Driving with a fault - Voiding Warranty
Discussion
More of a rant really.
Mrs has a 2017 Passat, 2.0tdi 190hp model, with adblue.
She started it yesterday and the EML stayed on – I have a variation of VAGCOM so I plugged it in, it’s a glow plug fault.
She does circa 500 miles a week, give or take, for work. It’s just ticked over 100k, we pay for the ‘All In’ VW warranty because the car has things like Virtual dash and DSG box which I don’t fancy having to pay to replace if they fail.
We have extended warranty with VW so phoned them this morning to book, can’t be booked in until end of August because there are no courtesy cars available.
I haven’t told them I know what the fault is, because I don’t want them thinking it’s been tampered with (it hasn’t, but you know, warranty companies).
However I’ve told them there’s a check engine light.
When I said ‘well, what happens with my warranty if we cover another few thousand miles while we wait for the car to go in? what if it develops other faults?’
(That's what's written in the warranty handbook...)
I just got the response ‘I don’t know, I just handle bookings I’ve had no technical training’ – snarky, but fine, pass me to someone who can answer then please.
‘Nobody available.’
I know from previous experience, driving a diesel Passat while the EML is on prevented it from doing it’s regular DPF clean, so I know that even though it’s only a glow plug being a bit slow & should be fine, I’m hesitant to introduce other problems by piling on another 2-3k miles.
Similarly I don’t want to keep plugging in and turning the EML off for the next 4 weeks because they’ll see that’s been done, and I don’t think I should be fixing it myself because I’m paying £500 odd a year specifically for this reason!
I got offered an enterprise rental but £35 a day is also something I’m not interested in paying.
No other availability at the other 3 sites near to me. (Essex based).
I’m currently waiting for written confirmation that it’s not going to affect my warranty but I expect I’m going to be chasing that for the next week.
Mrs has a 2017 Passat, 2.0tdi 190hp model, with adblue.
She started it yesterday and the EML stayed on – I have a variation of VAGCOM so I plugged it in, it’s a glow plug fault.
She does circa 500 miles a week, give or take, for work. It’s just ticked over 100k, we pay for the ‘All In’ VW warranty because the car has things like Virtual dash and DSG box which I don’t fancy having to pay to replace if they fail.
We have extended warranty with VW so phoned them this morning to book, can’t be booked in until end of August because there are no courtesy cars available.
I haven’t told them I know what the fault is, because I don’t want them thinking it’s been tampered with (it hasn’t, but you know, warranty companies).
However I’ve told them there’s a check engine light.
When I said ‘well, what happens with my warranty if we cover another few thousand miles while we wait for the car to go in? what if it develops other faults?’
(That's what's written in the warranty handbook...)
I just got the response ‘I don’t know, I just handle bookings I’ve had no technical training’ – snarky, but fine, pass me to someone who can answer then please.
‘Nobody available.’
I know from previous experience, driving a diesel Passat while the EML is on prevented it from doing it’s regular DPF clean, so I know that even though it’s only a glow plug being a bit slow & should be fine, I’m hesitant to introduce other problems by piling on another 2-3k miles.
Similarly I don’t want to keep plugging in and turning the EML off for the next 4 weeks because they’ll see that’s been done, and I don’t think I should be fixing it myself because I’m paying £500 odd a year specifically for this reason!
I got offered an enterprise rental but £35 a day is also something I’m not interested in paying.
No other availability at the other 3 sites near to me. (Essex based).
I’m currently waiting for written confirmation that it’s not going to affect my warranty but I expect I’m going to be chasing that for the next week.
Had one go on wife's Tiguan and it was replaced under All In.
Ours just threw up a glow plug light though. I read the codes and it told me the fault (no 2 glow plug)..
I called VW Assist (also part of All In) as I'd heard they'll sometimes replace at roadside. He didn't, just said it was fine to drive and referred to dealer. I don't know if his referral helped, but the dealer could get the car in, and supply a courtesy car, within a few days. We did have another (not time critical) fault with the car recently and that time there was a month wait, although they wanted the car for 3 days.
