K20D 'Chugging' - Help!!!!

That's what I suggest in my first comment and since it's the fourth time I would suspect Pentax must do something to ease the pain but I didn't get any response on that so I think he wants to fix it himself or want to get another camera brand?

No. I want to remain with Pentax as I have bought into the system with lenses and other accessories. Also, when the K20D behaves I am very happy with the performance, but I want a camera that works properly and is dependable. I first wanted to make sure that there was not an obvious fix that I had overlooked and that it was a real and serious problem. Now I'm convinced that it is and I have finally lost all confidence in the camera. Even if it is repaired I would consider that there is a strong chance of it going wrong out of warranty. I have spoken to the place where I bought it. Previously I hadn't found them very helpful, but I spoke to someone different this time. They were very sympathetic and asked me to return it to them rather than send it to the Pentax agent again for repair. They will speak to their contacts at Pentax and see what can be done. I'm hoping for a replacement camera as a refund wouldn't enable me to buy a replacement and I would lose out with depreciation on other items if I switch to Nikon, which was my original second choice.

Good to hear DrOrloff.
I hope they can do something for you.

That is good news Adrian, we'll keep our fingers crossed that Pentax replace it with a K7

Well I sent it back to the shop as requested. I didn't hear anything for a few days, so I enquired if they had received it. They confirmed they did. A day after they sent email correspondence with Pentax. The original salesman (not the more sympathetic colleague I had spoken to) wrote to Pentax asking where they should send the camera - directly to Pentax or to the repairers. The reply from Pentax is they would not refund the customer - they made that very clear up front - and that the camera should be sent to the repairers again. So after a week's delay and unnecessary postal costs the camera is back where it spends most of its time.

So we shall see. I'm not particularly optimistic any more. I realise that I have been exceptionally unlucky with this camera. But before buying the camera I phoned a few camera shops in SE Kent where I would have bought it from, but none of them stocked Pentax and a couple of them told me that the reason they no longer did was because of terrible Pentax service. Obviously I hope it turns out favourably but it doesn't look promising and I'm currently wondering why I didn't heed the warnings.

It does seem to be a bit of a trouble in the UK the service, looks like it went down hill very fast when when things changed and Pentax don't have an office in the UK any more.
Luckily in some countries they seem to still provide great service, the one in the UK should learn from this one! link

'Pentax don't have an office in the UK any more'

When did this happen?

It has not link

Ah okay my fault, in the rest of Europe they centralize it. I think the office is now in French and in Germany.

Here just look at this, there is little Pentax in that list http://www.pentax.jp/english/support/repair_entry-europe.html