Hi all,
I have a MK5 Golf GT 1.4TSI (56 plate) with ~55K mileage and about a month ago my engine completely packed up. All of a sudden the turbo dropped right off while accelerating, the Emission Control Light started flashing and then it felt like the car had lost most of its power. When I managed to stop the car, it was making a really rough "chugging" sound when idling. After one more test down the road, the engine started smoking and I could smell burnt fuel so I called the AA and had it towed to the dealership.
About a week later I had the wonderful news that I needed a brand new engine, turbo, supercharger and multiple gaskets totalling £6.5K. After a lot of effort I managed to get that down to just under £4K with VW contributing something to the cost of the repair due to my loyalty to the dealership for past servicing etc.
What I can't get out of my mind is this Emission Control System warning light. About 6 months before the engine went, it came on the dashboard and stayed lit. I took it into the dealer and they said it was nothing to worry about and they reset the light (i.e. switched it off without doing any work to resolve the underlying issue). When the engine failed, the ONLY light to come on was this very same Emission Control System light - it was flashing repeatedly. I flagged this to the dealer as being connected to the engine failure over and over again but they wouldn't have it that it was in any way connected to the failure of the engine. I went ahead with the £4k repair (even though the car's market value is little more than £6-7K at best) as there was no alternative- scrap heap or recoup some of the cost.
This week, to my horror, the same light came on again and started flashing whilst I was driving down the motorway. I slowed right down and it disappeared. When I got home after it having stayed off I was concerned. The next day I took it out again and with some acceleration it started flashing again. It happened a third time and I took it back to the dealer.
Today, I found out that the dealer has replaced 3 coil packs at no charge to fix this warning light issue. I've asked them if this is connected to the failed engine but of course they deny it. Reading about coil packs (as I'm no car expert) suggests that it has some potential to be connected to damaging the cat converter and possibly also the bearings which would lead to the engine breaking? The dealer said at the time the engine went that bearings had gone.
So my question is, does anyone have experience that can help shed some light on whether or not I have any case against VW for this? I feel like I've shelled out £4k on a repair that could have been avoided at a fraction of the cost (I have no idea if the coils were part of the recall being discussed in this thread either). I'm just looking for some answers so would really appreciate some help.
Many thanks!