I talk to the dealership directly, not through their call centre. I think a lot depends on who you get to speak to.
ETA: If she's doing 100 miles per day on business then must be getting paid for it. If you can't get a courtesy car then I'd be minded to go for the hire car - but check there's no stupid daily milage limit.
Ours just threw up a glow plug light though. I read the codes and it told me the fault (no 2 glow plug)..
I called VW Assist (also part of All In) as I'd heard they'll sometimes replace at roadside. He didn't, just said it was fine to drive and referred to dealer. I don't know if his referral helped, but the dealer could get the car in, and supply a courtesy car, within a few days. We did have another (not time critical) fault with the car recently and that time there was a month wait, although they wanted the car for 3 days.
I talk to the dealership directly, not through their call centre. I think a lot depends on who you get to speak to.
ETA: If she's doing 100 miles per day on business then must be getting paid for it. If you can't get a courtesy car then I'd be minded to go for the hire car - but check there's no stupid daily milage limit.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Thursday 20th July 14:43
Push them via VW assist. I have on occassion thrown that card at BMW and to a degree AM assist. Broadly speaking they will have a list that will get a tech out and recovery if needed or straight to recovery.
The benefit being you jump the queue as an emergency not at an ordinary booking and most will require the car to be looked at in circa 48 hours, most include a hire car for that time period subject to extension by the dealer.
The fact it has an EML on will be a good factor to use in getting them out under assist, you may need to embellish a little about the fact you don't want her driving it in its current condition and nor does your wife want to drive it.
Avoid technical stuff as the initial first line won't be technical, but it will be reviewed generally speaking by back office or if uncertain by a tech on the ground.
I see VW use the AA, a lot use Allianz fundamentally, but I cannot imagine the process being significantly different!
The benefit being you jump the queue as an emergency not at an ordinary booking and most will require the car to be looked at in circa 48 hours, most include a hire car for that time period subject to extension by the dealer.
The fact it has an EML on will be a good factor to use in getting them out under assist, you may need to embellish a little about the fact you don't want her driving it in its current condition and nor does your wife want to drive it.
Avoid technical stuff as the initial first line won't be technical, but it will be reviewed generally speaking by back office or if uncertain by a tech on the ground.
I see VW use the AA, a lot use Allianz fundamentally, but I cannot imagine the process being significantly different!
They didn't object to coming out to ours with just the glow plug light showing, but there was no suggestion of recovering the car - the patrolman went out of his way to say it would be fine to drive.
There may be some other issue with the OPs car if it's putting up the eml.
We have has SEAT Assist recover daughter's car with a "faulty driveshaft" after the patrolman looked at it. Turned out to be just a plastic shield broken!
Getting the hire car was a faff - Enterprise refused to deliver it. The repair still took a week but the supposed time limit of 4 days for the car wasn't mentioned.
There may be some other issue with the OPs car if it's putting up the eml.
We have has SEAT Assist recover daughter's car with a "faulty driveshaft" after the patrolman looked at it. Turned out to be just a plastic shield broken!
Getting the hire car was a faff - Enterprise refused to deliver it. The repair still took a week but the supposed time limit of 4 days for the car wasn't mentioned.
Glowplugs are only used for startup, they play no role in a running diesel engine, so the car is safe to drive from that point of view.
If they were intransigent I'd be inclined to just replace one myself, it's like an £8 part.
TL;DR your method sounds like a lot of hassle compared to just fixing what you know is broken.
If they were intransigent I'd be inclined to just replace one myself, it's like an £8 part.
TL;DR your method sounds like a lot of hassle compared to just fixing what you know is broken.
CraigyMc said:
Glowplugs are only used for startup, they play no role in a running diesel engine, so the car is safe to drive from that point of view.
If they were intransigent I'd be inclined to just replace one myself, it's like an £8 part.
TL;DR your method sounds like a lot of hassle compared to just fixing what you know is broken.
