Wanting to buy an Amarok - dealership issues...

[brad]

Unless you're a mechanic, I believe VW can deny you warranty on the engine if you service it yourself.

Buy yes, I agree, buy it elsewhere and get it serviced by an independent close by.

VW use the term "suitably qualified" which is open to interpretation IMO. Qualifications don't necessarily mean you are competent.

I'm not sure why Kryten would take his car to an Ultra-Tune - they really haven't a clue (generally).

I guess the test is to ask to see there 504.00/507.00 oil - if their eyes spin in opposite directions then walk away.

[Transporter]

They'd need to show how screwing in a filter and putting in some oil caused the problem..... Fair enough if you forget to put a sump plug in, but if your gearbox lets go then it had nothing to do with it..

VW are (apparently) notorious in warranty claims though, so granted it's a fight you'd rather not have.... That being said, it grinds me having to pay crazy money for an oil change and filter (it's 30 mins work, tops) - not to mention the hassle of dropping the car off for the day etc..

Plus I get some form of crazy satisfaction working on my cars.

Unless you're a qualified mechanic, I don't like your chances when making a warranty claim, telling the VW dealer that you've revised your car yourself.

To change the oil and filter may take you only 30minutes, but that's is not what I call a service.

[kryten2001]

Unless you're a qualified mechanic, I don't like your chances when making a warranty claim a telling the VW dealer that you've revised your car yourself.

To change the oil and filter may take you only 30minutes, but that's is not what I call a service.

At the risk of drawing considering criticism here (and I know I will), I still contend that for most people, car servicing is like cooking. Sure you can eat out all you want - but you can also cook yourself and (for the most part) have the same outcome - just so long as you have the tools and you know what you're doing.

Sorry for the thread diversion!....

[brad]

At the risk of drawing considering criticism here (and I know I will), I still contend that for most people, car servicing is like cooking. Sure you can eat out all you want - but you can also cook yourself and (for the most part) have the same outcome - just so long as you have the tools and you know what you're doing.

Sorry for the thread diversion!....

I've had friends who think they know how to work on a car watch me work. They keep asking "what are you doing that for" because while they know the basics, they haven't had the benefit of formal training & assessment of competance; mentoring by some very capable old hands and years & years of experience.

I'm not saying there aren't some extremely talented & gifted self taught mechanics out there but there is a difference between somebody that is formally trained & somebody that isn't.

If you wish to use the cooking analogy, my wife is an excellent cook - gourmet standard. I have a mate that is a very successful, classically trained chef. You can tell the difference between their cooking.

As I said earlier, VW says "work to be carried out by suitably qualified personel. Watching a You Tube video doesn't count as a qualification.

[kryten2001]

I've had friends who think they know how to work on a car watch me work. They keep asking "what are you doing that for" because while they know the basics, they haven't had the benefit of formal training & assessment of competance; mentoring by some very capable old hands and years & years of experience.

I'm not saying there aren't some extremely talented & gifted self taught mechanics out there but there is a difference between somebody that is formally trained & somebody that isn't.

If you wish to use the cooking analogy, my wife is an excellent cook - gourmet standard. I have a mate that is a very successful, classically trained chef. You can tell the difference between their cooking.

As I said earlier, VW says "work to be carried out by suitably qualified personel. Watching a You Tube video doesn't count as a qualification.

I've owned 7 volkswagens over the last 10 or so years, have all the specialised tools and diagnostic software required for most services. Have done most of the servicing myself during that time.

For all the tougher jobs, like timing belts (for older engines) etc, I get my work done by a specialised VW/Audi workshop, but the rest I do myself.. I do know my limits, but basic services are something that anybody could (or rather, should) be able to take on.

Perhaps I underrate my work, but doing a basic service on a VW is really no big deal, you just need to know what order things have to occur in and you need to be clean and meticulous (as any good professionally trained mechanic should be).

The differences in good non-trained vs trained come into play at a much higher level than simple services, in my opinion.

Granted I've stripped/rebuilt engines myself (also self taught), and most people these days are too scared to even change a tyre. I seem to get a strange enjoyment out of working on mechanical things, probably due to being stuck behind a desk all day long.

