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My car's been in the garage for almost a month now. It's a long story which I'll explain later...

I get it back tomorrow and I had a look at it eaalier connected up to all sorts of equipment.

What things should I check once I get it back??

I know someone mentioned that after getting their polo back they had lost the one touch up/down on the windows because they had reset the ECU or something. Anything else I should check???

I have to make sure because at the moment I have a Golf GTi and if I get my car back then find another fault I'll end up with a 1.0 lupo as a replacement.

The things I can think of are.

1- One touch up/down on windows.
2- 3- blink on the indicators
3- I also had the power steering programmed to be a lot heavier (setting 4 I think)

Cheers!

James.

p.s. also had a Honda Civic Type-R for 3 days!!! It's awesome. And has a squeeky dash.

Check the paint/alloys and that they didn't yank the handbrake too far up.

Also they didn't use too much fuel and no interior damage etc.

Why has it been in a month?

Thanks for the reply!

I'm not entirly sure what the problem was, I've asked for a reciept to show the diagnois and the work carried out which I should get tomorrow.

The exhaust emmisions light lit up on the dash and this may just be my imagination but the car felt more powerful than normal.

I left it for a day or two but the light didn't go out.

They checked the car and said they needed to order a new 'part'
this part then took 2 1/2 weeks to be delivered and they've so far taken over a week to fit it.

When I saw the car today the entire from was taken off including the lights and radiator and the rear bumper was off.

It looks like they may have fitted an entire new exhaust system. Although I might be wrong.

They said it was ready at the end of last week but when I went to pick it up they said they had discovered another fault...

But then they've told me the car would be ready about 4 or 5 times now and every time i've gone to pick it up they've said it's been taken back in the workshop..

So I dunno what the problem was but I should have written confirmation tomorrow, as well as the car back. plus a set of heavily discounted roof racks if I'm lucky!!!

We should have a name and shame area on this website to list which useless dealers to avoid. The same garage took a week to order , reorder and fit a drive belt. Also ordered me the wrong car in the first place.

End rant.

James.

The exhaust emmisions light lit up on the dash and this may just be my imagination but the car felt more powerful than normal.

I left it for a day or two but the light didn't go out.

They checked the car and said they needed to order a new 'part'
this part then took 2 1/2 weeks to be delivered and they've so far taken over a week to fit it.

When this happened to me, it was a replacement of the ECU software and a new instrument binnacle. Check the binnacle for rattles. Although they're a sealled unit some of them come from the factory with rattles *inside* them. This will be an (initially) quiet, "unloaded" rattle coming from dead ahead of the steering wheel (of course).

If they've replaced this, you'll need to bring both keys as the one they don't have (i.e. the one that's been sitting at home) will need to be re-sync'd to the car.

When I saw the car today the entire from was taken off including the lights and radiator and the rear bumper was off.

erm, ummm. You don't need to do this to replace an exhaust!!! I would recommend checking all paint on the parts that have been off for any signs of orange peel or overspray. Also check that the clear coat doesn't have any "drips" in it. It can run and you'll get these drips on external horizontal angles, e.g. between the lower edge of the bumper paint and the top of the valance plastic, or in the horizontal panel gap btwn the the top of the rear bumper and rear quarter panels (I have one here after my respray). Your car's black, so the paint will match quite easily, but the texture won't necessarily. I'm not saying it's been dinted or anything, but why else take all these parts off??? Check the mileage as well - has it gone up excessively since you put it in?

If it has been resprayed also check for any white dust that might have collected in the openings - particularly the inner surfaces of the tailgate (i.e. where the hinges and the "hydraulic thingies" are - ditto with the wings and the bonnet) Also in these gaps, check that the paint to all wing bolts and hinge bolts (bonnet and tailgate) is intact and doesn't show signs of being touched up).

no interior damage etc.

Places that seem to get damaged by workmen's boots are the plastic to the seat plinths and the plastic panel around the area of the bonnet release handle - I've got damage here from workmen + some on the plastic that runs down the central console and faces into the driver's footwell (i.e. under and to the side of the ciggie tray).

I have to make sure because at the moment I have a Golf GTi and if I get my car back then find another fault I'll end up with a 1.0 lupo as a replacement.

