Passat 125TDI Please Help!

[Lams]

let's hope this injector fixes it. I suppose you could have it a whole lot worse at the moment... eg a Rocky house owner...

[antone_86]

Indeed Lams - got a lot of mates in Rocky and Emerald... doing it tought at the moment - did some disaster relief work in Emerald last week and things were looking bad for many people - one friend lost house and all... but his kids and wife and dog are all safe and sound, sort of puts things into perspective eh?

[passatpout]

My eldest brother is in Emerald.. Stayed dry, but had his boat on his front lawn tied to the verandah post, ready to go... Lot luckier than others...

[Transporter]

Okay - so a quick report on where things are at!

VW Rockhampton, currently underwater I suppose, tested a few things out and carried out a bit of work.

Initially they changed out the fuel filter and cleaned the fuel lines which did not resolve the issues. They also drained the tank and tested the fuel. Results of this: fuel filter quite dirty, fuel not the best quality - a lot of dirty diesel around up north apparently. So all cleaned out and replaced - no resolution of the vehicle though.

Then VW started heavier diagnostics - they got in touch with VW Tech who advised them of further tests they wanted carried out and the test, send results, recieve more tests based on results sent etc. tag game ensued.

Finally they have decided that the follow work needs to be carried out - 1. Remove and replace injector wiring loom, 2. remove and replace injector #1. All up around $4000- worth of work.

Thankfully, given the car was only just out of warranty, time wise and km wise and had a full log book service history, VW Australia has decided to come to the party and has stated that they will pay for all of the repairs.

Lesson to be learnt here I feel - TAKE YOUR CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP!

1. There's no way Joe Blogs Automotive (JBA) could have diagnosed this...
2. There's no way JBA would have paid for it...
3. There's no way I'd trust / feel confident with JBA carrying out these repairs without VW Tech Assist back up...

So let's hope that these repairs fully deal with the issues and get the car back on the road again.

Thanks to Rockhampton Prestige VW for all their help and work so far and for the positive result achieved with VW goodwill, and thanks to VW Australia for backing up their product.

Let ya'll know how things get on!

1. I would be out of the business if it took me a one month or more to properly diagnose and repair your car. (you still don't have it back from the dealer, is that right?) the diesel mechanic with 1/2 the brain and VCDS cable, or car enthusiast reading this forum would diagnose it faster and repair it faster/cheaper.
2. You're right, why would I or any mechanical workshop pay for VW mishaps?
3. That's you're option.

Best of luck!

[OilBurna]

Good luck hope you get it back soon

[antone_86]

1. I would be out of the business if it took me a one month or more to properly diagnose and repair your car. (you still don't have it back from the dealer, is that right?) the diesel mechanic with 1/2 the brain and VCDS cable, or car enthusiast reading this forum would diagnose it faster and repair it faster/cheaper.
2. You're right, why would I or any mechanical workshop pay for VW mishaps?
3. That's you're option.

Best of luck!

Transporter:

In reply to your comments above:
1. The timeframe you suggest is correct, and it may be longer before I receive it back... firstly could I remind you of this?

It's a little hard for a) parts to get into town, b) mechanics and other staff to get into town, c) people to be running at 100% when their homes are underwater et al. The parts were due in Australia on 31st of December; there's no way they're getting to rocky for at least another week. That photo is of the roundabout that you turn left at to go to Emerald, and right to go to Rocky / Mackay... there's 1.6m of water around it! In response to your comment regarding the VCDS cable - yes, this is true - assuming that their codes are up to date. It happens regularly that codes are not read correctly and you end up fixing more than you need to, costing you more in the end. Also, if JBA breaks your car good luck getting them to pay for it - VW has factory backup, which means capital.
2. Thank you, logically you are correct as am I...
3. Having a cousin who was the head Diesel Technician for Mercedes Benz Australia for over a decade I appreciate the value of thorough technical assistance and backup. You cannot beat product exposure and information when dealing with modern cars. When you take a car to someone who has seen them before they know what they're dealing with, having the Tech assist in addition to this can be very beneficial, especially if things become highly technical as they tend to with modern Euro-Diesels.

Each to their own though!

Thanks Oilburna - I'll keep you posted mate.

Nothing is getting through to Rocky yet... could be worse - my house is still intact and dry and the family farm in Grantham is A-OK also.

Tony.

[Transporter]

Yeah, I feel sorry for people in flood affected areas.

But, mate lets be honest about it, your car is with the dealer for more than a months now and you started to have the problems more than 2 months ago. It should be fixed before the floods came .

To diagnose the fault you have, shouldn't take a month, since it is a common fault and your technician most likely didn't bothered to read the TSB's.

Regarding the parts availability; I owned MB Vito 10 years ago and was requiring the gear shifter cable that was not available in the country (van less than 12 months old). MB Australia managed to send me the part in the same week from overseas, delivered to my door, I fitted myself, drooped the broken shifter cable back to the dealer. My point is that they could fly the parts from anywhere in the world overnight and dealership would have it within 3-4 days or 1 week, if they wanted to.

