Not Happy Jan!

[Shanrus]

Recently had my MkV Jetta in for it's 120,000 service and the drivers door was requiring two pulls of the handle (both inside and out) to open. I asked for the service guys to have a look and at the end of the day, they told me that the whole mechanism required replacing and was going to cost me $630!

I obviously told them to get stuffed and took the car home. After adjusting the door handle cable, what do you know, the door is magically repaired. Took 5 minutes and saved me all that cash!

The same service guy told me that (after finally confirming my car has a timing chain vice belt) after they wanted to charge me for a belt replacement, that the timing chain never needs replacing. I then quickly told him that they normally get replaced at 200,00km. He smugly told me that this was only a 'recommendation'. Can you believe that?!

Needless to say, I will not be returning to this dealers service centre again, they've done their dash with me.

[Martin]

They must be making a killing - shocker

[Splashalot]

......

The same service guy told me that (after finally confirming my car has a timing chain vice belt) after they wanted to charge me for a belt replacement, that the timing chain never needs replacing. ......:

???? I'm confused by this ^. Your Jetta runs a timing chain? I thought the 147kw TFSI engines were all belt driven. The one in my Mk5 GTI certainly is.

[JustCruisn]

Wow you need to find a mechanic who knows these cars better.
My Jetta has a belt but is 2006 model so unless they changed it in 2010 I dunno.

The door locks in VWs are all **** and will die on you. I had one done a while back, cause I was just too busy to do it myself I had my VW specialist do it. $350 for the part and a $150 labour I think it was. The outer door skin comes off and the whole unit is replaced.
So $630 is getting to the rip off level I think.

If you want your car to be reliable those recommendations are sometimes a good thing. Sealed for life gearboxes for example now have a recommended 60,000km oil change.

[VW Convert]

???? I'm confused by this ^. Your Jetta runs a timing chain? I thought the 147kw TFSI engines were all belt driven. The one in my Mk5 GTI certainly is.

Somewhere around 2010, VW updated from the 147TFSI engine (EA113 family) to the 147TSI engine (EA888 family). EA113 has a timing belt, EA888 has a chain.

Cheers

George

[sports racer]

The outer door skin comes off and the whole unit is replaced.

It's times like this that I'm glad I have a MK1.

[Shanrus]

George is correct, I have the EA888 engine, so it comes with the timing chain vice belt. As for the door locks, yes I know it's one of those things that seem to 'go' in a lot of Mk5's, so I will have to wait and see (fingers x!). When it comes to my car, I've always had it serviced on time (at VW but not anymore), and what has needed to be done has been done. I am a firm believer in looking after my property with 'kid gloves'. Now, I have to get the front pads and rotors replaced, so more cash outta my wallet....... LOL

[Splashalot]

Somewhere around 2010, VW updated from the 147TFSI engine (EA113 family) to the 147TSI engine (EA888 family). EA113 has a timing belt, EA888 has a chain.

Cheers

George

Thanks George (and Shanrus). So the Mk5 Jetta had a longer lifespan than the Golf (2010 Golf was mk6), but picked up the mk6's engine?

I've learnt something today!

[Shanrus]

Splashalot, that's correct. The Jetta didn't have a Mk6 (went straight to Mk7) unlike the Golf. At the end of the Mk5 production run, the Mk6 engines from the Golf went into the Mk5's, so with my car, I have essentially a Mk6 GTI engine in it (prior to a Stage 1 APR mod of course). The worst thing about my car is that it didn't come with Bluetooth but the steering wheel has the buttons.