Intercooler to Turbo Pipe causes breakdown - what now?

[DRJ]

Thursday evening - been to London by train

4.20pm - drove out of Swindon station car park

4.35pm - after a lot of queuing finally drove out of Swindon having gone about 3 miles. There's a dull thud when accelerating from the 30mph limit to the 40mph one. I pull up at the next traffic lights and the idle's hunting - which appears to be cured by turning the AC off. Then pulling away there's a lack of power coupled with the revs hunting more, and I notice clouds of black smoke in the mirror. Stopped in the next layby and popped the bonnet but nothing appeared amiss. Drove off - problem clearly still there - stopped in the next layby.

4.40pm - called the AA - advised would be with me between 4.50pm and
5.10pm - offered to send me text messages re progress.

4.50pm - AA man called saying he was stuck in stationery traffic - hoped to
get to me by 5.10pm

4.55pm - text message received noting 5.10pm ETA

5.00pm - I phoned the dealer who diagnosed a probably disconnected turbo
pipe by the intercooler - noted AA should be able to fix, otherwise I'd
relay the car back to them and they'd look at tomorrow - I could have a hire
car if (and only if) I phoned the Skoda emergency number whilst broken down... (I could otherwise have had one from the dealer but they were booked up for three weeks.)

5.10pm - AA man turned up

5.12pm - AA man confirmed the diagnosis, said this is a common inherent
defect with the Fabia vRS and other VAG cars, jacked car up, removed
undertray, reconnected pipe, replaced undertray.

5.25pm - AA man suggested I check out with the dealer whether there's a
modification for the problem; and then I drove off and continued home

So top marks to the AA - but what now?

Friday morning - rang the dealer to confirm to him his diagnosis was correct and hence the car hadn't been relayed back to his forecourt.

DJ> Should I bring the car in for you to check over? As a free warranty inspection (car under two years old)
Dealer> Not necessary

DJ> Will it have done any permanent damage?
Dealer> No

DJ> This is a known fault?
Dealer> Yes

DJ> Is there a Skoda modification for the problem?
Dealer> No

DJ> Could it happen again?
Dealer> Yes - but unpredictable

DJ> I think I should take the undertray off and attempt to make the clipped connection more secure - what would have happened had this occurred going along on the outside lane of the motorway at 70mph?
Dealer> Any DIY attempt at a fix will void your warranty

DJ> In that case I'll discuss the matter with Skoda

... and the dealer gave me the number to ring at Skoda UK.

So before I do so what are other people's experiences? It clearly seems to be a common fault since the AA man had dealt with several, the dealer clearly knows about it, and there are several references to it elsewhere on this forum - e.g. http://www.briskoda.net/forums/fabia/black-smoke-engine-management-light/31969/? and http://www.briskoda.net/forums/fabia/my-furby-vrs-went-pop/16743/?

Have people on here had a dealer modification?

Have people on here made a DIY modification?

I feel I am presently left with a car with a known fault that could break down any moment leaving me stranded - potentially dangerously?

Surely I don't have to sell it and buy a rather expensive Honda Civic instead?

Your views and advice are welcomed.

[ric04vrs]

i would ring customer services and tell them what happened ,then explain that you have lost confidence in the car because you just dont know when it may break down again with the known concern , they may advise the dealership to fit a new intercooler pipe to the car for you to allay any fears of further breakdowns

[DRJ]

In the absence of any other replies I've reported this today by phone to Jenny at Skoda Customer Services and await a reply.

[aixlad]

Is it possible to view the Turbo connecting pipe, and check its fixing, without removing the undertray?

[DRJ]

Certainly not when you've just been to a business meeting in London and you've got your best Summer suit on! I haven't looked since but you can only just see the connection deep down from above so it looks like a certain undertray off job to me. If I get round to having a look at mine I'll take some pictures...

[DRJ]

It's really an "undertray off" job to look at the situation properly - not a great issue, just 9 Torx screws to remove. There is a small "window" which seems to be there more because the pipework is otherwise hitting the adjacent trim piece rather than for any functional requirement - sorry didn't take a direct picture of that.

I've started a new thread following the car breaking down again today - refer http://www.briskoda.net/forums/fabia/two-breakdowns-less-than-week/56252/

On the initial picture there you can discern that "window" just under the socket...