Hi, we have a 2018 1.4 petrol 4wd Kodiaq that we’ve had from new. It’s only done 25k miles and has until now been serviced at the main dealer. 
 

I didn’t get the spark plugs replaced last year (as suggested) due to the low mileage, and this year they have recommended the Haldex oil change. 
 

I said to them to leave both (spark plugs and Haldex) as it’s hardly doing any miles, but on reflection and some research am now wondering if that was wise!

 

 

I’ve seen lots of posts about the Haldex oil change and cleaning the strainer - which if I understand correctly is not Skoda standard practice. 

 

So 

- realistically when do the sparks plugs need replaced? Does it really matter about age given the low mileage? Or would it be best to have them changed?
 

- given what I’ve read about the Haldex and potential cost of replacing pump or controller, it seems sensible to get the oil changed - but (as I would hope to get another 5+ years out of the car) to also get it cleaned properly - will main dealer do this on request, or can anyone recommend 3rd party who would near north Lanarkshire/. Glasgow area?

 

thanks!
 

 

 

I think you’re right to question the replacement of parts simply based on time & mileage. 
Especially at dealer costs.

 

Condition based maintenance is the smartest approach and should be the cheapest way in the long term if you’re keeping the car beyond the typical 2, 3, 4 years renting deals.

 

My car is diesel, but my motor bike plugs simply get taken out and inspected and if they need replaced the I pop the new ones in that have been sitting in a drawer waiting for the big day.

 

We change oil on time and miles because most of us don’t have an analyser to tell us whether the oil is “good” or “bad”.

 

It’s just pragmatic to change it whenever you think it’s convenient.

 

Our Polo had 2 annual oil changes at the “man round the corner” with oil I bought online and a filter purchased from the VW dealer. 
 

Air filters, pollen filters only take a few minutes.  Buy a spare. Inspect / remove filter. Replace if needed.

 

Now Haldex oil and strainer is slightly unconvenient for a Quick Look, so again may be prudent to change and clean at your convenience. Not difficult for a spanner man familiar with VAG cars.

Having seen a post by a garage in Galashiels that included a pic of a completely clogged Haldex 5 gauze strainer taken from a Karoq at 20k miles, I decided to get the one in our Karoq 190 TDI serviced at 20k miles.  

 

I had previously persuaded West End Garage in Dunfermline to service the Haldex on my Yeti by removing the gauze strainer and cleaning it.  However, this time, I took the Karoq to Star Performance, in Dysart, who I've been using for 20 years to fettle my VAG cars.

 

Attached are the before and. after pics they took.   

 

Edited 20 December, 20223 yr by Schtum

 

3 hours ago, Dynopinch said:

Hi, we have a 2018 1.4 petrol 4wd Kodiaq

 

It’s only done 25k miles and has until now been serviced at the main dealer. 
I didn’t get the spark plugs replaced last year (as suggested) due to the low mileage, and this year they have recommended the Haldex oil change.

 

can anyone recommend 3rd party who would near north Lanarkshire/. Glasgow area?

 

 

Unless it's a misunderstanding on my part, there's something very weird about the intervals you mention. Servicing / maintenance intervals are given on the Skoda website: Skoda servicing / maintenance

 

The Haldex is due every 3years or 30k miles,  not on the 4th year.  If your car is 2018 then it should have been changed last year - 2021

 

The spark plugs are due every 4th year or 40k miles. If you have a 2018 car then they are due to be replaced now. Who told you it was last year?

 

Are you sure that's the info you were given? Perhaps they gave you the correct info and you've got it muddled up. 

 

 

North lanarkshire?  https://gowmotorservices.co.uk/   ( only 5mins off the M80 but still remote location)

 

 

 

 

Edited 20 December, 20223 yr by kodiaqsportline

I also have a 2018 1.4 TSI, with 30,000 miles.

 

My Haldex gauze filter was roughly 80% clogged when I had it cleaned last year. I paid the main dealer a little extra labour to remove and clean it.

 

I had the spark plugs replaced this year, all under a good value service plan purchased during a Black Friday special offer.

 

If you're going to go to the effort of removing and examining 4 year old spark plugs then for less than £100 just put new ones in - is my thought.

 

Even factoring in next years cambelt change I spend roughly £300 a year on main dealer servicing. On a £30,000 car I deem that reasonable and not worth the hassle of missing service items or trying to save a few quid by taking it elsewhere.

 

I'm lucky in that the main dealer I use are as good at aftersales service as they are when trying to sell new customers new cars.

