Golf 118 TSI Engine Failures and Service Campaign 24S4

[Stoney!]

Well 14 months and 27,000 k's since the engine was replaced and software was updated it has gone and **** itself again! This time without warning from
The vibration on idle I got last time, just went while I was driving. Same problem though. Loss of compression in cylinder 3. I only ever feed the car 98 and funnily enough while the first engine lasting 18,000k's was mainly short driving, barely warming up. This engine has mainly been long haul highway driving.

Many others had two engines replaced?

Stoney!

So after getting my engine replaced after the above post and being told the problem is definitely fixed this time I think I can relax.
... Wrong! Went for a drive yesterday and I noticed my clutch starting the shudder (with 53,000 and coming up to 10,000 on the new engine). Booked it in at bill buckle for next Tuesday and decided to take it to my local mechanics.

Upon inspection he found noise in the clutch release mechanism claiming it is not lubricated properly and that it could be from when the engine was replaced and would be causing it to shudder. To add insult to injury he told me my main seal is leaking oil and so is my timing cover? Seal and that I should take it back to them quick smart.

He also said if its already leaking this early in the engines life he would place money on their being lateral movement in the crank shaft which would also cause a shudder of types on take off.

I then took him out to show him a noise that comes from the car when accelerating hard in first and second that only this engine has ever made and has done so since new, I at first though it was an exhaust issue, then I tout it was a supercharger issue. The noise comes from the left of the car and sounds sort of like thin metal snapping sound??? Lol. He then told me the engine was pining... (FFS!) only ever ran 98 octane and has always done it.

Not looking forward to Tuesday.......

[TheGee]

Hi Dubbers
Got the DSG recall flash done a few weeks back, shudder came after a week...
First noticed shudder at 7000 Kms just done 12000 Kms
I spoke to the Essedon service centre and they have ordered a clutch kit. It goes in next month so I get their their car for the day.
There seems to have been a new clutch kit released by some of the chatter on the forums.
How do I know if it is the new one?
Does anyone one know if the Audi centre in Melbourne do recall work in VWs?
I'll post an update after it done.

[VeeDub23]

Hi all

Just interested to know, for those that have had engines replaced, how did you go about maintaining the service schedule?
Did you still run according to the odometer or did you go by the kms on new engine?

My engine was replaced Nov last year at 22000kms. Car currently at 26500kms and due for 36 month service.

[hogs]

hi all,
unfortunately had the engine warning light on with increased vibration and power reduction over the wkend just passed and was told by dealer service that the 4th cynlinder has low compression and awaiting VW australia for further instrctions. reading thru the posts, looks like the fate will be engine replacement and i would appreciate for people who had the same experience to enlighten and point out areas to pay special attention or how to negociate for a better outcome as the golf has been a beloved car since purchase.

cheers

[rockDAhouse]

hi all,
unfortunately had the engine warning light on with increased vibration and power reduction over the wkend just passed and was told by dealer service that the 4th cynlinder has low compression and awaiting VW australia for further instrctions. reading thru the posts, looks like the fate will be engine replacement and i would appreciate for people who had the same experience to enlighten and point out areas to pay special attention or how to negociate for a better outcome as the golf has been a beloved car since purchase.

cheers

hey bro, my car was toll in yday to dealership. I have engine warning light on, vibration and power reduction, can only go to 40km and then drop straight back to zero. also loud clunking noise from dsg as dsg not changing gear.... might be different problem but who knows.

[hogs]

Got the car back after replacing the base engine. Was told 2 yrs warranty on the new engine but nothing written down apart from a service report. Should I ask for something written down?

[logger]

No need. It will be recorded in VWs system so they know exactly when it was replaced. New engine will have same serial number electronically as old one. Keep the service report as your record (and to show anyone who may specifically ask when you eventually sell the car). No need for record of it in the logbook, the same as when you change another spare part like a rear vision mirror for instance.

[cme2c]

hey bro, my car was toll in yday to dealership. I have engine warning light on, vibration and power reduction, can only go to 40km and then drop straight back to zero. also loud clunking noise from dsg as dsg not changing gear.... might be different problem but who knows.

I have started another thread about this. Basically, the engine goes into limp mode which limits revs to 3000 or so. The DSG doesn't know this, so tries to hang on to a lower gear as the engine quits. Tiptronic helps

[Ryan_R]

Don't know why people are getting anywhere near 3,000 rpm in limp mode anyway, the car is always upshifting early and if you're going to try and drive quickly while your dash is lit up with errors then there's something a bit more wrong than the communication between ECU and DSG.

[cme2c]

Don't know why people are getting anywhere near 3,000 rpm in limp mode anyway, the car is always upshifting early and if you're going to try and drive quickly while your dash is lit up with errors then there's something a bit more wrong than the communication between ECU and DSG.

The DSG will let it rev to 3000. Surprised me too. And the only error I got was an intermittent engine fail light, no warnings on the MFC. The engine would stay in limp mode even when the ECU light was out. Weird. AND I had the dealers go ahead to drive it like that. The error logged was supercharger bypass flap.

[JonoB]

My car is buggered.

