Hi it's my first visit here. please be gentle :)
I've had a slight problem and wondered if it was a common fault or mine is just a one off.
My clutch pedal stuck down, the main dealer told me the pedal had broken where it was welded, he has rewelded it, as he said it would take a while to order a new one. He said he had never seen that happen on a Fabia before but had on Octavias, also the new pedals are plastic. Which brings me to are plastic ones better?
The car is 6 years old and I've had it for nearly half it's life.
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I had similar on an Octavia, but the pedal wasn't stuck down, it just wouldn't return to the "up" position.
The clutch on the Octavia is hydraulically operated and it was explained to me in simple so-mare-can-understand terms that the little plastic tab at the top of the clutch that pressed down on the cylinder at the pedal end of the hydraulics snapped off. Sure enough, there was a bit of white plastic in the footwell about 25mm x 15mm and looking very snapped off!
Luckily the car was under warranty (2 years old and c.70,000 miles) and the dealers were great and got it fixed quickly, but mentioned that it was a pig of a job to fix and not at all uncommon.
Seems to me that the tab sheared off after so many clutch operations. Also seems to me in my humble opinion that the cylinder at the pedal end needs to be operated with something more substantial, or the tab needs to be reinforced.
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Picked it up this morning.
I was told that it's not rare for this to happen to an Octavia, taxis in particular. That particular dealer hadn't had it happen on a Fabia before now.
The service man told me his mecahnic had probably put a better weld on it that it had had in the first place.
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just an update, and perhaps some thoughts needed please.
I fetched the car home, but it came with a noise that I never had before.A very loud droning noise. It was booked in to be looked at again that took a week. When it was looked at I was told it was nothing they had done they had done, they had looked in the inspection plate and the thrust bearing was making a noise.
Anyhow in a test drive with the chief mechinc man the noise had subdued some what but not gone, he said it was a wheelbearing.
So booked in for a new one....... which was today.
This afternoon I get a phone call saying that both the wheel bearings needed changing and the drivers side which was the one they did was making the most noise. Though when driving, the noise seemed to me to be coming from the otherside though I haven't got a trained ear and know very little about cars.
Does all this seem phisable?
I have asked for the old parts back BTW.
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Do you have any other Skodsa dealers within reach, or an independent who knowa about Skodas? I think a second opinion might be a good idea.
Most Skoda dealers have a good reputation, but this one could just be relying on you not being an expert to make money out of you.
It may be wheel bearings and therefore coincidental, but you need to be sure.
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Me thinks I'll have to find an independant.
The nearest dealer Skoda place is just under 20 miles away.
I rang this morning, am now being told that they are fitting the other wheelbearing, but they have found the coil spring has broken, and a couple of other bits that they have found, this is on a 6 year old motor,they sold me, that I've had for 3 years and have done just over 14,000 miles in.... It never made a noise until they had it in and welded the clutch that broke..... (I'd put a crying emotion here if there was any.)
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If you need a good independent Skoda specialist and you are in NW Kent then go to Whitehill Garage in Meopham. They used to be a Skoda franchise, but decided not to renew and update their premises. It is a good family run garage selling and servicing mainly Skodas. I use them for my Fiat, so I can talk from experience. Their labour rate is a competitive £45 + VAT per hour.
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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
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Thanks for that Roger, I'm a bit to far away though.
Got her back this afternoon, both bearings done, she now isn't making a noise, and running a bit smoother than she was when she went in.......(I still haven't worked out yet though why there never used to be a noise until they welded the peddle ) however, now they tell me it isn't urgent but a front coil spring and a roll bar is needed. Oh well such is the joys of the motoring world :)
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