ChadMad
Active member
Friggin\' Dealer - Won\'t take my money!
I complained of a lag/power loss problem at this thread:
HERE
I had schedule the car to go in to have this problem fixed today. Then on this last Saturday the serpentine belt on the alternator snapped on me and I had to have the car towed to the dealership. I carefully explained to the service guy that I needed BOTH problems fixed. This is at New Century VW in Glendale, CA
He called today to tell me "car was done". I asked him what the problem had been with the power loss and he said, "oh well we replaced the serpentine belt, so that should be it". I said what could the serpentine belt being worn possibly have to do with me losing power four to five times a day as I described ? He stumbled for words, and said he didn't know, but that basically when the tech drove the car around the block a few times the lag issue didn't occur so they weren't going to try and fix it, no matter what I had told them!
Now I know that intermittent problems are a *****. But I had acutally requested that the check the MAF as the problem, so I said well did you at least check the MAF. "Well, no... you see its not that we don't believe you that this problem happens, it's just it didn't happen when we drove the car." So I said you're not even going to take my word for it and test the MAF or anything? "Well would it be OK if our service foreman drove your car home tonight to see if the problem happens then, maybe if he drove it more it would occur?" I said yes, but I asked what the difference would be if it happened to him once or happens to me 5 times a day based on my very thorough description? He didn't have an answer. I said, go talk to your foreman and see if there are any other ideas you guys can come up with, and may I request again that you test the MAF. I told him there was no way I could drive the car in this condition since the problem was happening so often, so they could fix it or I'd take it to another dealership. Every time it lags it is putting my wife and sons and risk.
Then I called Hillside Imports in Portland OR where I used to take my car. The car isn't under warranty anymore, so everything is out of pocket. When I took the car to Hillsides, the owner and his staff took the time to helpe understand the diesel engine a bit, told me exactly what they were doing and why, and were really nice and professional to boot.
I called them up in Portland, and explained that I am moving back to PDX in a few months (which is true) and they were going to get ALL my business once I was back, but could they help me out and tell me what to tell the dealership to check on this problem. They said sure and were really really nice and helpful. They heard my description and immediately suggested the MAF!! They even told me what to tell them to have their tech do to test it. Hook up the monitor and watch block 10, if when they were driving the car and they floored it if block 10 went over 800 the MAF was fine, if it didn't then it was bad.
I've called and left a message with them to do this test, but haven't heard back yet... I mean they could've at least tested the MAF as I suggested, I am out the money whether it is the problem or not, but they just ignored me! If this problem weren't happening so often I wouldn't worry so much about it, but it is and I need it fixed right frigging now!
Bleh... I thought New Century was OK... I don't feel that way anymore. Thank God I'm moving! While I'm still stuck here in LA - if they won't fix it, I guess I'll try VW Pasadena since that is near my work.
Chad
I complained of a lag/power loss problem at this thread:
HERE
I had schedule the car to go in to have this problem fixed today. Then on this last Saturday the serpentine belt on the alternator snapped on me and I had to have the car towed to the dealership. I carefully explained to the service guy that I needed BOTH problems fixed. This is at New Century VW in Glendale, CA
He called today to tell me "car was done". I asked him what the problem had been with the power loss and he said, "oh well we replaced the serpentine belt, so that should be it". I said what could the serpentine belt being worn possibly have to do with me losing power four to five times a day as I described ? He stumbled for words, and said he didn't know, but that basically when the tech drove the car around the block a few times the lag issue didn't occur so they weren't going to try and fix it, no matter what I had told them!
Now I know that intermittent problems are a *****. But I had acutally requested that the check the MAF as the problem, so I said well did you at least check the MAF. "Well, no... you see its not that we don't believe you that this problem happens, it's just it didn't happen when we drove the car." So I said you're not even going to take my word for it and test the MAF or anything? "Well would it be OK if our service foreman drove your car home tonight to see if the problem happens then, maybe if he drove it more it would occur?" I said yes, but I asked what the difference would be if it happened to him once or happens to me 5 times a day based on my very thorough description? He didn't have an answer. I said, go talk to your foreman and see if there are any other ideas you guys can come up with, and may I request again that you test the MAF. I told him there was no way I could drive the car in this condition since the problem was happening so often, so they could fix it or I'd take it to another dealership. Every time it lags it is putting my wife and sons and risk.
Then I called Hillside Imports in Portland OR where I used to take my car. The car isn't under warranty anymore, so everything is out of pocket. When I took the car to Hillsides, the owner and his staff took the time to helpe understand the diesel engine a bit, told me exactly what they were doing and why, and were really nice and professional to boot.
I called them up in Portland, and explained that I am moving back to PDX in a few months (which is true) and they were going to get ALL my business once I was back, but could they help me out and tell me what to tell the dealership to check on this problem. They said sure and were really really nice and helpful. They heard my description and immediately suggested the MAF!! They even told me what to tell them to have their tech do to test it. Hook up the monitor and watch block 10, if when they were driving the car and they floored it if block 10 went over 800 the MAF was fine, if it didn't then it was bad.
I've called and left a message with them to do this test, but haven't heard back yet... I mean they could've at least tested the MAF as I suggested, I am out the money whether it is the problem or not, but they just ignored me! If this problem weren't happening so often I wouldn't worry so much about it, but it is and I need it fixed right frigging now!
Bleh... I thought New Century was OK... I don't feel that way anymore. Thank God I'm moving! While I'm still stuck here in LA - if they won't fix it, I guess I'll try VW Pasadena since that is near my work.
Chad
