Replacement engine failed after 4 years (VW).

christian76

Hello all,

My car had an engine replacement after a fault occurred within two weeks of a service in (mid May - early June 2016). They offered me the engine at no cost, but I contributed about £400 - £500 towards the work/labour only. It was, however, during the VW emissions scandal and although it was not explained, I feel this may have been a goodwill gesture due their circumstances at the time.

The car has been regularly serviced at the same VW approved garage before and since this repair, but the engine has now developed a similar problem (27th May) and I fear the same outcome.

Where do I stand (legally) should they come back to me with the same diagnosis?

Note: I have not driven the car since the problem developed and it was booked in for service/MOT during the 'lockdown' (1st May). This was cancelled as the garage had to close.

Thoughts and advice a very welcome.

Christian

Car_54

You haven't said so, but I assume the 2016 replacement was under the vehicle warranty? That will now have expired.

What do you mean by "VW approved"? If it's a franchised dealer you may have a chance of some sort of goodwill gesture from VW.

christian76

The 2016 repair was not completed under any warranty I am aware of, although on the service invoice for the repair, it states (under the category 'Contributions'), 'Warranty workshop VW has contributed £***.** towards this repair'.
The 'VW approved' garage I use is Winchester Motor Co. (Skoda/VW).

Thoughts?

AdrianC

A bit more detail would help.

An issue caused by a mistake during a service a fortnight earlier is very unlikely to still be linked to that service after recurring four years (and how many miles?) later.

The emissions recall was in full flow in summer 2016, and only required a software change and one or two minor components. Changing an engine would not make the slightest difference.

chrisw

As you made a contribution to the cost of the new engine, you would have had12 months warranty on the replacement engine. Unfortunately that's long since expired. You can try asking for another goodwill gesture on the basis that its been serviced exclusively by a VW garage and should be expected to last longer than it has.

noclaf

Which engine is this out of interest, a diesel tdi or petrol TSI variant by any chance?

fred246

Sounds like the garage has messed your car up and you will pay the bill for it. They obviously wrecked engine one. Probably forgot to put oil in. Second engine you've no idea where they got it from.

christian76

AdrianC said:

A bit more detail would help.

An issue caused by a mistake during a service a fortnight earlier is very unlikely to still be linked to that service after recurring four years (and how many miles?) later.

The emissions recall was in full flow in summer 2016, and only required a software change and one or two minor components. Changing an engine would not make the slightest difference.

Hi,

The VW emissions scandal may not be relevant and I am not claiming that the engine fault was in relation to this, only sharing the opinion that VW were (let's say) 'under pressure' at that time - that is all.

What I am trying to ascertain, is whether it is reasonable for a new engine to last only 4 years (with the consideration the same VW approved/authorised garage has completed regular maintenance/servicng on the vehicle before and since). Based on information I have gathered elsewhere, the type of engine in my car seems to have had known issue from production. When that issue occurred (in 2016) , should I expect the replacement engine to not develop the same issue again, or at least last longer with the aforementioned service history?

The seemingly goodwill applied in 2016 may of course have been a one-off.

Thoughts?

christian76

noclaf said:

Which engine is this out of interest, a diesel tdi or petrol TSI variant by any chance?

1.4 TSi (GT version with 160bhp).

fred246

Replacement engines are normally not new engines. They are second hand from accident damaged or scrapped cars.

christian76

fred246 said:

Sounds like the garage has messed your car up and you will pay the bill for it. They obviously wrecked engine one. Probably forgot to put oil in. Second engine you've no idea where they got it from.

If the same problem has occurred, I will not be paying for a repair. If I have no recourse or cannot negotiate a compromise, I will buy a new car.