Bye Bye Jetta!

[spjetta09]

I just traded my 2009 manual jetta tdi in with 21,500 miles I must say for driving experience it was the best car i ever had! The downside is the "contaminated fuel", hpfp issues.
My car had an issue starting last december and the dealer said i had contaminated fuel and the fuel filter was hydrolocked. It was only a 750 dollar fix . Just to drain the fuel lines,tank and new fuel filter. I figure since my car already had an excess amount of water in the system I might be more prone to a hpfp failure. I really didn't want to wait to find what would happen! So i finally traded her in last night for a civic lx-s. It will not be half as fun as my jetta but i know i will not get socked with a 8-10 grand bill!!

Until "Dweisel" fuel comes out where i know i'm getting quality diesel in my jetta i don't think i can own one. I'll take my chances with getting bad gas from the station since that has never happened to me! Whatever the issue is going on with the fuel system should not be my problem. I paid good money for this car and volkswagen shouldn't put a product out there that cannot handle U.S diesel standards and sell it to the people.
As for some folks saying you should use an additive in the fuel there is no clear answer!! People on here are bickering back and forth on here about that. Vw says no and the bently manual says you can. It doesn't pass the smell test!! Sorry! Seriously how hard is it for a company to have a unified policy. Also should i have to put an additive in my fuel?? Only time i see that being acceptable is when its cold enough for it to gel.
Thanks for everyone on this site with thier wisdom and exprience! I really hope I just got rid of my car prematurely and no one else has any more issues!!

 

[D-Cell_Mekanick]

Good luck with the Civic. As for the fuel additive, I don't think they could ever tell if you added some or not. After all most diesel brands add their own diesel additive package anyways, atleast the place I get my diesel fuel does. I would use the don't ask don't tell method.

Edit:
I know I don't have the time or money to fight with VW over this issue if I had this problem. I would rather take a few thousand dollar hit now then a possible $8K-10K hit in the near future. I think it's time for someone to start a blog. A designated web page just about individual experiences people with this issue have had, so they could write in about what and how VW has or hasn't done to remedy the problem. I would definitly keep an eye on that page.

 

[Jetta Knight]

I have personally prevented three people (my sister and two friends) from purchasing a TDI or any other VW due to this issue. I hope VW monitors these forums. It IS costing them. It is not the mechanical issue but the attitude and approach to it that pisses me off. After owning three new TDI's over the last 9 years I think that I can say with certainty that this 09 is my last. In fact, when Subaru brings their diesel Outback into the USA I am gone. Over my 60 years I have owned many different makes of vehicles - domestic and foreign - luxury and standard. Without a doubt, the three Subaru's that I have owned have taught me that Subaru, hands down, stands behind their products beyond all others. Also without a doubt, no other manufacturer has been as aloof about service as I have found VW to be over simple warranty issues.

I salute you.

Let the flaming begin ...

 

[charredwallsofthedamned]

wow just wow

 

[Pelican18TQA4]

Great thread, thanks for the laugh! The few cases of "preventative trade-ins" are quite comedic. OP, good luck with your Civic; I hope it serves you well.

 

[pawel]

when comes to fuel additive use, people have to realize that they are using a fuel additive, one added by fuel supplier.

 

[gpshumway]

I have personally prevented three people (my sister and two friends) from purchasing a TDI or any other VW due to this issue. I hope VW monitors these forums. It IS costing them. It is not the mechanical issue but the attitude and approach to it that pisses me off. After owning three new TDI's over the last 9 years I think that I can say with certainty that this 09 is my last. In fact, when Subaru brings their diesel Outback into the USA I am gone. Over my 60 years I have owned many different makes of vehicles - domestic and foreign - luxury and standard. Without a doubt, the three Subaru's that I have owned have taught me that Subaru, hands down, stands behind their products beyond all others. Also without a doubt, no other manufacturer has been as aloof about service as I have found VW to be over simple warranty issues.

I salute you.