Don't give them the keys for the courtesy car back. Ask to speak to the service manager and get him to talk you through what's been done o it. Don't let him read off the job sheet - you're trying to gauge if he's familiar with the car. If they've had problem with it, he probably will be. Take him for a run in it if you're worried about anything and only hand the keys back once you and he have reached conclusion about the quality of the repairs. If you're not happy reject the repairs and drive off in the courtesy car (you still have the keys for this, recall!). ALterantive is to go in ealry and say you'll pick up your car, test it out during the day and come back with the courtesy car keys at the end of the day - if they try to argue, they should be getting the cost of the courtesy car from VW anyway. I've never succeeded in the latter appraoch only the former!

But above all else - good luck! and enjoy your car when you've got it back!

Cheers dxg!

What worries me is that the mialage hasn't moved at all.

It's not even a courtesy car, they were all used up so I demanded they get a rental car, which they have to do anyway if I'm not mistaken. The first rental car I had was a 1.2 polo which had a major problem. only did 340 miles to 3 full tanks!!! they are going to refund me on petrol...

Also the reason I said that about the exhaust was that there was an old exhaust lying next to my car and the one on my car appeared to be clean and shiney, something which the rest of the car most certainly wasn't.

Let us know how you get on mate

I went in early to check on it. Although It hadn't been cleaned yet, it's a good job I did go in or it wouldn't have been done in time!

Everything looks ok on it. I'm getting a written report on everything that was replaced. Quite a lot by the sounds of it. The list looked more like it had a full service than a repair.

The engine sounds very smooth. No scratches as far as I can see but I'll wait till they've washed it first. It now has 1.2 miles on it, fair enough. At least sounds like they've tried it out first.

So it's all looking good so far.



James.

Got the Car back now. Everything appears fine. I'm not sure what they've done altogether as they are still writing the report.

They replaced the back box and the fuel pump apparently. Along with a lot of other things.

It was very shiney when I got it back and not a scratch on it! A first for them, I think.

In a way I wish they hadn't give me the Golf GTi. This thing feels slow now, but then a lot faster than the 1.2 I had first.

Anyway it's all good now. And I should be getting staff discount on the roof racks.

James.

Any update on this Petrified? What did they end up doing?

Do you mean that there is only another 1.2 miles on the clock since you left it in? This doesn't exactly indicate a very extensive road test! you would think if it had quite a serious problem they wooda checked properly if it was fixed!! Dumb a55es

Hello!

Sorry havn't been on here for a while...

Yeah, in the end they sorted it out. I honestly cant remember everything they replaced but the way they dealt with everything was just totally unprofessional. I'm pretty fed up with that dealer and won't be going back to them.

Luckily a new VW Dealer has opened in the last month and is within walking distance from my work place

I don't know what it is with VW dealers but they always seem to ruin the 'joy' of owning a Volkswagon. If you get a problem with the car they should fix it, not make it worse.

The polo is an excellent car especially the later models, it has a few problems but so does every other car.

I did test drive the Honda Civic Type-R again and I'm still temped by it, but I much prefer the look & the scene of the polo. I'll probably test drive the GT soon as it's out too

Anyway... lots of other posts to catch up on now.

You got a Golf GTi as a replacement car!!!!
I have had many replacement cars but never anything over 1.2.
You're a lucky bugger you, I'm going to Wales for my next service or warranty job!

oh and by the way try to saty clear of the Type R. Yeah it's a blindingly quick motor but your paying 17K for the engine and a Limited Slip Differential. Thats all. It's not a very wel built car neither is it very safe. I saw a car crash involving the Type R and that wasn't a pretty sight. Touch wood
+ grp 17 insurance ouch

Good to see you back, Petrified...

Don't give up on the cause... May the dub be with you...

Deek.

Yeah, it's the second time I've taken my car in and came home with a Golf GTi, the first time it ws the 180 bhp version which I didn't want to take back.

oh, and thanks for the help previously DXG.

I've only ever had VW's

Golf MK2 1.6 CL (Tyres used to cost £10 each and the service was £35 )
Golf MK2 GTI 8v (Earned too many points on my licence)
Polo MK5 1.0 (Slightly slower than previous car...but it had a sunroof)
Polo MK6 FSI (No sunroof but with aircon, decent engine and better MPG than the 1.0!)

James.