Dealer fried my ECM - 2004 Jetta TDI Wagon

delver

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2007
Location
Oakland, CA
TDI
2005 Jetta TDI Wagon Auto
I took my car in for a glow plug and software recall. When I called to ask if the car was ready to be picked up, they said, "We have some bad news for you..."

So, they say that while they were doing the software update, everything shut down and now they have to replace the ECM (order one from Germany). They've given me a rental car, but it's almost a week later and they still haven't got the part in. It was supposed to be done by today.

My questions are, how did this happen, should they be giving me some sort of compensation for this situation and could it cause other problems in the future?

This was at the VW dealer in Oakland, CA.

Thanks
 

puter

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jun 19, 2007
Location
Tacoma, Washington
TDI
2002 Jetta GLS
Honestly, I would say that if they are giving you a free rental and replacing it at no cost, then you are winning out as far as VW dealerships go.

Most dealerships would give you some bull**** reason why it wasn't their fault that the ECM died and tell you that they can repair it for their standard parts and labor cost.
 

pyankura

Vendor
Joined
Jun 29, 2007
Location
Pittsburgh
TDI
2005 golf a4 body style
Unfortunately this is par for the course! Giving you a new ecu is the best thay can do, well, also the rental! You shouldn't have any future problems as it is just a computer.
Heck, when I bought my car new, they replaced the ecu. Reason...My alarm would go off for know reason, my sun roof would open with and with out me doing it and best of all I could not always get it to close! So no big deal...


Did you have it tuned?
 

hevster1

Vendor
Joined
Nov 14, 2005
Location
Columbia NJ
TDI
98 NB
I took my car in for a glow plug and software recall. When I called to ask if the car was ready to be picked up, they said, "We have some bad news for you..."

So, they say that while they were doing the software update, everything shut down and now they have to replace the ECM (order one from Germany). They've given me a rental car, but it's almost a week later and they still haven't got the part in. It was supposed to be done by today.

My questions are, how did this happen, should they be giving me some sort of compensation for this situation and could it cause other problems in the future?

This was at the VW dealer in Oakland, CA.

Thanks
According to your signature you are in Brooklyn. What happened?

Anyway, if the battery dies on either the car or the scan tool while doing a reflash or someone disconnects it by mistake it completely clears the ecm program. While dealers can update the program they cannot start from scratch. They made a mistake, it happens. They are doing the right thing at no cost to you. What more do you want?


I had this happen to me once on a Toyota when another tech disconnected the scan tool during a reflash. We ordered a new ECM and gave the customer a rental as well.

Will it be the cause of a problem in the future? Not likely.
 

delver

Member
Joined
Oct 16, 2007
Location
Oakland, CA
TDI
2005 Jetta TDI Wagon Auto
Thanks for the advice everyone. Yes, it crossed my mind that they could have told me it was a problem with my car and I was therefore responsible for any costs. I guess I'll be happy to have a new ECM. My sunroof also goes up and down sometimes without me touching the dial, so maybe that will be fixed.

My signature is a few years and one TDI old.
 
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