2009 118tsi Golf. Exhaust fault light flashing on dash.

[Brooke3844]

So! I rang my dealership today to check up on things...
Apparently they have been talking with Volkswagen and are conducting compression tests on the car.
I get a horrible feeling its going to be a cracked piston...
How much am I looking at to fix this??
My car is well out of warranty now...

[fully]

Shouldn't cost you a thing, it's a known issue and an engine is expected to last for way more than 4 years.

[Lucas_R]

Shouldn't cost you a thing, it's a known issue and an engine is expected to last for way more than 4 years.

^ this. It's a problem VW Aust have been ignoring when they should have done a nationwide recall and fixed it properly. My advice would be to get it fixed and then sell it - the 118TSI engine has so many problems its not funny. And given that 90% of them are mated to the equally crap 7 speed DSG, most will have issues with either the engine or gearbox (or both if you are lucky) at some stage.

[hogs]

when the same thing happened to me, i had the engine rebuilt by the dealership -_-

[logger]

Shouldn't cost you a thing, it's a known issue and an engine is expected to last for way more than 4 years.

I agree, if it turns put to be a cracked piston you should not have to worry about the cost.
You might even have a bit of a win here Brooke. Judging by your profile location, outside of the metro area & my own experiences in the same area, there is a good chance your dealer will organise a new replacement engine rather than repair. So you may well end up with a brand new long engine with an an extra 2 years warranty on it instead of a rebuild.

[hoi polloi]

Sorry to hear about this - a blight on an otherwise fine car...

- Anthony

[cktsi]

Hope it doesnt cost you anything to fix. I read in some other threads a while back that for older mk6's VW were unofficially honouring the new 5year warranty.

If you owned the car since new, and particularly if you have been using them for servicing which sounds to be the case, if they want to charge give them the customer loyalty guilt trip.

My DSG clutch needed to be replaced a second time just before the warranty ran out. Whilst they refused to acknowledge anything was wrong, i appealed to them in a calm way that even if the shudder was slight that i would be left in the cold if something happened after the warranty ran out. I pointed out that it would be rough of them after having bought 2 Golfs and having them both serviced with them.

Pity had to come down to using such tactics, but it worked. Let us know how you go.

[Brooke3844]

Another update! But not really an update. They have been very coy with actually telling me what is going on with my car. This is week number three and they still have my car.
Twice in the three weeks I have spoken to the dealership. The first conversation he told me they were doing some compression tests etc and were waiting to hear back from Volkswagen.
The second phone call was to tell me they were under instruction from Volkswagen to take some photos of the pistons to send to them to evaluate.

I am hoping this means that when I receive the third phone call it will be to tell me my car is fixed with no cost to me!

In the mean time I am quite happy driving around the demo model Suzuki Swift they have given me! Having already clocked up over 1000 kms, I'm sure they will be ever so happy with my efforts! lol

I have also been doing a bit of car hunting, just incase things don't really go according to plan. I'm also not really sure I want to keep this car after the troubles it's had.

I have test drove the Mitsubishi ASX and the Subaru XV
Has anybody had any run ins with either of these cars...?

[Lucas_R]

Sounds like your getting a new engine - you don't do compression tests and inspections of pistons unless there is something majorly wrong. Sounds like the same old problem continually killing these 1.4L twincharge engines.

Personally i would be doing as you have suggested, and shopping for a new car. Although in saying that, the Mitsubishi ASX is rubbish and the Subaru XV isn't much better. Depending on your budget, the Mazda CX-5 is a good looking small SUV thing, and providing you stick with the petrol engines, a reliable and proven performer. The Mazda diesels are a bit of a hit and miss, but the petrol engines are a good solid basic engine.

[logger]

?... Sounds like the same old problem continually killing these 1.4L twincharge engines.

yes, Except that his is a 2009 model. So it is the old problem killing an effected engine. If he scores a new updated engine chances are he may have years of reliable motoring from it without the expense of buying a new car.