Similar to last time - big warning on the dash saying "gearbox in emergency mode", and only then using gears 2, 4 and 6. Reverse can only be operated by going forward a bit first

What did they change the first time it failed ?

They replaced the MCU / Mechatronic Control Unit. 

9 and a 1/2 weeks later (now having Kim Basinger flashbacks) the problem has been confirmed by local  Skoda dealer (the dealership that replaced the first unit) as the mechatronic.

 

Now the wait to see if Skoda UK are willing to assist.

And now, having spent close to £400 with the local Skoda dealership for them to confirm the diagnosis of the independent, Skoda UK have decided not to assist in any way.

 

 

On 05/07/2024 at 06:49, Gyp said:

And now, having spent close to £400 with the local Skoda dealership for them to confirm the diagnosis of the independent, Skoda UK have decided not to assist in any way.

 

 

Sorry what is your car age and miles ? 

I currently have a manual gb and will be getting a late 23, maybe 24 plate this year and now all are autos. My worry now is that these gboxes are unreliable?

8 hours ago, MP74 said:

Sorry what is your car age and miles ? 

I currently have a manual gb and will be getting a late 23, maybe 24 plate this year and now all are autos. My worry now is that these gboxes are unreliable?

 

Car is 2018 but lightly used so only 46,000 miles. 

 

I reckon that broadly speaking, the VAG DSG gearboxes are fine. The reason I say this is that they have made many millions of them, but you only hear about the ones that go wrong.

 

From my perspective, having 2 mechatronic units go wrong in under 50,000 miles is unfortunate but I suspect is the luck of the draw. What's not great is the cost of repairing the things that have gone wrong.

 

First mechatronic failure - £1,600 but thankfully covered under warranty

Infotainment system failure - £3,500, failed and reported during the warranty period but not diagnosed and fixed until afterwards so Skoda wouldn't honour the warranty on it. They did make an out of warranty contribution which I had little option but to accept.

Second mechatronic failure - estimated at £2,500. Skoda not going to make a contribution as last service was outside of the dealer network. Not sure what difference this makes as the mechatronic and gearbox is not attended to as part of the service schedule.

They do make millions and Skoda produce millions of DQ200,s for the VW Group Models.

 

But this is a DQ381 with a growing percentage of MCU failures globally and still nothing from VW Group accepting any fundamental design, manufacturing or material faults.

 

The problem is that you are only hearing of the issue on Social Media / Forums because Motoring Journalists appear to be ignoring the Elephant in the room.

 

Still a 80,000 miles Service / Schedule for Oil changes, but many are failing before 40,000 miles or even in the 1st year. 

 

Edited 8 July, 20241 yr by Ootohere

Well, despite the original "no", the after sales manager has had another go, and the result has been a lot more favourable this time.

 

Hopefully I'll have the car back before too long

What error codes are you getting ? I'm in the middle of sorting my own issues.. 

Error 10666

On 19/07/2024 at 09:03, defsix said:

What error codes are you getting ? I'm in the middle of sorting my own issues.. 

Error 10666

Didn't check them I'm afraid - the message on the dash was the big giveaway!

 

Seriously thinking about getting a VERY early oil change in my DQ381 next year.

12 hours ago, EnterName said:

Seriously thinking about getting a VERY early oil change in my DQ381 next year.

For me it's not the oil change, but a pressure sensors that fails on the MCU. Generally requiring a new MCU, there are firms out there that replace the sensors. This is the route I've gone for.

MCU here is €1600. Not available at the moment. MCU repair including shipping both ways about €500, with 2 years warranty. 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/524893-mechatronic-failure-10666

 

@defsix  Your thread might help others. 

As it is you do not show what car you are talking about or where you are here..

2 hours ago, Ootohere said:

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/524893-mechatronic-failure-10666

 

@defsix  Your thread might help others. 

As it is you do not show what car you are talking about or where you are here..

Added a comment to hopefully clarify this. 

As a bit of a follow up...

After the approach by the after sales manager, Skoda did relent and agreed to a partial good will contribution. Because of the delay and initial failure to get a positive response from Skoda, the dealership also agreed to trim their costs.

 

All good!

 

Well, not quite. As it is pre-coded at the factory and done on a separate line, the mechatronic unit took 7 weeks to be be delivered to the dealership. It took a little longer for them to get round to fitting it and... didn't work.

 

Skoda suggested taking it all apart again and checking the clutch pack. which made no difference.

 

And there have now been several weeks of delay as Skoda technical ask the dealership to try different codings and test voltages and resistances at varying places on the loom. It seems that every time the dealership reports back to Skoda Technical it takes the best part of a week to get a response, but this may be because technical UK are having to talk to technical Germany or wherever.

 

We are now at the point where Skoda are suggesting trying another mechatronic unit (I suspect in case the initial one supplied was faulty - no idea if they are new or refurb). The dealership optimistically is suggesting 4 weeks to get it, but based on the first one, maybe a bit longer.

