Golf 118 TSI Engine Failures and Service Campaign 24S4

[tigger73]

I disagree with this, VW Australia were obsolute C**** when it came to fixing a cracked no 4 piston in my case. The Car has been serviced at the VW dealer from Day 1 and it has <80,000 kms on it. Per Australia consumer law they should fix it for free (its called "Fit for purpose" ) but have not..hence why I am doing it myself. My dealer has also confirmed that >50% genuine requests for goodwill are knocked back for no valid/transparent reason. Once mine is fixed, will sell it and get a non VAGina product with a 7 yr warranty.

Unfortunately I think your engine went bang when there was very little $ in the warranty budget as 90% of it had been taken up with sorting dieselgate.

I think more recently (and I'm saying last couple months) it appears that things have changed and VW appears to be a lot better with processing these claims for goodwill repairs.


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[sixboltmains]

Hello All,
I am in the process of replacing a cracked piston in my CAVD twin charger engine.
Upon checking for distortion I found that the cylinder is head is fine by the engine block deck is out of spec - i.e. I can insert a 0.05mm feeler guage under a straight edge.
My question is: can some someone confirm what the limit is for straightness of the engine block deck surface, I have assumed that its 0.05mm, the VW manual on-line only mentions the cylinder head surface but not the block.

Thank,
SBM

Anyone ??

[Kaliani]

Hi,
First time to post in here. I think we may have the same problem people are writing about in this forum.
We have a 2010 VW Jetta 118 TSI DSG.
On Sunday we were driving on the city west link in Sydney and the car suddenly lost power. We limped home (2 minutes away) - engine shuddering. The EPC and engine failure light came on. Called NRMA - he plugged it into his computer and diagnosed a loss of pressure in cylinder 4. NRMA towed it up to the local VW service centre.

This afternoon they rang and said it was bad news. After charging $126 to 'diagnose' the problem, they said we had.... a loss of pressure in cylinder 4. They said they would need to 'open up the engine' to determine the full extent of the problem, which would cost about $1200.
And that the 'best case scenario' we would be looking at $6000-7000 for repairs, and worst case, $12,000 for a new engine.

Given that the car was only worth about $6000, it is hardly worth spending anything like this. Ironically we had just been up to the showroom last week to choose a new VW Golf Alltrack and were about to begin the process of selling the old Jetta. I even got as far as having a broker source some potential deals for us. Now we are stuck with no car to sell which leaves a big hole in our budget in terms of upgrading. Not to mention being without a car in the middle of school holidays and having to contemplate getting to work/school/daycare pickups and drop offs.

It only has 67,000kms on it, and it has been regularly serviced at VW (only one time we went to a non-VW service). Spotless service record. It is a family car and has been well looked after and never thrashed. We are the first owners, having bought it new.

I had read these forums last night (thanks, all - amazing resource) and husband mentioned to the VW service centre that this sounded like the 'known fault' and that VWA were covering costs for some. The service customer rep said he didnt know anything about that.

Hoping to draw on your collective wisdom. Can anyone advise:

1. I was wondering if the problem I describe fits the general identified problem that others are getting compensation for? Or is it too uncertain at this point until they have opened up the engine? ie: is the 'diagnosis' of loss of pressure in cylinder 4 enough to to get the ball rolling to seek compensation?
2. Do I pay them the $1200 they are asking to 'open it up' and identify the extent of the problem?
3. If it sounds to people that the problem is the 'known fault' with this engine - What should be my next step? - pay that $1200 now, or immediately write to VWA Australia and push for them to cover the costs? Or should I write to the dealer first?

Sorry for the string of questions. I'm not a car expert. We have always loved our VWs so feeling a bit disappointed that a well cared for low ks 7 year old car is essentially a write off.

Thanks in advance.

[sixboltmains]

Hi,
First time to post in here. I think we may have the same problem people are writing about in this forum.
We have a 2010 VW Jetta 118 TSI DSG.
On Sunday we were driving on the city west link in Sydney and the car suddenly lost power. We limped home (2 minutes away) - engine shuddering. The EPC and engine failure light came on. Called NRMA - he plugged it into his computer and diagnosed a loss of pressure in cylinder 4. NRMA towed it up to the local VW service centre.

This afternoon they rang and said it was bad news. After charging $126 to 'diagnose' the problem, they said we had.... a loss of pressure in cylinder 4. They said they would need to 'open up the engine' to determine the full extent of the problem, which would cost about $1200.
And that the 'best case scenario' we would be looking at $6000-7000 for repairs, and worst case, $12,000 for a new engine.

