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My car needed a new turbo which the manufacturer is paying for - should I have to pay the labour?

Last week a couple of yellow warning lights appeared on the dash of my 2014 Skoda Octavia 1.4 petrol. At the main dealer they diagnosed a turbo fault which requires a new turbo to be fitted at a cost of £1770. Skoda will make a 100% goodwill contribution for the parts but I will still be left with a bill of around £450 for labour. Is this right?

Asked on 21 February 2018 by Peter R Kings

Answered by Honest John
I can tell you that the most likely reason for this is switching off the engine when the turbo is too hot. Though the turbo is water-cooled by engine coolant and the bearing is cooled by engine oil, if you regularly switch off when the turbo is near red hot, the coolant in it will be unable to cool it and the oil in the turbo bearing oil feed and oil return pipes will gradually carbonise, eventually blocking the pipes. So, after constant speed on the motorway, after a long ascent, or after towing, best to idle the engine for a minute or two before switching off so coolant and oil continue to circulate through the turbo, gradually bringing its temperature down. Having had a new turbo, you must ensure that the turbo bearing oil feed and oil return pipes were replaced or the new turbo won't last long.
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