Sorry mate but, it is thumb down to your dealer, from me.

But hey, lets just hope they fix it for you ASAP.

[Greg Roles]

Take the car where you want guys, after all, it's your car!

Everyone seems to have forgotten about Rockie now the capital is underwater ( in typical fashion ), hope you guys up there get a break soon!!

[antone_86]

Is it time to buy a Falcon / Commodore? Perhaps...

So a little update on the ongoing saga...

Got the car back Saturday 22/01/10. Engine cover missing, service booklet missing... wow. Couldn't complain too much, wasn't paying for it, items are on their way in the post with the paperwork.

Apparently work completed included replacement of No. 2 injector, wiring harness, cleaning/servicing of all injectors and fuel lines, replacement of fuel filter etc. I was going to post an update here when all my paperwork arrived with the specifics but it hasn't yet.

Younger brother's birthday on the weekend just gone, headed to the Sunshine Coast. Got all the way there, drove all weekend etc. On the way home, again, the piece of 'insert rude word here' carked it again same conditions, same symptoms so I am assuming it is ANOTHER injector... This time 10km north of Gin Gin... so now the car is in Bundaberg, I am in Gladstone again and the fun starts all over...

Can anyone please help a guy who's getting kicked whilst he's down and give me some opinions on the following?

1) Do you think VW will reopen the goodwill case because this all happened only 1 week and less than a tank of fuel after I got the car back? If so, will they go for all 4 injectors? It would appear logical and the parts guy I am dealing with from the Bundy service dept. says 'that's what we usually do'...?
2) I've read elsewhere on the forums that the new injectors are a newer model that dont have the same design fault as the old ones - is this true? Has anyone had all 4 replaced and done some serious miles hasslefree?
3) Is it sensible keeping this car once it is repaired given my relative isolation from VW? (I am only 24 and respect those with greater life experience than myself and their opinions!) As we know the injectors have a 2 year parts and labour warranty...

Really starting to be at my wits end with this car... it's upsetting and frustrating enough to have it happen once but again, after having it for one week...

[antone_86]

*In relation to Q2 (above) I've also read that they are a refurbished unit / exchange unit? Clarification?

[vwrallycar]

Hi sorry to hear about your problems. I havent had any problems with mine, yet, but i thought they would have replaced all 4 injectors. I sold a very new Falcon to buy my Passat, and after all the stuff im reading im thinking of going back to one. Even my 13 year old Falcon i currently have has been a very reliable car, not perfect but very good none the less.
So surely the will replace all injectors this time.

[Transporter]

So a little update on the ongoing saga...

Got the car back Saturday 22/01/10. Engine cover missing, service booklet missing... wow. Couldn't complain too much, wasn't paying for it, items are on their way in the post with the paperwork.

Apparently work completed included replacement of No. 2 injector, wiring harness, cleaning/servicing of all injectors and fuel lines, replacement of fuel filter etc. I was going to post an update here when all my paperwork arrived with the specifics but it hasn't yet.

Younger brother's birthday on the weekend just gone, headed to the Sunshine Coast. Got all the way there, drove all weekend etc. On the way home, again, the piece of 'insert rude word here' carked it again same conditions, same symptoms so I am assuming it is ANOTHER injector... This time 10km north of Gin Gin... so now the car is in Bundaberg, I am in Gladstone again and the fun starts all over...

Can anyone please help a guy who's getting kicked whilst he's down and give me some opinions on the following?

1) Do you think VW will reopen the goodwill case because this all happened only 1 week and less than a tank of fuel after I got the car back? If so, will they go for all 4 injectors? It would appear logical and the parts guy I am dealing with from the Bundy service dept. says 'that's what we usually do'...?
2) I've read elsewhere on the forums that the new injectors are a newer model that dont have the same design fault as the old ones - is this true? Has anyone had all 4 replaced and done some serious miles hasslefree?
3) Is it sensible keeping this car once it is repaired given my relative isolation from VW? (I am only 24 and respect those with greater life experience than myself and their opinions!) As we know the injectors have a 2 year parts and labour warranty...

Really starting to be at my wits end with this car... it's upsetting and frustrating enough to have it happen once but again, after having it for one week...

This is known issue, Piezo PD Injectors failure is very common and my logic is telling me that they should replace all 4 injectors and not just one. You really need to tell to VWA that they caused you a lot of troubles by taking the shortcut by replacing one injector only and now you expect that they take the responsibility for their decision and repair the car properly, so it is reliable and you can actually use it.

[OilBurna]

I agree on mine they only wanted to replace 2 but the dealer pushed to replace all 4 given it is a known issue it is shoddy to only replace 1 dealer mentioned on the first one they did they only replaced 2 and the guy had another one fail on the way home similiar to yours. I'd be on the phone to vwa head office good luck

[ope126]

antone_86,

I am truly sorry to see you car on the back of a tow truck again.
It is just not good enough! I hope you get it ALL sorted sooner, rather than later!!!

[Greg Roles]

I think we should organise all 125 TDI drivers on here to front VW on the same day, and all ring VW head office, on the same day. Might get somewhere?