[Cass]

Getting value from VW Assistance and my VW Extended Warranty these days. The Treg threw a hissy fit yesterday with a red warning light for the Running Gear. Very strangely, it was on the same road as my first ABS sensor failure whilst visiting Craster in Northumberland 🐟

Basically the ride hardened and stopping/restarting didn’t resolve the warning light, so I drove the remaining mile carefully to a car park and called out VW Assistance. I had to walk back about half a mile to get a phone signal and less than an hour later the AA/VW Assistance van turned up and confirmed an issue with the Air Susp compressor/pressure valve.

The front suspension was raised up to its max on both sides whilst the rear looked normal. None of the suspension settings (Comfort/Normal/Sport) could change the ride height. The car was scanned and the fault code cleared but it reappeared again shortly afterwards.

After discussing the various options, I slowly drive back the short distance to my overnight accommodation followed by the VW Assistance guy and a recovery vehicle trailered the Treg and myself to my local dealer this morning. The job card was ready and waiting and the hire car company were on the phone before I arrived at the dealers.

A hire car is being delivered to me tomorrow, courtesy of VW Assistance and the dealer will extend this on the VW Extended Warranty if the work takes longer than 48 hrs 👍

This is the third time I’ve had to use VW Assistance since last June (twice in UK and once in France on holiday last month) - hope it’s not going to become a habit 🤔

 

[Klewy]

Your renewal price is going to hurt!!

 

[NoobyT]

I was going to which tyres have a red band running round the middle of the tread until I scrolled the pix and realised it was a strap!

 

[Cass]

Your renewal price is going to hurt!!

Possibly my last year on Comprehensive cover with a Nil excess - given the age and mileage I’ll still have another year left at least, but they froze the price for the 2 previous years (and honoured a lesser mileage cover due to the lockdowns) before last years renewal, so I can’t complain. That won’t happen this year though, so I’ll have to compromise on the level of cover and maybe also on the excess.

My only other significant claim was about 3 years ago for a replacement RNS850 control unit and that was £5k 😬

I’m never going to be in the market for a new Treg again so this one was always bought as a keeper - mind you I have said that before 🤣

 

[Inspira2]

Oh dear Cass I hope my same vintage Escape on air is not going to follow your trail of fails. Maybe already started with what looks like an ABS sensor gone.

And I'm a no warranty gambler too 🙃

 

[Andrewgrale]

Besides general servicing, Years 3, 5, 7 and 10 are the most expensive ones in car ownership
Timing belt replacement, tyres, clutch (if fitted) add to this the myriad of electrical systems and associated sensors and ECUs and I'd happily add 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9 to the years

Cass, at least you still have the warranty to take the sting away, keep it as long as they are willing to renew it

 

[Cass]

Besides general servicing, Years 3, 5, 7 and 10 are the most expensive ones in car ownership
Timing belt replacement, tyres, clutch (if fitted) add to this the myriad of electrical systems and associated sensors and ECUs and I'd happily add 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9 to the years

Cass, at least you still have the warranty to take the sting away, keep it as long as they are willing to renew it

I’ve also got a dealer servicing plan and my next service/MOT is due in June 🤞

 

[Cass]

Dealer contacted me today and explained the delay was due to them awaiting approval from VW Extended Warranty.

Seems to be a fault with the Air Supply Unit and a new one is about £1k plus fitting etc. I’ve asked for a full description of the fault and the remedy which I’ll post here.

Anyway, all approved and parts on order, should be here tomorrow.

Touareg Air Susp system explained here and shows where Air Supply Unit is located:

https://www.mytreg.com/threads/t3-7p-self-study-programme-469-4wd-system.11381/#post-104704

 

[Andrewgrale]

Good news

 

[Cass]

Latest update this morning is that some parts have arrived and others are now on back order, probably here by next Tues at the latest due to the dealership service dept being closed for the Easter weekend.

