skoderia

Thanks for all the help. Just wanted to say that I decided not to go back to WIM and instead to drive the car for a bit longer, play with tyre pressures and do some more wheel swapping so I could be 100% clear about what the issues were. I'm pleased to say that despite the last tweak at WIM having been minor (so I'm told anyway, I'm too clueless to know!), it seems to have made a reasonably significant difference. I'm back on my 17" Pirellis and it drives arrow straight. Fairly sure the wheels/tyres I borrowed from my wife's car pull to the left slightly (as now they're back on her car, there's a small but noticeable pull). I guess I just never noticed it and/or something about the Fabia's setup means it's more noticeable on that car. So - if anyone has a ropey Fabia that's pulling to the left, first stop get your geometry settings matched to mine (posted earlier in this thread), and if that doesn't help, check there isn't a tyre pull going on (mismatched batches of tyres, I'm told?) Thanks again.

Splendid - thanks - something to try next. I'll phone up WIM next week and mention this to them. Will post back any progress.

Thanks Tony. If you don't mind me asking, if this were your car, what would you do next?

I'm only mildly engineering-minded (computers are more my area of expertise), but if I follow you correctly, you're saying that although the issue *could* perhaps be corrected with further time on a WIM machine, it would be in violation of Skoda's own published tolerances, and so suggests there's something else at fault here? I also just realised that the print-out from WIM says "Standard suspension" at the top - I just wanted to check - does that mean "this car doesn't have after-market airbag suspension or anything crazy" or does it mean "this isn't sports suspension". I ask, because the Monte Carlo has slightly lowered suspension compared to a 'normal' Fabia, and I wasn't sure if that would/should make a difference in terms of geometry?

The majority of VRS and Monte Carlos are fine, but it seems to have affected a batch of cars spanning around 6 months some time in late 2013 and early 2014.

Thanks for the offer, but I'm in Hemel Hempstead, so about an hour away. I'm not entirely convinced that it would help move the discussion on though, as the issue affects both monte carlo and VRS, and the VRS already has the steering weight set heavier than the Monte Carlo from the factory.

I think the chap was slightly suspicious there was a problem - although he took it for a drive, and confirmed there was a slight pull to the left, he thought maybe it was my driving style at fault (I tend to drive with one hand on the wheel on the motorway, for instance). The problem is that a short blast around the WIM centre in Chesham won't really show much - it's only really on motorways where it really becomes apparent (and physically exhausting). He said he didn't know what else to suggest, other than contacting you directly (he gave me your email address) - but I thought it might be best to make the discussion public because I know there are so many other people who have this problem. If we make any progress here then I plan to link back to it from the briskoda forum. I spend 3 hours a day in this car, mostly on motorways and I just know it's not right...

Hi Tony - do you mean it should have been tested at WIM? I'm very happy to take a trip back if it's a useful test? As for the problem being prolific, you can check here: Monte Carlo pulling left - Is this right My Monte Carlo is pulling to the left HELP! Those are just two threads, but there are other shorter ones too. The issue is that since Skoda simply aren't responding to the issue (in any way other than by replacing tyres), those owners who find the problem isn't cured are left either putting up with the problem or selling the car. Very few have gone any further in trying to diagnose what is really wrong. As I mentioned, I'm not in a position to sell (at least, not if I can help it) so would very much like to find out what the problem is, and have it cured (either independently with the bill being sent to Skoda UK, or by Skoda, having proved there's a problem beyond tyres/suspension). I believe the issue affects only Monte Carlo and VRS editions of the car (having scanned the various threads in question), and both those cars have lowered suspension (though otherwise they're fairly normal fabias with the exception that the VRS has the XDS electronic diff system).

That's exactly why I've swapped wheels so much - to try and prove (at least to myself) that it's nothing to do with tyre brand or wheel size. If anything, the problem is more noticeable on thinner tyres, presumably because there's less friction. What's definitely clear is that the Pirelli P-Zero Nero tyres that Skoda throw at everyone who mentions an issue seem to mask the problem, or at the very least act as a form of placebo...

My feeling too is that it's to do with steering, electrics, sensors... something that's in no way related to wheels/tyres/suspension settings. The problem is that without independent confirmation of this, Skoda (as you've found, m4rky) don't want to know. Unfortunately, I may well end up at small claims court (though again, I'd need some proof beyond my own suspicions) because this car makes my RSI so bad, and I can't afford to take a hit on selling.