I have a Jan 2010 (manufactured late 2009) Golf 118TSI DSG. Its done 31,000km, and on Wednesday, it started shuddering badly before the engine warning light and the exhaust warning light came on, and then the damn engine went into limp mode.

The roadside assistance guy diagnosed a problem with the coil on the tower on cylinder 3... something that was causing a short ?

Today the VW dealership told me the engine needs to be rebuilt and my car will be out of action for 2 weeks !

Not happy at all. Will definitely be taking this up with VW Australia.

[logger]

My car is buggered.

.... car will be out of action for 2 weeks !

Not happy at all. Will definitely be taking this up with VW Australia.

That's annoying for you. Don't be too concerned - VW will look after you. If you cant get a loaner from the dealer VW Aust can organise a rental car for you. So you should have wheels. I'd be interesting to see if your dealer actually rebuilds it. I would of thought a replacement engine might be more likely. You may come out of this better off in the long run.

[Stelex]

My car is buggered.

...

Not happy at all. Will definitely be taking this up with VW Australia.

I feel your pain, brother. As for VW Australia - if you want to hear something like "Ooooh, sorry, but we'll fix it for you under warranty, have a good day" then surely call them. But I'd say - don't bother.

Why? This is why:

Buckle-up!

I have a 2009 118 TSI with DSG with:

- Replaced waterpump at 10.000km
- Replaced starter solenoid at 12.000km
- Replaced engine at 15,000km
- Replaced air/con valve
- Replaced air con flap
- Regassed air con about 5 times so far
- DSG software reloaded at 31 and 35,000 km
- Replaced DSG clutch pack at 45,000
- Replaced DSG mechatronics at 51,000km
- Replaced DSG clutch pack at 59.000 km ( yes, yet again)
- Currently 69,000 and the air con is not cooling again, will regas at 75,000km service

(* mileage is out of my head, may vary a couple of thousand km up or down. The engine was replaced on 15.000 dead)

I contacted VW Australia and I was very, very, very, veeeeeery nice. Nicest I've been in my entire life. I've complained about the quality of the vehicle, inconvenience, past warranty fault likelihood and asked for complimentary extended warranty and was told:

We acknowledge that you have had several concerns, all of which have been covered by the Volkswagen New Vehicle Warranty. As previously stated, Volkswagen Genuine Parts Warranty is also applicable in this instance which will cover you past the Volkswagen New Vehicle Warranty Policy.

We recognise the fact that any repair during the ownership of a motor vehicle are unwelcome and we apologise for the inconvenience that this has caused you; however we are unable to offer any assistance outside the terms of the warranty and cannot meet your demand in this instance.

Basically, we sold you some lemon, we'll keep plugging it until it goes out of warranty, and after that eat ****, Sir!

BTW, the girl from customer care who emailed me this forgot to change fonts, so the details she keyed in manually were in one font, the rest was template, in another font. Epic fail! I was pissing myself when I saw it. That was the only moment I ever smiled with VW, except the delivery day.

I also contacted the VW Australia Customer Care Manager only to be told the same.

I then contacted ACCC and Office of Fair Trading in QLD, they both explained me how to go from here. I had a very lengthy discussion with a lawyer who specialises in these matters and who is a very close friend of mine. She explained me how things work in reality and that I have good chances of getting a replacement vehicle, but I need to be prepared to waste many, many months, probably years of my time and start auctioning my house as I'll need a lot of money to fight the corporate machine.

So in the end I have made the decision not to waste my time and effort, aaaaand money, rather see my lease out and sell the car and never bother with VW again.

I work and socialise in circles where many people ask/talk about new cars and I'm being asked very frequently for my opinion on VW.

So far, following my advice at least 8 (that I know of) people, who were very keen on getting a Golf, have purchased a different car make, and only one went for VW Golf. Less than a year into her ownership she came fuming to work, her engine died at 29,000 km - LOL

In the end, instead of looking after their own customer and spending $2,000 on the extended warranty, VW have lost at least 8 new car sales, you do the maths. Brilliant. They wouldn't even need to spend the money, all it takes is a commitment to fix the car if it breaks again.

The only bright point in the whole saga was actually the dealership where I bought the car. They listened and appealed with VWA (to no avail) but provided me with about the half price extended warranty. I had to get it as I don't dare driving this piece of junk for one day without a warranty. My lease is 4 years, so have to cover my butt ... errr ... my wallet.

Please don't ask me about any details (contacts and dealerships), once my lease is up and the car is sold I'll be publishing my complete experience, all fault details and all unedited communication with VW here and on some other automotive websites.

[JonoB]

I found out more today. They pulled the engine out to strip it down.
The piston on cylinder 3 is damaged. On Monday they need to check the bore. If not damaged, then they only replace the piston.
If the bore isn't serviceable, then I'll get a new engine.

[JonoB]

Thats some tragic story there Stelex... sounds like a lot of pain. I'm already thinking of selling this Golf while its still under warranty.

After this saga, I'm already dreaming of a dull, reliable Toyota which only spends a day every 6 months in the garage getting serviced, for years of reliable stress free ownership.