I own a Skoda Rapid Style Plus Black Edition Model (DSG+Diesel). So far in 20 months of ownership with 38K kms, it had been a pretty uneventful ownership and I was enjoying thoroughly all my drives. Every time I got in the car it brought a huge smile. Just as I was beginning to think that mine would be one the rare happy stories, reality hit me right in the face like a ton of bricks.
August 29, 2017 was an unfortunate day to many a Mumbaikars. On account of incessant rains, I was one of the unfortunate souls stranded on the road and even more unfortunate to be forced to drive through a section of road with water logging. The water level was close to knee height. With no option I had to tread through the water logged road. The car never stopped while crossing the water patch. After crossing I kept it running for a few minutes got down (anyway the traffic wasn't moving) checked and found everything to be normal and after another 3 - 4 hours of being stuck up finally reached home. Next day didn't take the car out as it was declared holiday. I did however start the car a drove for a few kms just to be sure everything was Ok. Found no problem and parked the car.
The ordeal started the day after. I noticed a strange whirring noise coming from the engine bay after starting the car. This was more prominent at idling speed and almost died down once the car was in motion. It was late Friday night, yet I called my regular service center and narrated the entire incident and requested them to see the car the next day itself. They kept saying that there is lot of back log due to flood affected cars and asked to come sometime next week Tuesday or Wednesday. However knowing the infamous DSG, Mechatronics and other Skoda issues I was getting paranoid, hence i took the car to the service center anyway the next day. In spite of waiting for over an hour, nobody attended me that day and since I had some other engagement I left the service center after giving an earful and taking commitment that my car will attended on Monday.
If the above problems were not enough, I noticed a bulge in the right front Tyre. Guessed it might have hit something while crossing the water logged road and got damaged. Since all four Tyres had completed ~38K, it was just another 10 - 15K Kms life left in them. For the time being I got the front Two Tyres replaced. To further add to my woes, The next day when I try to start my car it refused to crank. I got the car jump-started with the help of nearby mechanic and took the car straight to service center without turning off the engine. This was an Hours drive. Yet once I reached the service center and tried to re-start it just didn't crank again which means the battery is now dead in just 20 months and 38K kms.
With great difficulty I am attended and SA confirms that the noise is coming from the Flywheel. Now whether this is a manufacturing defect or due to driving through the flood is to be ascertained. If former then it will be covered under warranty otherwise I asked them to get it done through Insurance. I also inquired how did the battery die so soon. The SA said that it might be due floods citing reasons as connection may have earthed due to water causing short circuit. I asked them if it is so and it gets confirmed that it was due to floods then battery should also be covered through Insurance. On inquiring about warranty on OEM battery, I am made aware that Some dim-wit in Skoda decided to offer 1 Year warranty for car's invoiced in 2016. Prior to that it was two year warranty and then in 2017 it is again 2 years. I tell them that my car is manufactured in Dec'2015 and registered in Jan'2016.. The SA says "Sorry Sir, for warranty purpose we record Registration date as start of warranty". which I know is correct so don't probe any further.
Sorry, If the above was too long. But it was just the premise, the real ordeal is just about to begin. I keep following up with the SA the whole week and get replies like we are looking into it, opening the gear box etc etc. Then after 5 days on Saturday, when I call up the SA, he confirms that the issue is due to water seepage and has to be taken up through the Insurance company. I visit the service center again to complete insurance formalities and also inquire their diagnosis about how they determined it is not a manufacturing defect and was actually caused by water seepage in floods. I was expecting some pictures of an opened gear box or some other part. To my surprise, all I see is some pictures of the car under body. The SA points out some rusting in some part of the car under body which in turn confirms water seepage in Fly wheel compartment which would have eventually damaged the fly Wheel.
They took one week just to lift the car, take some under body pictures and confirm that is due to floods on the basis of some rust marks !! I asked as to how such rusting can occur only in matter of one week, more so when all VW cars come 6 year anti rust warranty !! I decided not to press the matter much further as they were really struggling with so many cars in the service center. As long as I wasn't charged, it didn't matter to me whether the work was done under warranty or through Insurance. Of course the latter meant loosing out the NCB but I was okay with it as then I would also claim Insurance for some minor denting and painting.
After this the long wait now starts. After multiple follow ups and escalating it to higher ups, I finally get the car after three long weeks. The Fly wheel was changed the total bill came around 55K out of which I paid 4K towards processing charges and consumables. I also had to get a new battery as the Insurance company refused to include battery in the claim. Already frustrated by now, I didn't pursue it further. I got an Exide Battery from a local battery shop nearby and gave it to to the SA to fit in my car. So finally after all the ordeal I get my car back on 29 Sep'17. But the happiness was only short lived. after driving for a couple of days, I notice some strange behavior from the gear box. It drops a gear with jerk sometimes - usually this happens in 3rd or 4th Gear. Also sometimes (mostly in 2nd Gear) the car refuses to move any forward. This happens momentarily for a few seconds during which the Gear Indicator shows as 2nd Gear but it feels like the care is free revving in Neutral. Usually this phenomenon happens for 2 - 3 seconds after which gear shifts normally. However on 2 - 3 occasions this has been more than momentary. I have had to stop the engine, remove the key and re-start. So far it has worked. - Just as I am experiencing this issue, came across a similar thread involving Vento TSI+DSG.
Now I had called up the service center on last Saturday i.e. 07'Oct. The receptionist asked to come after Diwali as there are still lot of pending cars and they have no appointments available. I was furious when I heard this. I told her that after keeping my car for over a month you have returned the car with some new set of problems and now you expect me wait another two weeks to even visit your service center. I called up their Senior Customer care executive with whom I have now interacted many times. He asked me get the car on Monday and said he will at least get the car checked. On Monday i.e. 09'Oct I had the car checked by one of their SA's and he confirmed there is some issue. The customer care executive confirmed that it is nothing major and they will do some adaptions by connecting the car to their VAS. This will be done simultaneously with the car being driven for 50 - 60 Kms. Supposedly they will check / modify the gear ratios make / update the software. They have asked me to visit tomorrow and assured that this will be done in a day's time.
Sorry for the long post. Note to Mods : Please move it any other appropriate thread if required. Presently there are a lot of threads regarding VW / Skoda service issues which are live and under hot threads. Seeing so much I wanted vent my frustration as well.