Mk6 Golf and EGR valve issues

Qedis

Hi all,

here's my experience - firstly, thanks to randomguy82 for starting this discussion.

I have 61 reg Golf Bluemotion, and had this problem start when the car was about 3.5 years old... similar to many others who have posted here. However, I only had 27,000 miles on the clock. Learning from the postings, I contacted Customer Care even before having the problem diagnosed.

The diagnosis confirmed the EGR required replacing, and the initial offer was for me to pay 50% of the labour only, coming up to £412. When I spoke to Customer Care again, I was told a) the problem happens because of the start-stop mechanism, and was likely to occur due to city driving (sic) and b) the part was not faulty given it had been working for over 3 years. I made it clear I would contest any charges, warning I'd raise it with Which magazine (which had this car as a Best Buy and influenced my buying decision), as well as escalate it with VW management. In addition, I know a mechanic who works for VW, who says this problem has been happening a lot, and that I should "take it to the max" when negotiating a cost.

After checking the service history of the car (I had bought it from VW, as well as had it serviced there), I was offered a cost which was equal to the cost of the diagnostic (which I hadn't been charged). I accepted this, as I had already agreed to pay this.

I'm no petrolhead, but there seems to be a design issue here. I will write to Which, and would encourage others to do so aswell.

Qedis

Strider590

Qedis wrote: »

Hi all,

here's my experience - firstly, thanks to randomguy82 for starting this discussion.

I have 61 reg Golf Bluemotion, and had this problem start when the car was about 3.5 years old... similar to many others who have posted here. However, I only had 27,000 miles on the clock. Learning from the postings, I contacted Customer Care even before having the problem diagnosed.

The diagnosis confirmed the EGR required replacing, and the initial offer was for me to pay 50% of the labour only, coming up to £412. When I spoke to Customer Care again, I was told a) the problem happens because of the start-stop mechanism, and was likely to occur due to city driving (sic) and b) the part was not faulty given it had been working for over 3 years. I made it clear I would contest any charges, warning I'd raise it with Which magazine (which had this car as a Best Buy and influenced my buying decision), as well as escalate it with VW management. In addition, I know a mechanic who works for VW, who says this problem has been happening a lot, and that I should "take it to the max" when negotiating a cost.

After checking the service history of the car (I had bought it from VW, as well as had it serviced there), I was offered a cost which was equal to the cost of the diagnostic (which I hadn't been charged). I accepted this, as I had already agreed to pay this.

I'm no petrolhead, but there seems to be a design issue here. I will write to Which, and would encourage others to do so aswell.

Qedis

First of all, Which won't be interested in hearing about their mistakes.

Secondly it's not a design issue, the EGR is doing what it's supposed to do, the problem is that they're destined to fail by their very nature.
There's not one single model of car that I know of, which doesn't suffer issues with it's EGR (where fitted).

EGR recirculates gas from the exhaust, back into the inlet manifold to be reburnt, in order to reduce emissions and meet EU regulations for new cars. It harms the power output, it harms the MPG and actually harms the engine itself. In the UK they can quite safely be removed and blanked off on most models of car.


As I said, they're destined to fail purely because of what they do.

jeallen01

Strider590 wrote: »

First of all, Which won't be interested in hearing about their mistakes.
QUOTE]


In my experience you might be lucky if you even get an acknowledgement of your communication - I complained to them about that a year ago, and they seemed to say that unless a direct question was asked to them then they did not reply (or even acknowledge receipt!

scotthum3

I have 59 reg Golf 1.6 TDI and have recently broken down on the road side due to an engine fault which turned out to be the EGR Valve. Somebody i know told me about this being a known problem and that VW are covering costs for it so this is how I ended up here.

After 2 weeks back and too and waiting on VW customer services and getting the the car towed to a VW dealership I had absolutely no success with any Goodwill. Now being quoted £683 + VAT to fix the job at the VW dealership and £580 incl VAT at Arnold Clark, a Vauxhall Dealership!

The vehicle had full-service history and from 2010 - 2012 had been serviced at a VW dealership . 13/14 it was serviced at a vat registered garage. They did make it clear this is the main reason why I received no good will. However, the reason I don't take it to VW is because of the story's I've heard of them ripping you off and on numerous occasion I've heard that they've tried to create more issues than what it's originally gone in for, that don't necessarily need to be fixed.

So all in all a bit of a failure for me but worth trying if you have a good track record of service history with VW.

It would be interesting to know if anybody received good will and did not have a full VW service history.

Good luck guys.

nervousnovice

If you go back to Dec 2014, you can see that with no service history I got the 50% off deal. No one has convinced me that the way it is serviced has an effect on the EGR. My view remains that it was a faulty part that VW should have put their hands up and recalled the cars with this bit of kit installed.

Definitely the worst car buying decision I have made, and would never again buy a VW.

basicblue2k

I got a P245400 error on my VW Bluemotion 1.6L 2010 Golf as per RAC engineer.

My dashboard had glow plug light come up once or twice.

Now booked for a diagnostics with VW, interestingly two dealerships quoting different prices. one with Beadles - £60/hr and Alan Day £120/hr. The expensive one is available early, I'm going to check with VW service why there is a difference is price!