Given that the car was only worth about $6000, it is hardly worth spending anything like this. Ironically we had just been up to the showroom last week to choose a new VW Golf Alltrack and were about to begin the process of selling the old Jetta. I even got as far as having a broker source some potential deals for us. Now we are stuck with no car to sell which leaves a big hole in our budget in terms of upgrading. Not to mention being without a car in the middle of school holidays and having to contemplate getting to work/school/daycare pickups and drop offs.

It only has 67,000kms on it, and it has been regularly serviced at VW (only one time we went to a non-VW service). Spotless service record. It is a family car and has been well looked after and never thrashed. We are the first owners, having bought it new.

I had read these forums last night (thanks, all - amazing resource) and husband mentioned to the VW service centre that this sounded like the 'known fault' and that VWA were covering costs for some. The service customer rep said he didnt know anything about that.

Hoping to draw on your collective wisdom. Can anyone advise:

1. I was wondering if the problem I describe fits the general identified problem that others are getting compensation for? Or is it too uncertain at this point until they have opened up the engine? ie: is the 'diagnosis' of loss of pressure in cylinder 4 enough to to get the ball rolling to seek compensation?
2. Do I pay them the $1200 they are asking to 'open it up' and identify the extent of the problem?
3. If it sounds to people that the problem is the 'known fault' with this engine - What should be my next step? - pay that $1200 now, or immediately write to VWA Australia and push for them to cover the costs? Or should I write to the dealer first?

Sorry for the string of questions. I'm not a car expert. We have always loved our VWs so feeling a bit disappointed that a well cared for low ks 7 year old car is essentially a write off.

Thanks in advance.

Sorry to hear about your Jetta issues. I can fully appreciate what you are feeling. The answers to your questions and some comments:

- Yes, the issue, on the face of it, sounds like a cracked piston issue that is common on with this engine. Confirmation is only possible upon opening the engine block up.

- VW Australia will want the local dealer to open up the engine block up first and get confirmation BEFORE discussing options. So you will need to do that...but I am not sure why the dealer told you that they didnt know about this known issue or getting compensation.

- I went to three different VW dealers to get quotes to open the engine up - they ranged from $700 to $1750, so you need to shop around.

- You may be able to get a replacement service car whilst they look at your engine.

- The fact its a 1 owner car with very low KMs you have a good chance that VW Aus will cover the costs (less the initial $XXX to open it up)

- Initiate the conversation with VW Aus and tell then the facts and take it from there.

- Under Australian consumer law they HAVE TO fix it so dont take NO for an answer.

Good luck and let me know if you have any further questions.

[Mk R]

I haven't piped up in this thread for a few months and it's so long that many of you won't read it all.

If you don't have any luck with VW goodwill you can find a 2011/2012 wrecker engine for about $1,200-$1,600 and have it installed for about $1,500 in labour at a good independent mechanic (Sydney Prices).

You could also buy forged aftermarket pistons for about AUD 900 online and have the engine rebuilt for about $3,000.

To be honest I wouldn't bother paying the $1,200 for the full inspection. Have a $50 compression test done and if the cylinder is shot then drop the $3,000 on the wrecker engine job and be done with it in a couple of weeks. Even if you get goodwill you'll still likely be a couple of grand out of pocket.

I put a 2011 wrecker engine in mine two years ago and it's still going strong even after heavy tuning.

[sixboltmains]

I haven't piped up in this thread for a few months and it's so long that many of you won't read it all.

If you don't have any luck with VW goodwill you can find a 2011/2012 wrecker engine for about $1,200-$1,600 and have it installed for about $1,500 in labour at a good independent mechanic (Sydney Prices).

You could also buy forged aftermarket pistons for about AUD 900 online and have the engine rebuilt for about $3,000.

To be honest I wouldn't bother paying the $1,200 for the full inspection. Have a $50 compression test done and if the cylinder is shot then drop the $3,000 on the wrecker engine job and be done with it in a couple of weeks. Even if you get goodwill you'll still likely be a couple of grand out of pocket.

I put a 2011 wrecker engine in mine two years ago and it's still going strong even after heavy tuning.

Interesting.......I went thru this exercise earlier this year...and it was not possible to find a 1.4L twincharged wrecker/second hand engine for less than $4500. Then you will need to pay someone $1500-$2000 to install it. Comes to $6000 to $7000 anyway.