Let the flaming begin ...

No flaming from me. I've basically decided to forgo the JSW for the recently announced TSX wagon. I find that while I like the idea of the JSW, the practice turns me off. I just can't help but think VW has caught whatever disease GM had. Terminal management cluelessenes?

As to the Subaru, don't hold your breath for the diesel. My guess is 2014 is the soonest you'll see it. That's when Europe's emissions standards tighten to be pretty close to ours. This also squares with the "mid 2010's" quote from a Subaru rep at last year's NY auto show. Subaru always announces new models at the NY show which is only a couple days from now, so here's hoping.

The 2010 Outback CVT actually gets pretty good mileage (for a big lumbering gasser). I got 30mpg in my Hertz rental today. We'll see how it does on this week's ski trip to Montana. I still prefer a 3 pedal manual though.

Hang out at NASIOC much?
Diesel thread:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1661385

Official Subaru Q&A:
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1453607

 

[Turbine Suburban]

I won't flame ya either!

 

[DoctorDawg]

The few cases of "preventative trade-ins" are quite comedic.

Great phrase that: "preventative trade-ins". I certainly understand the FUD-induced concerns, and while I won't be trading in my trouble-free '09 any time soon I can sympathize with those who feel the need to do so.

VW needs to wake up and smell the coffee. This FUD could easily be dispelled if they stepped up to the plate and really stood behind their TDIs rather than blaming everything on 'bad fuel' and telling customers with problems to go fish. VW will lose an incredible market opportunity if it doesn't step up to the plate here. I too have stopped recommending the TDI to friends; the car is great, but the company can't be trusted.

 

[Sella Turcica]

Great thread, thanks for the laugh! The few cases of "preventative trade-ins" are quite comedic. OP, good luck with your Civic; I hope it serves you well.

Nobody is laughing at an $8k repair bill that isn't covered under the warranty on a one-year-old car, except apparently you. The HPFP issue is precisely the reason I will keep my 05.5 TDI and (knowingly, ahead of time) save money for the cam replacement. Until VW steps up, there isn't a common rail TDI in our future. Just FYI - BMW has been experiencing a rash of injector problems and HPFP failures on their 335i models. BMW's response has been to fix the problem under warranty and extend the warranty on the HPFP to 10 years. I sold my last BMW due to quality problems, but perhaps I'll buy one again due to their understanding of customer service.

 

[milesstandish]

VW was probably "overwhelmed" by JSW TDI sales in the US last year. If # units continues an upward trend, and if hpfp failures stay a small percentage, they probably won't do anything about it. It doesn't yet seem like a worldwide issue either.

Unless the story ends up on Dateline or in the Wall Street Journal or something.

PS, to the OP good luck w/ your Honda

 

[DoctorDawg]

Unless the story ends up on Dateline or in the Wall Street Journal or something.

Dateline and the WSJ are soooo Twentieth Century. What VW (and many other corporations) need to understand is that they have lost exclusive control of messaging about their brands, due to the internet. Some smart guy somewhere right now is thinking about buying a TDI. He will Google "VW TDI" and end up here at TDIClub. He will read about all the FUD induced by VW's mismanagement of their brand and will decide to pass. He'll buy a nice, safe Subaru instead. VW misses another sale, and our resale values go down a couple more dollars. "But they're already selling all the TDIs they can make" I hear someone say. Don't you believe it for a minute; that would make them the only company on earth that doesn't ramp up capacity to meet sales opportunity.

Companies that want to retain the hard-won value of their brands in the internet age need to get out ahead of customer dissatisfaction, confusion, and fear and head 'em off at the pass. For what they spend on one TV advertising campaign they can make a LOT of customers happy by (for instance) extending (and honoring) warranty on parts that are triggering massive FUD. Then the guy who Googles "TDI" ends up here and finds everybody braggin' on their cars. He buys one. Ka-ching!

