Author Topic: Timing Chain tensioner Failure List (timing issue)- Please Update with Your Info  (Read 362501 times)

Offline Jags 84

  • Not said much yet
  • **
  • Posts: 41
Okay guys a update for you so after three weeks of liaising and trying to negotiate with the VW customer services they finally got back to me and have said they agree with the contribution the dealer is making so I am still looking at having to pay over £3000 towards cost of the repair. As on the invoice at the start it does say that further investigation is required however I was told that the initial £144 was to investigate the problem not to £644 when going to collect the car. The manager at VW customer service said she cannot get involved in a he said she said conversation about what came first even though it is clearly stated on the invoice to bring the car back when the engine light comes on at the very end of the invoice. VW customer service have now said it is between myself and the dealership to see whether they want to negotiate any further. What do you guys think I should do as I'm in a bit of a tricky situation as I have just also bought my first house and cannot afford over £3000 to repair the car at this present moment. What to do?

Offline Pld118

  • GTI forum regular
  • ***
  • Posts: 158
How high up the management chain has your dialogue with the dealer got?

Offline Snoopy

  • Moderator
  • Serious forum addict
  • *****
  • Posts: 7,732
  • A.K.A. Geoff.
Contact the motoring press.
Mk6 GTI  &  Mk1 GTI 
34 years of GTI ownership.

Offline MartinrobGTi

  • Not said much yet
  • **
  • Posts: 75
So what is the soultion to all this, before it happens? As mine is on 44.000 miles now and hasnt been done i dont think. What can i do to prevent it from happening?
Golf Mk6 GTi | Candy White | RNS 510 | Revo Stage 2 | Pipercross Stage 2 Intake | Milltek Cat Back 3" Race System Non Resonated | 3" Pipewerx Downpipe & 200 Cell Sportscat | H&R Sport Springs | 18" Monza Shadows | Rear LED Tail Lights | Wind Deflectors | NGK Iridiums | Sachs Race Clutch

Offline Snoopy

  • Moderator
  • Serious forum addict
  • *****
  • Posts: 7,732
  • A.K.A. Geoff.
So what is the soultion to all this, before it happens? As mine is on 44.000 miles now and hasnt been done i dont think. What can i do to prevent it from happening?
Read the first page of the thread :wink:
Mk6 GTI  &  Mk1 GTI 
34 years of GTI ownership.

Offline MartinrobGTi

  • Not said much yet
  • **
  • Posts: 75
Ahhh i've just had a look now. Can i get the the tensioner kit from anywhere else ither than vw itself?
Golf Mk6 GTi | Candy White | RNS 510 | Revo Stage 2 | Pipercross Stage 2 Intake | Milltek Cat Back 3" Race System Non Resonated | 3" Pipewerx Downpipe & 200 Cell Sportscat | H&R Sport Springs | 18" Monza Shadows | Rear LED Tail Lights | Wind Deflectors | NGK Iridiums | Sachs Race Clutch

Offline Jags 84

  • Not said much yet
  • **
  • Posts: 41
@pld118 I have gone up to the dealer principal and service manager. Had a email back today from the service manager with the DP cc'd in saying they agree with the offer being made to me.

They now want to know what I plan to do either repair at £3k or return the courtesy car. This is by far the worst company I have ever dealt with.

Even if do contact the motoring press it's not going to get me out of the current situation  :cry:

Offline Obbzi

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 776
@pld118 I have gone up to the dealer principal and service manager. Had a email back today from the service manager with the DP cc'd in saying they agree with the offer being made to me.

They now want to know what I plan to do either repair at £3k or return the courtesy car. This is by far the worst company I have ever dealt with.

Even if do contact the motoring press it's not going to get me out of the current situation  :cry:

That is pretty shocking on VW's behalf  :shocked:
2008 R32 DBP gone. 2008 GT TDI going 2009 GTI coming soon!

Offline chain reaction

  • Just got here
  • *
  • Posts: 1
Just this minute joined the forum to say that you have my sympathy as I am in a very similar position and don't know where to turn.

Warning light came on in my '08, 45,000-mile R36 two weeks ago. Drove straight to the garage. Charged £400 to find the fault. Timing chain is loose. That'll be £3200 to repair!

After suggesting that was a bit steep, the dealers knocked £600 off that as 'goodwill' and VW customer services reckon that is fair so will not be contributing further.

I'm happy to keep at them but would appreciate any tips on how to convince them they should feel obliged to step up and help sort the matter.

Take it easy. M

@pld118 I have gone up to the dealer principal and service manager. Had a email back today from the service manager with the DP cc'd in saying they agree with the offer being made to me.

They now want to know what I plan to do either repair at £3k or return the courtesy car. This is by far the worst company I have ever dealt with.

Even if do contact the motoring press it's not going to get me out of the current situation  :cry:

Offline Pld118

  • GTI forum regular
  • ***
  • Posts: 158
Perhaps the motoring press reference was suggested on the basis that if a major garage/ household name chain, deep down knew that they were acting or could be perceived to be acting less favourably towards a customer, then the prospect of 'the motoring press' reporting an article on the issue in question might result in a change of heart by the garage so as to minimise any potential adverse reputational damage from such an article which might otherwise be bad for business.  What Car magazine showcase a 'help' section each month, for example.

If your car was bought second hand, it is possible that VW customer services will oversee to a point but will reach a point where they will take a view that they feel less able to directly intervene because you did not by the car brand new 'from [them] VW' and hence your issue is to do with the supply (or failure to do so in some cases) of goods and/ or services by the VW franchise in question and therefore any dispute is contractual between you and the given franchise.  However, VW customer services representatives will also have Line Managers that complaints and disputes can be escalated to if you are not satisfied with their initial conclusions reached.

@Jags

1.  Have you considered seeking legal advice (sometimes your vehicle insurance, household insurance and/ or Bank provider will provide free legal advice in cases like this.  Did you pay your initial diagnosis fee via credit card because again, some credit card providers will provide a free telephone/ legal advice service)?

1A.  The Citizen's Advice Bureau is also a consideration.

2.  Have you considered commissioning a respected independent VW specialist review of the timeline and having the vehicle independently inspected by that person by way of second opinion on the current state of the car, actual rectification works required (& costs) and events that occurred leading up to the failure to determine whether or not that specialist can either support your argument or suggest a more cost effective alternative outcome?

3.  Have you considered now escalating your grievance to Director level beyond Branch Manager/ Branch Dealer Principal level, fully articulating your grievances to such Director(s) and explaining that you have already and/ or intend to report matters to the motoring press; and/ or seek legal advice; and/ or report matters to Trading Standards & the Citizen's Advice Burea; and/ or commission an independent inspection?

The outcome now really depends on how aggrieved you feel (in hindsight, on the basis of what they told you at the time, do you feel at all that you could reasonably have done more to avoid this failure?).  The outcome also depends on how dogged you are not to accept the current offer and how much time you are prepared to invest articulating your grievances to the most senior people in the correct manner/ in writing via email and not via telephone discussion as everything needs to be documented.