[sameerg]

I had my first tryst with the infamous Skoda service last week. I have had a decent experience with VW ASS for the past 6-7 years and hence probably thought things would have improved with VW group in the country. Further, owning their most expensive product in the country, I was hoping they would treat the customer with more care.

I had bought a Kodiaq L&K in last June, I had done PDI with TBHP checklist and the only thing I didn't check was wipers. The reason being the windscreen was quite dirty and I didn't want wiper to scratch the windscreen.

Anyways, I bought the car and everything was fine. Just that the auto rain sensing bit never worked. The wiper in auto mode would also continue to work wether it rained or not.

At first I thought I don't know how it works, sent my driver to the showroom and showroom guy told him how to make it work. He told me what he had learnt, but next time when it rained the steps didn't work. I thought maybe we are doing it wrong and given lack of time visit to Skoda kept getting pushed.

Then about 3 months back, I myself went to Skoda service centre and the SA admitted that its not working. Said will have to change sensors, will take 3-4 days. He recommended that I send the car back on Monday since it was a Saturday, the service centre was full of regular service vehicles, and he would not start work on my vehicle before Monday. I also needed the vehicle and hence, thought this was a good idea. Again life took over and I missed sending the vehicle back.

This brings us to May 2024. With 1yr service coming up, I thought, let's get the issue sorted finally. Booked an appointment for 18th May and reached Tafe Access kudlu gate service centre. And the from the very start things started going bad

• 18th May- Morning: SA inspects the vehicle...I say everything is fine except 2 things 1) Rain sensing wiper doesn't work, 2) The virtual foot pedal for boot opening never works. He notes these things down..starts to give me cost estimates and I stop him saying I have bought service package so it should all be covered. He looks disappointed and then starts looking at his computer. Takes him over 10 minutes and help from couple of people to actually find details of my package. Then he starts pitching me wheel alignment, balancing, AC cleaning etc. I tell him dont do anything. Don't even wash the car. Just service and fix the issues. Suddenly another SA (from the next seat) also jumps in and starts telling me how things can go wrong for the car if not maintained properly and I get these additional things done. I said I will get WB and WA myself and somehow said ok to AC cleaning. Guess it was pressure or I just wanted to get out. SA promised to call me by 3PM with an update on when I can pick the car

• 18th May 4:30 PM- I didn't get a call, so I called the SA, and he has no idea about what is happening. 15 mins later again I call back and he says the the software for the wiper is being updated. Will take some time so I can pick the car on Monday morning.

• 20th May morning: Again, I call; SA has no clue. Promises a call back. I call in the afternoon, said software is being updated still, will call back.

• 20th May late. afternoon: No calls from SA. When I call, again the story of software update is told. I was confused as to how complicated is this update that has been going on since Saturday. I call the GM service requesting him to give me some clarity. He promises a call back but again dead silence. I call the SA again, he mocks me saying whoever you call, you have to come back to me only. I eat my pride and ask him what is happening. Says software update sir. Will give you the vehicle tomorrow.

• 21 May Evening: This was their 3rd day with the vehicle, and again, they didn't get any updates. So I call and the SA says will check and get back. Again I call after an hr, SA says car is ready and I can pick up the next day. I told him since I am not in town on the 22 & 23, I will pick up the car on the 24 Friday.

• 24 Morning: I call SA, fixed up a time and reached the showroom by 12 noon. Went to check the car, and the rain sensing part didn't work again. I asked SA if he had checked it, he starts looking here and there and starts calling someone. Some expert comes and told me that you dont know how to make it work. I politely ask to be taught. But it doesn't work. Now there are 4-5 people surrounding the car, they check another kodiaq. It works on the other one, on mine it doesn't. So now it becomes that it was working earlier not its not working. They ask me to wait for an hr and will update the software again. After one hr, they comeback saying they need to check with skoda on what is wrong, and can do anything after that. So I have two options either to leave the car there indefinitely since they dont know when skoda will get back to them or take the vehicle with me They promised to get back to be as soon as they hear from skoda. I decided to take the vehicle back but didn't agree to close the jobcard. Again bunch of folks tried to convince me but I refused.