And if you do find a second hand engine, you don't know what condition its in and may probably in future have the same cracked piston issue...


The benefit of getting VW to do a goodwill repair is that its essentially free (less inspection cost) and comes with a two year parts & labour warranty from VW Aus.


You don't have to pay $1200 for inspection, if you shop around you may/will find a VW dealer that is cheaper than that.


Regarding forged pistons - the current price of genuine Wossner forged pistons is more than $600 EACH and thats if you import them your self from Europe.


If you are doing this yourself, you actually do not need forged pistons as the revised VW cast pistons (made by Kolbenschmidt -part number 03C107065CK) has resolved the issue. It was the older design pistons made by Mahle that had the issue.


You can buy these revised Kolbenschmidt pistons directly from any UK parts supplier for less than $200 each...no need to pay $450 each to VW and get ripped off.

[Kaliani]

The benefit of getting VW to do a goodwill repair is that its essentially free (less inspection cost) and comes with a two year parts & labour warranty from VW Aus.


You don't have to pay $1200 for inspection, if you shop around you may/will find a VW dealer that is cheaper than that.

Thanks sixboltmains. Is there any chance VW would also cover that $1200 inspection as part of a goodwill repair package?

[sixboltmains]

Thanks sixboltmains. Is there any chance VW would also cover that $1200 inspection as part of a goodwill repair package?

Hello - when this piston issue first happened to me in 2012 we had to pay the inspection costs ourselves and it was not reimbursed. BUT there have been forum members where the full cost including inspection was also covered by VW Aus....so there is no clear precedent.

[Mk R]

Interesting.......I went thru this exercise earlier this year...and it was not possible to find a 1.4L twincharged wrecker/second hand engine for less than $4500. Then you will need to pay someone $1500-$2000 to install it. Comes to $6000 to $7000 anyway.


And if you do find a second hand engine, you don't know what condition its in and may probably in future have the same cracked piston issue...


The benefit of getting VW to do a goodwill repair is that its essentially free (less inspection cost) and comes with a two year parts & labour warranty from VW Aus.


You don't have to pay $1200 for inspection, if you shop around you may/will find a VW dealer that is cheaper than that.


Regarding forged pistons - the current price of genuine Wossner forged pistons is more than $600 EACH and thats if you import them your self from Europe.


If you are doing this yourself, you actually do not need forged pistons as the revised VW cast pistons (made by Kolbenschmidt -part number 03C107065CK) has resolved the issue. It was the older design pistons made by Mahle that had the issue.


You can buy these revised Kolbenschmidt pistons directly from any UK parts supplier for less than $200 each...no need to pay $450 each to VW and get ripped off.

If you read through this thread you'll see that VW goodwill does not always cover the entire cost of the replacement and rebuild, often taking months to negotiate and complete. That's unfortunate you weren't able to find one for a reasonable price but fantastic if you got the whole repair on goodwill.

The gumtree CAVD engines are sold with all peripherals for up to $4,000+ but only the central block is required. There's a whole CTHD engine for sale on gumtree right now for $2400 negotiable.

This thread also has record of a number of other long time users who have had the same experience and pricing, often even cheaper. Perhaps you just had bad timing.

The 03C107065CK pistons are obviously fine if you don't need a re-bore but won't fit if you've had any kind of scraping in the failed cylinder requiring a re bore to 77mm and only a muppet would replace a single piston (something VW are suspected to have done under goodwill when the cylinder wasn't gouged).

The piston kit with Part number K9481D050 (and similar) is a set of 4 pistons and is available for between AU $800 to about AU $1,300 plus postage depending on your google skills.

There's also forged kits by DP, Carrillo and so on.

[VW Convert]

Thanks sixboltmains. Is there any chance VW would also cover that $1200 inspection as part of a goodwill repair package?

As sixboltmains has stated, some owners have been reimbursed these costs, it seems to be on an individual case basis but as yours is such a low mileage example, I would be pushing for it from the get go.

One important thing to remember, you refer to it as goodwill............you need to be clear on this, it is not goodwill it is rectification in accordance with your statutory rights as set out under Australian Consumer Law as it is a reasonable expectation that an engine will last longer than 67,000 KM.

When you discuss this with your dealer, make sure they understand that you know that this is a known issue, that you are aware there have been countless examples where VW has rectified this issue well outside of the usual warranty period and that you are not asking for a favour, you are asking them to rectify their flawed product as they are required to do.

Cheers

George