Golf 118 TSI Engine Failures and Service Campaign 24S4

[Umai Naa!!]

Not entirely true.

Dealers buy from wreckers all the time. They'll still turn a profit on the parts and labour. Warranty on the part is whatever is offered by the wrecker, and the workmanship will come with a guarantee.

[blower]

Not entirely true.

Dealers buy from wreckers all the time. They'll still turn a profit on the parts and labour. Warranty on the part is whatever is offered by the wrecker, and the workmanship will come with a guarantee.

I know here in the UK at least, all VW dealerships will never use second hand parts or non genuine parts - all parts must come from VW parts department.

The other thing VW dealership mechanics don't do, is what most mechanics can and would do. VW dealerships for instance can never rebore a cylinder block, they not allowed to send it off somewhere to be rebored. If the cylinder is damaged their only course of action is replace the engine - which is why they say you must have a new engine.

Even if they could send it off to be rebored that means a slightly bigger piston will be needed - which VW don't sell, and again they cant get third party as its not permitted.

The overwhelming majority don't even have the equipment for or even know how to do, some basic diagnostic techniques.

For example as the VW official workshop guides make no mention how to test for vacuum leaks with a smoke leak detector, and VW tools department don't sell a smoke vacuum leak detector, then they don't do this if you come in with symptoms of a vacuum leak. They basically plug it in and then follow some donkey fault finding procedure based on an error code and what their guided fault finding says to do.

If computer says everything ok then they say its all in your head and no fault. Despite you having a vacuum hose with a giant split in it, that was not enough to trigger a logged fault code, but enough to cause driveability issues.

This is how it works in dealerships.

On the other side of the coin, you have non dealerships who may have these basic diagnostic techniques but no access to the workshop guides or parts database - so now they don't know the correct way to disassemble or assemble something, or realise that a part has been superseded. They commonly break things as they dismantle stuff or put things back together incorrectly for them to fail sometime later (like leaking water pumps on GTI's or bolts not torqued in correct sequence, or certain parts put on the incorrect way round when its hard to tell etc)

I've also seen many non VW guides with all the wrong torque specs for things - a good one is axle bolts for this. There's 3 types of axle bolts out there and each one is torqued in a different way...yet many guides have only info for 1 or maybe 2 types and you end up over or under torqueing the bolt - a dangerous situation that I have seen lead to the bolt coming loose whilst driving or snapping sometime later.

Welcome to the wonderful world of car repair - since dealerships have locked down all their information many years ago, this is what you get....you get shafted by the dealership who don't have basic diagnostic or component level repair capability or shafted by the indie guys who just doesn't have all the required info to do the job properly.

One things for sure - you are getting shafted!.....unless you do what I did and become your own mechanic, buy tonnes of equipment, study all the in's and outs from a mechanics and engineering perspective. Then rip off all the VW software so you have the parts database and workshop guides to be able to do jobs properly

[Intensive]

Very sad to see this forum is still going. I was "fortunate" enough to get two new engines and a new DSG under warranty. Basically the 2009/10 build 118tsi engines were lemons. A number of us approached laywers in 2011 ; however lets say the balance between success and degree of compensation didn't spark enough interest.
These engines have failed worldwide but principally in hot climates including the Middle East, Portugal and of course Australia. Regrettably the chance of VW repairing any more of these cars at no or reduced cost is eight years after release is extremely low. Yes you can agitate but in the end how much of your time effort and indeed money are you prepared to invest in a car whose resale value is less now than 10k?

Drive the bloody thing until it dies ( I couldn't trade it knowing how unreliable it was and it's history), scrap it and move on!

Thats what I did and I feel so much better!

[night_flight]

is this campaign related to a potentially faulty tensioner? or is it something else...

[Umai Naa!!]

Uncontrolled combustion due to incorrect air/fuel ratios, or incorrect fuel used (I.e. not using 98RON).

[church]

Hey all, another one to add to this long list. It is a 2010 with just over 100,000kms on the clock. At VW at the moment, where they are requesting over $1K to strip the engine. Torn about what to do as good will is not guaranteed. Phoned VW Australia who couldn't comment on whether paying $1K would be wasting my time. Car was serviced by VW for the first three services. The other two were an independent who I spoke to and has suggested that they used the correct specification of oil/parts. No receipts so can't confirm. Very disappointing start to the year.

[tigger73]

$1k at the dealer is $1k wasted that could have been used on a repair elsewhere.

Volkswagen isn't going to pay out on a 7 year old car with an incomplete service history. They're looking for any reason not to pay a cent these days as they're flat broke paying for dieselgate.

Also the dealers tend to be going down the path of total engine replacement (brand new crate engine), whereas most independents are often able to rebuild your engine even if they have to re-bore the cylinders.

Just read the last 6 months of this thread and you'll find how many people have had their claims rejected. Goodwill warranty is a thing of the past and you have to be willing to take VW to court to get any money out of them. Unfortunately that's the way it is.

[redhot]

Hey all, another one to add to this long list. It is a 2010 with just over 100,000kms on the clock. At VW at the moment, where they are requesting over $1K to strip the engine. Torn about what to do as good will is not guaranteed. Phoned VW Australia who couldn't comment on whether paying $1K would be wasting my time. Car was serviced by VW for the first three services. The other two were an independent who I spoke to and has suggested that they used the correct specification of oil/parts. No receipts so can't confirm. Very disappointing start to the year.

