Fight or forget... (gearbox fails 50k after replacement)?
Discussion
Chronology is gearbox on large FWD diesel eurobox fails at 4 years and 54k miles. Bearing collapse.
Manufacturer accepts not an adequate service life and despite being a year outside warranty, contributes half to repair cost. New box is installed.
Day car is returned, it has to be recovered due to gearbox oil leaking. Was running down the road in fact. It is claimed the diff seal was not installed correctly; car is returned and drives ok with no obvious sign of ongoing leaks although undertray is now 'oily' as well as being road-dirty.
Three years and just less than 50k miles pass; box fails again. Dealer/manufacturer decline to assist so indie repair undertaken. Internals burned and lack of lubrication identified as probable cause. Inspection of n/s driveshaft gaitor, which acts as a seal, reveals clamping marks that strongly indicate it has not been clamped all the way round (gaitor and clamp are both circular). Gaitor also has sealant or glue on mating face where it was abutting gearbox but should be assembled dry. Seems clear that gaitor was never installed correctly when first box changed and there may have been a slight leak sufficient over time to run box dry. Suspect this may have been source of 'their' leak in fact.
Dealer/manufacturer assert this would have been picked up at service by dealer (I self service and gearbox level is not on the handbook service schedule - 18k intervals in any event). 'Oily' tray just assumed as being due to 'their' leak (never cleaned effectively due to noise insulation attached to the thing), and no other obvious leaks noticed at service. As I admit I've not specifically looked at the box since it was changed, they decline to assist.
I'm now £1,600 out of pocket with a car at 104k on it's third gearbox when, arguably, it should still be on its first... Dealer/manufacturer not budging. Worth a scrap?
Manufacturer accepts not an adequate service life and despite being a year outside warranty, contributes half to repair cost. New box is installed.
Day car is returned, it has to be recovered due to gearbox oil leaking. Was running down the road in fact. It is claimed the diff seal was not installed correctly; car is returned and drives ok with no obvious sign of ongoing leaks although undertray is now 'oily' as well as being road-dirty.
Three years and just less than 50k miles pass; box fails again. Dealer/manufacturer decline to assist so indie repair undertaken. Internals burned and lack of lubrication identified as probable cause. Inspection of n/s driveshaft gaitor, which acts as a seal, reveals clamping marks that strongly indicate it has not been clamped all the way round (gaitor and clamp are both circular). Gaitor also has sealant or glue on mating face where it was abutting gearbox but should be assembled dry. Seems clear that gaitor was never installed correctly when first box changed and there may have been a slight leak sufficient over time to run box dry. Suspect this may have been source of 'their' leak in fact.
Dealer/manufacturer assert this would have been picked up at service by dealer (I self service and gearbox level is not on the handbook service schedule - 18k intervals in any event). 'Oily' tray just assumed as being due to 'their' leak (never cleaned effectively due to noise insulation attached to the thing), and no other obvious leaks noticed at service. As I admit I've not specifically looked at the box since it was changed, they decline to assist.
I'm now £1,600 out of pocket with a car at 104k on it's third gearbox when, arguably, it should still be on its first... Dealer/manufacturer not budging. Worth a scrap?
NiceCupOfTea said:
BliarOut said:
Self service? I'd say save your breath for another fight, manufacturer will insist self service = no service. 
True, but surely you can argue that if checking the level is not on the schedule it would never have been picked up.I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but there are some battles you can win and some you can't.
v8will said:
Audi Multitronic??
Nah. Much more mundane.And on the diy servicing point, they have asked what my mechanical qualifications are. When I pointed out this was irrelevant where nothing to do with the gearbox is mentioned in the service schedule supplied with the car, I was told a 'dealer service' would include 'a check of the propshaft and the gearbox mounts'. Needless to say I took great delight in reminding them the gearbox mounts directly to the crank case and the car has no propshaft as it's FWD
I'm sure a solicitor would happily take money off you to pursue them, how sucessful you would be would depend on the full evidence.