So if (note I say "if") there is even a numerically small problem with HPFPs choking on ULSD (bad or otherwise), a smart VW would:
* get out ahead of it and extend the warranty on the fuel system
* set some of their brilliant engineers on designing an early-warning 'water-in-fuel' sensor
* test the compatibility of fuel additives with the DPF and then
* issue clear advice for or against using a VW-approved fuel additive in the CRD

I realize this probably won't happen. VW hasn't proven to be a particularly marketing-savvy company. So maybe instead it ends up being the next Toyota: a company that kept its head in the sand until it totally lost control of its brand messaging, with consequences totaling in the billions of dollars. Where I work, the unofficial motto is "control the airwaves". Its the only way to go.

 

[Dusty Sidewinds]

I have an 06 TDI Jetta and did my best to get a new model from the dealer but got no where at all with them. At best a deer in the headlight look.

Now I feel lucky as the 06 now looks like the safer of the two.

Who would have thunk it???????

 

[ruking]

Dateline and the WSJ are soooo Twentieth Century. What VW (and many other corporations) need to understand is that they have lost exclusive control of messaging about their brands, due to the internet. Some smart guy somewhere right now is thinking about buying a TDI. He will Google "VW TDI" and end up here at TDIClub. He will read about all the FUD induced by VW's mismanagement of their brand and will decide to pass. He'll buy a nice, safe Subaru instead. VW misses another sale, and our resale values go down a couple more dollars. "But they're already selling all the TDIs they can make" I hear someone say. Don't you believe it for a minute; that would make them the only company on earth that doesn't ramp up capacity to meet sales opportunity.

Companies that want to retain the hard-won value of their brands in the internet age need to get out ahead of customer dissatisfaction, confusion, and fear and head 'em off at the pass. For what they spend on one TV advertising campaign they can make a LOT of customers happy by (for instance) extending (and honoring) warranty on parts that are triggering massive FUD. Then the guy who Googles "TDI" ends up here and finds everybody braggin' on their cars. He buys one. Ka-ching!

So if (note I say "if") there is even a numerically small problem with HPFPs choking on ULSD (bad or otherwise), a smart VW would:
* get out ahead of it and extend the warranty on the fuel system
* set some of their brilliant engineers on designing an early-warning 'water-in-fuel' sensor
* test the compatibility of fuel additives with the DPF and then
* issue clear advice for or against using a VW-approved fuel additive in the CRD

I realize this probably won't happen. VW hasn't proven to be a particularly marketing-savvy company. So maybe instead it ends up being the next Toyota: a company that kept its head in the sand until it totally lost control of its brand messaging, with consequences totaling in the billions of dollars. Where I work, the unofficial motto is "control the airwaves". Its the only way to go.

I actually wonder out loud if this is indeed the REAL VW marketing strategy. We may say and think what we wish, but VW is one of THE biggest global brands !!?? ..."In November 2009, Volkswagen and Porsche overtook Toyota to become the world's largest car manufacturing group in terms of production.[2]"... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen What is probably the more interesting is the relatively minor US penetration of app 2% ( MY production of app 225,000, total year sales of 11.3 M vehicles= ) !!! Another way to look at this minority number would be they have a HUGE window and envelope to EXPAND.

So for example the Toyota Nummi Plant in Fremont, CA (makers of Corolla's, one of their "profit leading economy cars!!??) will close @ the end of the month. So if a global power house such as Toyota can not operate economically in CA, who else can?

So while the OP's decision to go to Honda (Civic) makes a lot of sense. Honda in comparison is globally very small. We also have a 04 Civic. While it may have a better reputation than say our 2003 VW TDI, in comparison the, relatively low production TDI is actually cheaper to run per mile driven. The Civic's consumable parts also wear 2 to 3 x's faster. Now don't get me wrong, we are VERY pleased with the Civic. It does do the job for which we bought it (commuting) Any longer "road" trips and either Jetta 03/09 gets the nod 10/10 times.

