ahhh... bloody VW service stuffed my baby up...

[edstergtsport]

I went into my VW Dealership Service Department today to pickup my 3rd set of Keys today (got the 3rd one thrown in as part of the deal)...
Anyway they told me they had to get all my Keys and Car calibrated which takes about 5 minutes... 45 minutes later... i got my 3rd set of Key and drove it home.
While i was driving i noticed something on my MDF... the section that displays the Kms i've done was different. It displayed the word "SAFE" instead of kms...
and then i tried to goto setup on the MDF nothing happened. I couldn't do anything... not even goto the radio display on the MDF... just displayed "SAFE"
Anyway i went home switch off the engine... put the keys in again turn on the engine (in hoping the MDF would go back to normal)... it didn't... whats worse was the engine got switched on and 2 seconds later the engine STALLED or switch itself off!!! it happened 3 times... and then on the 4th time it did not stall but the MDF was still displaying "SAFE"...
Anyway i took it back to the service department and they check it out for about 30 minutes. Came back told me they don't know why it was like that, and said there must be an error in the computer while they was calibrating the keys... and that i should take my car home and if it stayed like that tomorrow i should take it back and they will check it out...
anyway i don't think its a major issue but just frustrating because my car was perfectly fine before i took it in... and frustrating because i now fear the Service department cuz they must have no knowledge in what they specializing... i fear my 15k service now, lucky i am only on 3k lol.... I mean calibrating the keys shouldn't be all that hard could it? anyway i am gonna take it back tomorrow...

[ozgriff]

Does this sound similar?

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3594034

[pinzvidz]

Ozgriff, that VW Vortex thread is for the stereo... the OP's issue was SAFE displaying in the MFD, which btw sounds like a immobilser ECU problem, considering the dealership had tried programming the additional or third transponder key. I'd say they hadn't programmed the keys correctly. Have you tried the other keys? Usually immobilser ECUs don't allow an engine to fire, just crank and crank. Your prob is slightly different, however. Take it back and rip it up 'em! Some ppl in dealerships just shouldn't be allowed to touch motor vehicles, full stop!

[Jmac]

100% right. Main reason i got out of dealerships otherwise it would drive you mad seeing some of the things that go on. Yes SAFE is Immob related and sound like they havent assigned that key to the vehicle properly. It is a very delicat process doing keys on them now. But i have to ask you who does the quality check nowadays. Bloody shocking that

[ozgriff]

I wasn't saying this was a direct comparison, however some insight into what a 'SAFE' display could mean.

I find it surprising that if it is immobiliser related, that the car would actually run (away from the dealers). Perhaps it is in an 'open mode' and the process wasn't finished properly.

What is worse, the servicing department just wrote it off - and didn't actually know/be bothered to check it out properly.

[edstergtsport]

What is worse, the servicing department just wrote it off - and didn't actually know/be bothered to check it out properly.

Yeah thats the main frustration of it all... i would of thought any type of work they do means they would check make sure everything is working before they hand it back to the customer... I'd hate to think if upgrade someones brakes or suspension system and they do the job without any type of test making sure everything is work normally/correctly, it could be real bad...

[Thomas]

you know when an aircraft mechanic or service centre makes a mistake often the results can be disastarous (Just like Japan Air Flt 123 on TV last night). There the airline (owner of vehicle) goes back and sues the airport or service centre (in this case VW dealership) for the mistake plus various other compensation claims and the service centre often may get stripped of its incense to service further aircraft.

I would love to be able to lead a charge on the VW management team and show them all these poor experiences and ask how they will ensure that this does not happen (to us individually and collectively) in the future.

For people buying new cars, they may be able to use this as a bargaining chip if price is the only concern.

I am getting nervous about my new purchase (to be picked up next week).

[anarchycamp]

I would love to be able to lead a charge on the VW management team and show them all these poor experiences and ask how they will ensure that this does not happen (to us individually and collectively) in the future.

When will you all realise?! VW are selling more cars over here then ever before, they DONT CARE!!!!

It sucks, but its the truth, it may come back to haunt them, it may not, but the people who are running the show will be doing what they do elsewhere in a few years, so they DONT CARE.

[datracer99]

edstergtsport which dealership did this?

[Tim]

yeah shame the dealer! did it start with "S" and end in "outh Yarra"? haha

[ozgriff]

This forum and similar is a way to lead the 'charge' against bad experiences. A record of mistakes and stories that the public can openly view, can be quite strong.

VW would be keeping track of this site, it would be in their best interest.

In saying that, the influx of VW car sales would surely not have helped with experienced mechanics and properly equipped infrastructure, but if you went to a forum for any other car brand - you would get the same experiences.

[Tim]

this is true. One concern is that we will always hear about peoples bad experiences with certain dealers but only rarely hear about the good ones i guess.

[vinderliker]

I have heard tales of a certain dealer that sells Holdens, who will put a screw driver through radiators and say a stone did this and is not under warranty, so the customer is up for big money!

[Mischa]

its a long way to come to chatswood classic cars to get your keys coded

[edstergtsport]

yeah shame the dealer! did it start with "S" and end in "outh Yarra"? haha

nah mine starts with a B ends with "win"