Thanks for all the replies. I've looked back and I got my dates wrong - the car was actually registered in December 2017 - so well overdue now!

 

I've checked the service report and the dealer has recommended Haldex, spark plugs and timing belt. Despite the low mileage it sounds like it's sensible to get all of these done now, so I'll get a price from them for everything (including asking if they'll remove and clean the haldex filter) and also check with the garage kodiaksportline recommended.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Isn't the timing belt on the 1.4tsi a 120,000km one in other countries?  Personally at that low mileage I'd be tempted to leave it a bit.

On 20/12/2022 at 23:56, kodiaqsportline said:

 

 

 

Unless it's a misunderstanding on my part, there's something very weird about the intervals you mention. Servicing / maintenance intervals are given on the Skoda website: Skoda servicing / maintenance

 

The Haldex is due every 3years or 30k miles,  not on the 4th year.  If your car is 2018 then it should have been changed last year - 2021

 

The spark plugs are due every 4th year or 40k miles. If you have a 2018 car then they are due to be replaced now. Who told you it was last year?

This is part of the confusion, Skoda quoting a time interval or a mileage, but not really saying which is better.

 

Something like a Haldex with moving fluid is logically the earlier of the two.

 

But spark plugs, who would change them at 10k miles if that was the mileage at 4th birthday.  
 

The schedule is not appropriate unless you do the mileage quoted in tiny print at the bottom of the schedule, any other mileage and it isn’t really ideal

 

Would be much better if they put something like every 40k miles, or 5th year if occurs before 40k miles.

 

As for cam belt, on a low mileage car, unless is is looking frayed at edge or glassy underneath, I would comfortably go a sixth year.  (Glassy look means rubber is getting hard, hard rubber could snap)

 

I had my cambelt replaced at six years (MY16) at less than 23000 miles - old belt and tensioner still looked to be in a state that they could comfortably have been reused!

Certainly suggests that replacing purely on age is not especially great advice to owner. 

Edited 22 December, 20223 yr by Warrior193
added note.

1 hour ago, SurreyJohn said:

This is part of the confusion, Skoda quoting a time interval or a mileage, but not really saying which is better.

 

Whilst many things VW are confusing, this ain't one on them.

 

Haldex is 3yr or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first.  That's very clear.

 

As for everythting else you mention, my car will be serviced according to Skoda recommendations because I treat that as an insurance policy. If my engine were to go BANG!  at least I have the backup of saying to Skoda, but I did everything you told me to do.  If however I don't adhere to the recommended maintenance and service program, it's Skoda who can then turn around and say " We told you so".  If you take out a warranty and they discover you haven't adhered to the manufacturers recommendations, do you reckon they'll pay out? If I were the warranty underwriter, I wouldn't.

 

Spark Plugs are included in the service plan so will make no difference price wise to me, assuming of course price is the only motive for not adhereing to the manufacturer's recommendations. If price was a concern then I wouldn't have bought a Kodiaq / VW group car in the first place. If there's a cheaper way than Skoda's service plan ( especially if you take it out during a special offer ), to service my car whilst retaining it's warranty, I'm only too willing to listen.

 

At the end of the day they're our cars and we can look after them how we want. If the OP has a 5 year old car that's never had a Haldex service he's been very fortunate. I'd do exactly the same as him - get the lot done at the same time. 

On 20/12/2022 at 20:25, Dynopinch said:

Hi, we have a 2018 1.4 petrol 4wd Kodiaq that we’ve had from new. It’s only done 25k miles and has until now been serviced at the main dealer. 
 

I didn’t get the spark plugs replaced last year (as suggested) due to the low mileage, and this year they have recommended the Haldex oil change. 
 

I said to them to leave both (spark plugs and Haldex) as it’s hardly doing any miles, but on reflection and some research am now wondering if that was wise!

 

 

I’ve seen lots of posts about the Haldex oil change and cleaning the strainer - which if I understand correctly is not Skoda standard practice. 

 

So 

- realistically when do the sparks plugs need replaced? Does it really matter about age given the low mileage? Or would it be best to have them changed?
 

- given what I’ve read about the Haldex and potential cost of replacing pump or controller, it seems sensible to get the oil changed - but (as I would hope to get another 5+ years out of the car) to also get it cleaned properly - will main dealer do this on request, or can anyone recommend 3rd party who would near north Lanarkshire/. Glasgow area?

 

thanks!
 

 

 

J&H Autos in Thornliebank. You won’t get better service!