Hi all,

 

I'm a newbie here and was looking for some help or advice? My Skoda octavia, Diesel, 1.6, 7 speed DSG died all of a sudden on the 15/08/2018. I was driving the car in the morning as normal and had been driving it normally for sometime when all of a sudden a warning message popped up saying to apply brakes!. So i stopped the car to the side and noticed another message that said "Gearbox Error" and it would now not go into Drive or Reverse. Had the car recovered as it could not be driven at all. 

 

The car was dropped off at a small Skoda dealership of which I had a searched on google and checked which one would be the best ( from the reviews) and which one will be able to look at the car quickest. So the next day I get a call from the garage saying the Mechatronics unit had failed. This being a 13 plate Octavia with only 43k miles. Was amazed and shocked to then find out the cost to replace this unit is over 2k?! I was flabbergasted and amazed the car was driving fine one minute and then all of a sudden for it to die and not drive to then ending up with a bill of over 2k.

 

I had a little look around and noticed I am not the only one with this issue and many Octavia drivers have experienced. Unfortunately the car does not have any warranty so I have no other choice but to fork 2k from somewhere, have asked to see if they can do a plan of some sort as I do not have 2k just to hand over all of a sudden. Would take some time and just in shock to be honest. The service manager says that the car needed a software update on the gearbox and apparently this needed to happen. Now im thinking why i was never made aware of this? If i was told beforehand, I would've got it sorted out and maybe this gearbox error would of maybe never happened if it had an update? Now forking 2k and had been told once the new unit is in. They will then give it the new update? Something doesn't sound right. Nothing pubic about this software update for the gearbox. 

 

The car is currently finished and ready to collect but still not happy with the whole situation. For a car to suddenly to stop working and to then be told it needed a software update when broken not beforehand sounds very wrong. I have no choice at this time. They have replaced it and now stressing where to get the money from as its hard times for me and nearly 2 months salary gone all of a sudden. This whole situation has destroyed the Skoda brand for me but again I do not know what else to say. I've made a complaint to Skoda and awaiting a response.

 

Also being told about the old mechatronics unit on the car is faulty but for peace of mind i requested for them to keep it to one side as I want to see it ( for closure and the pain its caused lol ) and just to figure out what on earth has happened. Being told they may not keep the unit as it would need to go back to Skoda in exchange for the new one? Even though the new unit has been fitted to the car? Also being told they they will get £200 off my old unit? If that is the case, Take £200 off the bill no? Something just doesn't seem to add up. Seems very odd and again not sure what to do if anything.     

Welcome.

 

If built from 2013 has the DSG needed and had Service Campaign '34H5', a Software Update?

Being a Mk3 i take it is was, so '34H5' applies to some DQ200 from 2013-2015.

 

So if your car was at a Main Dealers for Servicing or Warranty Work since late 2016, early 2017 the Service Campaign work should have been done.

There was no Recall though, just Dealers Calling some owners saying a 'Recall was outstanding'.

 

 

If it should have had and has not then the Manufacturers 3 year warranty does not matter, Skoda CZ & Skoda UK know why the service campaign was required, 

they are responsible for the faults the Software that the car left the factory with can cause.

http://skoda.co.uk/about-us/contact-us 

 

Have everything in writing before asking and from getting a Handler / Communications manager dealing with the issue..

The Service & Warranty History, the Service Campaign History, and why '34H5' was not carried out if the car was at a Skoda Approved Repairer / Dealership between the Service Campaign / TPI and now.

Edited 20 August, 20187 yr by Offski

Hi, 

 

Not sure when the car was made but its was first registered in May 2013 so i am presuming then and I was never made aware of any software updates whatsoever, current miles is about 43487 i think. I am the second owner of the car and have only had it for 2 years. Its a MK3. Is there anything that can be done now? I have complained to Skoda UK about this and waiting for someone to get back in touch with me but its so unexpected this has happened all of a sudden. Now i have to pay 2k for a new unit of which i do not think was needed and all it really needed was a software update. I don't know. still shocked with the whole situation 

Owners that have had the failure that can happen when '34h5' is not done have needed new MCU's and some new DSG's.

The reason it was introduced was because of failures, sometimes only noticed with a slight oil leak.

A Mk2 Favia vRS owner noticed an oil stain on the ground, that was oil from the MCU. 

New MCU required.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/432730-oil-leak 

 

 

The place that fixed it says the Software Update was outstanding, so they must have checked.

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/425424-2017-another-dq200-7-speed-dsg-service-campaign 

 

So since the Service Campaign was called by VW Group / Skoda has an Official Skoda Dealership had the car in for Servicing or Work and not done the Service Campaign Software Update?

If yes then Skoda UK can deal with that, get their wallet out, or get the Dealership to get theirs out. 

 If the Owner / Registered Keeper ignored being told about '34H5' if they were or said leave alone then sadly you are stuffed.

 

If you owned it since 2016 or importantly since March 2017 have you had the car at a Main Dealership and never been told about '34H5'

then you are in a good situation so do not be panned off by Skoda UK CS or the Dealership that failed in their actions ?

Edited 20 August, 20187 yr by Offski

Reading between the lines, it hasn't been service at a OEM dealers & if that's the case, the OP is gonna have to chalk it up to experience I'm afraid.

 

But that's second hand cars for you, lotta people ask why I run new cars & it's because I  can budget for 3 or 400 a month but, budgeting the odd couple grand here & there whenever is tough to do.

 

I feel for you OP but, it is what it is & you are where you are