passat06
10-04-2006, 05:37 PM
Wondering if anyone can help/advise me with my recent dealer experience.
I put my Passat 1.8 20v in for an 80,000 miles service in Mid Jan with the local VW authorised dealer. I told the service agent that I was concerned about a tapping noise in the engine. I suspected it may be a valve problem and the car was not performing properly or starting first time as it should.
I discussed this when booking the car in and was told a compression test would be carried out. However it seems that this was not properly recorded on the job card. (How was I to know?)
The service cost £1024 in all including a couple of light units, replaced CV joint and brakes.
The car came back with the work done. However, I was told that the mechanics considered the noise to be normal 'wear and tear' and that a compression test had been considered unecessary.
The service involved a cambelt change with tensioner and in my view the car was noisier after I got it back. However, these are the professionals, so I took their advice as assurance.
However, last Monday, the engine dropped a valve where a valve seat had disintegrated. The car had done barely 2000 since the service, round town.
The dealer told me that the engine will need £3000 worth of parts plus labour in effect making the car a write-off.
He also tells me that he is not liable as he could not be expected to foresee a valve dropping.
My view is that I asked for this problem to be investigated but it was not and I was assured that the noise was to be expected.
So, am I just an unlucky bloke who is now £4000 down and fuming.
Or should the dealer be liable for not having investigated the problem and having failed in his duty of care?
I'd be glad for an opinion - am thinking of taking up cycling ...:(
Lastly, here is a list of other probs with that £1000 service:
The service failed to identify and replace a split pressure air hose on top of the engine intake.
I asked that the rear brakes be replaced. The pads were changed but the discs not - despite being 95% worn.
I reported a near side front wheel knocking that I said could be a CV joint. The joint was duly changed at £93 plus labour but the knocking is still there.
The car was returned to me leaking brakefluid - which was not a prob before it went in.
Front brake disc covers were bent onto the discs during the CV change.
I put my Passat 1.8 20v in for an 80,000 miles service in Mid Jan with the local VW authorised dealer. I told the service agent that I was concerned about a tapping noise in the engine. I suspected it may be a valve problem and the car was not performing properly or starting first time as it should.
I discussed this when booking the car in and was told a compression test would be carried out. However it seems that this was not properly recorded on the job card. (How was I to know?)
The service cost £1024 in all including a couple of light units, replaced CV joint and brakes.
The car came back with the work done. However, I was told that the mechanics considered the noise to be normal 'wear and tear' and that a compression test had been considered unecessary.
The service involved a cambelt change with tensioner and in my view the car was noisier after I got it back. However, these are the professionals, so I took their advice as assurance.
However, last Monday, the engine dropped a valve where a valve seat had disintegrated. The car had done barely 2000 since the service, round town.
The dealer told me that the engine will need £3000 worth of parts plus labour in effect making the car a write-off.
He also tells me that he is not liable as he could not be expected to foresee a valve dropping.
My view is that I asked for this problem to be investigated but it was not and I was assured that the noise was to be expected.
So, am I just an unlucky bloke who is now £4000 down and fuming.
Or should the dealer be liable for not having investigated the problem and having failed in his duty of care?
I'd be glad for an opinion - am thinking of taking up cycling ...:(
Lastly, here is a list of other probs with that £1000 service:
The service failed to identify and replace a split pressure air hose on top of the engine intake.
I asked that the rear brakes be replaced. The pads were changed but the discs not - despite being 95% worn.
I reported a near side front wheel knocking that I said could be a CV joint. The joint was duly changed at £93 plus labour but the knocking is still there.
The car was returned to me leaking brakefluid - which was not a prob before it went in.
Front brake disc covers were bent onto the discs during the CV change.