Also, VW recommends not to drive with dashboard warning lights but their dealerships seem to have no appointments available. So what do they expect us to do? Very frustrated :sad:

What kind of price did you guys pay to get it diagnosed?

Not sure whether I'm going to be also in the same boat of another expensive fix due to EGR Valve..or is it going to be Sensor Replacement.. Hate this VW Diesel Golf now :mad:

Any luck with the Watchdog or Which complaint?

Qedis wrote: »

Hi all,

here's my experience - firstly, thanks to randomguy82 for starting this discussion.

I have 61 reg Golf Bluemotion, and had this problem start when the car was about 3.5 years old... similar to many others who have posted here. However, I only had 27,000 miles on the clock. Learning from the postings, I contacted Customer Care even before having the problem diagnosed.

The diagnosis confirmed the EGR required replacing, and the initial offer was for me to pay 50% of the labour only, coming up to £412. When I spoke to Customer Care again, I was told a) the problem happens because of the start-stop mechanism, and was likely to occur due to city driving (sic) and b) the part was not faulty given it had been working for over 3 years. I made it clear I would contest any charges, warning I'd raise it with Which magazine (which had this car as a Best Buy and influenced my buying decision), as well as escalate it with VW management. In addition, I know a mechanic who works for VW, who says this problem has been happening a lot, and that I should "take it to the max" when negotiating a cost.

After checking the service history of the car (I had bought it from VW, as well as had it serviced there), I was offered a cost which was equal to the cost of the diagnostic (which I hadn't been charged). I accepted this, as I had already agreed to pay this.

I'm no petrolhead, but there seems to be a design issue here. I will write to Which, and would encourage others to do so aswell.

Qedis

CheesieChimp

@basicblue2k - I paid £40 at a VW specialist and £75 at a VW authorised service centre (belongs to one of the VW dealers)

Diagnostic for glowplug light blinking and car going into limp mode

CheesieChimp

Mine is a 2011 1.6 CR-TDI Golf. I'll update this post later with other details about my case.

Thanks to randomguy82 and the others here for highlighting the issue. Had this VW racket come to light a year ago, I would have put my money in a different car.

In my case, the EGR failure is down to electricals / sensors, not clogging of the valve. The details are posted on volkswagenforum (not allowed to post links - look for thread titled "Mk6 TDI - EGR fault error codes - P040700 / P046C00"

The latest offer from VW is 100% part and 50% labour. I have put across the arguments that this is an integral non serviceable part of the car, it's down to electrical fault and such mass failures reflect VW is passing on the cost of its failure to test a new component properly onto its customers.

I am reporting it to Watchdog. I am willing to negotiate further but VW say remaining part is down to the retailer, who are not willing to reduce it further. My car has previous service history from a different retailer at the other end of the country and a VW specialist, not my current local retailer.

Anything else I could try?

Update 10-Aug-2015 2200 BST

Has anyone asked the retailer for the EGR unit that failed when they had the EGR unit replaced? Is the retailer handing it over if you ask for it?

Update 12-Aug-2015 2200 BST

Filed report with Watchdog

basicblue2k

CheesieChimp wrote: »

@basicblue2k - I paid £40 at a VW specialist and £75 at a VW authorised service centre (belongs to one of the VW dealers)

Diagnostic for glowplug light blinking and car going into limp mode

VW Diagnostic Rate charged by Alan Day Hampstead was £150 + DPF Sensor replacement another £150. Total damage to the pocket was roughly £300.

I am really !!!!ed off now with this 2010 VW Golf! Good car but all issues I have faced so far as with DPF which is of no use for me.

I think if so many people are facing issues with 2010 reg we need to do something about it.

The diagnostic price varies so much among dealers and it is so ridiculously expensive..

VW is wrong in many fronts I think I called them to complain that the dealer was not giving me any appointment for 2 weeks and the one which gives me in a couple of days is extorting me, but VW Customer Service says it is helpless and refuses to give me a reference number for the complaint.

Never thought a German company and a German car would lead to such sad state of affairs! Learnt many lessons..:mad:

nsabournemouth

I have a 51 plate VW Golf 1.6 TDI and after having the engine management light come on I took it t oa local VW specilaist and after running a diagnostic he says the EGR cooler needs replacing.

The car has done just over 41k (Nanny car that we took on from her employer) and was advised that the cost will be just shy of £700. The garage also told me that because this is such a common issue local suppliers have stock of the EGR cooler and he can have it delivered in an hour.

The test cost me £75 as the dealer I got it from wanted to charge £102!! When I called them back and advised that I have had the test done and I would like VW to cover the costs I was advised the only way was to get the car in for another diagnostic at a cost of £102.

I told them that I wasn't going to pay them for it and after a little while the dealer got so sick of me they agreed to do it for free so it is going in and after the test it's then a case of dealing with VW customer services.

I'm going to push for 100% costs from them including the original diagnostic. It is 10 months out of warranty and this is nowhere near wear and tear.

The car has been looked after very well and services since purchase with the dealer so there is a record of the car being kept in good order. I doubt that will cut any ice with VW though.

Our previous Golf, 53 plate was a 1.9TDI and was perfect. It had just over 70k on the clock and the only problem was a replacement fuel pump. I told the wife we should keep it, sadly she didnt think it was comfortable enough.

What a mistake.