VW 3 weeks out of warranty - advice please

hethmar

Bought from new in September 2009 VW Golf 1600 TDI. (Our first ever new car). Regular serviced at main dealer. At last service under warranty we mentioned car a bit slow to start up. They said it seemed ok to them. We also mentioned the intermittant middle rear brake light icon kept coming on. They could find no fault they said but replaced the unit.

A few weeks later and glow coil lamp icon came on. OH takes car to main dealer, 2 hours later, they can find no problems with car, no record on computer. Told to take car back in 10 days when they have downloaded new software.

A week later and car is juddering and then goes in limp mode. AA comes out, nothing showing on computer record so follow us home - only about 5 miles luckily. On way back the revs came and went a couple of times.

Ring main dealer again, told to take car back and computer checked. Nothing showing. We are told the mechanic "could smell petrol" in the tank. We insist no petrol, all receipts are diesel. However, told that the fuel pump may have packed up due to contaminated fuel - filling with petrol - and therefore they are talking "thousands" for repairs.

3 weeks later and they ring to say fuel has been analysed and report shows NO contamination and no petrol. This is certainly a great relief to us as we are aware that if they had found petrol we would be liable for damage.

The car has done less than 15k and treated like a baby, so its sickening.

They had said "swarf" was seen in the filter? They are now having that analysed too.

Any suggestions please what may be the prob and how likely VW are to pay out for any faults when the car has done so few miles and only just out of warranty?

Thanks.

Tilt

Don't worry about the warranty too much as you are still covered under the SOGA. They have already confirmed that it is not down to fuel contamination so not sure where their 'swarf' argument will take them.

Sit tight to see what they say. They should rectify at no expense providing that you have had all the required servicing carried out.

If it came to it, a judge would most likely consider that the car was not of satisfactory quality when taking into consideration the low mileage it has done.

Sgt_Pepper_2

For 5k a year did you need a diesel?

Modern diesel with low mileage has engine problems, now there's a surprise

arrowsmith

hethmar wrote: »

Any suggestions please what may be the prob and how likely VW are to pay out for any faults when the car has done so few miles and only just out of warranty?

Sounds like you're having problem with a particulate filter. Diesel cars like this aren't suitable for your low mileage. You'd be much better off with a petrol and it'll save you a considerable amount of money. The car will have rusted away long before you've made any savings due to the higher MPG.

Best advice is to sell it and buy a petrol car. Don't go for a VW one if you want long term reliability.

hethmar

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

For 5k a year did you need a diesel?

Modern diesel with low mileage has engine problems, now there's a surprise

Unfortunately, low mileage due to unexpected serious health problem. Otherwise it would have been doing about 12k a year.

Nevertheless, the car wasnt sold with a proviso on the amount of miles needed to be driven

hethmar

arrowsmith wrote: »

Sounds like you're having problem with a particulate filter. Diesel cars like this aren't suitable for your low mileage. You'd be much better off with a petrol and it'll save you a considerable amount of money. The car will have rusted away long before you've made any savings due to the higher MPG.

Best advice is to sell it and buy a petrol car. Don't go for a VW one if you want long term reliability.

Thanks, we shall probably sell it in the next year as OH has had to take early retirement.

What is a good long term reliable car then please. We had thought this one would see us to our dotage. Always had VWs and never had any probs in the past.

chunkychocky

arrowsmith wrote: »

Don't go for a VW one if you want long term reliability.

Frantically touching wood here but my 11 year old VW Polo TD is going strong. Meanwhile my DHs 6 year old Toyota something or other is back and forth to the garage every few months. I take it from that that VW are actually a more reliable brand long term.

Sgt_Pepper_2

hethmar wrote: »

Unfortunately, low mileage due to unexpected serious health problem. Otherwise it would have been doing about 12k a year.

Nevertheless, the car wasnt sold with a proviso on the amount of miles needed to be driven

It's common knowledge modern diesels shouldn't be used for low mileage and non motorway runs.

hethmar

Shouldnt be used for non motorway runs?

Well, not common knowledge to me or a lot of people I should think - nothing in the glossy brochure about that!

flashg67

Swarf is possibly/likely due to fuel pump break up, which is also a symptom that happens when the car is mis-fuelled.

I'd expect a large VW goodwill contribution with such low miles & dealer service - contact VW yourself if the dealer doesn't come up with this for you

cardinalbiggles

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

It's common knowledge modern diesels shouldn't be used for low mileage and non motorway runs.

What a lot of tosh. Never have I read so much tripe as that statement. Common knowledge in your enclyclopedia of nonsense perhaps.

Low mileage is fine, non-motorway driving is absolutely fine. If it has a DPF it may have requirements for regeneration but these are not as bad as people like to make out, not by a long way.