Recently had a clutch replaced (DSG). 2009 Golf 80,000 klms......original owner........dealer service from new. Following initial refusal by VW Oz to dealer, I emailed Michael Bartsch (CEO) and Jason Bradshaw (Customer Experience Director) briefly/concisely outlining relevant details.I was immediately contacted by phone by VW Oz and informed repair will be free of charge. Additionally, a voucher for a free annual service. I am not suggesting this is usual, but it surely suggests an email to the above is worth a try.

N.B. A friend has had a complete engine rebuild ('09 Jetta 118TSI) where VW Oz supplied all parts. Required to pay labor only. VW Oz ALWAYS states that all responses are on a "case by case" basis.

[GeovRS]

Hey all, another one to add to this long list. It is a 2010 with just over 100,000kms on the clock. At VW at the moment, where they are requesting over $1K to strip the engine. Torn about what to do as good will is not guaranteed. Phoned VW Australia who couldn't comment on whether paying $1K would be wasting my time. Car was serviced by VW for the first three services. The other two were an independent who I spoke to and has suggested that they used the correct specification of oil/parts. No receipts so can't confirm. Very disappointing start to the year.

Hello,

Few months ago, I was in the same situation with my 2010 Octavia vRS 147 TSi (110000km). Had a blown up Engine and dealership was asking for $1000 to diagnosis the issue (was $1450 initially). Eventually I ended up writing to the MD of Skoda Australia and the next day I have received a call from customer support and offered 50% of the diagnosis cost. (So I have to commit that I will pay $500 to the dealer if VW rejects the goodwill claim) Also the person from the customer support confirmed that she will look after my case till the end. Later the dealership has completed the diagnosis and claimed the goodwill. Around this time I have also asked for a loan car and received one from the dealer. Finally Skoda Aus offered me 100% cost of the replacement parts (that is a brand new engine, some hardwares and the fluids) and 70% costs of the labour. Which is $450 out of my pocket. Since the company accepted the claim I didn't have to pay the diagnosis cost I have committed before.


So I would strongly recommend to have a try if you have some time and you can manage with out the car. It took about 3 months + to get the car back. (After 2 months only I got the loan car). All the best!!!

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

[Bellehyl87]

Recently had a clutch replaced (DSG). 2009 Golf 80,000 klms......original owner........dealer service from new. Following initial refusal by VW Oz to dealer, I emailed Michael Bartsch (CEO) and Jason Bradshaw (Customer Experience Director) briefly/concisely outlining relevant details.I was immediately contacted by phone by VW Oz and informed repair will be free of charge. Additionally, a voucher for a free annual service. I am not suggesting this is usual, but it surely suggests an email to the above is worth a try.

N.B. A friend has had a complete engine rebuild ('09 Jetta 118TSI) where VW Oz supplied all parts. Required to pay labor only. VW Oz ALWAYS states that all responses are on a "case by case" basis.

Hi redhot,

Just wondering if you could provide the email so I can contact them. I have not been able to find it online anywhere?

Thank you.

[church]

Thanks to the guys above for your experiences with this situation. I haven't yet given any approval to go ahead with stripping the engine as I wanted the weekend to think about it, and I am thinking along the same lines as what you have done and that is to put my case forward before they strip the engine. It is apparent that everyone involved knows about this issue and what is required to fix this issue, yet nobody is willing to admit it as that would be accepting responsibility. I will keep everyone updated with progress.

In terms of other avenues, I got in touch with a VW specialist who quoted about $4K to install new pistons (non VW) or labour to swap an engine ($1.5k) and I would have to source a used engine which could be another $2-3K and no warranty on that.

[redhot]

Hi redhot,

Just wondering if you could provide the email so I can contact them. I have not been able to find it online anywhere?

Thank you.

I took a guess at the email addresses and got lucky. Also, I initially used Customer Assist. Hopeless. No mechanical knowledge. Worth mentioning you are aware of the world-wide scale of the 1.4 twincharger problems. Obviously important you are the original owner and car has been serviced by VW.
......................michael.bartsch@volkswagen.c om.au
......................jason.bradshaw@volkswagen.co m.au
The email will be received by the respective secretary/assistant, so you may be contacted by phone initially. Pays to be courteous.......but forceful. Good luck.

[Bellehyl87]

I took a guess at the email addresses and got lucky. Also, I initially used Customer Assist. Hopeless. No mechanical knowledge. Worth mentioning you are aware of the world-wide scale of the 1.4 twincharger problems. Obviously important you are the original owner and car has been serviced by VW.
......................michael.bartsch@volkswagen.c om.au
......................jason.bradshaw@volkswagen.co m.au
The email will be received by the respective secretary/assistant, so you may be contacted by phone initially. Pays to be courteous.......but forceful. Good luck.

Thank you for that. Hopefully it will be a positive outcome!

[ExplosivePeacock]

My 2009 golf had the timing chain rattle, it is at the shop being fixed atm,
Is it worth keeping the car once fixed or should I sell it.
???
I'm worried the engine might develop issues in the future as it is known to be problematic.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[icourbet]

Exactly the same thing happened to me over Christmas, same prognosis and same result from VW.

Trawling through forums on this issue it is unbelievable how long this issue has existed, how many people have posted and how little response from VW. For superior German engineering, it really stinks. and yes I loved my Golf until a month ago too. Now I wouldn't recommend them nor buy another.