim had been in the right side all the time, alternating from front to back when rotating tires. 

 

I'm getting very tired of this car and of the service at Skoda... They really seem to out of their way not to do a god damn thing other that change oil and filters! Just now they DID see the oil leaks from my engine (valve cover, crankshaft seal and gearbox, this last one being the worst), but still they are delaying getting approval from warranty and even denying there was oil leaking from the crankshaft seal, when I have clear photos showing that area full of oil!!! As if it was normal for an engine under 80k km to have oil all over it! I'm guessing it's just a hard job and they don't want to bother. I've put it up for sale and I won't be getting a Skoda again, that's for sure. Maybe the cars are better than what mine leads me to believe, but Skoda service is appalling...

Edited 17 August, 2022 by pcspinheiro

[varooom]

@pcspinheiro It's sad really that Skoda service is going down the pan as we say.  I think a lot is to do with Dieselgate scandal, and the VAG group trying to claw back money where possible, I fully expect in a few years time, and internal memo sent out trying to push any warranty claims back.  A scandal will emerge and someone will be sacked with a nice golden handshake to boot.

 

I hope I am wrong, but more dealers seem reluctant to do any work (as if they won't be paid)

[pcspinheiro]

Yes, and this is not even Skoda warranty, it's some third party warranty extension that I was offered when I bought the car. But they probably pay way less for repairs that if its me, so let's push this past the warranty, shall we? 

 

EVERY single problem I had with this car I had to diagnose myself and go to the dealership with the answer. They never found any problem with it unless I pointed my finger right at it. And even then... As with my cabin ventilator, that does a chirping noise when it's cold. I even showed them a video of it, but the day I left the car for them to check they couldn't hear anything. I wish I had the time to sit next to them while they "diagnose" stuff. They probably just talk to the head mechanic who pulls out his guessing hat an says it's nothing. This is what I heard from him multiple times, "it's nothing", even when my ac compressor was doing a horrible clatter and this idiot telling me it was the diesel injectors! I diagnosed it was the compressor myself and THEN they changed it under warranty. 

I've also always had a chirping sound from the distribution side of the engine, which they've been ignoring and even said they've changed the timing belt, when the car had clearly not been touched (and the problem remained)...

 

My warranty expires in 3 months, if they fail to address the current issues a formal complaint letter will follow to Skoda offices, the importer in Portugal and the dealership, along with a write-up on their complaints book, which should then be verified by the overseeing authorities.

A friend of mine had a VW golf but never bought VAG again due to the bad service at the local dealership, the same that sold and services my superb...

 

Edited 17 August, 2022 by pcspinheiro