Very Expensive Coolant Leak Repair with VW Dealership

Lh3blade on 13/10/2024 - 04:21
Last edited 13/10/2024 - 11:33 by 1 other user

We have a 2015 Volkswagen Touareg V6 TDI 7P AWD. 3.0DT, Diesel, 8 speed, Automatic.

Recently, we noticed the coolant warning light was on and took the car to repair shop, cost about $1300+ to replace the tank and repair few leaks after a pressure check.

However, the leaking seems continue after repair and have to add at least 700ml water each week instead of month.

We took the car to our VW dealership and tell them two problems - coolant leak and powerless issue. They checked the car and sent a quote price with around $5000 to repair both and we accepted.

The problem started from here, we did a test drive after paying the repair bill and noticed powerless issue did not resolved and took the car back to dealership. However, they said the car had no problem when they did the test drive. They took the car back to workshop and said the powerless issue is caused by turbo with a new repair quote with $3900 or $7000 for a second hand or brand new turbo replacement, we rejected the quote and took the car back on Monday.

On the second day, Tuesday, the coolant warning lights on again and we called dealership and they told that we can add some water and test drive for a week.

We took the car back to dealership again as the coolant leaking light still on and the leaking problem was just same as before, we didn`t see any improvement after repair.

They called me over the phone and said they will check the car again, they will repair the leaking if it was their previous repair job. If there is a new leaking from different place, they will send me a new quote to repair and if I rejected the quote, they will charge me 3 hours labour, which cost around $600-$700 to put the car back.

I was so pissed, as I told them the coolant leak problem and cost me near $5k. It totally makes no sense. the coolant leaks (same leaking speed) again after repair. They finally inspected the car again and sent me a new quote over the phone, they found a new leak and it will cost about $1300 to take the car apart and to identify the leaking.

I rejected their offer and ask to refund my previously repair bill as my car is the same as before, nothing has been repaired, I don`t see why I should pay for them to learn how to find a leak. I have no idea what they have repaired with coolant leakings, especially they said they fixed my car and then send me a new turbo repair quote.

I would like to know if i should complain this to Fair Trading or call VW instead?

Can someone offer some useful advice?

Automotive Fuel Volkswagen Touareg

Comments

joka on 13/10/2024 - 06:54

+2

All I can say is argghhghhhghhhh. I had one of those cars, it gave me nothing but problems at the end too. Get rid of it while you can. How many km’s?
mskeggs on 13/10/2024 - 06:54

+11

Best advice is not to buy older German cars unless you are a hobbyist able to do your own work, or you have a trusted mechanic with access to cost effective parts.
The troubles you describe are why people say if you can’t afford to buy a new European car you certainly can’t afford a secondhand one.
MS Paint on 13/10/2024 - 07:06

Definitely time to trade her in and get a Camry or find a good independent VW specialist. Never take a 10yo Euro to a dealership for major repairs.

Take the engine cover off and have a look. Those look like a friggin nightmare to work on.
- DashCam AKA Rolts on 13/10/2024 - 11:09
  
  +4
  
  Uncle Ian said bring it round next Sat'dee. He's got a couple cans of Bar's Leaks ready to go.
- brendanm on 13/10/2024 - 12:04
  
  +1
  
  Take the engine cover off and have a look. Those look like a friggin nightmare to work on.
  
  They are actually quite good to work on, most of it is laid out in a sensible fashion, only a couple of tricky to get to torx screws.
  
  I sent the factory service manual to another user on here a while back, and he did this repair himself with minimal mechanical knowledge.
  - MS Paint on 13/10/2024 - 13:22
    
    I assumed it was similar config to the sq5 motor which looked like a nightmare to my ecotec eyes.
    - brendanm on 13/10/2024 - 13:56
      
      +1
      
      It is similar, depending on which sq5. Looks tricky but isn't really.
      - MS Paint on 13/10/2024 - 14:00
        
        @brendanm: I'm thinking it was a 2015/16 era version.
        
        brendanm on 13/10/2024 - 14:28
        
        @MS Paint: Probably very similar then, though possibly with 2 turbos and more horsetorques. Both second gen V6 TDI. Edit - could actually be a 3rd gen, silly Audi.
RogerLoger on 13/10/2024 - 07:35

+3

I found Fair Trading to be a total waste of time (my guess is they suffer under-staffing issues), but you have nothing to lose by asking them to intervene.

