Hi All,

We've got an issue with the electric boot (the version without the virtual pedal). It's a 70 plate that has been owned by us from new.

From when it was a few months old, the boot will not open intermittently. It doesn't seem to matter whether it's opened by the button on the boot itself, the button in the driver's door or the button on the key fob. Essentially it can be heard unlock, then makes a loud beeping noise, as if obstructed, then locks itself again.

It's been to the dealership we bought the car from more times than I care to remember, plus one other dealership for a second opinion. Neither of them can fix it, they just keep telling us there is no error code.

This has gone as far as tge motor industry Ombudsman, which sided with Skoda. They acknowledge there is a fault, but have left it to us to prove it's a manufacturing fault.

The question I am asking I guess is - has anyone else encountered this and had it fixed? If so, how?

Any thoughts would be hugely appreciated 

Unfortunately I have no experience with this issue, I just wanted to comment on the David against Goliath situation: how can one person prove to anyone that it’s a production fault 🤦🏼‍♀️ And the incompetent mechanics that only rely on computers and the faults they show or don’t. Like this is the only way we can function now….

I do hope you can get the issue sorted.

Thank you Ajdolin. Honestly, this a nightmare. 

The comments from the mechanic "are you sure the boot is not obstructed?" - how stupid do you think I am???? 

And there is nothing quite as embarrassing as battling with the boot in a supermarket car park with a full shopping trolley in the pouring rain

I also have problems with my 20 plate SEL Estate. If I use the release catch on the driver's door, it opens fully everytime.

 

But if I use my foot under the rear bumper, it very rarely opens fully. It usually just un-latches and stays there. To get it to fully open, I usually have to swing my foot under again.  All very frustrating.

 

I did report it when it went in for a service, and it did work correctly when I tested it on the forecourt afterwards. So thought it was fixed.

 

But it didn't take long for it to return to a fault again. It's almost as if it sticks on the rubber seal and doesn't have enough energy to fully open...

Ours is an SE L as well but we don't have the virtual pedal option (i.e. on ours you can't open the boot by waving your foot). 

What annoys me most is Skoda and the Ombudsman putting it on us to prove that it's a manufacturing fault and are asking us to prove what testing was done. The garage refuse to give that to us even after repeatedly asking. 

I am no engineer but to me the fault is either with the boot catch not releasing properly or with the struts. But both are expensive so the dealership doesn't want to change them.

Have you / can you film it happening / not happening to show them?

 

Thanks, AG Falco

Yes, already done that and supplied to them. It even did it in their car park, yet they deny it happening. 

I was trying to add it here but it's too large.

Sounds like the pressure sensor is triggering.

 

Have you tried cleaning the seals / lubricating the struts?

Can you look at live data when it happens?

 

 

Thanks, AG Falco

Thank you for your advice, much appreciated. I'd figured it was a pressure sensor, as I can replicate the fault by resting my hand on the boot.

 

The seals are clean. We have been told by the dealership that the struts are sealed units and they don't need lubrication. This is what I remember from my husband telling me. I a  now taking over, as the whole situation is really affecting his mental health. - The worry here is also invalidating the warranty.

I managed to compress the video. I know the quality isn't great.

With the fault being intermittent, you end up taking video in supermarket car parks etc.

1 hour ago, SazW said:

Thank you for your advice, much appreciated. I'd figured it was a pressure sensor, as I can replicate the fault by resting my hand on the boot.

 

The seals are clean. We have been told by the dealership that the struts are sealed units and they don't need lubrication. This is what I remember from my husband telling me. I a  now taking over, as the whole situation is really affecting his mental health. - The worry here is also invalidating the warranty.

Omg, hang in there, both of you, nothing is more important than your health. And 👎 for the dealership and Škoda for handling the whole situation… Wouldn’t be surprised if you find ppl with the same situation, each being told by the dealer/service that this is a unique problem which no one has experienced yet…

How old is your car?

@Ajdolin It's a 70 plate, I think we picked it up brand new beginning of November 2020. The problem started Jan / Feb 2021 and has been getting worse since.

 

@AGFalco I meant to say earlier as well, we have no live data of when it happens as we don't have the tools / hardware needed. Supposedly the dealership have done this testing but found no errors in the logs. We have been asking them repeatedly for all the paperwork around this issue and we have not been provided with it. We need to supply this as evidence to the Ombudsman and they know it.

i got my vrs near end of july and have tried opening boot with my foot with no joy ,any help out there?

You want someone to open your boot with their foot?

On 21/08/2022 at 14:39, SazW said:

I meant to say earlier as well, we have no live data of when it happens as we don't have the tools / hardware needed. Supposedly the dealership have done this testing but found no errors in the logs. We have been asking them repeatedly for all the paperwork around this issue and we have not been provided with it. We need to supply this as evidence to the Ombudsman and they know it.

 

If the dealer has done any testing then it will be linked to your account on their systems - which means it may be covered by the data privacy and access laws. I'm no expert but it may be worth looking in to it and then submitting a Subject Access Request for a copy of all data linked to you.

@snealthat's a good shout, thank you. All we've been able to get out of them is that they did testing (what kind is a mystery) and found nothing wrong with it.

Sorry to hear that afterservice is so poor. I had a very similar problem with my Octavia MKIII. Unlocked but did not open. I tried to lubricate the rubber sealings with silicon lubricant made for rubber seals and the problem went away. I think the "stickiness" of the rubber seals was enough to prevent the boot motors to open. Absolutely no guarantee that this will work for you but I was really surpriced that this little thing prevented it to happen again.

Thanks for your reply Bial. I was thinking that it was something to do with the tailgate sticking to the seals, as it seems to be worse when the weather is hot. I'll look out for something to ensure the seals don't stick. 🤔

1 hour ago, Grady said:

I'll look out for something to ensure the seals don't stick. 🤔

Just some talcum powder / french chalk  is worth a try.

 

Thanks, AG Falco