 

[Rod Bearing]

Great thread, thanks for the laugh! The few cases of "preventative trade-ins" are quite comedic. OP, good luck with your Civic; I hope it serves you well.

I enjoy watching people blame VW. After all it's VW's fault these people didn't do any research before buying. VW should have known they were ill informed and unprepared to buy a new car.

VW needs to do a better job of mind reading!

 

[spjetta09]

Actually I did do some research before buying my 09 TDI. My friend has an 03 Jetta TDI and has no problems with bad diesel/fuel/fuel filter issues. He has put on more than 100,000 miles on that car.
If VW would of put out marketing btw..we cannot assure you that the diesel you get at the gas station is compatible with your new VW TDI!!! Im not saying its the fuel that is the issue because older models aren't having this issue...I had to guess thru my bad research i'ld say thier fuel system is not equiped to deal with American Diesel standards. If this problem effected every diesel engine the way it effects the 09 tdi... every semi truck shop would be overfilled with business. But then again maybe its my fault because i'm not a diesel mechanic so i shouldn't have any business owning a TDI.

 

[milesstandish]

Dateline and the WSJ are soooo Twentieth Century. What VW (and many other corporations) need to understand is that they have lost exclusive control of messaging about their brands, due to the internet. Some smart guy somewhere right now is thinking about buying a TDI. He will Google "VW TDI" and end up here at TDIClub. He will read about all the FUD induced by VW's mismanagement of their brand and will decide to pass. He'll buy a nice, safe Subaru instead. VW misses another sale, and our resale values go down a couple more dollars. "But they're already selling all the TDIs they can make" I hear someone say. Don't you believe it for a minute; that would make them the only company on earth that doesn't ramp up capacity to meet sales opportunity.

Companies that want to retain the hard-won value of their brands in the internet age need to get out ahead of customer dissatisfaction, confusion, and fear and head 'em off at the pass. For what they spend on one TV advertising campaign they can make a LOT of customers happy by (for instance) extending (and honoring) warranty on parts that are triggering massive FUD. Then the guy who Googles "TDI" ends up here and finds everybody braggin' on their cars. He buys one. Ka-ching!

So if (note I say "if") there is even a numerically small problem with HPFPs choking on ULSD (bad or otherwise), a smart VW would:
* get out ahead of it and extend the warranty on the fuel system
* set some of their brilliant engineers on designing an early-warning 'water-in-fuel' sensor
* test the compatibility of fuel additives with the DPF and then
* issue clear advice for or against using a VW-approved fuel additive in the CRD

I realize this probably won't happen. VW hasn't proven to be a particularly marketing-savvy company. So maybe instead it ends up being the next Toyota: a company that kept its head in the sand until it totally lost control of its brand messaging, with consequences totaling in the billions of dollars. Where I work, the unofficial motto is "control the airwaves". Its the only way to go.

I hear ya but that assumes prospective car buyers flock to car forums. I'm not convinced the average potential car buyer flocks to online VW forums to do research. Most car buyers probably check out Consumer Reports.

 

[Rod Bearing]

Actually I did do some research before buying my 09 TDI. My friend has an 03 Jetta TDI and has no problems with bad diesel/fuel/fuel filter issues. He has put on more than 100,000 miles on that car.
If VW would of put out marketing btw..we cannot assure you that the diesel you get at the gas station is compatible with your new VW TDI!!! Im not saying its the fuel that is the issue because older models aren't having this issue...I had to guess thru my bad research i'ld say thier fuel system is not equiped to deal with American Diesel standards. If this problem effected every diesel engine the way it effects the 09 tdi... every semi truck shop would be overfilled with business. But then again maybe its my fault because i'm not a diesel mechanic so i shouldn't have any business owning a TDI.

It's not VW's fault that you didn't educate yourself on what you were buying.

