saving a bit by getting it serviced outside dealer network..

[nyc863]

I take my car to vw world in kensington (sydney) to get serviced.

The recent rain drenched the footwells front and back passenger side and it seems that if part of that regular service is not cleaning the sunroof drain tubing, the one that empties in the front tire well, then you will get this problem.

I am a bit disappointed that a VW specialist mechanic who might be very adept and efficient at doing the typical engine service intervals does not appear to follow the check-list in the service manual.

Although the car did spend part of its first year of life parked outside among trees, the last two years were relatively vegetation free so I conclude that blowing out all the water drain paths once a year are absolutely necessary unless you wish to start growing mushrooms in the underlay

[team_v]

I would say this would be a warrantable claim at the dealership as I don't believe cleaning out the sunroof drains is a regular service item?

Might want to ring them up and check if it is part of the regular service first to confirm though.

[nyc863]

The bill from the skoda dealer to investigate the source of the leak, then clean the drains, was $200

I was told, when they found the source, that cleaning them was in the bullet list of service items or at least was something they do - although I've not verified this - and finding the leak let alone drying the carpet out, would not be covered under warranty, and it was because I wasn't getting the car serviced in the network that the leak into the cabin had happened.

[Blitzen]

Why not have a go at unblocking it yourself? You know about the broken, yet get into the services for not doing it, when it just may not be on the checklist, but you are quick to jump on the net and complain about it. Preventative maintenance isn't just restricted to the periodic services...

[team_v]

The bill from the skoda dealer to investigate the source of the leak, then clean the drains, was $200

I was told, when they found the source, that cleaning them was in the bullet list of service items or at least was something they do - although I've not verified this - and finding the leak let alone drying the carpet out, would not be covered under warranty, and it was because I wasn't getting the car serviced in the network that the leak into the cabin had happened.

Can you contact another dealership and ask for a list of service items that they undertake without letting them know of your problem.
That way you can tell if it is a scheduled service item or if the other dealership is having you on as they already know what the issue is and may be covering themselves.

That is the main reason i never ordered a sunroof option to be honest.

I do agree with the preventative maintenance though if you can do it.

[k_rider]

Yep, it's on the Skoda Service Schedule (and the box ticked on my last service a month ago) - the green and white sheet the dealer should give you when you hand over your hard-earned. Someone posted a copy of it in this forum a few months back.

"Vehicles equipped with sunroof - Check operation, clean guide rails and lubricate, clean drains." It's marked on the sheet to be performed at every service.

The sheet is signed off by the tech performing the work, so would assume if something wasn't completed as marked, there would be some recourse if a problem arose because of it.

[The_Hawk]

We had a car once that had a 1 in a 1,000,000 shot when a rock was flicked up off the road blocking the drain from the AC system which collected condensation under the dash somewhere. The sound of sloshing water from under the dash and then the drips on our feet made us ask questions. The services guys then found and fixed it all gratis at the next service.

But as k_rider has said, if the services guys have signed off on having done the work only to have a blockage causing damage a month later I'd be asking plenty of questions.

[nyc863]

I didn't know about it until after the fact, otherwise I'd have had a go at unblocking it first and not getting the bill. I posted more in the hope someone else would avoid this problem, perhaps by asking directly if their mechanic has completed the service checklist.

Clearly I have some grounds for at least a complaint at vw village: that I paid for and got a logbook service that did not include some parts of the service i'm not sure what they would do for me though, promise not to do it again. I doubt they'll be willing to refund me the $200 it cost at the dealer network to clean the drains.

[zei20t]

it cant hurt to ask for the money, or a discount on your next service.

if its in the schedule that they look at to perform the service, then you need to have a conversation with them about it