Flywheel and a useless warranty

[Swallowtail]

Good move to have written to them.

I had issues with a Mazda 6 last year with a strange intermittent fault. Took me 6 months and it cost Mazda thousands of $ in working on the car and providing me with a loan car whilst they worked on it. At one point they had the car for 6 weeks straight. The important thing that helped me was that I was always pleasant to the dealer Service Manager, we ended up on first name terms, and that I was persistent with both Mazda Australia and the dealer, and that I was always polite (albeit a little frustrated and forceful on a couple of occasions).

I had to demonstrate the issue to the dealer staff on multiple occasions, and also Mazda staff too. In the end the Service Manager was calling me telling me that the mechanics had done this or that at Mazda's direction, and thought they'd fixed it, but that he'd taken it out and was still not happy... so it pays to get the Service Manager on side.

So hang in there and persist!

[Greg Roles]

So greggo why haven't any of the GT TDI's let go given the higher torque load, or the Transporters etc for that matter?

Is it a 103kw thing?

[gregozedobe]

So greggo why haven't any of the GT TDI's let go given the higher torque load, or the Transporters etc for that matter?

Is it a 103kw thing?

Actually it seems to be a lot more prevalent on the 1.9 TDIs (of whatever power output) than the 2.0 and 2.5 TDIs.

It is very common indeed on Skoda Octavias with the 1.9 TDI. I wonder if they are often owners that are looking to drive as frugally as possible, so they work their engines very hard indeed at low revs to minimise fuel consumption - I am often disconcerted when they describe their driving styles and how high a gear they get into at very low road speeds. They may be saving pennies on fuel but it is costing some of them a lot of pounds in repairs to DMFs and turbos.

My theory (with no supporting facts) is that the 1.9 motor is "rougher" (ie has more violent power pulses and vibrations than the 2.0s and 2.5s) and/or VW specify a less robust DMF because it is a cheaper and lower powered engine. It also seems to pull better at lower revs so some drivers tend to work it at lower revs which is the rev range where it puts more strain on the DMF.

The 125Kw 2.0 TDI has a bigger turbo so has less torque and power at low revs, so less strain on the DMF, plus the owners may tend to use slightly more revs (to get the extra torque and power that they paid more money for).

Maybe the 5 cyl engine in Transporters has more even power pulses or a more robust DMF ? Certainly they do seem a lot less prone to DMF problems than Transporters with the 1.9 engine.

[oracle1]

Don't know about other states, or if its the relevant court but in QLD you can pursue a claim for up to $8500 in the small claims tribunal for the princely sum of about 85 dollars. The great thing is if the claim for damages fails you don't have to pay costs.

I had an absolutely rip off plumber drag me through the courts for 12 months after I told him I wasn't going to pay him for a bogus amount over and above a set contract we had. The result, he got an extra hours pay on top about $100 after trying to claim $3000 grand more. The lesson for me, I got stuffed around for 12 months for 100 bucks but saved $3000.

If you reach the end of the line, and give them every opportunity to not to go there first, and your problem IS completely unnacceptable (read scandalous at 5000k), then $85 is small bikkies to at least to take a few almost free pot shots and if they loose they have a big problem. Just make sure that this is the relevant venue. Above all wiser heads are right do not take no for an answer and very politely persist, even though we all know its not right.

[Greg Roles]

I've read that the "earlier" DMF were a Luk brank, and later a Sachs unit was used, which appears more robust. Still odd for such a new car to have problems so soon. Fight for a decent repair Mum!!

[teresi]

Thanks Oracle1 - yep i think our equivalent in Victoria is VCAT - 'tho I think they're damages claims - i.e. where i have to get it fixed myself first? I guess then, there's all the various trades practices and fair trading legislation. But in a perfect world VW would call the well known concern a 'fault' and not make all us poor schlebs have to waste precious time maneuvering them in to a position where they'll admit that some of their cars are shoddy.

Although I don't drive the car in fuel-saving mode (high gears at low revs), it's hardly unusual driving for a car they're selling as a green alternative to hybrids. It's disappointing to hear they'd make a car so damn fragile it busts if someone doesn't flog it.

Anyway, 'nuff said. Cheers for the pep talks, will definitely hold out and try and get it fixed... and in the meantime I'll ride out the deathly silence coming from the dealer and the service department that I wrote to, and avoid driving my brand new car past the point where the engine warms up so it doesn't blow up on me or suffocate me with burnt rubber fumes. grrrrrrr!