Skoda Trouble...uh oh!

Ice · 2nd April 2009, 14:20

So one of our diesel Octys went for service 3 days ago, to Gurudev in Madras. This was the 55,000 km scheduled service (for some reason, Skoda shifted service intervals from 7,500 km to 10,000 km and each car now has a different km at which it needs to go for service...go figure!)

The car was perfectly went for service, and we got it back the evening of the same day. My dad then went for a drive and found a grinding sound when shifting from 1st to 2nd at an engine speed over 3000 rpm. The grinding sound is absent at speeds below this. There was no issue whatsoever with the car, the clutch, or the gearbox when we sent it in for service.

So my dad takes it back to Gurudev, and they tell him that they need to change the synchronizer between 1st and 2nd. Cost: Rs.15,000 (parts + labor).

They couldn't answer how the problem suddenly surfaced. They also went a step further and recommended a full clutch assembly replacement 'just in case'. Cost: Rs. 55,000.

What to do? Has anyone with a diesel Octy faced such issues at 55,000 km.? I can vouch for the care the car has been given because only my dad drives it, and he is a careful driver who never abuses the car in any manner.

My Acura's synchros wore out last year in the US as well....at 215,000 miles. Our Qualis actually shift better now than when it was new. My Uno's gearbox was never touched in 9 years and 140,000 km. of operation. So what's up with Skoda? Or did they swap out the gearbox when the car was at their service station? Help!

tsk1979 · 2nd April 2009, 14:25

Synchro change at 55K? Looks like you are being taken for a ride.
It may be a simple case of wrong clutch adjustment.

iceman7 · 2nd April 2009, 14:40

I think Skoda has just lost it. What do they make their parts of, card board?

Was'nt there a PR or marketing communications lady from Skoda on this forum? Where are you lady? You just got (another) unhappy customer!

jasher26 · 2nd April 2009, 14:43

good lord. god help you now. put up this complaint on more forums. writing to them does not matter but then too you should just for record

joy_swift · 2nd April 2009, 14:44

Another example of the famed Skoda A.S.S

They are takin you for a ride!!!!

ashish22 · 2nd April 2009, 14:45

chances are that they might have took out some part of your car and replaced in some other car. For skoda any car coming for servicing or repairs is a potential basket of spares for other cars lying at skoda.

loving_alaap · 2nd April 2009, 14:46

As per the experiences with others, skoda must have put your healthy assembly in another car, & instead u got a defective one.

Cheating, nothing else.

mmmjgm · 2nd April 2009, 14:46

The parts are fine, the diagnostic abilities of the workshop employees is zilch
(read as lack of training) and/or they are in the pocket lining mode.

The sad part is that training on a national level costs money, My friends have worked as trainers for automotive companies who set up dealerships and specialise in training of manpower for dealership purposes.

Obviously Skoda has not under taken such initiatives for their dealers, the machine is quite complex and the roadside type mechanics cannot do anything about it.

Basically their workshop staff is not trained.

anilkalvani · 2nd April 2009, 14:47

i am now mad, totally reckless Skoda Auto India. God Bless you Ice.

Tejas@perioimpl · 2nd April 2009, 14:48

Gosh! Another one bites the dust!
My sympathies.

esteem_lover · 2nd April 2009, 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ice

recommended a full clutch assembly replacement 'just in case'. Cost: Rs. 55,000.

The same replacement was done by my mech here for less than 25k after he had to buy tools worth 4k to open & close the skoda clutch.

ashthedivx · 2nd April 2009, 15:09

Ufff..... another one !! Gawd.. I believe it might be clutch adjustment issue !!

ajmat · 2nd April 2009, 15:12

Maybe the misaligned the gear selector cables - sounds like something simple.

harishv · 2nd April 2009, 15:20

Sorry Ice

Similar modus operandi. Right after service.

Looks like your spares are misappropriated. Get it checked by someone reliable in front of witnesses. Keep a handy cam ready. Looks like you are in for surprises.

Sorry once again, buddy.

shineshine · 2nd April 2009, 15:21

ICE, please don't go by their words. This should be a simple clutch adjustment. They should have purposefully misaligned the thing so that they can get the HELL Lot of bucks from you.