• 29th May: I get a call from SA that skoda has told them to update the ECU software and that I should get my vehicle back. We fixed the time for Monday,3rd June

• 3rd June: I drop the vehicle. SA wants to keep it for 3 days. I am confused as to why an ECU update needs 3 days but I didn't want to get into a debate so agreed.

• 4th June: No update from SA, I call in the evening as to check on what is happening. By now I dont expect him to have any idea, and that is what happened I call back after sometime. ECU update was happening apparently.

• 5th June: This time I call in the afternoon only, Same story as previous day, on second call found out that ECU update didn't work, now they suspect either the sensor or wiring is the problem. They were checking both the parts. I call back in the evening to check it that worked. Apparently wiring and sensor are ok. Now they suspect the motor. I ask him how the motor be the issue when the wipers were actually moving. The problem should be with the detection and/or communication of a signal that it is raining or not. he had no clue.

Is this problem so unique and complicated that Skoda and its ASS haven't been able to diagnose it in 10 days?

[Old Dude]

Originally Posted by sameerg

I had my first tryst with the infamous Skoda service last week. I have had a decent experience with VW ASS for the past 6-7 years and hence probably thought things would have improved with VW group in the country. Further, owning their most expensive product in the country, I was hoping they would treat the customer with more care.

Is this problem so unique and complicated that Skoda and its ASS haven't been able to diagnose it in 10 days?

You have infinite patience my friend! It’s absurd from the part of ASS how your car has been attended to. In my experience, it boils down to the incompetence of the individual SA who is handling your issue - I had a bad experience trying to get my broken puddle lamp replaced under warranty and took more than 8 weeks of frustration over repeated false promises by the SA before I escalated, the AGM- service got involved directly, I was assigned a new SA and then onwards, has been terrific and professional the way issue got resolved. Also, my first service and oil change ( in Feb) was a half a day affair, done to my satisfaction.

On a side note, I have disabled the Auto Rain Sensing feature for the wipers on my Kodiaq through the infotainment unit as I found the feature to be too trigger happy - wipers turning on and smearing dust and dirt over(and potentially scratching) the windscreen, even with those inevitable twodrops of dirty water falling while driving through metro construction areas ( which is my daily commute route).

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by sameerg

Anyways, I bought the car and everything was fine. Just that the auto rain sensing bit never worked. The wiper in auto mode would also continue to work wether it rained or not.

I had this problem with my Jetta after the windscreen had been replaced. The mechanic tried the settings to no avail. After a lot of research, it was the gel pack between the sensor and the windscreen that needed to be sorted out. Once replaced, everything was okay.

[adi_petrolhead]

Originally Posted by sameerg

Just that the auto rain sensing bit never worked. The wiper in auto mode would also continue to work wether it rained or not.

Originally Posted by Old Dude

On a side note, I have disabled the Auto Rain Sensing feature for the wipers on my Kodiaq through the infotainment unit..

Quoting Old Dude here, it might be worth a try to check the settings in the infotainment screen if this has been disabled by mistake? May be you've already checked that but post that "software update", worth checking again. If the sensor itself is not working, it should throw up a DTC when they scan the car. Even if its a wiring issue, it should come up.

[sameerg]

Thanks a ton folks for your suggestions.

Originally Posted by Old Dude

You have infinite patience my friend! It’s absurd from the part of ASS how your car has been attended to. In my experience, it boils down to the incompetence of the individual SA who is handling your issue to my satisfaction.

On a side note, I have disabled the Auto Rain Sensing feature for the wipers on my Kodiaq through the infotainment unit as I found the feature to be too trigger happy - wipers turning on and smearing dust and dirt over(and potentially scratching) the windscreen, even with those inevitable twodrops of dirty water falling while driving through metro construction areas ( which is my daily commute route).

