Skoda Yeti. 4.5 lakh repair bill! EDIT: Fuel system replaced under warranty Dear fellow BHPians,
Sorry for the long post as I am in deep trouble with my Yeti.
I have been reading about Skoda A** Horror stories all over the forum, still decided to take the plunge and brought our Skoda Yeti 4x4 Elegance in January 2012 from Vision Skoda, Trichur. Due to the sudden demise of our beloved father in March this year, and since there was nobody to use the car in Kochi where we come from, my younger brother took the car to Bangalore where he is working. Myself and my elder brother both works outside the country and the car was primarily used by my late father.
The car was running absolutely fine until early November when the “Check engine” light came onin between and went off. My brother took the car to the Bangalore Agent Tafe Access. They inspected and tell that the car is fine and a detailed check can be done during second service which was getting due soon. The car had done only 20,000 kms, and almost completing 2 years. My brother gave the car for the second service, a little earlier than schedule and the car was delivered back on 30th November from Tafe with approx Rs. 13k paid. When asked about the “Engine check” light, the agent told that the car is under “observation” and to bring it back if the light comes on gain. On Dec 4th I landed in Bangalore and drove the car from Bangalore to Kochi next day, and it performed well throughout.
1. On Dec 7th I filled diesel from Kochi and drove to my native place. On the way back from Mundakkayam at around 6:15 pm the car started to give a strange noise from the engine and “glow plug” coil like symbol started flashing. I pulled over immediately and stopped the car and the message came “Engine check – workshop”.
2. I called the Skoda help line no. and they were very courteous and asked for the car details, connected me with the tow truck guy who promised to arrive in approx 3.5 hrs. We waited for more than 4 hrs and finally at around 12:30 in the night the truck came, loaded the car and promised to deliver in Marikar Skoda, Kochi.
3. Monday early morning I visited Marikar who told that a Skoda Engineer from Bangalore is supposed to arrive on the same day to inspect few cars and we can get it diagnosed with him, so that the exact fault can be identified quickly. I also thought this to be fair as I do not wanted to take any chance with our car. He arrived only in the evening.
4. They started checking the car from next day and to my horror the agent informed me that there was lot of water in the fuel filter and they are still checking on the cause.
5. Next day the dealer shows me a bottle of diesel with water and tells me that the water is from the fuel filter, and the problem is caused due to adulterated fuel, pumped in from the gas station and that getting warranty may be a problem. I told them that I filled diesel from the same station I have been filling for ages and never had any such problem.
6. He also tells that we may have to spent around 4.5 Lakhs to rectify the car as the entire fuel system including injectors, HP Pump, LP pump etc etc needs to be changed. He promised me that he will try his best to get this done under warranty.
7. The Service manager also tells me that the Skoda Engineer told him that if the Bangalore agent had taken more care with the “check engine” problem, may be this would not have happened, and also the Engine coolant was shown to “Fair” only where it was supposed to show “Good” in such a low run car.
The wait starts from then on and myself and my brothers keeps calling the agent on a regular basis and we are being informed of several reasons, that they are checking and reporting to Skoda and awaiting their reply and so on. One time the service Manager also told that the date of manufacture of the fuel filter is older than ‘normal’.
In between I shoot a mail to Skoda on the address given in their website, but no response, not even an automated acknowledgement mail. The car is now with the agent for 18 days and today the agent tells that they got a mail from Skoda telling that the car cannot be repaired under warranty as it is caused by adulterated fuel. My brother is meeting the service manager tomorrow morning and will know more details. I am in lot of stress these days more because of a feeling that we are being cheated and Skoda is taking us for a ride. The car is under main warranty util Jan 2014 and on extended warranty (Skoda shield) for a further 2 years.
I would appreciate if some of the experts can advise us on:
1. What would have been the real problem ? I do not believe the story of this adulterated fuel as the car had run for almost 90kms after filling fuel and then stopped. The agent has strange answer telling this that the fuel filter has certain capacity beyond which it will not perform. The filter is meant for stopping water and other impurities right ??
2. Even if water is mixed with fuel can it make so much damage ? I mean with 4.5 Lakhs you can get a new car.
3. What is the way forward ? Should I go to consumer court. Will it be of any use or this will be dragged like in Mr. Harish’s case ?
4. Is there any use writing to VW AG or any particular persons in VW or Skoda. Does anyone has any name / email address of such a person, who can help.
I regret for not having posted this problem early as i thought of not maiking it public if skoda provides the warranty.Some inputs from fellow BHPians will be appreciated.
Regards
Last edited by theMAG : 27th December 2013 at 08:06.
Reason: Making the content more readable. Best of luck with your situation!
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