Hi, at 11500 miles the boot would not open on the button. Skoda main dealer diagnosed a faulty strut and replaced it under warrantee. 9 months later the boot will not open electronically.

It is now out of warrantee. Anyone else had this problem? 

2 hours ago, Driveucrazy said:

Skoda main dealer diagnosed a faulty strut and replaced it under warrantee. 9 months later the boot will not open electronically.

It is now out of warrantee

The strut that was replaced is not out of warranty; this is for 12 months from date of fitting.

Thanks,  I meant the car. According to Skoda UK website they guarantee their work done under maintenance for 2 years.

I haven’t spoke to dealer yet. No doubt will be an interesting discussion. 

Work carried out under the Manufacturers Warranty is not covered beyond the Manufacturers Warranty.

Unless you paid some contribution.

Easy to read the T&C,s.

 

Then there is the Parts with Fundamental design, manufacturing, materials etc.

so talk with the Warranty manager at a dealership, or the area warranty manager & the warranty provider / importer as required if the Master Tech does not support you in the part being gash.

SKODA_Warranty_Terms_November_2021 (2).pdf

Edited 21 June, 20232 yr by toot

24 minutes ago, toot said:

Easy to read the T&C,s.

I did, particularly "This warranty does not affect your statutory rights,"

This Warranty issue has been an issue with Skoda / VW group for many a year.

 

Even the cars with engines that have had a failure rate of over 20% like Mk2 Fabia vRS might get a replacement engine in the 3 year manufacturers cover in the UK and that engine is not covered beyond that 3 years manufacturers warrant, same with the DQ200 DSG.s.

 

What some did get was an Extended Warranty given, but they stopped doing that 4 UK CEO / Brand directors back.

Paying a contribution gave a 2 year warranty.

 

Same when Skoda / VW had a after market Warranty Company not accepting the nonsense for VW group and reaching an agreement with VW over the supply of an engine.

That is then a new or refurbished engine and has 2 years warranty.

But if a base engine you are still left with original parts like the turbo and super charger which are 3 years plus old.

I hope it is wrong that the replacement has no guarantee, probably against hope.

The electric strut alone costs £558 without fitting charge. 
I have written to Skoda UK seeking technical advice to see if I can retrofit the gas struts that lower grade models have  as standard.

I would not miss the electric boot opening which I find a gimmick. Now a very expensive gimmick.

my advice based on my experience is to avoid the electric boot opening at literally all cost.

Still not had reply from Skoda Uk

emailed Skoda Czechoslovakia, got reply next day, asked me to go to Uk dealership first.

went to dealership, short version told to get on bike unless I paid for repair, no warrantee

Also told not possible to retrofit gas struts. 
I will visit an independent garage for second opinion. Can’t see I will ever see inside of a Skoda garage again unless I win lottery

also no point in using Skoda genuine parts given their failure rate

Ok update,

Skoda czec turned out I better than UK and said I had to deal with Skoda Uk. In turn Skoda UK say I have to go to dealer.

 

I pointed out to Skoda Czec that I was only seeking technical advice about ability to retrofit Gas Struts, and that as they built them I expected them to have the knowledge. They have decided not to reply.

 

I went to a Skoda main dealer and asked for a quote for replacing the boot lock control mechanism which I suspect my be the culprit.

they refused to quote without first doing a diagnostic test at £99.00. My suggestion that as the part is £70 and not the stock they carry it would be sensible to replace that first and avoid the customer paying for the diagnostic. As you can imagine that fell on deaf ears.

 

given these parts are not reliable/durable, I would have regarded this as planned preventative maintenance and not a waste, and incidental a risk I was prepared to take.

 

went to independent garage who was very helpful, though he said he believed the lock had to be configured online, which he was unable to do as did not have equipment. He gave me some contacts of tech guys who he recommended, but thought I might have no option but to use Skoda. Pass the valium please

I like my car, but would I ever buy another Skoda!!!!!

 

 

Quite a sad story and doesn't paint Skoda in a good light.

I have a new SEL on order and have specced an electric tailgate. Anyone else had problems with the electric tailgate or have you found them useful and generally reliable?

Good luck survey.

the result of the investigation by dealership is it needs replacement right strut , having replaced the left strut in September.

the quote they have given on top of the £96 already paid.      A staggering further £835 

 

you can get non VAG struts for £360. I used to believe in using original parts in the believe the quality is higher, but as both of mine have failed. In 16000 miles, I am questioning this logic.