2nd April 2009, 14:20	#1
Ice BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Blr/Chn Posts: 365 Thanked: 353 Times	Skoda Trouble...uh oh! So one of our diesel Octys went for service 3 days ago, to Gurudev in Madras. This was the 55,000 km scheduled service (for some reason, Skoda shifted service intervals from 7,500 km to 10,000 km and each car now has a different km at which it needs to go for service...go figure!) The car was perfectly went for service, and we got it back the evening of the same day. My dad then went for a drive and found a grinding sound when shifting from 1st to 2nd at an engine speed over 3000 rpm. The grinding sound is absent at speeds below this. There was no issue whatsoever with the car, the clutch, or the gearbox when we sent it in for service. So my dad takes it back to Gurudev, and they tell him that they need to change the synchronizer between 1st and 2nd. Cost: Rs.15,000 (parts + labor). They couldn't answer how the problem suddenly surfaced. They also went a step further and recommended a full clutch assembly replacement 'just in case'. Cost: Rs. 55,000. What to do? Has anyone with a diesel Octy faced such issues at 55,000 km.? I can vouch for the care the car has been given because only my dad drives it, and he is a careful driver who never abuses the car in any manner. My Acura's synchros wore out last year in the US as well....at 215,000 miles. Our Qualis actually shift better now than when it was new. My Uno's gearbox was never touched in 9 years and 140,000 km. of operation. So what's up with Skoda? Or did they swap out the gearbox when the car was at their service station? Help!
	() Thanks

2nd April 2009, 14:25	#2
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,697 Thanked: 23,489 Times View My Garage	Synchro change at 55K? Looks like you are being taken for a ride. It may be a simple case of wrong clutch adjustment.
	() Thanks

2nd April 2009, 14:40	#3
iceman7 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: BOM \| TLL Posts: 751 Thanked: 474 Times	I think Skoda has just lost it. What do they make their parts of, card board? Was'nt there a PR or marketing communications lady from Skoda on this forum? Where are you lady? You just got (another) unhappy customer!
	() Thanks

2nd April 2009, 14:43	#4
jasher26 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 200 Thanked: 4 Times	good lord. god help you now. put up this complaint on more forums. writing to them does not matter but then too you should just for record
	() Thanks

2nd April 2009, 14:44	#5
joy_swift BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Kolkata Posts: 345 Thanked: 97 Times	Another example of the famed Skoda A.S.S They are takin you for a ride!!!!
	() Thanks

2nd April 2009, 14:45	#6
ashish22 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 596 Thanked: 102 Times View My Garage	chances are that they might have took out some part of your car and replaced in some other car. For skoda any car coming for servicing or repairs is a potential basket of spares for other cars lying at skoda.
	() Thanks

2nd April 2009, 14:46	#7
loving_alaap BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Ahmedabad Posts: 808 Thanked: 9 Times	As per the experiences with others, skoda must have put your healthy assembly in another car, & instead u got a defective one. Cheating, nothing else.
	() Thanks

2nd April 2009, 14:46	#8
mmmjgm BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: BOM, PNQ, DXB Posts: 398 Thanked: 30 Times	The parts are fine, the diagnostic abilities of the workshop employees is zilch (read as lack of training) and/or they are in the pocket lining mode. The sad part is that training on a national level costs money, My friends have worked as trainers for automotive companies who set up dealerships and specialise in training of manpower for dealership purposes. Obviously Skoda has not under taken such initiatives for their dealers, the machine is quite complex and the roadside type mechanics cannot do anything about it. Basically their workshop staff is not trained.
	() Thanks

2nd April 2009, 14:47	#9
anilkalvani BHPian Join Date: May 2008 Location: Bandra West, Bombay Posts: 633 Thanked: 90 Times	i am now mad, totally reckless Skoda Auto India. God Bless you Ice.
	() Thanks

2nd April 2009, 14:48	#10
Tejas@perioimpl Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bombay Posts: 4,430 Thanked: 9,764 Times View My Garage	Gosh! Another one bites the dust! My sympathies.
	() Thanks

2nd April 2009, 15:09	#12
ashthedivx Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 1,359 Thanked: 24 Times	Ufff..... another one !! Gawd.. I believe it might be clutch adjustment issue !!
	() Thanks

2nd April 2009, 15:12	#13
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 15,197 Thanked: 31,459 Times View My Garage	Maybe the misaligned the gear selector cables - sounds like something simple.
	() Thanks

2nd April 2009, 15:20	#14
harishv BHPian Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: mumbai Posts: 377 Thanked: 789 Times	Sorry Ice Similar modus operandi. Right after service. Looks like your spares are misappropriated. Get it checked by someone reliable in front of witnesses. Keep a handy cam ready. Looks like you are in for surprises. Sorry once again, buddy.
	() Thanks

2nd April 2009, 15:21	#15
shineshine BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Arkansas,US Posts: 280 Thanked: 44 Times	ICE, please don't go by their words. This should be a simple clutch adjustment. They should have purposefully misaligned the thing so that they can get the HELL Lot of bucks from you.
	() Thanks