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The car is a MY11 Skoda Superb 118TSI wagon with approx 132,000 km. I've owned it since December 2013 @ 45,000 km.
Its recently developed a few issues. The breadth and scope of them is concerning, given the low mileage.
I had the car serviced at a local independent until they went out of business about 18 months ago. I've done the servicing myself since.
I've created this post as a record of my dealings with Skoda AU. I thought this may be of interest to other Superb/Skoda owners.
I'm going through a Skoda service centre in Wodonga, VIC (approx 1h 45min away) as there is no Skoda dealer / service centre where I live in Wagga Wagga NSW.
The issues are as follows:
I'm taking the car to them this Friday for an initial check.
They have been very helpful over the phone thus far. I've been warned that these issues will require significant work to fix (apparently the timing chain issue will probably be an engine-out job), but the service manager is optimistic that they can get Skoda to come to the party for a share of costs.
I'll keep you posted. Any hints/tips would be appreciated.
Dom
Its recently developed a few issues. The breadth and scope of them is concerning, given the low mileage.
I had the car serviced at a local independent until they went out of business about 18 months ago. I've done the servicing myself since.
I've created this post as a record of my dealings with Skoda AU. I thought this may be of interest to other Superb/Skoda owners.
I'm going through a Skoda service centre in Wodonga, VIC (approx 1h 45min away) as there is no Skoda dealer / service centre where I live in Wagga Wagga NSW.
The issues are as follows:
1. Timing Chain rattle:
- Occasionally, I hear a rattle from the engine for 2-3 seconds after start-up
- I first heard this noise approx 2 weeks ago, but it only occurs intermittently (perhaps 1 out of every 10 starts)
- There are nil warning lights or other abnormalities associated with this problem
- Online research suggests that the noise could be a timing chain rattle, which could potentially mean that the timing chain tensioner is slackening
- I'm worried that this could lead to the timing chain jumping teeth, which could lead to significant engine damage
- This is the highest priority issue
2. Oil consumption
- the car has always used a little oil between services, which is normal for the 118TSI as I understand
- However, I have noticed that the consumption has been increasing during the last ~30,000 km
- I've done my own measurements since the last service (@129,000 km) and it appears that the engine is consuming oil at the rate of approx 600ml per 1000 km
- this rate seems excessive
3. Leaking coolant
- approx 10,000 km ago, I noticed small puddles of coolant on my garage floor on a periodic basis
- the engine discharges 1-2 teaspoons of coolant at a time, but it only does it at cold start-up (e.g. first drive in the morning)
- I got the system pressure-tested at a local radiator place in late 2016. They found a very small leak from the thermostat housing
- They advised that fixing this fault would be a big job, as the intake manifold needs to be removed to access the thermostat housing
4. DSG shudder
- if the transmission is warm, the 7 spd DSG tends to shudder at takeoff and first-to-second
- the car has done this for over 70,000 km, and it doesn't appear to be getting any worse
- Is this a common issue, and can it be rectified?
5. Rattle at rear of car
- When the rear wheels pass over a speed hump, a loud metallic rattle can be heard from the rear.
- The sound can be heard from outside the car or inside the car if the windows are open. I’ve had a look under the car at home, and a similar sound is made when I tap on the exhaust heat shield near the rear subframe.
- This may be the source of the noise, but I’m not sure.
- Occasionally, I hear a rattle from the engine for 2-3 seconds after start-up
- I first heard this noise approx 2 weeks ago, but it only occurs intermittently (perhaps 1 out of every 10 starts)
- There are nil warning lights or other abnormalities associated with this problem
- Online research suggests that the noise could be a timing chain rattle, which could potentially mean that the timing chain tensioner is slackening
- I'm worried that this could lead to the timing chain jumping teeth, which could lead to significant engine damage
- This is the highest priority issue
2. Oil consumption
- the car has always used a little oil between services, which is normal for the 118TSI as I understand
- However, I have noticed that the consumption has been increasing during the last ~30,000 km
- I've done my own measurements since the last service (@129,000 km) and it appears that the engine is consuming oil at the rate of approx 600ml per 1000 km
- this rate seems excessive
3. Leaking coolant
- approx 10,000 km ago, I noticed small puddles of coolant on my garage floor on a periodic basis
- the engine discharges 1-2 teaspoons of coolant at a time, but it only does it at cold start-up (e.g. first drive in the morning)
- I got the system pressure-tested at a local radiator place in late 2016. They found a very small leak from the thermostat housing
- They advised that fixing this fault would be a big job, as the intake manifold needs to be removed to access the thermostat housing
4. DSG shudder
- if the transmission is warm, the 7 spd DSG tends to shudder at takeoff and first-to-second
- the car has done this for over 70,000 km, and it doesn't appear to be getting any worse
- Is this a common issue, and can it be rectified?
5. Rattle at rear of car
- When the rear wheels pass over a speed hump, a loud metallic rattle can be heard from the rear.
- The sound can be heard from outside the car or inside the car if the windows are open. I’ve had a look under the car at home, and a similar sound is made when I tap on the exhaust heat shield near the rear subframe.
- This may be the source of the noise, but I’m not sure.
I'm taking the car to them this Friday for an initial check.
They have been very helpful over the phone thus far. I've been warned that these issues will require significant work to fix (apparently the timing chain issue will probably be an engine-out job), but the service manager is optimistic that they can get Skoda to come to the party for a share of costs.
I'll keep you posted. Any hints/tips would be appreciated.
Dom
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