A DIY complaint to a head office manager may work, but a complaint needs to be well-crafted or it will fail. Start with the idea you are writing to someone who will help your situation. Some reading:
https://www.wordtemplatesonline.net/writing-a-formal-complai…
https://www.whatcar.com/advice/owning/how-to-complain-and-ge…
https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/problem-with-a-product-or-…
https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/problem-with-a-product-or-…

If you don't have experience writing complaints, do you know someone who does? Alternatively, do you know a manager who responds to complaints who can write it for you?

Benefit of doubt is critical (similar to innocent until proven guilty).

Possibly relevant to you, during my conversation with a VW service rep, she let it slip they only have apprentices on site. If you can discover that information about your dealership, you may be able to use it in your favour.

Your problem is proof of incorrect service. Thinking it through
1) You asked for a pressure check
2) They reported they found the cause and carried out the work you were asked to approve. You trusted their report was accurate and the test was thorough.
3) Immediately after, coolant still leaks (state rate of leak before and after), so it seems very clear they did not check thoroughly and did not re-test when they completed.
- h3blade on 13/10/2024 - 15:32
  
  the staff we were dealing with is very friendly and what they keep saying was they will only repair the job they have done on it and ignore the part that the coolant leak pressure check was a failure. I don`t think they actually perform any test after job completed.
  
  thank you very much for your useful inputs and the links to the readings.
  - RogerLoger on 13/10/2024 - 18:21
    
    Good luck with it. VW seem to find very personable service managers and train them well. Friendly does not mean they know that the mechanic did their job well. However, I suspect they want to retain a good reputation and a dud mechanic would not last very long.
    
    BTW: I own a Tiguan. It's over 10 years old. It had a slow leak diagnosed and repaired early this month. It was using about 1L coolant per 10,000km, so it may take a while to work out the degree of success. Like yours, well over $1k for the repair, but in my case the cost related to a water pump leak. They also said, "time to do the timing belts". Another cost well over $1k. All up, around $3.5k. 2024 Tiguan as a loan car.
    - h3blade on 13/10/2024 - 21:50
      
      we paid 1300 to replace the coolant tank and repair the leaks from elsewhere.
      
      however the leak continues., hence comes to the dealership workshop part and paid $4700 and the leak has zero improvement after we pick up the car.
freefall101 on 13/10/2024 - 08:47

+1

Fair trading will ask what you did to resolve the issue. So put it all in writing, without getting angry (if possible, sounds like they’re taking the piss), to the dealer. Then escalate to VW, then go to fair trading.
JIMB0 on 13/10/2024 - 08:48

Put some chem-i-weld in and sell it to the next sucker.
- MS Paint on 13/10/2024 - 09:27
  
  +4
  
  And the cycle continues. Probably what previous owner did to OP.
Aureus on 13/10/2024 - 09:53

Captain hindsight, but you should have found a good mechanic who won't scam you. Dealerships are always rip offs. Hope you can get some of your money back.
- h3blade on 13/10/2024 - 15:36
  
  we already have the coolant leak repair twice at some mechanic and cost about 1300, they actually checked and replaced all the external leaks and the leaking problem still persisted.
  
  we have no much experiences with car , therefore we decided to take it to dealership for a better repair, which now it is wrong.
  
  the job quote was very expensive and we though they have replaced all the leakings.
  - Ryanek on 13/10/2024 - 23:38
    
    It's a shame you didn't ask for advice earlier. PacorTech in Ingelburn are probably the best when it comes to VW coolant leaks.
7ekn00 on 13/10/2024 - 10:20

+2

It's a Euro, what do you really expect?!?

Old European cars are always expensive to repair and maintain :/

As above:

if you can’t afford to buy a new European car you certainly can’t afford a secondhand one.
- JIMB0 on 13/10/2024 - 11:00
  
  I wouldn't consider 9 years to be old for a car. There's plenty of 20 year old Japanese cars getting around with the original cooling system.
  - Baysew on 13/10/2024 - 11:30
    
    +11
    
    True, but Euro cars age in dog years.
brendanm on 13/10/2024 - 11:06

+5

A) stop going to dealerships, they generally have no idea what they are doing beyond basic servicing, and even then fail at that at times.