 

The car has now been out of action for more than 6 months and, whilst it's been fun using my GR Yaris as a daily, it would really be quite nice to get the Superb back. If nothing else I've got an old shed in the garden that needs to go to the tip and the missus is getting annoyed that it's still there! I do acknowledge though that this isn't a priority for the dealership as they are kind of stuck in the middle and working on it gets in the way of paying customers.

 

So, not sure at this point if I'll have it back before Christmas. Might be a treat for the New Year. Or maybe Valentine's Day...

 

Just wish now I'd SORNed it at the end of April

Would you have still gone down this route in hindsight? Or did you have a choice?

10 hours ago, defsix said:

Would you have still gone down this route in hindsight? Or did you have a choice?

 

I think the answer has to be yes, I'd still have gone down this route. However that's made a lot easier because I have other cars to get me about and (taking the old shed to the tip aside) there's been nothing in the last 6 months that's genuinely needed a car with the carrying capacity of the Superb Combi.

 

I did initially take the car to my local independent, and it was them that recommended that, based on the cost of repair, I see if Skoda would do something. The nominal cost of the repair by Skoda is about £2500, so that made sense. Skoda and the local dealership have come up with an arrangement that means that it should cost me about £750 all in, so a "saving" of £1750.

 

My understanding is that, especially as £500 already spent was for the detailed diagnosis, the cost won't rise above that agreed. If, however, I'd used the independent and there had been similar problems, they wouldn't have had access to Skoda technical and would likely have been charging me by the hour.

 

So it's a frustration and an inconvenience, but it's not a £1750+ inconvenience. But it would be nice to have it back soon.

In and around the UK there are plenty Automatic Gearbox Specialists that Service & Repair DSG,s / S-tronics. That is there full time job. Maybe some are ex VW Group techs, but have a speciality now.

 I am lucky in having 1 a mile away, an Automatic Specialist that is.. There are others about Ex Master Techs now Independents, where you go when Dealership Fitters mess up.

 

They own & have access to all the gear (Equipment) / tools, parts & the software and the 'knowledge'  & experience.

Many Main Dealers do not have this and farm the work out to the Automatic Gearbox Specialists. 

 

Those that do not often need these Specialists to sort out what their incompetent Technicians or Fitters attempt. 

Edited 17 November, 20241 yr by Ootohere

2 hours ago, Ootohere said:

In and around the UK there are plenty Automatic Gearbox Specialists that Service & Repair DSG,s / S-tronics. That is there full time job. Maybe some are ex VW Group techs, but have a speciality now.

 I am lucky in having 1 a mile away, an Automatic Specialist that is.. There are others about Ex Master Techs now Independents, where you go when Dealership Fitters mess up.

 

They own & have access to all the gear (Equipment) / tools, parts & the software and the 'knowledge'  & experience.

Many Main Dealers do not have this and farm the work out to the Automatic Gearbox Specialists. 

 

Those that do not often need these Specialists to sort out what their incompetent Technicians or Fitters attempt. 

 

True. My local independent VAG specialist uses one but still urged me to try Skoda first as, even with an auto gearbox specialist, it would be pricey.

 

Thing is, once it has been fixed with parts from Skoda central, it'll have a 2 year warranty which it probably wouldn't have elsewhere.

Which is lovely.

But just a pity they can get it wrong at the Engineering / Manufacturing then at Dealers, and then again.

Factory Trained, and the product replaced still has Design, Manufacturing or material faults. 

6 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Which is lovely.

But just a pity they can get it wrong at the Engineering / Manufacturing then at Dealers, and then again.

Factory Trained, and the product replaced still has Design, Manufacturing or material faults. 

 

Don't fret, it'll likely get traded in for a Rav 4 when it's fixed

Your experience stands as a lesson for others really.

It can be hard work with VW Group / Skoda.

 

There are fundamental design , manufacturing, material issues.

People should not be landed with the issue in warranty, and the expense out of it.

This has been going on for 6 years plus now & is just the usual from VW Group.

 

7 year Warranties now in Australia.   The DSG,s with a 80,000 Service Interval should at least have a 80,000 mile warranty. 

8 hours ago, Ootohere said:

There are fundamental design , manufacturing, material issues.

 

 It's been 2 decades since my first "experience" with the roof drains on VAG products, apparently they still can't produce a sunroof cassette that's not a steaming pile of monkey **** in that respect.

Edited 17 November, 20241 yr by AlistairCookie

I have the car back.

 

Working.

 

And it appears that it wasn't a mechatronic fault - or at least the fault did not originate in the mechatronic.

 

After a bit of a wait for a mechatronic, and then another mechatronic as the first one didn't solve the problem, and then a check of the clutch pack as the 2nd replacement mechatronic didn't solve the problem, and a full work through of the control wiring as the clutch pack was ok... the problem was tracked down to a failed synchromesh on 1st gear. 

 

Because 1st would engage, the mechatronic was signalling a fault. It's still unclear to me if the issue caused the mechatronic to fail, or just fail to operate, but rebuilding 1st gear in the box and putting back the 2nd replacement mechatronic has resulted in a working car.

 

OK, it has taken rather longer than I would have liked, but it's fixed, and I have to say that in the end both the local dealership and Skoda have been very forward leaning in ensuring that it didn't hurt my wallet as much as it could have done.