So, my car dramas continue. After my car wouldn't start and all car systems were unavailable I took the car into the dealer to get it looked over (car eventually started next day for some unknown reason).They'd "never heard of this before" but swapped some relays around and said they thought they'd fixed it.

 

Fast forward 3 months, same thing happened again. Called the dealer up and they then told me that the previous time there were no fault codes after I told them I was wanting to claim against warranty. It's booked in again to be looked at but this time I got a scan from an OBD2 to check if there were fault codes. Turns out every system bar brakes had multiple errors with some up to 10. Airbags error is very worrisome. Let alone that the car intermittently shuts down and won't go past accessories.

 

What do you guys reckon I do?

I should have added that the unavailable systems were scrolling across the driver screen and accompanied by a heap of beeping. Car wouldn't crank over.

That’s too many errors.

 

I reckon the dealer should, as a minimum, give you a loan car whilst they work with Škoda factory to trace a fix the problem (not just ‘think’ they’ve fixed it).

Thanks mate. I thought as much but when I called them they advised that it was company policy to charge for the loan car. Skoda said that was bull but still not confident of what they're gonna do or say. Problem is they're the biggest skoda dealership in Victoria. I have another option to go to but at the same time, wanna dig my heels in and not give their problem to another dealer. .  Was happy with them before this but alarm bells started ringing after they changed their tune and said they couldn't find any faults last time. That wasn't what they'd told me on the spot 

 

Gonna push for them to keep the car until they resolve the issues. Thanks heaps

A further thought. Push the importer (presumably Škoda Australia) for support. Whilst your contract of purchase was with the dealer, the importer is the link back to the factory and all their technical resources. It could be that they fund the loan car whilst the investigation goes on.

That was the case with my car. Mine was one of several in the UK which had the infamous KPH/MPH issue for which there was no fix at the time. Škoda UK wanted vehicles for diagnosis, testing etc and mine was one of them; had a loan car from the dealer (whom Škoda UK recompensed) for 5 months and I covered 8500 miles in that time. I also got some compensation from Škoda UK.

 

Hope you can get your car sorted (or maybe replaced).

5 year manufacturers warranty in Australia is there not!

 

Lemon Laws as well.    VW Group & their Franchised / Msin Dealerships should know better. 

The CEO,s have had to apologise in the past for being useless. 

 

In Australia VW is not the tail that wags the dog like they get away with in Europe.

 

Edited 7 November, 20232 yr by Rooted

I'll let you know how I go tomorrow but your responses give me faith I'm in the right. Thanks heaps

Totally unacceptable. Stick it out for a FOC loan car, or if they still resist gently let them know that 'A Current Affair' might be interested in your story. I suspect your dealer is the same one my car came from and is going to for its first service next week. Oh, how I hate dealers....

Fingers crossed your after sales experience is better than mine. But to be fair, my poor experience was down to the guy on the desk. He was arguing semantics and refused to acknowledge he was wrong or could have done better. The rest of the experience, finance manager and the service manager were awesome. Shame that 1 guy and a car that may be a lemon has soured the experience.

 

Once the dealer principle came out, he solved the loan car issue. Now fingers crossed they solve the actual issue of all the errors. Havent heard back from them today but I'll buzz em in the morning will loop back here with the outcome as apparently I'm the 1st ever to have had this issue. 

Hi Kreeker, just wondering how you got on, any joy fixing the gremlins yet? Had mine in this week at Pen Skoda for its first service, no complaints, they seemed pretty attentive. Had lost 2 of the plastic wheel nut caps and when I mentioned it they promised to get hold of a couple and mail then to me - hopefully they'll follow through...

16 hours ago, SouthernComfort said:

Hi Kreeker, just wondering how you got on, any joy fixing the gremlins yet? Had mine in this week at Pen Skoda for its first service, no complaints, they seemed pretty attentive. Had lost 2 of the plastic wheel nut caps and when I mentioned it they promised to get hold of a couple and mail then to me - hopefully they'll follow through...

Just get a set of 20 caps. It's a couple bucks, but they will keep falling off after you've swapped your tyres once.

5 hours ago, Jorgeminator said:

Just get a set of 20 caps. It's a couple bucks, but they will keep falling off after you've swapped your tyres once.

If you're talking about the cheap copies from a well known online shop, I did buy them when mine were lost. The colour shade is different and the size slightly smaller, although they are a tighter fit. In fact I also bought a set of chrome ones at the same time but they do nothing for the car's appearance. I just wanted a couple of OEM ones, the dealer won't be charging for them.

Edited 23 November, 20232 yr by SouthernComfort

Sorry, got caught up with a project at work. Technically no resolution as yet. They acknowledged all the faults and spoke to Skoda who had never seen this before. They couldn't replicate the error in the workshop overnight.  They've left the ticket open and have given me clear instructions on what to film next time it happens. They swapped some relays around again and put in a new starter button. Kinda feels like throwing solutions until something sticks but at least I feel heard.

 

The dealer principle ended coming out and was nice. Interrupted the kid on the front counter telling me Skoda don't know what they're talking about and that they shouldn't have told me that I'd get a loan car as ther3s no way that will happen. Got a loan car though.... He just greased me off until I left and then again following day. Needless to say he won't be getting a Christmas card from me. The rest of the dealership is nice, shame he let's the team down. 

 

I'll upload a video of what happens next time it does. Stupid mistake I didn't this time....

Edited 24 November, 20232 yr by kreeker
Edit

"Kinda feels like throwing solutions until something sticks but at least I feel heard."

 

An all too common approach by dealers. No idea, just start replacing bits hoping they hit the jackpot! 

 

Good luck with it mate, I hope there's some light at the end of the tunnel.