That's old info. They run longer on more modern cars. If they were intransigent I'd be inclined to just replace one myself, it's like an £8 part.
TL;DR your method sounds like a lot of hassle compared to just fixing what you know is broken.
CraigyMc said:
Glowplugs are only used for startup, they play no role in a running diesel engine, so the car is safe to drive from that point of view.
If they were intransigent I'd be inclined to just replace one myself, it's like an £8 part.
TL;DR your method sounds like a lot of hassle compared to just fixing what you know is broken.
Not quite, they stay on after start up until the engine is up to temp to improve refinement, emissions etc.If they were intransigent I'd be inclined to just replace one myself, it's like an £8 part.
TL;DR your method sounds like a lot of hassle compared to just fixing what you know is broken.
You might just find its a bit lumpy on cold until its warm (less of an issue in summer).
I had a Fiesta Zetec S TDCi years ago with an iffy glow plug and it was lumpy and quite smokey when cold but once warmed a little was fine
ingenieur said:
CraigyMc said:
Glowplugs are only used for startup, they play no role in a running diesel engine, so the car is safe to drive from that point of view.
If they were intransigent I'd be inclined to just replace one myself, it's like an £8 part.
TL;DR your method sounds like a lot of hassle compared to just fixing what you know is broken.
That's old info. They run longer on more modern cars. If they were intransigent I'd be inclined to just replace one myself, it's like an £8 part.
TL;DR your method sounds like a lot of hassle compared to just fixing what you know is broken.
Just drive it down there and go to the service desk and tell them the EML is on and go from there rather than phone them.
If you are there in person they may be more inclined to help out.
Having said that you could book it in for a waiting appointment which might see it dealt with sooner.
If you are there in person they may be more inclined to help out.
Having said that you could book it in for a waiting appointment which might see it dealt with sooner.
If the EML is steady it generally seems to mean that there is an issue, but you can continue driving.
If it's constantly flashing that means an issue that can cause damage if you continue.
Weirdly I had a short flashing EML once at idle from a cold start, that then went out after a few seconds and didn't come back.
I can recommend OBD11, that's a great bluetooth OBD reader for VAG cars. Mine picked up the code that another reader didn't show. (A one off weird short misfire in multiple cylinders)
If it's constantly flashing that means an issue that can cause damage if you continue.
Weirdly I had a short flashing EML once at idle from a cold start, that then went out after a few seconds and didn't come back.
I can recommend OBD11, that's a great bluetooth OBD reader for VAG cars. Mine picked up the code that another reader didn't show. (A one off weird short misfire in multiple cylinders)
Truckosaurus said:
Often cars use the glow plugs for the DPF regen - to get things nice and hot.
This.The car won’t perform a regen with a glow plug fault. There is a risk of the DPF getting blocked.
I’d suggest that the DPF is probably excluded from warranty and they would replace it rather than clean it.
Get it in writing that they will cover further damage if you continue to use it.
It may just be a failed glow plug, they’re not particularly expensive and it may be worth your while swallowing the cost of a repair outside the dealer network.
CraigyMc said:
ingenieur said:
CraigyMc said:
Glowplugs are only used for startup, they play no role in a running diesel engine, so the car is safe to drive from that point of view.
If they were intransigent I'd be inclined to just replace one myself, it's like an £8 part.
TL;DR your method sounds like a lot of hassle compared to just fixing what you know is broken.
That's old info. They run longer on more modern cars. If they were intransigent I'd be inclined to just replace one myself, it's like an £8 part.
TL;DR your method sounds like a lot of hassle compared to just fixing what you know is broken.
If the delay in booking is just because they can’t provide a courtesy car, why not book it in for a while you wait diagnostic visit instead, to put your mind at ease? You can then get the garage to tell you if it is OK to keep on using the car until such time that they can fix it (assuming it is covered of course….).
Alternatively have you tried other local VW dealers to see if they can fit you in quicker?
Alternatively have you tried other local VW dealers to see if they can fit you in quicker?
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