Golf MK6 Air Con Condenser damaged by stone!
Discussion
My Mk6 GTD is in the dealers right now as the AC isn't working, they've just called me to say it cannot be fixed under warranty as the fault is due to stone damage to the condenser (aircon rad) itself which sits directly behind the front grill. They've offered me a GOOD WILL price of £493! The service agents says the stone can be visibly seen (whilst the bumper is off) so I have asked for a picture to be taken whilst the bumper is off so I can see said damage for myself.
Anyway, as you can imagine, I'm pretty annoyed by this, as the car is under warranty, but their angle is the fault has been caused by damage so it's not covered under the warranty on the vehicle. I understand that the grill needs to have holes/vents in it to aid cooling of the engine etc but all I have done is driven the car as I should, sat up and down the M6 everyday on my commute, it's not like I've done the Dakar rally in it!
The rough breakdown of the quote is £300 parts, £200 labour, including the goodwill gesture.
Does anyone think it's worth contacting VW Customer Services about this? You simply cannot prevent the possibility of a stone travelling through the front grill and damaging the radiator, it's not been caused by mis-use and I've not damaged it through any fault of my own. Not overly impressed with having to part with the best part of £500 and am keen to explore other options. If I did pay out and got it sorted what's to say it wouldn't happen again, it clearly could!
The stone has damaged the condenser, as you can now see from the pics they have leak tested it, and the green dye is leaking from the stone indentation.
It's only done 23,500 miles FFS!
Anyway, as you can imagine, I'm pretty annoyed by this, as the car is under warranty, but their angle is the fault has been caused by damage so it's not covered under the warranty on the vehicle. I understand that the grill needs to have holes/vents in it to aid cooling of the engine etc but all I have done is driven the car as I should, sat up and down the M6 everyday on my commute, it's not like I've done the Dakar rally in it!
The rough breakdown of the quote is £300 parts, £200 labour, including the goodwill gesture.
Does anyone think it's worth contacting VW Customer Services about this? You simply cannot prevent the possibility of a stone travelling through the front grill and damaging the radiator, it's not been caused by mis-use and I've not damaged it through any fault of my own. Not overly impressed with having to part with the best part of £500 and am keen to explore other options. If I did pay out and got it sorted what's to say it wouldn't happen again, it clearly could!
The stone has damaged the condenser, as you can now see from the pics they have leak tested it, and the green dye is leaking from the stone indentation.
It's only done 23,500 miles FFS!
If a stone had chipped/cracked your windscreen, would you be expecting VW to be replacing it for free? I know I wouldn't.
Or what if you had hit a pothole and ruined a wheel?
As much as there may have been nothing you could have done to avoid it, by the same token, there was nothing VW could have done to avoid it either. It does not come down to a manufacturing defect, so is not VW's fault.
I think you'll have a hard time getting anything from them, or any sympathy on here I'm afraid.
Or what if you had hit a pothole and ruined a wheel?
As much as there may have been nothing you could have done to avoid it, by the same token, there was nothing VW could have done to avoid it either. It does not come down to a manufacturing defect, so is not VW's fault.
I think you'll have a hard time getting anything from them, or any sympathy on here I'm afraid.
SmithyAG said:
If a stone had chipped/cracked your windscreen, would you be expecting VW to be replacing it for free? I know I wouldn't.
Or what if you had hit a pothole and ruined a wheel?
As much as there may have been nothing you could have done to avoid it, by the same token, there was nothing VW could have done to avoid it either. It does not come down to a manufacturing defect, so is not VW's fault.
I think you'll have a hard time getting anything from them, or any sympathy on here I'm afraid.
As above, if a ston flicked up and smashed a foglight, would you expect VW to pay for it? I dont think so. Or what if you had hit a pothole and ruined a wheel?
As much as there may have been nothing you could have done to avoid it, by the same token, there was nothing VW could have done to avoid it either. It does not come down to a manufacturing defect, so is not VW's fault.
I think you'll have a hard time getting anything from them, or any sympathy on here I'm afraid.
End of the day occasionally this sort of thing happens if cars are used, you were just unlucky that a stone big enough got through and hit the condensor. It looks like its a big stone so you were pretty unlucky it managed to fit exactly through the hole in the lower grill.
It's probably worth mentioning that VW actually sell an inner grill which is there to protect the condenser, but it's not a standard fit, who knows why! I've emailed and tweeted VW UK now to see what they say, but as you guys say, it's unlucky and I'm unlucky that it'll probably end up costing me near on £500.
*Badger* said:
It's probably worth mentioning that VW actually sell an inner grill which is there to protect the condenser, but it's not a standard fit, who knows why! I've emailed and tweeted VW UK now to see what they say, but as you guys say, it's unlucky and I'm unlucky that it'll probably end up costing me near on £500.
