Skoda Superb 118TSI Engine Issues

[DJB]

Hi everyone
Have had my 2011 Superb Wagon since 2012 and it has been wonderful (apart from all the usual DSG shuddering issues and a rear window wiper that is inoperable). Everything else is sweet. HOWEVER:

After the 100k service at Solitaire Skoda in Adelaide 2 weeks ago, car broke down on expressway near Stirling in the Adelaide Hills and the very kind RAA guy said cylinder 3 had NO compression. I thought it might've been the limp home function.

Two tow truck rides later back to Solitaire Mile End (one home and then one to the Skoda dealer) and they cheekily made me agree to change the spark plugs (at $240 for 4!) as they had excess carbon on them, and subsequently rang me to say engine compression in cylinder 3 is an issue. Means big repair work and may be up to $6k to repair! Head off, pistons and rings etc. I am very sceptical and would ask if this is an issue for anyone out there. I am at a bit of a loss and quite upset as it is the family car. The car is still there with instructions NOT TO DO ANYTHING. It has not been blowing smoke nor have i noticed any issues, and every tank is 98RON apart from the odd 95 where 98 isn't available (this is Adelaide). Serviced regularly at Solitaire at scheduled intervals. I look after it!

Thoughts?
Dan

[cyberkank]

I wouldn't trust Solitaire quoted price. I had similar issue with my old A4 where the engine had an engine camshaft issue. Solitaire quoted me 13-15k to fix. I ended up going to AVW (opposite brickwork market) and they fixed the issue for less than 3k in total.
Admittely it took a bit longer than expected (3-4 weeks) due to my decision to save some money and imported the parts they required from the US myself. It was about 1/3 of the price shipped to Australia compared to the Solitaire quoted parts price.
Beware of the inflated "repair" cost due to rediculous dealers in Adelaide.

[VW Convert]

After the 100k service at Solitaire Skoda in Adelaide 2 weeks ago, car broke down on expressway near Stirling in the Adelaide Hills and the very kind RAA guy said cylinder 3 had NO compression. I thought it might've been the limp home function.

Two tow truck rides later back to Solitaire Mile End (one home and then one to the Skoda dealer) and they cheekily made me agree to change the spark plugs (at $240 for 4!) as they had excess carbon on them, and subsequently rang me to say engine compression in cylinder 3 is an issue. Means big repair work and may be up to $6k to repair! Head off, pistons and rings etc. I am very sceptical and would ask if this is an issue for anyone out there. I am at a bit of a loss and quite upset as it is the family car. The car is still there with instructions NOT TO DO ANYTHING. It has not been blowing smoke nor have i noticed any issues, and every tank is 98RON apart from the odd 95 where 98 isn't available (this is Adelaide). Serviced regularly at Solitaire at scheduled intervals. I look after it!

Thoughts?
Dan

Interesting the RAA guy said no compression on number three roadside (not sure how he diagnosed that) but Solitaire only discover no compression on number three AFTER fitting $240 worth of spark plugs due to excess carbon (almost bet it was only on number three plug)! Would have taken no time to run a compression test at that point.

Says enough about Solitaire to me!

Cheers

George

[Tuan]

Does your Superb run the EA888 1.8 TSI ... ? If so, could be tensioner and timing chain related BUT the damage usually occurs when STARTING the car, so your description may rule that out.

[DJB]

Solitaire are real rip off merchants. I get the feeling the 'service' guys are actually just money merchants.

For Solitaire to 'investigate' it is going to cost $900. The words I used were not appropriate to publish here. What gets me is that I love Skodas. I love everything about our Superb. Why ruin it with such BAD after sales service? Why???? I've found a mechanic who will quote before fixing it. I'll let you know.

Solitaire, if you read any of this, then LEARN. If you want brand loyalty BACK IT UP with fair service! You could sell twice as many cars if you had better service. As our Superb has served us well since 2011, we were considering a new Kodiaq. If we even get beyond this disaster, we will go to Sydney or Melbourne to buy. SOLITAIRE MOTORS: ARE YOU LISTENING???

[DJB]

I told them to put the old plugs back.

[tigger73]

If it's not being covered under warranty take it to a good independent for a second opinion.

No disrespect to Solitaire but the guys there are really only following the manual and will be using genuine new parts because that's their business. More than likely you've got the 4th year apprentice working on your car because the good techs are given the high end vehicles to look after (Audi/Land Rover/etc).

AVW in Torrensville are probably the closest in terms of towing the car and I've found in past are pretty reasonably priced.


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[pologti18t]

I would be asking Skoda for some goodwill with repairing this car. So don't take it to an independent just yet.

[Enobar]

A friend of mine had a problem with his Octavia and was quoted a huge amount of money to fix it at Solitaire. He contacted Skoda Australia and they came to the party and contributed most of cost of the repair and he ended up hardly out of pocket so i'd give that a go.

Failing that, there is a place on Unley Rd, Unley called Auto Studio who specialise in a number of Euro brands including Skoda. We take my mother's Saab there and they have been very reasonable and aren't out to rip you off (unlike Solitaire IMO). I haven't taken my Superb there because its under service contract for 5 years but when that expires I will probably go there. I actually take my car to Jarvis Skoda at Tanunda, but if I didn't go there I'd go to Dutton Motors VW at Mt Barker (who are an authorised Skoda service centre even though they are a VW dealership) before going to Solitaire - I've had fantastic experience with their Mazda dealership over the years.