There's certainly a difference between a great mechanic and a schmuck like me - but I'd also suggest that most dealerships are not filled with great mechanics. I'd also agree that most people don't have the confidence (or inclination) to learn how to perform basic maintenance - which is a shame, and I concur that these people should probably leave it to somebody who knows what they're doing.

[brad]

I think you under-rate your own abilities & don't realise how many f__k-knuckles are out there.

[kryten2001]

I think you under-rate your own abilities & don't realise how many f__k-knuckles are out there.

LOL you might be right brad... Plenty of f-knuckles out there, sadly some of them are 'trained', working in dealerships getting paid to do this work...

Not having a go at dealerships, but I prefer to do what I can myself - and the rest I get a specialist to do... My comments about Ultratune stand, as long as you get a good one - you will be fine. The OP should have nothing to fear getting his Amarok serviced outside of the dealership structure, just so long as he finds a good mechanic.

VW's are great to work on, even if you do scratch your head every now and again at why things are done the way they are... The recent example of plastic oil sumps & drain plugs is a good one, but I'm sure the Germans know what they're doing.

I will say that working on a VW is a joy compared to most japanese cars, at least the ones I've owned - they are generally very service friendly.

[zed]

- but I'd also suggest that most dealerships are not filled with great mechanics. .

I'd agree with that, case in point my leaking wiper washer tank. I took it to VW as it was too tricky and time consuming for me to remove it (had to remove bumper, quarter panel etc). It only leaked when I used it i.e you could fill it up and leave it to sit there and it wouldn't leak indicating it wasn't the tank but perhaps a gasket or pump. So I wrote out in plain English on a piece of A4 what I was experiencing and handed it to them when I dropped it off. Anyway I had it returned a day later with them claiming there was no leak. They obviously hadn't read my wonderfully descriptive essay.. car went back in a week later (each visit involved me dropping it at the dealership then riding 30kms to work on my pushy and 30km back to get car). They had the car for 3 days, said they'd be replacing the tank, plus other parts. They then told me on the Friday they'd ordered the wrong parts. Picked car up again and dropped it back the following Wednesday. Picked it up, was told tank was replaced no leak. Tested it out on the way home and it was still leaking. Involved Service delivery manager and returned car the next Wednesday. This was the only time during the whole month long debacle that they actually attempted to locate the source of the leak as opposed to blindly replacing parts and hoping for the best. They found the leak was coming from the pump, which I initially suspected and detailed in my notes. 4 visits, $550 and a lot of extra bike riding!

[kryten2001]

I'd agree with that, case in point my leaking wiper washer tank. I took it to VW as it was too tricky and time consuming for me to remove it (had to remove bumper, quarter panel etc). It only leaked when I used it i.e you could fill it up and leave it to sit there and it wouldn't leak indicating it wasn't the tank but perhaps a gasket or pump. So I wrote out in plain English on a piece of A4 what I was experiencing and handed it to them when I dropped it off. Anyway I had it returned a day later with them claiming there was no leak. They obviously hadn't read my wonderfully descriptive essay.. car went back in a week later (each visit involved me dropping it at the dealership then riding 30kms to work on my pushy and 30km back to get car). They had the car for 3 days, said they'd be replacing the tank, plus other parts. They then told me on the Friday they'd ordered the wrong parts. Picked car up again and dropped it back the following Wednesday. Picked it up, was told tank was replaced no leak. Tested it out on the way home and it was still leaking. Involved Service delivery manager and returned car the next Wednesday. This was the only time during the whole month long debacle that they actually attempted to locate the source of the leak as opposed to blindly replacing parts and hoping for the best. They found the leak was coming from the pump, which I initially suspected and detailed in my notes. 4 visits, $550 and a lot of extra bike riding!

Speaking of wiper washer pumps, the Amarok has the most powerful wiper washer pump I've ever owned... It must be able to empty the tank in under a minute.. Crazy.... Made to clear baked on mud, obviously. It's louder than the engine when it's doing its thing....