Exhaust warning light on,

[Transporter]

Ahhh, OK, it's the water cooling of the exhaust gas that has failed Highlander, so basically the car is getting hotter than normal exhaust gas, car will be down on power, that's all, economy will suffer a bit as a result. I agree it wouldn't be too harmful, but it's odd the 103 flap is belt driven, the one on the 125 is electronic, but it is a totally different system.

What model / year is the car mate, I don't know of anything sub MK6 in 103kw that had a DPF..... and extra exhaust gas, or hotter than normal, or lack thereof due to a faulty EGR valve won't hurt the DPF, would help keep temps up if anything else and burn off a bit more carbon! The health of the turbo, well that's a different story..... but not a problem in your case Highlander.

Sounds like a mob of chimps run your local dealer mate....

Well I got mixed that one up, really. I thought that Highlander is talking about Passat 125kW TDI with the DPF and referring to DPF light on the dash.
Sorry, to confuse you guys.

[Highlander]

April 2009 build Mk VI Golf TDI 103. Certainly not down on power either. Sales Manager at dealers (who I can't speak more highly of) usually drops me back at work and then delivers the car to me after service commented on how strong this car feels in comparison to other 103 TDI Golfs. Maybe it's the 30000 kms but seat of the pants the torque, acceleration etc is great and hasn't seemed to have suffered with the exhaust gas problems. Never measured but if feels quicker than my CC 125 TDI Diesel.

Probably isn't in reality Golf 13.39 kg/KW. CC is 12.2 kg/KW.

Note I said the Salesperson who helps out. Too hard for the service guys to spend three minutes dropping me back to work. Customer Service is always too busy.

[Highlander]

Car was repaired today. Invoice (Warranty) states "Replaced auxiliary coolant pump".

As the car has just over 29,000 km decided to do the 30000 km service at the same time and also requested throttle body clean.

Imagine my surprise when the total invoice cost was $74.00. Here I am thinking VW service was suddenly very reasonable. Not so. They had overlooked doing the 30000 km service. Service Desk had forgotten to put it on the Job Sheet.

They offered to do it there and then but as it was already 4.10 pm, I didn't fancy the idea of the 30000 km service being rushed through by 5.00 pm.

Oh well, what is another day without the car. Sometimes I'm glad we didn't accept the low trade in figure for our 230,000 km Corolla. Sort of like having our own loan car.

[Russ59]

I'm guessing this is M.V. Volkswagen service dept. you're referring to ? I used to have to take mine to S.C.C. VW in Wollongong and the service dept. there also leaves a lot to be desired.

[Highlander]

I'm guessing this is M.V. Volkswagen service dept. you're referring to ? I used to have to take mine to S.C.C. VW in Wollongong and the service dept. there also leaves a lot to be desired.

No names, no pack drill but where do you have yours serviced now>.

[Russ59]

No names, no pack drill but where do you have yours serviced now>.

We have a newly opened VW dealership on the South Coast (Nowra) So far so good

[Umai Naa!!]

Besides kicking up a fuss on a message forum, have you considered sitting down and having a chat with those in charge at the dealership?

Seems like the logical thing to do if it's improvements in customer service you're after.

[Transporter]

I think that Highlander has every right to be upset.

[Umai Naa!!]

No doubt about it.

[Highlander]

Besides kicking up a fuss on a message forum, have you considered sitting down and having a chat with those in charge at the dealership?

Seems like the logical thing to do if it's improvements in customer service you're after.

Tried that logical approach already without much success. Not sure if anyone is really in charge, much less in control.

I am a very slow learner but not as slow as some customers service departments. To date I have not had a service that has been totally satisfactory or that have not required taking the car(s) back again for something. Or something as silly as taking 25 minutes to find the keys to my car after arriving at the dealership to pick up the "serviced" car. Service Desk had rung 45 minutes earlier to say the car was ready.

To be good at customer service you need to enjoy customer service plus have good communication and trust between the guys on the tools and the guys on the desk.

If I have a customer that has a justifiable gripe, we make sure that next time we see them they are VERY well looked after. We may go as far as marking their file "We stuffed up this customer last time. Make sure it doesn't happen again. Doesn't seem to happen that way in the car game.

Dealer service is not cheap in price so there is no reason for it to be cheap in quality. And it is the "Management" that either makes or breaks a service facility.

Previously after numerous complaints about a leaking hardcover on a ute, the comment "You could use it as a goldfish pond" was not really appreciated. This came from a senior manager at the dealership who seems to have failed in his first choice career as a comedian.

And I still take two vehicles there for service. As I said, I am a slow learner.