DSG woes in The Age

[MkVIGTI]

Speaking of servicing and without going too off topic - has anyone taken their car to Volkwerke in Greensborough (VIC)? I've taken the car to the dealer for both services (bent over both times) but thinking of going there from now on.

If you want to keep the extra 2 years of warranty then i would suggest u stick with the dealer. The condition for the extra warranty is to use dealer servicing i believe.

[VWDSGissue]

One of the FAQs from this page: FAQ

Q. Will my gearbox warranty be affected?

A. Volkswagen Australia will extend warranty cover for the all DSG transmissions from 3 to 5 years from the date the vehicle’s warranty first commenced (first date of registration and/or when the international warranty commenced).


So, is this poorly worded? Do they mean all of the recalled DQ200 transmissions are extended to 5 years, or do they mean that all other DSGs - such as DQ250 - are getting the extended warranty?

I will ask VW directly but I hope someone here can help.

[wai]

One of the FAQs from this page: FAQ

Despite what is on the VW web site in the FAQ, I booked my Caddy Maxi Life TDI250 with a 7-speed dry clutch DSG in for its 30,000 km service and was told that they would "check things out", and if no fault was found (i.e. logged), they would do nothing and "sign it off as fixed"! I was told they are "not obliged to replace every affected unit, only those that have logged faults"!

Looks like spin is still happening.

[ill0gitech]

Despite what is on the VW web site in the FAQ, I booked my Caddy Maxi Life TDI250 with a 7-speed dry clutch DSG in for its 30,000 km service and was told that they would "check things out", and if no fault was found (i.e. logged), they would do nothing and "sign it off as fixed"! I was told they are "not obliged to replace every affected unit, only those that have logged faults"!
Looks like spin is still happening.

Did they at least give you the "software update"?
Depending on how you read their recall notice and FAQs it's a little contradictory.

The Recall notice says:

Volkswagen Group Australia will replace the gearbox mechatronic unit on all potentially affected vehicles at no cost to the customer. At the same time, we will also update customers’ vehicles with the latest software version

One could easily draw the conclusion from this that anyone notified will receive a new gearbox - or even that anyone subject to the recall will receive a new gearbox.

The FAQs though say:

Q. How do I know if my vehicle may be subject to this?
A. Volkswagen Australia will contact the current owners and advise you if your vehicle requires the mechatronics unit replacement.

Again, very easy to draw from this that if you get a letter, you're getting a new mechatronics unit. BUT:

Q. How will my vehicle be fixed?
A. An authorised Volkswagen dealer will inspect the vehicle and fit it with a new gearbox mechatronics unit. A software update on the vehicle’s computer may also be carried out.

If they are just replacing them, not sure why an inspection is needed. This just adds labour costs. Unless they mean reading diagnosis codes, in which case... well...

I'd be emailing VGA and asking what they say about all this.

[Ryan_R]

Inspecting for mods?

[wai]

Well, mine is the affected gearbox, and the build date is Feb 2011.

e-mails have been sent to both Germany and VW Australia asking for clarification. It is quite clear from the recall notice on the ACCC recalls site that that if the vehicle has a 7-speed dry clutch gearbox and the vehicle has a build date between July 2008 and September 2011, then it is part of the recall.

The FAQ page on the VW web site is also very clear as to what will be done. The inspection is important because there are issues with other transmissions and so they may as well gather as much information as they can. Also, the inspection is for the clutch as if the wear is excessive they are supposed to replace that at the same time. From other reports, VW are expecting 20% of clutches will have to be replaced and they are putting together parts to cover that.

The thing is that I was told that if they check it out and it is OK, they will notify VW that the vehicle has been "rectified" and no recall notice will be sent out.

The booking is for July 9 (due to unprecedented demand), and I asked them what they will do, and it is what I wrote in my earlier posting.

[logger]

The thing is that I was told that if they check it out and it is OK, they will notify VW that the vehicle has been "rectified" and no recall notice will be sent out.

Thats annoying. No doubt you will let us know when you get clarification.
Do you have access to VCDS. You could check for fault codes before VW do? Then if any exist you could print them out, in case they play silly games.
Thats what I will be doing. With mine I can see numerous intermittent & ongoing communication errors logged in the transmission module that could indicate a mechatronics issue. They have only started occurring in the past few months in my 2009 build car.

[Diesel_vert]

One of the FAQs from this page: FAQ

Q. Will my gearbox warranty be affected?

A. Volkswagen Australia will extend warranty cover for the all DSG transmissions from 3 to 5 years from the date the vehicle’s warranty first commenced (first date of registration and/or when the international warranty commenced).


So, is this poorly worded? Do they mean all of the recalled DQ200 transmissions are extended to 5 years, or do they mean that all other DSGs - such as DQ250 - are getting the extended warranty?

I will ask VW directly but I hope someone here can help.

I don't think it's particularly poorly worded:

Volkswagen Australia will extend warranty cover for the all DSG transmissions from 3 to 5 years from the date the vehicle’s warranty first commenced (first date of registration and/or when the international warranty commenced).

EDIT: no sorry, I take that back - it is poorly worded. I initially thought you (and I) just misquoted, but it turns out that's how it's actually written, lol. Doesn't anybody proof read these things before they're released?

Anyway, moving on... so if today's date is 18/06/2013, this means that any car with any DSG transmission with a delivery date of 18/06/2008 or after, will be covered by the transmission warranty.

