2013 Polo GTI. Engine strip after 17k miles

[Roger645]

I have inherited my wife's GTI as she has got a company car now and noticed that it was a bit rough running when cold. This got so bad the other day that it flashed the EML. Took it to the dealer on Monday and the report back on Tuesday was low compression on one cylinder and the engine will need a strip down for investigation.

Car has done 17k mile and has full VW service history. It will be three years old in March so all this will be under warranty, are these TSI engines normally this fragile?

[SteBrown91]

In a word, yes. The twin charge tsi is a right pig of an engine

There is a lot online relating to it.

[Roger645]

SteBrown91 said:

In a word, yes. The twin charge tsi is a right pig of an engine

There is a lot online relating to it.

Thanks, once this is sorted it might be time to think about changing it. Don't want something like that when its out of warranty.

[Andy OH]

This is the exact reason why my son decided to buy a brand new Fiesta ST. He was originally looking at the twin charge Polo GTI and save some money on an older car but due to the horror stories of the engine problems on the twin charge Polo GTI on some forums he went the ST route. I must admit I think he made the right choice.

[Roger645]

Just heard back from the dealer and it has melted one of the spark plugs and damaged a valve, they believe it's an injector issue but are waiting to hear back from VW what they want to do to resolve the issue. Time to think about what to replace it with. I notice the new polo GTI has an 1.8 engine and not this twin charged one.

[va1o]

Surprised to hear of those sorts of problems on a 2013, tends to usually be the earlier cars that have it and people end up getting caught out of warranty.

[Roger645]

va1o said:

Surprised to hear of those sorts of problems on a 2013, tends to usually be the earlier cars that have it and people end up getting caught out of warranty.

Based on what I have read on the net I agree, it seemed to affect the earlier ones. The service advisor wasn't too clear on the complete diagnosis and as far as I'm aware VW haven't come back to the dealer to advise what steps to take to remedy the problem.

They have given me a courtesy car as they don't expect any significant progress till the middle of next week. The car was originally on a PCP deal as it was my wife's car but as she now has a company car I bought it outright a couple of weeks ago, I don't now envisage keeping it for too much longer.

[Deerfoot]

Roger645 said:

The car was originally on a PCP deal as it was my wife's car but as she now has a company car I bought it outright a couple of weeks ago, I don't now envisage keeping it for too much longer.

I'd be looking how much it'd cost to extend the VW warranty before getting shot of it.

[Roger645]

Deerfoot said:

Roger645 said:

The car was originally on a PCP deal as it was my wife's car but as she now has a company car I bought it outright a couple of weeks ago, I don't now envisage keeping it for too much longer.

I'd be looking how much it'd cost to extend the VW warranty before getting shot of it.

Yes, I will ask them about that. Maybe given this failure they might offer it at a good price.

[liner33]

You'll get a years warranty on the new engine , plus you can get 5 year extended warranties I believe (You can via Skoda)

If its under warranty i wouldnt be so quick to sell

[Roger645]

liner33 said:

You'll get a years warranty on the new engine , plus you can get 5 year extended warranties I believe (You can via Skoda)

If its under warranty i wouldnt be so quick to sell

No year warranty I'm afaid, the warranty on the new engine will end the same time as the main car warranty ends. A quick surf round the net seems to say if the engine was changed at no charge then you don't get the benefit of a years warranty.

[liner33]

No true

From here https://parts.vw.com/media/estores/9/contentimages...

Volkswagen
warrants that every new and factory-remanufactured part and accessory, (excluding tires
and batteries) which is imported or distributed by Volkswagen and sold as a new or factory-remanufactured part or accessory to a retail customer or authorized dealer, will be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service for 1 year after the date of delivery of the part or accessory to the customer or until the vehicle in which the part or accessory is installed has been driven 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first. This warranty is transferable to subsequent owners
free of charge.


worth getting a quote for the extended warranty here https://www.volkswagenextendedwarranty.co.uk/

My mum extended her Fabia VRS for 2 years so total of 5 for £500 or so , came with breakdown cover as well

[Roger645]

liner33 said:

No true

From here https://parts.vw.com/media/estores/9/contentimages...

Volkswagen
warrants that every new and factory-remanufactured part and accessory, (excluding tires
and batteries) which is imported or distributed by Volkswagen and sold as a new or factory-remanufactured part or accessory to a retail customer or authorized dealer, will be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service for 1 year after the date of delivery of the part or accessory to the customer or until the vehicle in which the part or accessory is installed has been driven 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first. This warranty is transferable to subsequent owners
free of charge.


worth getting a quote for the extended warranty here https://www.volkswagenextendedwarranty.co.uk/

My mum extended her Fabia VRS for 2 years so total of 5 for £500 or so , came with breakdown cover as well

I think you will find that as nothing was "sold" then the extra year doesn't count. Thanks for the link regarding extended warranty, i'll have a look.

[liner33]

Its counts for Skoda's I would be very surprised that VW are different

[poru376289]

I believe the correct course of action is to pay a pound when you pick it up, get the receipt and you are then covered. You may have to insist that they let you pay a pound but they can do it and will probably understand your reasoning. Good luck