High Pressure Common Rail Clean Diesels are nothing like the 03, 04, 05, 06, or even 1927 Murphy diesels! They share none of the same fuel system design or functionality with the diesels of yesteryear! With the introduction of the High Pressure Common Rail Fuel Systems, quality and cleanliness of diesel fuel has suddenly taken front and center as THE most important element in these systems.

There are literally hundreds of thousands of these engines, including VW Clean diesels, that are doing just fine even in the questionable US fuel quality scenario.

Stop blaming Volkswagen for the 20-30 failures. Of these perhaps a half dozen are actual failed systems due to flaws. The rest are fuel contamination pure and simple. I see it every day of the week.

It's NOT JUST VW!!

 

[WEC4104]

Dateline and the WSJ are soooo Twentieth Century. What VW (and many other corporations) need to understand is that they have lost exclusive control of messaging about their brands, due to the internet. Some smart guy somewhere right now is thinking about buying a TDI. He will Google "VW TDI" and end up here at TDIClub. He will read about all the FUD induced by VW's mismanagement of their brand and will decide to pass. He'll buy a nice, safe Subaru instead. VW misses another sale, and our resale values go down a couple more dollars. "But they're already selling all the TDIs they can make" I hear someone say. Don't you believe it for a minute; that would make them the only company on earth that doesn't ramp up capacity to meet sales opportunity.

Companies that want to retain the hard-won value of their brands in the internet age need to get out ahead of customer dissatisfaction, confusion, and fear and head 'em off at the pass. For what they spend on one TV advertising campaign they can make a LOT of customers happy by (for instance) extending (and honoring) warranty on parts that are triggering massive FUD. Then the guy who Googles "TDI" ends up here and finds everybody braggin' on their cars. He buys one. Ka-ching!

So if (note I say "if") there is even a numerically small problem with HPFPs choking on ULSD (bad or otherwise), a smart VW would:
* get out ahead of it and extend the warranty on the fuel system
* set some of their brilliant engineers on designing an early-warning 'water-in-fuel' sensor
* test the compatibility of fuel additives with the DPF and then
* issue clear advice for or against using a VW-approved fuel additive in the CRD

I realize this probably won't happen. VW hasn't proven to be a particularly marketing-savvy company. So maybe instead it ends up being the next Toyota: a company that kept its head in the sand until it totally lost control of its brand messaging, with consequences totaling in the billions of dollars. Where I work, the unofficial motto is "control the airwaves". Its the only way to go.

Well DocterDawg, I am your poster child. I like to think I'm a pretty smart guy, and I have been thinking about buying a new TDI. I did, in fact, Google "VW TDI", and I did end up here on TDIClub. Maybe there are others who simply read some stuff and went on their merry way, but I chose to take the time to register and become a participant.

The fact is, I truely WANT to buy a new JSW TDI. I just will not do so until I see how VW corporate addresses the fuel system issues. Further, I am not overly concerned about buying a vehicle that might have a design flaw or technical issue. Most do. As long as I feel comfortable that the manufacturer will step up and address the problem with the owner's best interests at heart, I will vote with my cash.

Heck, I've owned several new cars, each with one quality problem or another. I've had an Ford Explorer with Firestone tires. I've had a Chrysler LHS with a fuel rail system safety recall, and a steering rack that failed at 26K miles. I've had a BMW that had the engine block replaced at 80K miles. I've had multiple Honda Odyssey transmission failures. In every one of these cases, the manufacturer stepped up and paid the full cost to make things right. No blame assigned to the customer, just a couple of days in the shop and an apology from their service department. I can handle that.

What I can't handle is a manufacturer who simply states "contaminated fuel", and leaves the customer holding the bag. VW is the designer and manufacturer of this vehicle, and I hold them completely accountable for determing the cause for these failures, and a viable solution for their customers. Maybe the problem is only limited to handful of customers, out of tens of thousands. If so, VW could grant warranty coverage to those owners for less than what they spend on a single 30 second commercial airing.