B) Your most likely coolant leak on a touareg is from the EGR cooler in the V of the engine. This repair is no where near the cost you have paid. In fact none of what you have paid is anywhere near to what should be paid.
NevC on 13/10/2024 - 11:39

-2

A coolant leak is a super simple thing to check on any vehicle. Repair costs depend on what and where the leak is. Ask them what they fixed.

My brother had the engine replaced in his Hilux at a cost of ten grand and because of a coolant leak that was not noticed by the mechanics, it lasted only five kilometres before cooking the engine. Another engine was sourced eventually and installed under warranty. Before we left the mechanic I got him to start the engine while I checked a few things because I didn't trust them after the first time. Guess what? There was a bad coolant leak from a heater hose. Bloody idiots.

You are being ripped off.
- MS Paint on 13/10/2024 - 14:41
  
  because of a coolant leak that was not noticed by the mechanics,
  
  because my brother ignored the temperature gauge and also possibly the aural alarms,
  
  FTFY
  - NevC on 13/10/2024 - 15:21
    
    The temperature gauge never went over normal. I was with him at the time and was something I did monitor because of the new engine. FYI this can happen quite easily. Once coolant level falls below the sensor it will not register an overheating situation. Even when it got to the point where clouds of white smoke appeared from the exhaust, the temperature gauge was still sitting at normal. FYI the temperature gauges in cars have a point where they will peak on the gauge, then remain there until a much higher temperature is reached, then will go into the red zone if there is coolant around the sensor. By that time it's too late for the engine. Never trust a temperature gauge in a car. A low coolant alarm is a much better option and I don't mean the one in the coolant expansion tank which only certain vehicles have. Do some research and you will understand what I am talking about.
    - MS Paint on 13/10/2024 - 15:22
      
      +2
      
      That makes sensors. Cheers
LSGH on 13/10/2024 - 14:49

+2

mate of mine used to work at service department of a VW dealership in QLD, earlier this year I asked him what VW model would he recommend I purchase second hand (7-10 years old), he answer was none of them.
- miwahni on 14/10/2024 - 00:14
  
  Reminds me of my local mechanic when I asked his opinion of the Skoda Octavia - buy new, and sell before the warranty expires! That was enough to deter me.
thatonethere on 13/10/2024 - 15:13

+3

Id take it to an independent vw repairer. The dealers are hit or miss for repairs.

Also once your euro is 10 years or 100000kms or so repairs really ramp up. Id get rid of it.
pegaxs on 13/10/2024 - 15:17

+5

And this is why I laugh when people shit can EVs and their batteries only lasting 100,000/10 years then we get sob stories about blown engines at this age and the astronomical cost to repair it.

This Euro shitbox. The Land Rover thread last week… When will people learn that if you can’t afford a used money pit Euro new, you certainly can’t afford a used, out of warranty one.
doctordv8 on 13/10/2024 - 18:29

-1

And I thought they only had FAULTY / NO Indicators!
mini2 on 14/10/2024 - 12:52

+2

They're spraying your car with the parts cannon. SOP for a dealer-owned workshop.

To be fair re the coolant leaks - when one bit of plastic/rubber starts to let go, the rest of the system isn't too far behind.
snapper17 on 15/10/2024 - 00:29

-3

why didnt you go back to the first shop when you noticed the repair didnt work?

In the future any non japaneese built car should be traded in/sold 6 months before the warranty ends.
If you want to keep a car longer then that buy a japaneese made one.

Also I would avoid Diesel and evs and hybrid.
Diesels have a purpose but you must use the car for this intended purpose otherwise they will cost you more in servicing costs.
You need to do many long trips and or towing for it to be worthwhile.
- brendanm on 15/10/2024 - 11:45
  
  +2
  
  Lol
- JIMB0 on 16/10/2024 - 08:58
  
  +1
  
  Add petrol cars to your list. They can be trouble as well.

Very Expensive Coolant Leak Repair with VW Dealership

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