Wastegate actuator fix

Recently I found at several forums that some guys was in garages for so called "recall".
RECALL לרכבי פולו TSI (Heb)
Fabia recall - March 2012

I called to Hagoren garage and asked if I need to visit them. Yaniv said yes, I need to come to do something, but it's not a recall, it can be done at next maintenance visit. I said I will come tomorrow at 11.

As I was already know that it related to wastegate actuator I made some "before" pictures.

Wastegate actuator

So I drove to garage, meet my friend Alexander. As I understood, some drivers experienced turbocharger issue when it wasn't working while they driving but after stopping and then starting engine everything was fine. Skoda issued following solution: spacer washer to wastegate actuator. Sounds ok, let's go.

By the way, I meet there Stefan Barda, the seller guy. I told him that Radio Milano wanted to install not original speakers and I declined this bullshit. He said that will check it.

In few minutes Fabia was inside waiting for her turn. Technician came, connected testing computer. He also explained to me what he going to do.

This is that spacer washer, 2 mm thickness.

03F 145 371 A - spacer washer

Installing spacer washer also requires a ECU update.

The installation takes about a minute.
Video and photo of process were removed by request from garage manager.
Explanation post here.

After that, it's important to calibrate actuator by command from service computer.

The last step is to put sticker in a luggage compartment where spare wheel and car sticker.

That's it!

Wastegate actuator with spacer washer installed

Upgrade feelings - I don't no, I not felt something changed.

Useful links
Skoda Garages (Heb)

21 747 km, 1Y3M

Radio Milano came back

Today I got a call from Radio Milano ;-) after 2 month, I almost forgot about them.

They told, that their technician can came to me this wednesday and in 3 hours install rear speakers. When I asked again what they are going to install, the answer was that is not original Skoda's ABA700002 - Mounting kit for rear speakers, but some Megatron special speakers that like the originals. I thought fool's day is over, but obviously not.

I have 2 days to deside if I will let them unmount rear doors plastics and put wiring for something I really don't know what is it. I think, I will decline the offer... stay tuned.

UPDATE (2011-04-06):
I canceled the installation. They even don't ask why :-)
Need to pass by Stefan and check why that happend that instead of original parts he sends me some cheap alternative - that is how I understand the situation.
Bye, bye Radio Milano.

Radio Milano fail

Odometer: 2 710 km.

This morning I got a call that wake me up. At 7:36 (usually I sleep until 9:00) called David from Radio Milano Champion Motor's (Israel's Skoda, Audi, VW and Seat) installation service partner. He was ready to come in 30 minutes (from Bnei Barak) to any place I want (home, work, etc) and install missing 4 rear speakers in my Fabia. I told him t recall at 9, when I can understand what he is talking about :-)

When I called back at 9:08 and asked what kind of speakers he is going to install and if he did that at least once on Skoda Fabia 2 - he started yelling "what are you think we doing here?" and "what a stupid questions do you ask?" and so on. I asked who can answer me that question, he said to talk with my Skoda agent - Stefan and dropped a call.

I called Skoda Netanya, but Stefan wasn't there and Tzahi (another agent) said that he will check with Radio Milano all information and will call back.

Thinking of customer service quality we got:
Radio Milano - huge fail. Recommendation - call customer before installation (in normal hours, not everyone works since 7 am) to insure details and schedule time.
Skoda - very good. WTF, Skoda? (see UPDATE-1).

I had enough experience when my leased cars were returned from certified garage services with scratches on plastic parts all over, that's why I asked David about his level of experience. I don't want that someone strange broke doors plastic, unknown wiring installation with unknown equipment. Will you live your own child to a babysitter that can't answer if she ever did that? I guess, no - unless you know her or by recommendation.

The only speakers Skoda should install is ABA700002 - Mounting kit for rear speakers and that what was told me in the garage.

Also, if you got rear parking sensors gift from Skoda, that was also installed at Radio Milano. This is a display of that, shows which of 4 sensors is active (switching between 4) and it's distance to the object first in meters and if more close in centimeters.

UPDATE-1 (2011-02-20)
It was more than a week ago. Still no calls from Skoda.

Got an extra oil and garage check

Odometer: 2270 km.

I went today to Skoda Netanya's garage to get extra oil liter to keep in a car. Met there Alex, that presented me my Fabia 3 weeks ago. Btw, 3 weeks - that the first period you need to open bonnet and check oil level if you didn't that before.

It is normal for the engine to consume oil. The oil consumption may be as much as 0.5 l/1 000 km depending on your style of driving and the conditions under which you operate your vehicle. The oil consumption may be slightly higher than this during the first 5 000 kilometers.

So, as Alex told me, they drain Skoda's oil when it come to Israel and fill with Delek's Motorsynth 5W-40 and I bought a liter of those for 52 NIS.

This is what recommended for this petrol engine 1.2 TSI 77 kw and vehicles with fixed service intervals (QG2) - VW 502 00.

Also I jumped by to Stefan to check when rear speakers will arrive. He said next week, again ;-)

Meeting Stefan

Odometer: -2700 km.

I saw Skoda Fabia many times. For me it's like love at first sight, I think. Bright colors, white roof, her body, eyes... It also came on time when I started to think about leaving company leased car, cause I paid to much already.

So, I go to Netanya branch. This is where I meet Stefan Barda, my Skoda agent.

Stefan is a nice guy, show me their Fabia in show room and gave me price details.

And I went to think about it.