We've had our polo GTI as a second car from new 5 years ago. Just out of warranty the Boot open warning light on dash started to stay on (when ignition turned on). It's been back to the local VW dealer about 6 times. They replace some sort of microswitch then a few months after the problem reoccurs. Now they are saying that to really fix the problem they need to rip off the rear spoiler to reseal it, respray the whole tailgate approx £500 !!!!! Since the alarm is now setting itself off they are saying that this is also because of the water ingress. We're now pondering whether to get rid of the car (it's only got 22000 miles on it and it's immaculate) or to get it fixed by them.
My thoughts are also that they are overestimating the problem, and that they are hoping we trade our car in with them. We suugested simply disconnecting the switch but they said this was not possible !!
Has anyone out there had a similar problem or has any ideas on disconnecting the switch.
Boot Warning Light / Alarm problem
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bstardchild
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Re: Boot Warning Light / Alarm problem
If replacing the microswitch works and they can access it without ripping off spoiler and a respray then waterproof the switch before fitting?jim325 wrote:We've had our polo GTI as a second car from new 5 years ago. Just out of warranty the Boot open warning light on dash started to stay on (when ignition turned on). It's been back to the local VW dealer about 6 times. They replace some sort of microswitch then a few months after the problem reoccurs. Now they are saying that to really fix the problem they need to rip off the rear spoiler to reseal it, respray the whole tailgate approx £500 !!!!! Since the alarm is now setting itself off they are saying that this is also because of the water ingress. We're now pondering whether to get rid of the car (it's only got 22000 miles on it and it's immaculate) or to get it fixed by them..
Oooh that would make them unscrupulous dealers and we know that all VAG dealers aren't like that...jim325 wrote:My thoughts are also that they are overestimating the problem, and that they are hoping we trade our car in with them. We suugested simply disconnecting the switch but they said this was not possible !!.
Personally if I had had this problem for a length of time I would be writing a polite but to the point letter to VAG Customer dissatisfaction dept explining that the issue has never fully been resolved despite itemised trips to the dealers and would ask if they feel that this situation is acceptable performance from a car percieved as a quality brand
I would have thought the the switch is either to make or break a circuit so disconection or bridging the connections whichever is appropriate would silence the warning on the dash - I wouldn't have though there was a self checking system involvedjim325 wrote:Has anyone out there had a similar problem or has any ideas on disconnecting the switch.
Edited to add.......
PS if it's Black, 3 door, leather and A/C rather than climate - I'd sell the bloody thing rather than spend any more effort on it - obviously built on a friday afternoon and probably loads of other problems waiting behind the scenes
I think I can find a home for it 
Jim325,
I had this exact same problem (I actually may still have it, touch wood I don't as it hasn't reoccurred for a while).
The local dealers had mine six times also, the first few times they replaced, the micro-switch, the lock barrel, the lock and one time they believed it was the wiring so they stripped the wire back and rewired it back in as the wiring had started to corrode. It got so annoying when the alarm goes off at like 2am in the morning!
I found that cold nights or moisture, either rain or washing the car normally causes the fault, the initial fault was my rear wash wipe hose becoming loose and leaking causing the water ingress. strangely enough I did have a leak from my rear spoiler when I first purchased it but this was resealed by the dealer (who did a shabby job only to be redone properly by JBS).
The final time I contacted VW Customer services and asked about getting the Technical Specialist to come out and inspect the car however they informed me that they only come out on recommendation from the dealer so I booked the car in with the dealer stating that I wanted one of the specialists to have a look at it, they understood my annoyance on the matter as each time I took it back for the same work it was the same dealer. They didn't call out the specialist in the end but I think my request of a specialist prompt them to actually find the fault and fix it...they stripped the wiring and rewired it with some new wire...so I'm not sure how long it will last. Fortunately I have a warranty hence it was all done on the warranty.
You may be able to see if the spoiler needs resealing next time you wash the car, aim the jet of water at the top of the rear window just below the spoiler and then remove the jet and see if any water runs on the inside of the window...
Sorry to hear you are experiencing the same problem...it is annoying that such a great car is spoilt by this same niggly faults...I hope it gets fixed in the end...
I had this exact same problem (I actually may still have it, touch wood I don't as it hasn't reoccurred for a while).
The local dealers had mine six times also, the first few times they replaced, the micro-switch, the lock barrel, the lock and one time they believed it was the wiring so they stripped the wire back and rewired it back in as the wiring had started to corrode. It got so annoying when the alarm goes off at like 2am in the morning!
I found that cold nights or moisture, either rain or washing the car normally causes the fault, the initial fault was my rear wash wipe hose becoming loose and leaking causing the water ingress. strangely enough I did have a leak from my rear spoiler when I first purchased it but this was resealed by the dealer (who did a shabby job only to be redone properly by JBS).
The final time I contacted VW Customer services and asked about getting the Technical Specialist to come out and inspect the car however they informed me that they only come out on recommendation from the dealer so I booked the car in with the dealer stating that I wanted one of the specialists to have a look at it, they understood my annoyance on the matter as each time I took it back for the same work it was the same dealer. They didn't call out the specialist in the end but I think my request of a specialist prompt them to actually find the fault and fix it...they stripped the wiring and rewired it with some new wire...so I'm not sure how long it will last. Fortunately I have a warranty hence it was all done on the warranty.
You may be able to see if the spoiler needs resealing next time you wash the car, aim the jet of water at the top of the rear window just below the spoiler and then remove the jet and see if any water runs on the inside of the window...
Sorry to hear you are experiencing the same problem...it is annoying that such a great car is spoilt by this same niggly faults...I hope it gets fixed in the end...
I had this problem too with my gti. As cyhliu says how he had a leak with his rear wiper washer. Any time i pressed the rear wiper to squirt water on the window it didn't work this is because the water was going down the back. I think this was breaking the circuit so this is why i had the problem. I've stopped using the rear wiper and it hasn't done it since.
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workinprogress
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JBS AUTO DESIGNS
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As in this reply , the rear wash wipe comes loose.
The best way is to remove the rear panel (on the boot) and replace the washer pipe.
Then give the boot lock on the bottom a good dry out then it should remedy it.
If you have had a claim on this before and you are not happy with the repair , give customer services a call and let them know that you are not happy and see what happens.
The best way is to remove the rear panel (on the boot) and replace the washer pipe.
Then give the boot lock on the bottom a good dry out then it should remedy it.
If you have had a claim on this before and you are not happy with the repair , give customer services a call and let them know that you are not happy and see what happens.
Had a good look at it over the weekend. I've found the cause to be in the boot catch mechanism. I gave it a good drying out and opened and shut the catch several times and all seems to be working now. Still stuck with the water ingress. It's not the wash pipe as it's coming in from high on the right hand side of the tailgate. I nticed that their was a gap in the seal on the rear spoiler so have sealed that and keeping fingers crossed.
Open the boot, and inside the two grab handles there are a couple of screws. Take these out and the trim should then be removable, giving you access to the washer pipe plus the other bits and bobs located back therekally wrote:How do I take the rear inside cover off in the boot to get to the washer pipe?
Cheers
The only problem with disconnecting the microswitch from the tailgate lock is that the same sensing system is used for your boot light. So if you do unplug it as i have had to then make sure u park near a light if you want to see anything in your boot. Its very very very very very annoying at nyt when you looking for something.
How much was the new microswitch off of VW?
Got a part number? i'd like to try and sort this myself.
How much was the new microswitch off of VW?
Got a part number? i'd like to try and sort this myself.