Hi All,

 

This is my first post on this forum and hope I stick to the rules. I'm in a bit of a pickle with my 2020 octavia VRS MK4.

 

The car was given for a differential oil and brake fluid service on the 07/07/2023 and 2 weeks ago had an oil change. Both done by the same authorised service centre. Yesterday, the 8th of July 2023, I set off for London at 11am and as I was driving the front underbody shield of the car came loose and started dragging on the road. After parking the car, I looked under the body of the car and found that the underbody shield had come loose. You can also see there is leakage of some oil which I presume is from the differential as it was serviced 2 days ago. After the AA technician arrived, he took off the undercover plate and deemed that the car was safe to drive back home or to the service centre but only managed to drive it back home as the service centre was closed. 

 

Can you guys help me with identifying what oil would be spilled on the undercover plate below?

 

I need to make a good case to have the service centre compensate for all the inconvenience. 

7 minutes ago, Logan2194 said:

Hi All,

 

This is my first post on this forum and hope I stick to the rules. I'm in a bit of a pickle with my 2020 octavia VRS MK4.

 

The car was given for a differential oil and brake fluid service on the 07/07/2023 and 2 weeks ago had an oil change. Both done by the same authorised service centre. Yesterday, the 8th of July 2023, I set off for London at 11am and as I was driving the front underbody shield of the car came loose and started dragging on the road. After parking the car, I looked under the body of the car and found that the underbody shield had come loose. You can also see there is leakage of some oil which I presume is from the differential as it was serviced 2 days ago. After the AA technician arrived, he took off the undercover plate and deemed that the car was safe to drive back home or to the service centre but only managed to drive it back home as the service centre was closed. 

 

Can you guys help me with identifying what oil would be spilled on the undercover plate below?

 

I need to make a good case to have the service centre compensate for all the inconvenience. 

But you did not say if you had checked the engine oil ! I would also say I don't think it is the diff but what

I suspect its a bit of engine oil that has dripped down either the block or from the filter and not wiped up.

You say the AA man said you could drive it so not lost the sump plug ( I assume he checked it for tightness)

 

So I think the garage is just guilty of not tightening the bolts for the tray

 

 

Oops apologies for that. I did check the engine oil but when it was hot. It was a 3rd more than the full level. I shall report back on the cold temperature level soon. 

@Logan2194

Welcome.

 

Was this the VAQ diff you had serviced? 

That was due at a 2 year interval on your car was it not, so in 2022. 

 

The engine oil should be checked at normal operating temperature if you read the owners manual. After stopped a few minutes.

Obviously you want to know where it is when stone cold as well. 

Yes it is the VAQ diff. It wasn't done in 2022. Was overdue and hence did it now at 35k Miles. 

 

Also the car was bought by myself, second hand in Feb 2023 from a car dealer. 

Just checked the oil level. I'm very surprised to see what I'm seeing for it being cold. Looks like it is well over the full level. 

57 minutes ago, Logan2194 said:

Just checked the oil level. I'm very surprised to see what I'm seeing for it being cold. Looks like it is well over the full level. 

If that's an accurate oil level reading then someone messed up bad. I'd suggest you don't start it before draining it enough to get it within specs. If you continue driving it that overfilled you risk damaging the catalytic converter and other things.

Doesn't help in any way here but I was told by the garage that the car will throw a warning when there is too much oil in the car. Obviously it doesn't since at this much over the max level it already should give you a warning.

Yeah its weird I have no lights whatsoever on the dash. My plan is to call the service centre tomorrow morning and explain what has happened. I feell it is not worth the risk for me to drive the car to the showroom given the oil leak under on the undershield and the fact that the engine oil has been overfilled. Will keep you posted on this!

*Update on situation*

 

Called up the service center (Spoke to the manager) this morning and they asked me drive the car to them. Car was taken immediately to the workshop on arrival and was sorted out in 30mins. 

 

They did admit the oil was overfilled and now is at the right level. They apologised for not having done the screws up properly for the under tray. The residue of oil on the under tray was left from the engine oil filter service and was not cleaned. No leaks from the differential.

 

They have refunded the whole cost of the service. 

 

Car is back at home, all good! Thanks a lot for the advice guys! 

2 hours ago, Logan2194 said:

*Update on situation*

 

Called up the service center (Spoke to the manager) this morning and they asked me drive the car to them. Car was taken immediately to the workshop on arrival and was sorted out in 30mins. 

 

They did admit the oil was overfilled and now is at the right level. They apologised for not having done the screws up properly for the under tray. The residue of oil on the under tray was left from the engine oil filter service and was not cleaned. No leaks from the differential.

 

They have refunded the whole cost of the service. 

 

Car is back at home, all good! Thanks a lot for the advice guys! 

Good to hear! Props to them for being honest by admitting they did a sloppy job.

6 months later. I get a letter through the post from Skoda indicating my roadside assistance is to expire Jan 2024. At the time of the breakdown, Skoda informed me that I didnt have any roadside assistance which forced me to pay out of my own pocket for emergency joining. I have now gone back to Skoda UK to ask for a resolution for this carelessness from their end. Absolutely shocking from Skoda.

The Dealership or their insurers should be footing the bill  including recovery.

 

Their incompetent employee / employees were the cause of the whole crisis were they not? 

 

It mattered not if you had Roadside Recovery or not.  The cheeky little monkeys at the dealership were at fault.  It should come out the Master Techs bonus or the Service Managers 'Up-selling Commission'. 

Edited 2 January, 20242 yr by Rooted

There was no recovery, it sounds like the OP joined the AA in order to call them out to look at the flapping undertray.

 

I have never understood this practice of join us after you have a breakdown and we will come out, its immoral in my book, there is probably a better word but my English is poor now.

 

Another reason for my decision in the end to avoid all insurances etc aside from those legally required, I do my best to avoid breakdowns and dont like paying for the feckless to abuse a system especially when the companies encourage it.

 

It was the Green Flag advert a take off of the Italian Job showing the ditzy blonde painting her nails while creating gridlock while Green Flag came to the rescue that really set me off and made me cancel my membership, it pushed all my buttons at once!!!