But to be fair 3 years later.... I'd suspect that a 6year old box reconditioned at 3 years would be an iffy bet to see you get paid out.
Time to find a 2nd hand box and get shot?
But to be fair 3 years later.... I'd suspect that a 6year old box reconditioned at 3 years would be an iffy bet to see you get paid out.
Time to find a 2nd hand box and get shot?
DaveL86 said:
v8will said:
Audi Multitronic??
Normally electronics/ecu that fail on these isn't it? rather than mechanical?Guessing its the Laguna diesel in his profile.
probably not, but 6 years is the actual age of the box, even if the internals are only 3 years old.
If it was replaced with a brand new box 3 years ago I think you would have a lot more of a case.
I would accept 3 years as a fair life for pretty much anything re-conn'd.
However you may have a case if you can prove negligence, they will still throw the fact that they haven't been given the oppurtinity to perform quality checks on it after it was installed...
They may also say that it could have been somewhere else in between - if it was 3 years since they last saw it.
If it was replaced with a brand new box 3 years ago I think you would have a lot more of a case.
I would accept 3 years as a fair life for pretty much anything re-conn'd.
However you may have a case if you can prove negligence, they will still throw the fact that they haven't been given the oppurtinity to perform quality checks on it after it was installed...
They may also say that it could have been somewhere else in between - if it was 3 years since they last saw it.
Pupp said:
So the consensus seems to be that a fair service life for a modern gearbox is *about* 50k/3 or 4 years? Hmmm...
I don't think that's what people are saying.They're merely pointing out given the age of the vehicle and the lack of dealer servicing means they're going to be almost impossible to 'twist' in this situation.
You may well be 'right' in this situation, but you don't have any proof of your servicing...
LukeBird said:
Pupp said:
So the consensus seems to be that a fair service life for a modern gearbox is *about* 50k/3 or 4 years? Hmmm...
I don't think that's what people are saying.They're merely pointing out given the age of the vehicle and the lack of dealer servicing means they're going to be almost impossible to 'twist' in this situation.
You may well be 'right' in this situation, but you don't have any proof of your servicing...
Pupp said:
Well, this continues... now have a 'goodwill' offer on table of £500; still discussing 
in that case, keep fighting. i'm sure they will cover a bit more, and you have this to fall back on.edit: this won't be just for good will, this will be because they feel they have to get out of it. i smell fear!!
Edited by Efbe on Tuesday 16th November 23:26
I'd take the £500 and run!
If your washing machine broke down a month out of warranty would any of the large electrical retailers give you anything? Regardless of the costs involved of each product, granted a car is a lot more than a washer etc. They have no need to have to do anything, and it is exactly that, a good will gesture. Especially that even the repaired box was also done 3 years ago and usualy I'd of thought repairs unless in warranty period are only covered for 12 months?
They will see self service as being poorly maintained I would be supprised if the manual totaly ignored the gear box and agree that it probably does suggest to visualy check for leaks. Would you not surely of done this anyway knowing the item had been faulty?
I would of thought if the fact you felt the garage had not cleaned the under tray properly then you would of tried to do it your self and kept an eye on it?
If your washing machine broke down a month out of warranty would any of the large electrical retailers give you anything? Regardless of the costs involved of each product, granted a car is a lot more than a washer etc. They have no need to have to do anything, and it is exactly that, a good will gesture. Especially that even the repaired box was also done 3 years ago and usualy I'd of thought repairs unless in warranty period are only covered for 12 months?
They will see self service as being poorly maintained I would be supprised if the manual totaly ignored the gear box and agree that it probably does suggest to visualy check for leaks. Would you not surely of done this anyway knowing the item had been faulty?
I would of thought if the fact you felt the garage had not cleaned the under tray properly then you would of tried to do it your self and kept an eye on it?
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