Just been on to VW Assistance again this morning to sort my hire car 👍

 

[Cass]

Latest update - nipped down to the dealers yesterday to get my roofbox off as the car wouldn’t fit on the lift with it attached.

New parts fitted including Air Supply unit, relay and fuses - advised today that there is a problem with filling the unit up with nitrogen so some special tool has been requested from VW as it’s not held by the dealer or available locally.

It will be Tues next week at the earliest, so hire car extended again 🤷‍♂️

Update on price of replacement Air Supply unit - £1600+ 😬

 

[Wookiee]

What kind of hire car do you get through VW Assistance? Like-for-like or just an average midget mobile.

 

[NoobyT]

An Up yours!

 

[Cass]

What kind of hire car do you get through VW Assistance? Like-for-like or just an average midget mobile.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car offered me an Audi A8 which I declined as it’s too big for parking. I don’t need a 4x4 atm so they gave me a Nissan Qashqai Auto.

 

[Cass]

Update - after 5 weeks I’m still Tregless 🤦‍♂️

Delays (apparently) due to warranty authorisation, parts supply, the need for specialist equipment, Covid amongst the technicians and dealer workload have all been raised.

I was advised yesterday that my car has been repaired and the air suspension is sitting normally however one of the front Air Suspension levelling sensors had broken and a new one is on back order. The part has a plastic drop link type arm and presumably the air supply unit fault that raised the front suspension to it’s upper limit put a strain on the sensor and caused it to break. I don’t know why this wasn’t discovered during earlier repairs/inspections or maybe it only occurred after fitting and testing the system, but ill have to wait until it’s replaced. The tech said he hot glued the break in the plastic arm to check the suspension setting levels on diagnostics.

The technician also advised in replacing all 4 sensors and suggested getting aftermarket metal ones which appear universal and are adjustable. I had the same conversation as with the diff drain plugs and stated with a VW warranty and the work being carried out by a VW dealer, I expect them to fit genuine VW parts with a 2 year parts and labour guarantee. I appreciate the option but I really wish they would just get the job done as my VW warranty/any other warranty will not pay for preventative maintenance and I’m not inclined to put my hand in my own pocket to replace parts that haven’t yet failed.

If/when the time comes to consider using an independent specialist and non-OEM parts, I might look to go that way but my car has always had a warranty and OEM parts fitted.

I’ve also put them on notice that I need a car with a towbar next week so if repairs haven't been completed by then, they will have to source me a replacement/hire car with one 🤷‍♂️

 

[Cass]

Finally, after 8 weeks I have my Touareg back.

The air suspension levelling sensor eventually arrived and was fitted and I should have had the car back a couple of weeks ago before going on holiday. That didn't happen as I had asked for the annual service and MOT to be done early but this work hadn’t been completed by the deadline date/time (apparently due to an unscheduled DVSA inspection).

Anyway, I’ve just typed an email to the Service Manager setting out my complaints about the delays, inconvenience and poor service (including the wrong service being carried out - Minor instead of Major and it being debited to the wrong VW Service Plan account 🤦‍♂️).

Pleased to have it back anyway. Time to give it a good clean and get it ready for a trip to France soon - after the outstanding work has been carried out 😬

 

[NoobyT]

Crap service all round.

Happy holidays ahead though, all being well.

 

[Cass]

Final update - I have come to an amicable an acceptable agreement over the servicing regime and my future services are covered up to and including 2024.

I have also had my Transmission/Transfer Case/Front Diff/Rear Diff oils changed at the dealership with a significant discount as a gesture of goodwill. This gives me 2 years VW warranty on the parts/labour. The dealer also used genuine VW drain plugs and absorbed the cost of bulk buying these from VW.

I collected the car yesterday and it drives noticeably smoother. I did do a gearbox reset and hopefully I can now travel to France without any further drama or hassle 😬

 

[NoobyT]

Well done, and fingers crossed for trouble-free running!

 

[Cass]

🤞