Hey all after some advice if anyone can help :-)

Picked up my Skoda last July 2024, day 2 of ownership the car failed to start and had multiple driver assist errors. I whatsapp the dealer who replied that's surprising. I didn't do anything else about this and put up with constant issues, I called Skoda assist multiple times as the car would not start and they informed me there is no fix.

These errors continued until by chance I called Skoda about the issues and was told there's the software update out. Had this done in March 2025.

A few months ago I started getting issues with the lights, no headlights, no indicators, this was intermittent. The one day the lights would not turn off, whatever I did the lights were on. I called Skoda assist they came out Friday, disconnected the lights. Specialist Skoda assist came Sunday and said they cant fix and took to a garage. So many constant errors with the car I requested a rejection the car. This was 4 weeks ago, multiple emails to lots of people and no answers. The garage said they initially looked at the car and the error was a driver control unit error. The called me today and said the fault is a broken pin and asked if had someone look at the car? The only people who did were Skoda assist the pin is near the OBD thingy. the car is under warranty I have no need or desire to fiddle about. The garage said it looks like someone put a multi meter in there.

They called resolutions who said I need to pay for the broken pin as its not covered under warranty.

The wonky pin can only have been damaged by Skoda assist which also means the original fault is still there. The garage are saying the car is fixed and I can now take away.

Any advice on where to go? photo of broken pin

they sent me the vehicle history this is the entry:

Confirmed customer complaint, carried out gff, various faults stored related to headlight communication and no relevant TPI found related to customer concern. Carried GFF test plan and associated wiring checks. Found wiring to J745 pin1 of the wiring harness to have been enlarged possibly due to previous investigations. replaced wiring pin and re-tested all ok

photo of the screen from the first Skoda assist:

photo of the damaged pin, any idea what this pin does? why would be like this? from new ?

thanks !

Edited 3 October, 20253 Oct by welsh1

Hello, welcome to the forum.

That appears to be the OBD port, can you confirm?

Can you confirm if anyone, apart from Dealer and Skoda Assist, have worked on your vehicle?

Pin-socket most likely has been damaged by clumsily plugging-in diagnostic reader, some ports are rather awkwardly positioned, requiring a little care in when using.

Hi ya thanks for replying. The garage said it was very close to the OBD but not the actual OBD in a telephone conversation. Under the steering wheel behind a cover, I asked how could I have damaged it, could it have knocked or something. They would not put it in writing. Sorry not sure what the OBD looks like. I feel their story has changed and they have been possibly dishonest here. I have been emailing Skoda CEO, MD and finance head and citygate CEO. Just becasue no one will reply to me.

Went to the garage in March, then had 2 Skoda assist out to look at car due to headlights stuck on. No one else has touched it. I don't know much about cars and as I said its under warranty I have no need too.

this was from the 2 Skoda assist (AA) visits they sent to me today:

As no one other than Dealer or Skoda Assist have worked on vehicle, any damage would be by them or pre-existing, in either case, clearly there should be no cost to you for the repair.

Have all the faults now been fixed?

They have said that this was the fault, they have repaired the pin so its OK to be collected.

To me the original fault hasn't been fixed as i believe the pin was damaged while the assist team was tried to work out what was wrong. So i will still have issues starting the car, driver assist, lights etc etc

they said there are no software updates since March 2025, i read somewhere about 90EE is that for a different model? They couldn't have upgraded the software and not told me?

Does anyone know if this is actually the OBD?

Are you able to post a slightly wider image of it? - If it's hidden behind a cover on the steering column, not likely to be the OBD port.

No sadly, that's the only photo they sent me, can ask for a full image as the title is thumbnail.

I have found a reference to J745 on a VW forum - it is a control module for cornering lights and headlight range - so very probably the cause of your lighting fault.

Were you charged for this repair?

Did the software update in March fix the other issues?

Hey thank you for looking into this. I haven't formally been told but the garage said customer resolutions won't do the repair as goodwill but will refund me after I pay for the repair. Not sure is this them not accepting liability? Also how did the pin in j745 get damaged? March software fixed most things, still had some non starting and assist issues but not as frequent. Not until July/ August time the lights and indicator issues

Is your engine TDI - or TSI?

Can you post your engine code (first 3 or 4 characters of engine number)

If TDI, there are many references to faulty crankshaft position sensor being responsible for intermittent fail to start issues.

Petrol, where would i find an engine code ?!

Engine code is first 3 or 4 characters of the engine number - found on your V5 document, also usually on the B pillar sticker.

DXDBA

They have refused my rejection of the car stating the error has been fixed as they have fixed the dodgy pin in the unit even tho this must have been damaged by Skoda assist.

Does anyone have experience with the motor ombudsman?

If in fact the faults have now been repaired at no cost to you, I don't think you will have valid grounds for rejection.

May be different if, despite their claim, the faults are still present.

To conclude this topic, I contacted the AA who investigated the claim of damage and have refused to accept liability.

They have said "...  Patrol has confirmed that no probes/similar were used during his investigation and actions at the time and that he simply removed the plug from the headlights in order to prevent the battery from draining.  It is important to note that the initial patrol plug in his diagnostic equipment in order to investigate the faults with the vehicle prior to disconnecting the headlights.  As such, the faults returned by his diagnostic equipment relate to the original breakdown issue; the garage have stated that the fault lies with the headlight control unit which is a) what patrol was tasked to attend in relation to (malfunction of the headlights) and b) what his diagnostic results returned (instrument cluster fault and electronics control unit fault)."

Also the Skoda garage have now confirmed that when the car was serviced they did apply a software update. On the phone I was told that no software update was applied as it was up to date.

13 minutes ago, welsh1 said:

To conclude this topic, I contacted the AA who investigated the claim of damage and have refused to accept liability.

They have said "...  Patrol has confirmed that no probes/similar were used during his investigation and actions at the time and that he simply removed the plug from the headlights in order to prevent the battery from draining.  It is important to note that the initial patrol plug in his diagnostic equipment in order to investigate the faults with the vehicle prior to disconnecting the headlights.  As such, the faults returned by his diagnostic equipment relate to the original breakdown issue; the garage have stated that the fault lies with the headlight control unit which is a) what patrol was tasked to attend in relation to (malfunction of the headlights) and b) what his diagnostic results returned (instrument cluster fault and electronics control unit fault)."

Also the Skoda garage have now confirmed that when the car was serviced they did apply a software update. On the phone I was told that no software update was applied as it was up to date.

So the car is finally 100% fixed? If it was me I'd brush the experience aside and just carry on with life. It may be tempting to seek compo and throw somebody under the bus, but trust me, it's an expensive stressful process and companies often have better lawyers, which you could end up paying for. This is also the reason why I will never seek compo for the current finance ****show.