Thanks for the reply:) I can't be certain about this, but I've always felt that it feels heavier to turn right. I've always assumed this is because it has a tendency to turn left, so I'm always fighting it when I turn right?

One more thing I've realised this morning (possibly related to the mild tweak it was given at WIM yesterday), I now have to hold the steering wheel right of center slightly in order to drive in a straight line on a pretty flat road surface (three-lane motorway with very very mild camber). Again, this can't be right. I'd like to get to a point where I've had independent confirmation that the car's not right, and that it's in no way related to the geometry/alignment or wheels/tyres. At that point Skoda UK and/or my dealers have to accept their investigation needs to go elsewhere, rather than an endless time-wasting loop of tyre swaps and denial.

Here's my report:

Same problem here (Skoda Monte Carlo Estate). I've just returned from WIM in Chesham armed with two printouts (one from November when you last looked at it, and one from today). I'm on my 3rd set of wheels and 4th set of tyres. Here's the story so far: Picked up car brand new in September last year, pulled to the left Took back to dealers, alignment done, came back worse Back to the dealers, alignment done, warranty tyre replacement authorised, tyres replaced for P Zero Neros Situation mildly improved, but before I had a decent chance to test them I moved onto my winter wheels as by now the potholes were far too large for low profile tyres and 300 miles a day... Winter wheels (15", 185/60/15) made the problem even more pronounced, went to WIM, got alignment done. Confirmed that the previous alignment was shoddy. Situation improved, but still pulls to the left slightly. Went back to WIM a few days later, and tyres were swapped around. Much better this time, so I assumed it was just a tyre issue, though throughout the winter I can still sense something's not right. Spring time 2014 finally happens, and I put my 17" wheels back on. Pull to the left is back. Get all four wheels balanced just in case, no difference, still pulls to the left. I've lived with it for a few months, but I now have RSI in my right hand, and the constant tugging makes driving this car almost unbearable with the mileage I do. Couple of days ago - had enough, decided I'd try out the wheels/tyres from my wife's Skoda Rapid. They're 185/60/15s, but unlike my winter wheels are basically new (only done about 3000 miles). Her car drives in a straight line, so if it really were down to wheels (as Skoda UK and my dealer claim) then this should fix it, right? Nope. Today - off to WIM again, just to get things checked before I go back to the dealers (as I don't want them attempting another shoddy alignment). Things checked, and the nice man told me there's nowt wrong with my geometry/alignment, everything straight, and he even drove it for me and confirmed there's still a slight left pull. Now, I should confirm what I mean by a "pull to the left", as I understand it's not terribly informative: Where the road camber drops to the left, the car, with a straight steering wheel will drift left. I have to actively turn right 2-3 degrees to keep it straight. Where the road camber drops to the right, the car will drive in a straight line no problem, hands off the steering wheel. Surely if everything's straight it should veer to the right? On a straight road, with hands off the steering wheel, potholes and lumps will cause the steering wheel to settle to the left. Doesn't matter whether the potholes or bumps happen on the left or right side of the car, the steering wheel still always turns left. Basically, it has a preference for settling left, no matter what. Additionally, it's draining driving this thing. I can't put my finger on it, but just driving in a straight line on the motorway is draining - like I'm constantly trying to keep it in a straight line - it's like there's no such thing as straight ahead, no matter what the angle of the steering wheel. All the above points have moved about a bit, depending on the type of tyres fitted, size of wheels, and state of geometry/alignment, but to a greater or lesser degree, it always drifts left. I KNOW this isn't right, because my previous car (a Skoda Fabia VRS sharing much of the same suspension setup) drove perfectly straight. I've also had a number of dealer courtesy Fabias, all of which drive straight, and are far less draining to be in. I'm happy to post up today's alignment report, but basically the guys at WIM in Chesham said it was fine, and about as straight as they'd expect a car to be. They told me to come here and speak to Tony, as he likes a puzzle The problem I now have is that Skoda UK won't acknowledge there's a problem, to the point that most of the buyers that originally had problems with these cars have simply sold them on because they weren't getting anywhere, or were sick of being fobbed off with alignments and Pirellis (the Pirellis, as best anyone can figure, simply mask the problem slightly more than the original Dunlops did). I just can't afford to lose more money on Skodas (this one replaces the VRS which had a dodgy gearbox and engine...), and would dearly love to prove them wrong, and just get my car fixed, rather than having to sell it. Tony - if you're watching, I'd love some advice!