Hi all,

 

Long term lurker on the forum. I'm hoping for some advice on a clutch-related issue.

 

I bought an approved used 2017 Octavia 1.4 TSI manual from a Skoda main dealer last July. I had a Mk1 Fabia VRS for 10 years before this, so it's fair to say the new car felt very different to drive. One thing I haven't really gelled with is the clutch, which feels quite hard to press and seems to lack any feel. It isn't juddery or anything, but I have to be very smooth when pulling away or it kind of lurches right at the end of it's travel, and if I release the clutch too quickly between gear changes there's almost a lash (both sound and feel) from the engine bay.

 

I don't use the car daily, mostly for long journeys, and I've been wondering whether this is just normal for the car. At least I was until just before Christmas when as I pulled off the motorway and changed down a gear, the clutch peddle didn't return all the way, it just hovered around the middle of it's stroke. It didn't feel as though it was 'stuck' necessarily, more that it was kind of sucked downwards by some kind of negative pressure. It happened once more on that journey and has happened once more since.

 

From a bit of research I've done online it looks like this is most likely related to the master/slave cylinder, and could be a sign of a major issue. The car is booked to go back to the garage on an unrelated issue (boot button stopped working) so I'm thinking of asking them to look at this too. Problem is, the garage are already being a complete pain and have asked for £120 up-front to look at the boot issue, which I might get back if it's found to be a warranty issue!? I mentioned the clutch and they said they'd take another £120 to look at that....

 

As this has only happened three times in two months - I've done less than 2000 miles in the car since July - I'm wondering whether I should just forget about it, that it might just be a hiccup and nothing to worry about. Or, it could leave me stranded with a floppy clutch, at some point after the warranty runs out. Would they even fix it under warranty anyway? The guy on the phone wouldn't even tell me if the boot button was covered.

 

Sorry for the long message. I'm just looking for advice really, and any wisdom from anyone who has been through the same or similar.

 

Thanks.

Attend to it or learn how to bleed the clutch at the side of the road because it will get progressively worse.

 

Warranty, was this one that you paid extra for or they claimed to have thrown in that is run by an insurance company?

 

If so all they are is a vehicle to make the stealer even more money, to be able to demand £120 each time you report a fault and to avoid their responsibilities under the sale of goods act by saying "we are really sorry but the warranty company say no!".

 

The problem being that you are now beyond the date where the garage would have any liability so the "warranty" is all you have

A warranty is a type of insurance and as @J.R. eluded to, they will try to get out of paying for anything.

Take a look at your paperwork and see what the deal is.  You may get a better result from an auto electrician.  A boot switch/button sees hard use so can fail and should be an easy fix.  The cutch issue sounds more in depth.

Thanks both, warranty is on the sales receipt as '12 month extended warranty' £179.45 apparently. They mentioned claiming the money back from Skoda when I asked about the boot button. To be honest, I'd feel confident doing the boot button myself, but that surely has to fall under what a warranty would cover? It's the clutch that has me worried.

 

11 hours ago, J.R. said:

Attend to it or learn how to bleed the clutch at the side of the road because it will get progressively worse.

 

This ^^^^

 

10 hours ago, MarkyG82 said:

Take a look at your paperwork and see what the deal is.  You may get a better result from an auto electrician.

 

And this ^^^^

 

WRT what Marky said, check the T&C's of your warranty to see what is, and what is not, included.  Could the boot button be considered 'fair wear and tear'? Possibly, but my view is that you've bought a car from a main dealer, with an extended warranty, an item has failed in the warranty period, so needs to be returned to working order, and if that's by the warranty, then so be it.

 

I'm not sure I fully understand what the £120 is about?  Is it a diagnostic fee?  The boot button doesn't work - I'd have said that was diagnostics enough 🙄  Is the £120 for an hour's diagnostics?  If so, how long will is take them to push a button and suss out it's not working.

 

I also think the clutch issue is something you take back to them, and ask them to remedy the issue, under warranty.  Simple as that.  Nothing more, nothing less.

 

It'll be the Consumer Rights Act (2015) rather than the Sale of Goods Act, but nevertheless I'm not sure asking you for £120 a pop is reasonable in either circumstance, so I'd suggest having a conversation with Trading Standards/Consumer Direct before going back to the garage, so you're better informed and know where you stand, because take you for a ride they will, if they can.

 

Gaz

 

Edited 31 January, 20242 yr by Gaz
'nuvver bloomin' typo

Heya Bud, not to be funny here but a replacement boot button is like £20 and half hours work ..wouldnt it be quicker and easier to just replace it yourself if its a dud?

You could add a 1 in front of that figure and it would still be worth it to me to pay it and do the job to avoid the inevitable grief that any post sales contact with a main dealer guarantees.

 

And whilst on the subject any guarantee offered by a dealer that you end up paying for is going to make you very angry and frustrated even if they pay for it themselves, which of course they wont because they make a commission on it anyway.

On 31/01/2024 at 11:51, Gaz said:

I'm not sure I fully understand what the £120 is about?  Is it a diagnostic fee?  The boot button doesn't work - I'd have said that was diagnostics enough  

 

Yes, a diagnostic fee, apparently... And that's exactly what I said, you don't need to diagnose it, I'm telling you what's broken. 😔

 

20 hours ago, Aetious said:

Heya Bud, not to be funny here but a replacement boot button is like £20 and half hours work ..wouldnt it be quicker and easier to just replace it yourself if its a dud?

 

I get what you're saying, and I'm not adverse to fixing things myself, but I specifically bought the car from a main dealer so I had peace of mind in case anything went wrong. And now it has so I think they should make things right.

 

It's booked in now for them to look at both the boot and the clutch. I can't imagine how either won't be covered by the warranty since I've done less than 2000 miles, so it'll be interesting to see what happens, if nothing else. Although it does look like they're going to relieve me of £240 just to look at it.