I think having a lot of patience is a prerequisite for owning a Skoda. I fell in love with skoda when they first launched in India over 20 years back. I didn't even how to drive or which car it was, but it was love at first sight (probably a story for another day). It took lots of practical decisions like prioritising house, savings, practical cars like Maruti and Toyotas before landing here. Booked Octavia thrice (including the RS 245) before landing here. So yeah patience and love for skoda is deep. My wife calls it her "sautan"

I agree with keeping the Rain-sensing feature off. Even in my other cars, I keep it off from the stick. Once the rain starts, I move it to auto so that it can keep adjusting to the rain volume. At the end of the ride, it again goes off. Even in Kodiaq I plan to do the same. Also, it's not much of an inconvenience currently; it's just that OCD about something not being correct with the car was bothering me.

Originally Posted by adi_petrolhead

Quoting Old Dude here, it might be worth a try to check the settings in the infotainment screen if this has been disabled by mistake? May be you've already checked that but post that "software update", worth checking again. If the sensor itself is not working, it should throw up a DTC when they scan the car. Even if its a wiring issue, it should come up.

Thanks, Adi. We had checked the settings, and unfortunately, that was not the issue.

Originally Posted by ajmat

I had this problem with my Jetta after the windscreen had been replaced. The mechanic tried the settings to no avail. After a lot of research, it was the gel pack between the sensor and the windscreen that needed to be sorted out. Once replaced, everything was okay.

The car has been fixed now. Am picking up the car tomorrow. The issue was with the coding in the car. And it's amazing how illogical the "big-fixing" approach at Skoda is. So here is how they went about trying to fix the issue:

1) Update software related to the rain sensors.
2) Update ECU software. I think the coding should have been checked/refreshed as part of this step or, at least, as the next step.
3) Change the wiper stick
4) Change the entire rear-view mirror assembly, sensors, gel etc
5) Change wiper motor
6) Open the bumper and dashboard and run parallel wire for the wiper system.

After doing all this and failing to fix the issue, someone thinks about checking the coding. I am not an expert, but shouldn't they check coding before taking intrusive measures like opening up half the car?

What is worse is apparently that all these steps were taken "under the guidance" of a "Skoda Expert" from the factory.

But then I love the car too much, so I guess I have to live with the bad service experience..

[SilverSmoke]

All their technicians are highly ill trained especially with respect to Skoda CKDs. No one knows how to proceed step by step with a diagnostic approach. Looks like they Zoom-Meet everytime with a technical head team.

Leg swing boot opening - doesn't work everytime.

Door locking via touch sensors - doesn't work everytime.

Neither I have told them to correct it, nor I complained anytime & have learnt to live with, knowing it will be a month of futile exercise & they can further spoil already working conditions of car.

[dkaile]

Originally Posted by SilverSmoke

Leg swing boot opening - doesn't work everytime.

Was happening with us too. But the technician told us to swing the leg and take a step back, so that the car's rear sensors pick up that the boot gate release will not hit you, and after doing this, it was working 'nearly' every time we tried it.

Cheers...

[Old Dude]

Originally Posted by SilverSmoke

Leg swing boot opening - doesn't work everytime.

Door locking via touch sensors - doesn't work everytime.

I’ve found the ideal position to swing the leg is to stand about 18 inches towards the right than standing dead Center - this has been working every time for me.

As for the door locking via touch sensors, not faced any issues in 15 months of ownership - Touchwood. Hope you are not accidentally wrapping your fingers on the inside of the door handle while touching / swiping the sensor on the outside of the handle for locking.

[sachinjoseph]

Hi guys. I have the 2023 model Kodiaq and it’s run around 17k Kms. I wanted to know at how many Kms should I change my tires and what is the good tire to go for? Has anyone upsized their tires on stock rims and is there any benefit in doing so? TIA.

[SilverSmoke]

Originally Posted by sachinjoseph

I wanted to know at how many Kms should I change my tires and what is the good tire to go for?

