Caravelle = C and ends with P

[question?]

Ok... so a couple of questions you maybe able to assist with. Our MY11 Carvalle went in for its 30k service - and held high hopes of not another long batch of repairs - well I was wrong and again let down by the quality of a our "new" VW purchase - its not even 2 years old. I won't get into all of the new issues but I have a question on 2, which I have been informed are "Retail" repairs - yes non warranty jobs.

Washer Bottle Leak: Somehow miraculously our washer tank leaks - has a crack or something wrong and needs to be replaced at a tidy $415. The parts need to come from Europe as it not stocked in Aust. My questions with all the covers and good knows what else underneath the T5 - how can the washer be impacted or damaged. Does anyone have access to the layout or placement or photos of the layout so I can understand how this may happen? There has been no crash or impact or any damage to the car. I am not mechanically minded but anything you can direct or point me to on this would be great.

RH Outer CV Boot Split and Leaking Grease: Now its the right hand CV boot that needs replacing as a retail repair. TheLH one was down at 17ks - the exact same issue but repaired under warranty - thoughts? The van has down an additional 14,000ks and the the right hand side has done the same thing but I am up for it. The longest trips it ever down it the coast and back - possibly 700k's - all other driving is local suburban runs.

Words cannot express my feelings last night - what did we spend 60k on.

[phaeton]

I would speak to the Service Manager and express your concerns, if unhappy with answer maybe try another dealer.

EDIT - I can't say what should be covered and what not should be covered by warranty as we as a forum don't know the full story.
CV Boot issue is a little odd though & washer bottle should be warranty unless they can show you where the damage is and explain how they think it occured & if its cracked as they say it should be warranty.

[Tornado T5]

Frankly I wouldn't accept any of that, unless they can show the damage occurred through some form of piercing etc I would expect it to be warranty. I'd even have them call VW Australia and the area where a service department needs to confirm warranty claims and have VW Aust speak to you and explain why it should be any other way. I'd be even a "hard nut" and have it confirmed in writing. I'd also want to know how one cv boot repair was warranty and now it's not as well. Plus, if it's a genuine warranty claim the manufacturer picks up the costs so I can't see how or why a dealer would play difficult.

I had a key break at the hinge to the remote and fully expected to pay for it as I didn't think it was a warranty item and to my surprise at my second last service they had managed to fix it using a spare they has lying around, all for free. It's why I went back this week, (my extended warranty has expired as well) for the 150,000km when I could have gone local and saved a 70km round trip and maybe some money as well.

[Transporter]

Same here it should be warranty repair, unless you were involved in the accident and the crash repairer overlooked a leaking w/screen washer bottle, in which case I would be demanding fix from him. The CV boot could be blamed on the driver (mechanical damage), but if they 're known to leak, it should be covered (it is in your case).

Call VW Australia.

[question?]

Thanks for the feedback... I have had a day or two to calm down and prepare my response. Friday night the dealer sent a survey on email... I had to control myself not letting rip. Its been a very depressing process overall VW owenership, never had these kind of issues with our Mazda MPV for 5 years. We have gone the last 14000k without have to be in and out for repairs but that is about all about to start again like to first 15. Its never had any front end bingles but I can say I practically have a new front end... so many parts have been replaced.. its is bloody crazy.

[question?]

The Reply: There is no way we can attribute the failure to a manufacturing defect and replace it under warranty. When the Volkswagen Warranty Adjudicator inspects the failed parts at his routine visit he would simply reverse the claim as it would be clear to him that no manufacturing defect existed.

My Answer: You have now lost my business for any future servicing or direct purchases (I wont share the attitude sent our way in response to the issue/s)

On a serious note - If I jump to non-dealer workshop to install genuine parts to replace the Boot cover... am I stuffing any future warranty claims or Extended Warranty options? They are a Euro specialists who ironically used to manage the dealers workshop.

[Tornado T5]

Has the VW WA actually been consulted? Where has the leak occurred, eg. along a seam? So what wear and tear would a washer bottle res. undergo in under 2 years, I'm sure you weren't feeding high pressure water into it or using extremely "heavy" mineralised water.

Re not going to a dealer for servicing, as long as geniune parts/oils are used and servcing proceedures and scheduling is followed according to manuals then you shuld be OK. Hopefully Transporter could qualify this. I remember a national servicing company making such a claim in ther advertising about not voiding warranty based on this criteria. I'd make sure to store the paperwork carefully as a dealer has it computerised and down the track if you go non-dealer this will be your only reference.

[Transporter]

None of my customers have a problem with the warranty when they go to get the warranty job done at the dealer. It's in the law that the manufacturer's warranty can't be voided for that reason. I even have the customer who had his turbo on his Skoda TDI replaced after I've diagnosed it; on my advice he took it to the dealer. The car was just 6 months out of warranty and done over 100,000km. He didn't pay a cent for the turbo despite he was the second owner of that car, which was sold to him from the interstate by the dealer and also he never went to the dealer for any service, the car had just 10,000km when he bought it; all the stamps in the service book were mine.

Bear in mind that good independent will also give you a good advice, will be extra careful when the car is almost out of warranty and will send you to the dealer to have any needed warranty jobs done, to save your pocket. I do that, always did.

[wanderingwilson]

Not sure if your T5 is the same but I had the washer bottle out of my 05 4motion today. Turns out that filler tube is sealed with orings and had simply pulled out of bottle. You can check by removing the retaining screw at the neck near the cap and see if the neck flops around. If it does pry off the panel between the headlights and fog lights, put some Vaseline on the orings and push the neck back in. In my case I think a little car park brush or similar may have flexed the bumper and caused the hassle. Good luck with VW, go get ,em. Cheers

[question?]

None of my customers have a problem with the warranty when they go to get the warranty job done at the dealer. It's in the law that the manufacturer's warranty can't be voided for that reason.
Bear in mind that good independent will also give you a good advice, will be extra careful when the car is almost out of warranty and will send you to the dealer to have any needed warranty jobs done, to save your pocket. I do that, always did.

I spoke to the independent workshop who actually took the time to explain the process. What the past and future warranty repairs actually mean in simple terms as I rattled them all off - As I said to him I am not even a client but you have just explained everything in a 5 minute chat so I "get it". If the dealer service department actually did the same thing then I would not have been as p-off as I have been.... Damaged done now really on their behalf... I really don't want to deal with them anymore for servicing but will have too for warranty repairs etc... little choice on that one unless I travel hours away.