Seems odd they sell an inner grill to prevent this exact problem! If anything I'd see if you pay for the work etc can they chuck an inner grill in to stop it happening again.
*Badger* said:
It's probably worth mentioning that VW actually sell an inner grill which is there to protect the condenser, but it's not a standard fit, who knows why! I've emailed and tweeted VW UK now to see what they say, but as you guys say, it's unlucky and I'm unlucky that it'll probably end up costing me near on £500.
Interesting, possibly a standard fit in places where stone damage is common (like scandinavia/eastern block countries etc) but not fitted to UK cars as standard?If you get one fitted please could you provide me with the part number? I might look into getting one for my GTD if they arent too expensive and not too hard to fit
To be fair you cant really protect a windscreen as it has to be expose and this is not really comparible with the OPs issue.
FFS an aircon rad sitting behind an open grill is a poor design and in this day and age shouldn't happen.
A simple piece of mesh would have more than likely prevented this and on a premium brand this isn't really acceptable.
Most older cars like my old 92 Astra GSI used to have grills where the slats where at an angle to prevent this sort of thing happening thus avoiding the OPs issue.
Mat
FFS an aircon rad sitting behind an open grill is a poor design and in this day and age shouldn't happen.
A simple piece of mesh would have more than likely prevented this and on a premium brand this isn't really acceptable.
Most older cars like my old 92 Astra GSI used to have grills where the slats where at an angle to prevent this sort of thing happening thus avoiding the OPs issue.
Mat
My car has its intercooler, oil cooler, radiator etc all exposed on the front of the car. There are plenty of dents from stones flying into it but no leaks. There's a similar black plastic mesh as shown in the OPs which is more for looks than anything. Its just one of those things and unfortunately s
t happens. It could have easily been a windscreen, or a headlamp or indicator etc
t happens. It could have easily been a windscreen, or a headlamp or indicator etcIts with VW UK now they are looking into it, but I will definitely be getting the inner mesh grill fitted as an extra when the repair is under taken to avoid this happening again.
I'd like VW to do the work really, not because I like giving money away, but the compressor itself is also a common weakness on the Mk6 (and Mk5's I believe) and should I experience future problems with my AC I don't want to give them the opportunity to say that the condenser I had fitted elsewhere had caused a fault.
I'm hopeful now that I know that an inner mesh is available to prevent this from happening that VW UK will be more forthcoming with a decent offer towards the repair.
I'd like VW to do the work really, not because I like giving money away, but the compressor itself is also a common weakness on the Mk6 (and Mk5's I believe) and should I experience future problems with my AC I don't want to give them the opportunity to say that the condenser I had fitted elsewhere had caused a fault.
I'm hopeful now that I know that an inner mesh is available to prevent this from happening that VW UK will be more forthcoming with a decent offer towards the repair.
An update on this. After raising a case with VW Customer Care, they have agreed to lower the cost of the repair by a further £100.
A little win on my side, rather than backing down and just agreeing to pay the price they originally wanted.
Now i've asked if they'll fit the extra grill during the works, to hopefully prevent it from happening again.
A little win on my side, rather than backing down and just agreeing to pay the price they originally wanted.
Now i've asked if they'll fit the extra grill during the works, to hopefully prevent it from happening again.
gottans said:
Can't believe they agreed to this, personally I think they should have told you where to go, smacks of the compensation culture.
Did it give you whiplash, need a lawyer?
st happens, get over it.
Really helpful post. Did it give you whiplash, need a lawyer?
s
t happens, get over it.
Anyway OP, well done for getting a bit off. A more sensible price and a happy customer, good for you and the dealer.
Campo said:
gottans said:
Can't believe they agreed to this, personally I think they should have told you where to go, smacks of the compensation culture.
Did it give you whiplash, need a lawyer?
st happens, get over it.
Really helpful post. Did it give you whiplash, need a lawyer?
s
t happens, get over it.Anyway OP, well done for getting a bit off. A more sensible price and a happy customer, good for you and the dealer.
gottans said:
I thought some people wouldn't like the comment but the original issue just smacks of the OP thinking that what happened is someone else's fault when it isn't.
Of course it's VW's fault - and they rub salt in the wound by offering a stone guard (so acknowleging the problem) as an extra. They could prevent the damage in the first place by fitting the stone guard as standard which would probably add pence to each car. Not fitting it gives their dealers a nice revenue source from fitting replacement condensers.I'd imagine the "stone guard" was probably an extra over here due to us having (within reason) smooth roads. Whereas I expect they come as standard in countries like the US and Canada and other parts of Europe where long stretches of lesser used roads would be gravel/stone rather than traditional tarmac.
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