 

looking at the workshop manual, the change is pretty straight forward and if it took a mechanic more than an hour I would be surprised. I might even have a go myself but the only doubt is the manual states the last step is to plug into the diagnostic plug and set the maximum height for tailgate to open. The car manual states you can set this using the tailgate opening button, in case you have for instance a low garage. Put this to Skoda UK they said follow the workshop manual .

if any member has replaced a strut, grateful for any wisdom.

 

Skoda Uk state it is not possible to retrofit gas struts as wiring loom is different. More research looms, sorry no pun intended. 

 

 

3 minutes ago, Driveucrazy said:

Good luck survey.

the result of the investigation by dealership is it needs replacement right strut , having replaced the left strut in September.

the quote they have given on top of the £96 already paid.      A staggering further £835 

 

you can get non VAG struts for £360. I used to believe in using original parts in the believe the quality is higher, but as both of mine have failed. In 16000 miles, I am questioning this logic.

 

looking at the workshop manual, the change is pretty straight forward and if it took a mechanic more than an hour I would be surprised. I might even have a go myself but the only doubt is the manual states the last step is to plug into the diagnostic plug and set the maximum height for tailgate to open. The car manual states you can set this using the tailgate opening button, in case you have for instance a low garage. Put this to Skoda UK they said follow the workshop manual .

if any member has replaced a strut, grateful for any wisdom.

 

Skoda Uk state it is not possible to retrofit gas struts as wiring loom is different. More research looms, sorry no pun intended. 

 

 

That's very poor indeed. Makes one wonder what quality control is like at Skoda. You would think Skoda would be ashamed at how this damages their image - or perhaps they just don't care! 

 

I have given up with Skoda Uk, chocolate tea pot springs to mind. They have written me off and closed case.

 

So I repeat, if any forum member has any experience of changing an electric tailgate strut I would welcome sharing their experience.

Update on my saga.

just about to order strut from Czechoslovakia main Skoda dealer as cheaper by over £100 than Uk dealer.

Then thought I would check out a recommendation from another Skoda owner who had same problem which turned out to be a break in the wiring.

I pulled back the rubber boot between strut and tailgate, and low and behold a broken wire.

It is clearly a design fault that the incredibly fine wire is not capable of taking the flexing when the boot opens an closed.

I raised the boot to highest point and propped it.

then release bottom of strut which gave better access to the wires

It is not possible to join wires together so soldered a small extension wire between the broken ends

replaced strut and with some trepidation pressed the closure button. Eureka, boot lid smoothly descended and closed.

A bit of a fiddly job but well within the competence of any DIY person.

remember the main dealer price to replace strut was £ 835 plus £ 96 to investigate, so well worth having a go.

Took around an hour to complete.

hope it is a permanent fix, though does’nt solve the design fault and this wire or others could break in same location.

 

I hope you took a photo of the broken wire and got back to the dealer for a refund of your £95 investigation charge. They obviously failed to diagnose the fault correctly...

Glad you sorted it out and gave a solution which may help others.

 

Parts replaced within a new warranty are guaranteed up until that warranty expires so not at all sure what you meant by your statutory rights? It doesn't just apply to Skoda or the motor industry in general, it applies to all goods you buy in the UK.

 

On 25/09/2023 at 15:18, Driveucrazy said:

It is clearly a design fault that the incredibly fine wire is not capable of taking the flexing when the boot opens an closed.

 

Given the lack of responses and the lack of issues regarding failed struts on this forum, it clearly isn't a design fault. A manufacturing fault with your car perhaps, but definately not a design fault.

 

My thoughts?  If Skoda replaced the original strut and the boot worked for 9 months afterwords then it's unlikely the wiring was the issue back then. That makes me think the loom may have been disturbed when they changed the original strut.

 

If I'd been in your shoes I would not have carried out the repair when noticing a broken wire, rather I'd have done exactly what Nottslan said and returned the car to the dealer. The car may well have been out of warranty but I think they may have struggled to argue that 'wear and tear' wasn't present whilst the car was under warranty. ( legally they don't have to prove anything but all the same ).  If they repaired the wiring and the boot opened / closed, then they'd have been left with egg on their faces - I'm convinced the repair costs would have been waived or Skoda would have approved the loom be replaced under 'goodwill'.

 

You also talk about Skoda's unhelpfulness. I thought all us owners who's warranty is about to expire are offered an extended warranty at a reduced rate. Did you receive that  offer?

 

 

 

Edited 26 September, 20232 yr by kodiaqsportline