In addition, by taking the context of the FAQ page into account, the five year DSG transmission warranty would also seem to include Caddy models fitted a DSG - which isn't normally covered by the general warranty for commercial vehicles - so pending further confirmation, it may be good news for Caddy DSG owners.

But apart from that, it's basically in line with the general terms and conditions of their warranty for their passenger vehicles:

The New Vehicle Warranty is for 3 years unlimited kilometres.

The Transmission Warranty for passenger vehicles is for 5 years or 150,000 km, whichever comes first.

The Paint Warranty is for 3 years unlimited kilometres.

The Corrosion warranty of the main steel body structure is 12 years unlimited kilometres. Amarok is 6 years unlimited kilometres.

Warranty for accessories fitted on the vehicle at time of delivery is 3 years unlimited kilometres warranty.

Warranty for Volkswagen Approved Parts fitted on the vehicle at the time of delivery is 2 years unlimited kilometres warranty.

The above warranties commence from the day of delivery of your new Volkswagen.

If you want to keep the extra 2 years of warranty then i would suggest u stick with the dealer. The condition for the extra warranty is to use dealer servicing i believe.

It is not a condition of the warranty to have routine services carried out at a dealership, but any warranty-related repairs will need to be carried out at a dealership if the consumer is to bear no cost.

Despite what is on the VW web site in the FAQ, I booked my Caddy Maxi Life TDI250 with a 7-speed dry clutch DSG in for its 30,000 km service and was told that they would "check things out", and if no fault was found (i.e. logged), they would do nothing and "sign it off as fixed"! I was told they are "not obliged to replace every affected unit, only those that have logged faults"!

I don't understand why your dealer has told you that - the recall notice is unambiguous.

It states that VGA will replace the gearbox mechatronic unit on all potentially affected vehicles - these vehicles include the Golf, Jetta, Polo, Passat and Caddy produced between June 2008 and September 2011, as per the recall notice.

In the context of this recall, the phrase "potentially affected vehicles" should be taken as to include all vehicles listed in the recall notice - even if some of those vehicles do not exhibit the fault as described in the recall notice, because the whole point of a recall is to take precautionary measures. If their reactionary measures were working (and they obviously weren't) the recall wouldn't have been issued in the first place!

Looks like spin is still happening.

There was an article in Fairfax yesterday - 'Nothing wrong': VW's idea of a car with no fault.

How many times have we seen this played out on this very forum?

This precisely goes back to what you were saying previously in regards to VW's approach to customer complaints and how they are seemingly unable, unwilling or simply not competent enough to fix problems based on the mere absence of a fault light - as if to say that the presence of a fault light is the sole indicator of a malfunctioning vehicle.

[sanchez]

If you want to keep the extra 2 years of warranty then i would suggest u stick with the dealer. The condition for the extra warranty is to use dealer servicing i believe.

My 3 year factory warranty is over dude. I just forked out $2000 for another 3 year 100km extended and i am fairly certain I can take it anywhere I want

[ill0gitech]

My 3 year factory warranty is over dude. I just forked out $2000 for another 3 year 100km extended and i am fairly certain I can take it anywhere I want

You would want to be 100% certain of that. Most extended warranties are offered on the condition you have your vehicle serviced both on schedule and with them

[sanchez]

According the PDS - this is what it says: (Point 2)

All vehicle servicing should be carried out by the selling dealer or an Authorised service facility holding a franchise for vehicles of the same make as your vehicle

[gavs]

DSG woes in The Age

According the PDS - this is what it says: (Point 2)

All vehicle servicing should be carried out by the selling dealer or an Authorised service facility holding a franchise for vehicles of the same make as your vehicle

Yeah man, that means a VAG/warranty issuer approved service centre which pretty much means a Volkswagen dealership. Can you see VAG approving an independent workshop that steals their profits from servicing...?

[Diesel_vert]

My 3 year factory warranty is over dude. I just forked out $2000 for another 3 year 100km extended and i am fairly certain I can take it anywhere I want

The five year transmission warranty is part of the manufacturer's factory warranty, so servicing the car at any qualified workshop other than the dealer will not affect this.

For issues relating to repairs that are no longer covered after the factory warranty or warranties have expired, the terms and conditions of any extended warranty that is underwritten by a third-party, irrespective of whether or not the policy was sold or promoted via a dealership, may (or may not) be different to that of the manufacturer's factory warranty in terms of servicing requirements, so it's always advisable to double-check the fine print and clarify any queries (preferably before one signs the dotted line, but that's just me).

According the PDS - this is what it says: (Point 2)

All vehicle servicing should be carried out by the selling dealer or an Authorised service facility holding a franchise for vehicles of the same make as your vehicle

The term "franchise" is concerning, because it usually (but not always) refers to a dealer.

You may want to clarify this with the policy issuer.

[sanchez]

Ok guys thanks. Automatically thought when I saw Authorised Service Facility it was fine to take it. Obviously overlooked the term franchise

I could have sworn when i spoke to the rep with the insurance he said i could take it to any approved mechanic, as long as the proper oils/filters etc etc are used.

And why are my posts still stuck on 35! Hasn't moved for months!

[Diesel_vert]

Ok guys thanks. Automatically thought when I saw Authorised Service Facility it was fine to take it. Obviously overlooked the term franchise

I could have sworn when i spoke to the rep with the insurance he said i could take it to any approved mechanic, as long as the proper oils/filters etc etc are used.

Don't take our word for it (we're not the ones underwriting your policy) so clarify it with them.

And why are my posts still stuck on 35! Hasn't moved for months!

IIRC, posts made in the General Discussion section don't count towards one's post count, apparently?