Instead, VW is leaving their customers wandering around in the dark. TDIClub members have the potential to be one of the best vehicle advocate groups on the planet. But rather than using this group to their full advantage, VW leaves us to bicker over whether fuel additives should be used, and whether they void the warranty or not. That is just plain stupid. Are you listening VWofA? [I'd be happy to translate to Deutsch if it helps.]

If you want to have this poster child become a customer, reread DocterDawg's bulleted advice for a smart VW, and take that to heart.

 

[spjetta09]

It's not VW's fault that you didn't educate yourself on what you were buying.

High Pressure Common Rail Clean Diesels are nothing like the 03, 04, 05, 06, or even 1927 Murphy diesels! They share none of the same fuel system design or functionality with the diesels of yesteryear! With the introduction of the High Pressure Common Rail Fuel Systems, quality and cleanliness of diesel fuel has suddenly taken front and center as THE most important element in these systems.

There are literally hundreds of thousands of these engines, including VW Clean diesels, that are doing just fine even in the questionable US fuel quality scenario.

Stop blaming Volkswagen for the 20-30 failures. Of these perhaps a half dozen are actual failed systems due to flaws. The rest are fuel contamination pure and simple. I see it every day of the week.

It's NOT JUST VW!!

You might be right! Maybe.... fuel standards need to be better regulated. Its not like you have a sensor on the fuel pump indicating bad fuel "water present" I"m far from an expert and thats why i read these blogs.
If my car didn't have a fuel issue with my car I wouldn't of traded it in. What the "contaminated fuel" did to my car I have no idea long term. I ran 1/2 of a tank of it!!

 

[charredwallsofthedamned]

I also did my research and still bought however the stories and the handling of these problems seem to be piling up since then.. So hopefully I will have no problems and I have the VW 100,000 mile bumper to bumper just in case my DSG or something takes a dump... I bought into the risk because of MPG's I drive 2,500-to 3,000 miles a month...got fingers crossed and will roll up the miles

 

[Power_Not_Speed]

I enjoy watching people blame VW. After all it's VW's fault these people didn't do any research before buying. VW should have known they were ill informed and unprepared to buy a new car.
VW needs to do a better job of mind reading!

You're right. People should have done their homework to know that they would be held personally responsible for driving and maintaining their cars in accordance with the manufacturer's directions, and that they will have to pay $8000 or so because they fail to have a fuel sample taken at each fill-up. And in those half dozen or so mechanical failures that you have documented, the burden of proof should fall on the owner.

So why would any well informed prospective owner actually buy one?

Maybe VW does know.

 

[candywhite]

Great phrase that: "preventative trade-ins". I certainly understand the FUD-induced concerns, and while I won't be trading in my trouble-free '09 any time soon I can sympathize with those who feel the need to do so.

VW needs to wake up and smell the coffee. This FUD could easily be dispelled if they stepped up to the plate and really stood behind their TDIs rather than blaming everything on 'bad fuel' and telling customers with problems to go fish. VW will lose an incredible market opportunity if it doesn't step up to the plate here. I too have stopped recommending the TDI to friends; the car is great, but the company can't be trusted.

I think this just about sums it up. The people here who have had a good experience should not assume that the unlucky ones are stupid, at fault, or somehow to blame. The only fear, uncertainty and doubt I experienced was due to the treatment I received from VWofA.

 

[charredwallsofthedamned]

yes^ agreed

 

[dieselstein]

VW has always been a love-hate relationship with me. My 1994 TDi was a pile. My 2003 was okay but not on-par with European reviews and used car reliability ratings. My used purchase 2006 is great so far albeit, my owners manual doesn't know when my timing belt is supposed to be changed and my dealer thinks 505.01 oil is a MUST if I'm buying from Parts but they can't confirm it ever went in my crankcase for the last 70k miles (thanks bulk oil drums). I'll enjoy the day when/if Ford brings over a TDi Focus or Fiesta and Chrysler gets Fiat's well received TDi's for local models. Even a TDi B-Class Benz or Spyker owned Saab TDi would be nice but I don't see any of it happening. The emphasis is on Hybrids and diesel's won't be avail much longer in North America IMO. You can't compete with gassers getting upwards of 36mpg for thousands less to buy and then there's Hybrids for less than current TDi's from VW.

