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
We had an issue with the 3-pin charger that came with our 2018 Passat GTE Advance (bought 6 weeks ago), it would just flash error codes at us.
The dealer told us that they WEREN’T covered by the Das Welt Auto used car warranty, but found us a replacement anyway.
From what I’ve read online that there have been at least 3 revisions of the charger, and that if you have an early one then it’s quite likely to A) fail, and B) be replaced by VW if you kick up a fuss.
The dealer told us that they WEREN’T covered by the Das Welt Auto used car warranty, but found us a replacement anyway.
From what I’ve read online that there have been at least 3 revisions of the charger, and that if you have an early one then it’s quite likely to A) fail, and B) be replaced by VW if you kick up a fuss.
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
BFleming said:
Went to see Wayside 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.
Overfilled the oil seems to be a common GTE issue. I’ve literally today drained 500ml out to resolve the same issue on our Passat, 6 weeks after it had a service."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.
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
johnnyreggae said:
All this inconvenience and personal time & energy plus cost seems disproportionate for a charger that one can probably buy on Ebay for a hundred quid
This.I can't see that a charging cable is going to be covered under the extended warranty. However, if you whinge enough, and are a regular customer, then they might do something as 'goodwill'.
Too many variables here, but it sounds likely that it is the cable.
Maybe borrow a cable possibly from the dealer, and try at home - if it works, then you know yours is faulty.
Using a public charger isn't necessarily going to give you any proof it isn't the vehicle.
Has the dealer worked out if your cable works at the dealership? Does it trip their supply or blow the fuse in the plug. This should take 2 minutes whilst you stand there.
Sell the old one on eBay - list it as faulty, someone will still have it for the cable/plug.
Buy a replacement.
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.
BFleming said:
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.
If the fuse in the plug blows with nothing else connected - 100% charge cable fault. No idea why the dealer is dicking about with it.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.
They should simply be talking to the warranty company (who probably aren't WV although it may be a VW extended warranty) and getting it authorised of not.
If you can get in writing/email that if it is faulty they will replace....
Order a new one from the parts desk - 'check it' before you pay and if that one is fine, hand them your broken one back (yes, I know, a nice idea in theory but much more difficult to arrange in practice)
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.BFleming said:
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.
Thanks for the update. 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.So, the dealer has actually come good in the end.
Sounds like a good result... It was worth your time and effort to progress it after all.
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