Garage broke my car!

weirdbeardmt · Post by **weirdbeardmt** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 8:56 am

OK so my car was running absolutely fine but the service/inspection thing was flashing on the dash and because I actually like this car, I booked it in for a service at my local garage. It was a "main service" which apaprently means they did all the usual stuff (all the filters) and then gave it a thorough going over as well to check everythign else. Whilst doing it they said I needed new rear brake pads. Fair enough. All done, Â£350 for the pleasure. Ouch.

Anyway, driving to the gym at lunchtime the next day, I was thinking to myself it felt a bit down on power (felt like a massive flatspot in 2nd/3rd around 2-3k rev) ... driving home that night and all of a sudden things are bad - power is down, the engine is choking and sounds rough as hell. To top it off the warning light on the dash for the "exhaust emissions sensor" came on... then went off... then came on again. (not blinking tho).

And of course it's Saturday which means they're not open and I've got to wait to Monday to shout at them. Any ideas what they might have done? It feels like the fuel pump has been shagged. I don't think it's misfiring, although I suppose they could have put dodgy plugs in.

tegwin · Post by **tegwin** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:07 pm

This is why no one other than me is alowed anywhere near any of my cars with a spanner!!

It could be anything.... A rag in the airbox, they forgot to put the oil back in the engine, forgot to plug things back in properly...

When I had a clutch cable done under waranty the stupid f**k whits at VW left most of their tool kit under the bonnet bouncing around!

weirdbeardmt · Post by **weirdbeardmt** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:20 pm

Well I found the problem... there was a nick in one of the HT leads, which means it was shorting out. You could actually see sparks jumping out every now and then. Taped it up with insulating tape and everything seems OK.

Trouble is I don't know if I can convince the garage that they bodged the HT lead except for the fact that it wasn't doing it before I took it in.

Second trouble is anyone know if you can buy single HT leads? I have a horrible feeling they only come in packs of 4

I must admit as well that after the service, the car really doesn't feel as good as it did. It used to be a right little animal, but now it's just like "normal" to drive, seems like all the raw fun that used to be there is gone. I've chucked some redex in the fuel to see if it helps clean things up a bit, but I'm a bit annoyed about the whole fooking thing.

tegwin · Post by **tegwin** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:39 pm

Dont consider replacing one lead...

You need to do all of them at the same time...

HT leads break down over time... 1 new lead and 3 used ones would give you a rough misfire at worst...

weirdbeardmt · Post by **weirdbeardmt** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:40 pm

any idea what sort of price for new leads?

tegwin · Post by **tegwin** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 1:23 pm

somewhere around the Â£40-Â£50 mark I would imagine...

weirdbeardmt · Post by **weirdbeardmt** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 4:34 pm

Any thoughts on these? I'm guessing the 8.5mm ones?

http://www.awesome-gti.co.uk/product.php?xProd=6813

tegwin · Post by **tegwin** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 6:49 pm

Hmmm....

Personally... I would get the leads from VW...

my reason why:
The GTI engine is fairly highly tuned.... therefore the standard leads VW supplied with it are designed to work with the engine to give proper engine running....

They are pretty good quality leads..... I have no idea what the quality of any of these after market leads might be.... therefore, I would buy VW... that way you know the leads you have fitted are the correct quality...

Some of the sh1t that the tuning website sell really is AWFUL!

Redline · Post by **Redline** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:38 pm

I would have to agree with that.

From memory I believe people have had problems with aftermarket HT leads on the GTi. As such, you're better off sticking with the genuine VW parts.

weirdbeardmt · Post by **weirdbeardmt** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:05 pm

Aren't they made by Bosch anyway?

tegwin · Post by **tegwin** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 11:14 pm

Possibly....They may say Bosch on them...but chances are they are built to a VW spec...

wulee · Post by **wulee** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:50 pm

weirdbeardmt wrote: .....
Second trouble is anyone know if you can buy single HT leads? I have a horrible feeling they only come in packs of 4
....

In fact a pack of 4 leads is not available from VW for ARC/AVY engine.

u can buy any one or 2 or 3 or 4 leads. I've bought a lead 2 a few months ago for 9 quid+ shipping from VAGParts (VAT not included).

Part numbers are:
036 905 430R -- Cylinder 1
036 905 430S -- Cylinder 2
036 905 430T -- Cylinder 3
036 905 430AA -- Cylinder 4

neilw · Post by **neilw** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 4:24 pm

I just purchased that set for VAG parts have the invoice here next to me. They where Â£10.54 +vat each

weirdbeardmt · Post by **weirdbeardmt** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:14 pm

I'm getting a whole new set. They're paying for the one they broke. I'm hoping this will help with the very noticeable flat spot around 2-3k revs.