Tires can easily outlive 50K KMs if driven in non aggressive manner. Mine has done 35K KMs & still have much life left - only gripe is rubber is harder & hence noisier. There are depth markers for treads for life assessment. Though one can upsize to 60 profile, greater than 235 width isn't needed.

For me, Markus are holding very well - their MRF rubber is more suited for Indian conditions - more tolerant to potholes & punctures. Softer rubber from Michelin & Pirelli are good for grip & noise but have lesser tolerance for abuse & side cuts.

If you go on clean roads 90% of the time, Michelin has good rubber for Kodiaq.

[senthils27]

Hello BHPians,

I need your advise for selecting the tyre for my Kodiaq TDI.

My car is almost 5 years old and of late, I experience bad ride with most of the road imperfections being felt inside the cabin. There is no noise from suspension or indication of any leak but anyway consulted the workshop. They told that it could be due to pressure but I have already reduced it to 32 psi so they suspect it due to hardened rubber. I had also thought about that as the tyres are manufactured in 2018. So, I am now evaluating the options to replace them in stock size. Thanks to odd tyre size, there are not many options available. After searching our community and internet, I see that these are the options available other than the stock MRF Markus:

1) Pirelli Scorpion Verde or Cinturato P7 new
2) Vredestien ultrac vorti
3) Michelin Latitude Sport
4) Continental contisportcontact

My primary objective is to have comfortable ride and I can compromise on sportiness, so think that P7 or Vorti will be better. Not sure if these are readily available in Chennai so need to check. Can anyone advise which will be a better tyre from the above or if there are any other better option?

[gauthampait]

Guys, going to take delivery of Skoda Kodiaq next week, are there any advices or suggestions on PDI, insurance or anything other thing that I I should be aware of? Much appreciated.

[dkaile]

Originally Posted by gauthampait

Guys, going to take delivery of Skoda Kodiaq next week, are there any advices or suggestions on PDI, insurance or anything other thing that I I should be aware of? Much appreciated.

You can refer to my PDI report here - https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/offic...ml#post5753292 (2022 Skoda Kodiaq Facelift Review | 2.0L Petrol DSG) and also some subsequent following posts.

Cheers...

[adi_petrolhead]

Originally Posted by senthils27

After searching our community and internet, I see that these are the options available other than the stock MRF Markus:

1) Pirelli Scorpion Verde or Cinturato P7 new
2) Vredestien ultrac vorti
3) Michelin Latitude Sport
4) Continental contisportcontact

My primary objective is to have comfortable ride and I can compromise on sportiness, so think that P7 or Vorti will be better.

I recently changed the tyres to Pirelli Scorpion Verde Seal Inside, in stock size. This particular tyre was chosen from the above list along with Michelin Primacy SUV+ and Bridgestone Turanza 6i, both of which were 60 profile instead of stock 55. The most comfort oriented tyre would be the Continental in this case, silent and soft, but is also more prone to punctures given the softness (claimed by dealer). My requirement was "go anywhere" ability, wet grip, not too soft not too hard, puncture resistance. Hence the Scorpion Verde was no brainer for me. If your main driving is in city, you dont venture out on rough roads, you can go with Continental. Second comfort oriented tyre would be the Vredestien. I don't recommend going for 60 profile tyres, although the Michelin Primacy SUV+ is made for comfort and long life.

[sameerg]

Originally Posted by gauthampait

Guys, going to take delivery of Skoda Kodiaq next week, are there any advices or suggestions on PDI, insurance or anything other thing that I I should be aware of? Much appreciated.

As dkaile said follow the TBHP PDI checklist and thread. Some things I learnt from personal experience and experience of some of my close family:

1) If you are doing PDI yourself, please take someone along with you and make enough time for the process. One typically is excited and overwhelmed and, hence, tends to rush through it. Having someone who likes cars but is not likely to get overwhelmed is very critical.

2) If you think executing the lengthy list is not your cup of tea, it may help to get the services of a professional. Companies are providing PDI checks, and they don't cost much. A couple of people in my family have used these and were generally satisfied. I would recommend going along with them though and not just outsourcing it to them