VW 3 pin charger - covered under extended warranty?
Discussion
We had an issue last week where the plug circuit was tripping out; didn't think too much to it at the time, but it turns out the culprit was the 3 pin charger for our 2018 Golf GTE. It stopped tripping the circuit as it blew the 13A fuse. I put a new fuse in it, but that blew again straight away. So the charger looks like it's knackered. I tried to call my local dealer (Marshalls St Albans) several times on Friday, and eventually at 4:30pm someone answered. They just said to bring in the car & the charger in to them. They never asked my name, nor asked for any car details.
I took out an extended warranty on the car when the 3 year warranty expired... so can I expect the charger to be covered, or can I expect them to wriggle/deny/etc.
I took out an extended warranty on the car when the 3 year warranty expired... so can I expect the charger to be covered, or can I expect them to wriggle/deny/etc.
Edited by BFleming on Friday 23 July 14:36
Went to see Marshalls this afternoon; all very wishy washy indeed. Despite having both the car and its 3 pin charger there, they've said I need to book it in. It charged fine on a public charger earlier on; it's blatantly the 3 pin charger that's faulty, but they need the car & charger "for up to 2 days". After a bit of an effort they finally said they can fit it in on Thursday but they said:
"We don't carry chargers in stock"
"There will be a £99 diagnostic fee if the extended warranty doesn't cover it"
All things they could have told me on the phone last week. Hell, they could have booked me in over the phone.
All I'll say it that it had better be covered, but I've not had good experience with this dealer previously (overfilled the oil on a service, so it needed to go back to them, which was apparently more of an inconvenience for them than me). But I had no success contacting the alternative dealer last week (Watford). Covid, or piss poor service, I know which one my money is on.
"We don't carry chargers in stock"
"There will be a £99 diagnostic fee if the extended warranty doesn't cover it"
All things they could have told me on the phone last week. Hell, they could have booked me in over the phone.
All I'll say it that it had better be covered, but I've not had good experience with this dealer previously (overfilled the oil on a service, so it needed to go back to them, which was apparently more of an inconvenience for them than me). But I had no success contacting the alternative dealer last week (Watford). Covid, or piss poor service, I know which one my money is on.
Edited by BFleming on Friday 23 July 14:36
Latest update on this saga... Car went into Marshalls VW for 2 days the week before last, and they wanted to keep it for another week - so cue visit to them to hear their reasoning first hand. The way they explained it, VW extended warranty is a joke. Approvals take ages, and they keep requesting more information from the dealer... "have you tried this", "please test x", hence they asked for the car for a week. Part of the problem is that there is no test plan for the charger - it can't be diagnosed via the OBD port, and that's a sign of the times with VW. So it went back in to them this morning, and we have a new T-ROC on the drive, for God knows how long. Marshalls were their usual incompetent selves today too - the Golf wasn't booked in, but the T-ROC was booked out to us.
We have been charging the Golf on public chargers whenever we can, which work fine. But a big old caveat emptor with VW's extended warranty... just give us a new charger already.
We have been charging the Golf on public chargers whenever we can, which work fine. But a big old caveat emptor with VW's extended warranty... just give us a new charger already.
Edited by BFleming on Friday 23 July 14:37
They say in principle, if the charger is found to be faulty, they will replace it. But I suspect they (the dealer and VW warranty) would like me to walk over to the parts desk & pay for a new one out of my own pocket to make their lives easier.
The dealer will do nothing in our presence. They won't try an alternative cable as they don't have any (allegedly). And we don't know anyone with a plug-in. We've told them the fuse keeps blowing in the plug whether it's plugged into the car or not. It's 100% the charger that's gone bad. We have no particular relationship with the dealer. Once this is resolved, it'll be our last dealings with them.
The dealer will do nothing in our presence. They won't try an alternative cable as they don't have any (allegedly). And we don't know anyone with a plug-in. We've told them the fuse keeps blowing in the plug whether it's plugged into the car or not. It's 100% the charger that's gone bad. We have no particular relationship with the dealer. Once this is resolved, it'll be our last dealings with them.
Small update - dealer just rang to say they've finished testing everything, and it's the charger that's faulty 
The extended warranty has refused to cover it (one to note there), VW have refused to offer any goodwill towards it (cheers VW), so the dealer is stumping up for a replacement at no cost. They've gone up in my estimation again! Should be getting it back tonight.
The extended warranty has refused to cover it (one to note there), VW have refused to offer any goodwill towards it (cheers VW), so the dealer is stumping up for a replacement at no cost. They've gone up in my estimation again! Should be getting it back tonight.Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff