steelers..
Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:03 am
When my extended warranty ran out a couple of years ago (Mondial sent the paperwork to my old addess despite me calling them and updating the details) I stopped using the dealer network. Servicing since them has been courtesy of my local mechanic in a small village garage in Suffolk. Firstly he cured my 80 mph wheel wabble that had been going on for two years through one new rim and two attempts by a dealer in London to balance the wheels. This he did by...balancing the wheels...
A couple of weeks back i got the dreaded yellow engine shaped light on the dash and reduced power under the foot. My local guy plugged in his diagnostic untit and told me i needed to reaquaint my self with the London dealer - whatever was happening was deep in the ECU and would need propriatory VAG diagnsotics.
Light went out and power returned all by itself a few days later.
Booked car into Franchised dealer and a day later they advised that my ECU problems were cured however the cause was the Mega Fuse unit which was was shot - badly corroded due to water getting in from above. This would need replacing and just the labour alone was likley to be ten hours worth. Likely bill £2,000.
Back to Suffolk, vowing i've had enough of expensive cars, a 405 diesel estate will do 80mph up the A12 just as well. Nick the mechanic gets the Fuse unit out, cleans it up, resolders and crimps a couple of key cables and puts everything back together.
His diagnostuic unit now shows no faults at all either.
£150.
Am i missing something?
A couple of weeks back i got the dreaded yellow engine shaped light on the dash and reduced power under the foot. My local guy plugged in his diagnostic untit and told me i needed to reaquaint my self with the London dealer - whatever was happening was deep in the ECU and would need propriatory VAG diagnsotics.
Light went out and power returned all by itself a few days later.
Booked car into Franchised dealer and a day later they advised that my ECU problems were cured however the cause was the Mega Fuse unit which was was shot - badly corroded due to water getting in from above. This would need replacing and just the labour alone was likley to be ten hours worth. Likely bill £2,000.
Back to Suffolk, vowing i've had enough of expensive cars, a 405 diesel estate will do 80mph up the A12 just as well. Nick the mechanic gets the Fuse unit out, cleans it up, resolders and crimps a couple of key cables and puts everything back together.
His diagnostuic unit now shows no faults at all either.
£150.
Am i missing something?