Hi all. I bought myvRS estate on a 20 plate February 24 with 42k on from a main dealer and as such got 2 years (according to paperwork) approved used warranty.

For a while now I've been topping it up with coolant- every two months, then every six weeks, then every month and then it appears to have lost 500ml within a few days now. It barely does any miles, but does sit in town traffic a bit.

Just had a look at it at the wife's work and there's coolant marks on the top of the lower hose beneath the water pump / thermostat and also rustly/coolant looking marks around the housing itself. Unfortunately I am aware of these failing having had a Leon Cupra 290 before this where I paid around £580 to have one replaced at a local garage I've used in the past around 2021.

So how does the warranty work and an I likely to have a fight in my hands to get then to do it, will they even dispute its covered under warranty?

Probably should be covered by the warranty - but entirely depends on what is covered and what is not, especially in the small print.

I'd suggest a thorough read-through of your warranty.

8 minutes ago, Warrior193 said:

Probably should be covered by the warranty - but entirely depends on what is covered and what is not, especially in the small print.

I'd suggest a thorough read-through of your warranty.

It's very generic stuff with a load of bluster really. Wording is something like "almost all mechanical and electical components, subject to the conditions detailed later". Then there's nothing specific or even loosely that would lead me to think it's not covered.

Before you get into expensive repairs, have you tried replacing the Coolant Header Tank lid? These have a known weak point; the pressure relief spring sticks and causes over pressure in the header tank which then dumps the coolant down inside the engine bay and onto the floor. Get a new style lid and see if that fixes the problem first.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/febi-bilstein-103522-Radiator-expansion

Febi-Bilstein kit is generally quite good - £8. Typically you will be looking at 30-40UKP for an OE part - speak to the parts team at TheSkodaShop in Lincoln for a price.

Edited 28 November, 202528 Nov by varaderoguy

3 minutes ago, varaderoguy said:

Before you get into expensive repairs, have you tried replacing the Coolant Header Tank lid? These have a known weak point; the pressure relief spring sticks and causes over pressure in the header tank which then dumps the coolant down inside the engine bay and onto the floor. Get a new style lid and see if that fixes the problem first.

Where would it dump coolant though?

I'm going to get underneath the car this weekend but there's white stains from coolant on all the pipes beneath and around the waterpump itself.

I've ordered one anyway for that price.

16 minutes ago, Perryqhill said:

Where would it dump coolant though?

If you look down the back of the header tank, you will see a channel for excessive coolant to escape. That just dumps it onto the ground.

Arh - if you have white crystals around the water pump, then it is probably likely your water pump is on its way out too (probably failed seal)....try the header tank cap first; if that fixes it, great, otherwise its water pump and aux belt time.

Booked it into Skoda Hayselden Doncaster after these posts and it went in around 3rd December. Had to agree to an inspection which would cost £130 ish if it wasn't something covered under warranty. They had a look and confirmed it was what I said.

It all got approved via Skoda/VW approved used warranty and I was waiting for a phone call on Friday 5th to say it was done and instead I had an earlier phone call telling me they were unable to carry out any work as they had gone into administration 🫤

Had a bit of to and fro-ing with Skoda warranty as Hayselden had told me everything had been approved and that I just had to take it to another Skoda dealer, but it turned out Hayselden had closed down the repair as they couldn't carry it out having stopped trading and it would have to be restarted at a different garage anyway. Got advised to speak to Skoda Uk Customer Care, whom I spoke to and after the weekend told me what I was already aware of and that I'd have to find another dealer.

Nearest dealer was now Rainworth at Sheffield, so I had to book it in for a similar (but potentially more expensive) inspection last Friday (12th). All went through again and was meant to be getting done Monday, then Tuesday but a gasket went AWOL to another dealer apparently and its been done today and I've just picked it up.