Service Interval?

**Magilla** · 28-07-2010,07:42 PM

HI there, new member here

I've got a Golf Mk6 TDI 140 (the 6 speed one), it was serviced at 18,624 miles on 24/03/2010.

Today, the service indicator came on for the second time, mileage is 26728 miles.

This strikes me as being a little odd, 12 months for the 1st service, 4 for the second, after only 8104 miles.

Haven't had chance to ring the dealers yet, but I just wanted to get an idea of other's experiences with service intervals and whether I should be worried about such a short time/mileage.

Does anyone else suffer such short intervals, and is there any legitimate reason why it could be so short?

Regards
M

**dieselduncmk6** · 28-07-2010,09:19 PM

Hi Magilla,

I ahve the same car and I got to 19k for first service. One possibility (although hopefully not the case) is that maybe they reset your service interval after the 1st service to the ordinary routine rather than the longlife one?

Maybe a long shot - but worth checking with them.
Good luck with the dealers....

**KABKAT** · 28-07-2010,09:50 PM

I experienced this issue on a B5.5 Passat after the "first service" at 19000 /7 months when the "service due" appeared at 28000 miles only 3 months later. It was a Leased car and they were none to pleased when I called to request a service booking. After an "investigation" the dealer admitted setting to time/distance and blamed me for not specifying to continue on variable. Considering I had no contact with the dealer i.e. booked the service with the leasing company who arranged pick up/collection!!! VW dealers at their best in my experience here in Ecosse!!!

**Keithuk** · 28-07-2010,11:20 PM

Yes Magilla it appears they have set the service interval to the shorter 10k when they serviced it last.

I've talked about service intervals before as part of the service plan thread, have a read save me posting it again Post #33

Now it will depend on which service interval you want. If you want the longlife bull one then just pop back in the dealer and they will set it back with VAG-COM.

**Magilla** · 29-07-2010,08:40 AM

Thanks for the responses. I suspect that you're correct, they've set the service interval incorrectly.

Judging by the standard of diligence I've experienced with everything else they've done on the car, this comes as no surprise.

**Wiseguy** · 08-08-2010,10:52 AM

Had the same problem with my GT TDI 140. Took the Dealer 3 visits to sort it in the end. After the first 2 stabs at it it went back to showing a Service due after 9000 miles, eventually after the 3rd visit they told me it would be ok after about 30 miles but it took about 300 miles for it to reset to the 18000 service. Tad annoying keep going back though to get it sorted.

**HHGTTG** · 08-08-2010,07:33 PM

I took my car recently into the dealers to have the car's first service and also have the alarm problem checked out. The alarm was apparently sorted by a software update but I was informed of my car's readiness rather late in the day and told them that I would pick it up the next day, first thing.
The next day I went to collect the car but wondered why the service booklet had not been filled in or stamped. However, when I turned the ignition on I was amazed and annoyed to see the warning on the display "Service due in 8 days" still showing
Going back to the reception it transpired that a service had been left off the Job sheet for my car and was told that if I left it with them for a second day, they would have it serviced by the evening. They did pay for a taxi to get me to my home which is at least something. Incompetence seems to be the order of the day with VW dealers, doesn't it?

**johnloaderuk** · 08-08-2010,09:54 PM

Originally Posted by HHGTTG

However, when I turned the ignition on I was amazed and annoyed to see the warning on the display "Service due in 8 days" still showing

You would have thought (or hoped) the guy updating the alarm software would have noticed the message and brought it to the attention of the sevice manager hopefully resulting in a phone call to check with you. Never mind, at least it's done now.

Magilla, the longlife service can sometimes come on as early as 9000 miles after the previous service. VW consider between 9000 to 20,000 to be normal (even if we don't).

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/assets/c..._servicing.pdf

**vwcabriolet1971** · 08-08-2010,11:03 PM

Originally Posted by johnloaderuk

You would have thought (or hoped) the guy updating the alarm software would have noticed the message and brought it to the attention of the sevice manager hopefully resulting in a phone call to check with you. Never mind, at least it's done now.

Magilla, the longlife service can sometimes come on as early as 9000 miles after the previous service. VW consider between 9000 to 20,000 to be normal (even if we don't).

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/assets/c..._servicing.pdf

Thanks for the above link - very informative .
It would be interesting to know what the " built-in sensors that monitor oil quality" are. And also how the sensor(s) detects if more than 0.5 litre of non-longlife oil has been added to a full longlife sump.
It sounds much more sophisicated than we thought !
Perhaps other forum members may know ?

**johnloaderuk** · 09-08-2010,02:44 PM

I'm guessing that the oil quality sensors are only active if longlife servicing is selected, and that if time distance is selected they don't monitor the oil quality at all, which may explain if the car knows if oil of an incorrect type has been used when it's on longlife servicing routine, as the oil type can be quite different.

This is purely guessing on my part, and I'm probably completely wrong, but it would be nice to know. I once had a Passat on LL ask for a service at only 10k miles after the previous service, it only happened the once, then went back to 22k between services.