What have you done to your MK 7 today ?

[monkeyhanger]

You do know that for any warranty work they have to upload the diagnostics to VW who look at them and then tell them what work they will authorise don't you?

They aren't allowed to do any warranty work without absolute direction from VW - either I believe an automated system or a VW technician has to spell out exactly what they are allowed to do and how to do it.

I've been given the impression that the lack of action taken yesterday was down to:-

1. The fact they didn't even start looking at my car until 3pm.
2. The technician I explained all the aspects of the fault to (both the sensory messaging telling me of failure to see anything, and the lack of sensitivity to the car in front at all times) was not the person who performed the work, and the one that did perform the work was acting purely on the sensory logging.

The fact that they chose to ignore the sensor's output or disbelieve it when it indicates that either the system is calibrated incorrectly or that it is defective is what I find most annoying. If they say that VW told them not to perform further work down the line to rectify, then that will be something I have to take up with VW UK.

If VW only get given half the story when making their decision then they will probably suggest incomplete or incorrect action.

 

[fredgroves]

I've had intermittent niggles which my dealer tells me that they will not be able to do until VW authorise it and for them to authorise it the dealer has to have more than the error logs - they have to actual physically see it manifest.

You are right, you'd imagine the whole purpose of a sophisticated onboard computer is to record these errors and diagnosis would be easy. However it doesn't seem like they use the system for that purpose. It seems to be very much more a tool for VW to avoid paying for investigative warranty work.

I'm sure they save a whole pile of money.

[p3asa]

Hopefully it will get sorted today MH and this will just be a distant memory in a few months.
There is nothing worse having to put your car in continually for work not being carried out correctly. I think some garages think we can drop everything and just attend with our cars but it can be so inconvenient.

Hopefully you won't even need to mention rejection but its issues like this that remind me that taking finance sometimes has more clout as its still technically VW's car. Although I'd love to be in the position of being able pay for a car cash.

[monkeyhanger]

Well I picked up the car today. I have a piece of paper that says they washed and vac'd the car (they didn't, under my instruction - should they be charging VW for work they haven't done?), It also states that they carried out a full ACC recalibration and tested - all ok.

So I'm driving home, happy that I have my R back - for the first few miles the steering seemed really heavy (compared to the Fabia). I put my foot down a bit, saw that the <car>!<car> white warning seemed to be on more than it used to be, but still seemed inconsistent (I could follow a car, see the warning come up, and then see it disappear again without a change in direction or it getting any further away from me). Sure enough, when exiting the Tyne tunnel I get that familiar warning that the sensor has a limited view.

Same fault. So they recalibrated a buggered ACC unit. Will be on the phone to them tomorrow to discuss them getting a replacement sensor sanctioned.

If they did the work the paperwork says they did, I should at least have assurance that my 4 wheels are perfectly aligned.

[am1w]

All I can say MH is aarrgghh! which is exactly how I mostly feel about VWs and the dealers.

[monkeyhanger]

All I can say MH is aarrgghh! which is exactly how I mostly feel about VWs and the dealers.

It might only be a quick job, not requiring recalibration. According to the first tech I spoke to (who didn't end up working on the car), he explained that the ACC unit clips in and out of the bracket and it is the bracket itself that's adjustable. At the very least i'd assume that they'd trust the wheels haven't gone out of alignment over the weekend.

[am1w]

All I can say MH is aarrgghh! which is exactly how I mostly feel about VWs and the dealers.

It might only be a quick job, not requiring recalibration. According to the first tech I spoke to (who didn't end up working on the car), he explained that the ACC unit clips in and out of the bracket and it is the bracket itself that's adjustable. At the very least i'd assume that they'd trust the wheels haven't gone out of alignment over the weekend.

One would have thought so. They seem to be making a meal out of it.

In my case, I had to attend to the bodywork issues myself with some help (loan of tools) from the Service Advisor as the VW Techs and the VW Bodyshop were worse than useless and then some. Never come across such a shambolic lot.

[monkeyhanger]

All I can say MH is aarrgghh! which is exactly how I mostly feel about VWs and the dealers.

It might only be a quick job, not requiring recalibration. According to the first tech I spoke to (who didn't end up working on the car), he explained that the ACC unit clips in and out of the bracket and it is the bracket itself that's adjustable. At the very least i'd assume that they'd trust the wheels haven't gone out of alignment over the weekend.

One would have thought so. They seem to be making a meal out of it.

In my case, I had to attend to the bodywork issues myself with some help (loan of tools) from the Service Advisor as the VW Techs and the VW Bodyshop were worse than useless and then some. Never come across such a shambolic lot.

I think stories of poor service right across the marques can be found on all the forums, but some things seem harder to get sorted than others with VW dealers (especially non-mechanical faults - if it's driveable then they tend to fob you off - though i'd argue the point that a safety system is not working properly).

Not sure what them replicating the fault themselves will do to help if they insist on it. Do they think the customer is lying when the sensory logging backs you up? Will they be able to pull straight over and perform a miraculous cure at the instant it occurs? For my fault, they could run around in my car for a week, use a tank of my fuel and not replicate the restricted view if they don't find a long left-hand bend to take the car along. What will that achieve?

Perhaps if they have the experience of driving an ACC equipped car every day they'll be able to form an opinion on the general sensitivity and reliability of the system throwing a <car>!<car> white warning at you less frequently than the GTD could. I let someone brake ahead of me and braked late deliberately (making sure there was no-one behind me) to instigate a red alert. I bottled out and braked well after it should have red alerted and intervened. They won't have the bottle to try that.

[mcmaddy]

Maybe your gtd was over sensitive?

[Sootchucker]

Maybe it's time for VW to move the ACC sensor in the Golf from low down in the grill to behind the VW badge at the front like it is on the new Passat and the upcoming new Touran ? Not only would this look better (no cut out in the lower grill), but it would surely protect the sensor better making it less likely to be moved out of alignment and give it a better view of what's in front by being higher up ?

Maybe this is a change for the MK8 ?