 

[Mach1]

I have 2 BRM's and you can search the threads and see that I have always doubted the CRD's..why just ask the CRD guys on here, I pissed a bunch off..for knocking the CRD..

This was before the Fuel problems..Longevity Has to be earned...Time will tell, if the CRD makes it...

There are still other unknown problems lurking the CRD, that haven't surfaced yet...Heck, I dont like their $400 GP/CP sensors, the exhaust flapper valve, and the water injestion problem is going to be major during the winter months...Too much for me. I like my BRM's..You will never be able to buy a diesel car that good again, EVER.

I will probably never buy another diesel car/truck here in the US, the emissions/fuel systems are nitemares...

 

[EJS]

I hear ya but that assumes prospective car buyers flock to car forums. I'm not convinced the average potential car buyer flocks to online VW forums to do research. Most car buyers probably check out Consumer Reports.

Being married to someone who does loans on vehicles everyday - the average majority of consumers do absolutely nothing. At most they might ask a couple of friends but going online or reading consumer mcdorks is WAY too much effort.

............. I like my BRM's..You will never be able to buy a diesel car that good again, EVER.

Well it's all relative, many would say the BRM is a POS & the last good engine they made was the ALH.

..............I will probably never buy another diesel car/truck here in the US, the emissions/fuel systems are nitemares...

Getting nothing but stricter (thankfully) for gassers & diesels = more & more complex.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Rod Bearing, are you saying that the HPFP failures are, as VW seems to want us to think, user error? If so, how do we prevent it? And if not, how is doing pre-purchase homework going to prevent these failures?

I have a 2010 Golf on order, arriving in May. I expect to take a lubricity additive to the dealer when I pick up the car and use it religiously. I have my own fuel supply that's very high quality. I am still concerned about fuel system failures.

 

[MacBuckeye]

Sorry to see you leave ur TDi...

As a happy and satisifed 2009 TDi owner with 28K miles and no problems (fingers crossed, knocking on wood) I can only hope this HPFP/fuel system problems/failures are rare. And IMHO- they are not caused by getting a tank of "bad fuel". If that were the case, then your would see a lot more of us and other MFG's having the same problem. IF not, then did Bosch/VW make a part/system that is faulty and not reliable to operate here in the USA?

Tell me VW.... how do you determine and define "bad fuel"? Prove it!!! Otherwise, pony up the repair $$$ and stand behind your customers. Otherwise you won't have any!

Exposure to the media, car magazines, consumer reports, etc. is not a bad idea. Those of you with the problem(s) should initiate this. Several of us in here have talked about tracking this problem in a separate thread. I think the time is now. The data would be helpful.

 

[EJS]

I have a 2010 Golf on order, arriving in May. I expect to take a lubricity additive to the dealer when I pick up the car and use it religiously. I have my own fuel supply that's very high quality. I am still concerned about fuel system failures.

That's the crux of the matter - what exactly is the cause of the failure. At this point we have 3 possible scenarios -

1) A faulty lot of HPFPs - doesn't seem to hold up as the failures are all over the map

2) The lubricity of US spec ULSD. At best it provides boderline lubricity for pump longevity (as laid out by Bosch)

3) Simply contaminated fuel. It would seem the system is particularly susceptible to bad fuel. It doesn't have a lot of room for water & it has a fairly rough filtering media for a system piezo injectors.

And what you point out is one of the issues. VW says NO additive for CRDs............if lubricity is borderline? They also say this when we know winter fuel gets pretty much the same as adding power service? The dealer sells stanadyne...........which was once approved, it is NOT approved for CRDs?

It is confusing. I go back & forth on additives.............should I add them & extend the life of the HPFP? Or should I follow the rules & hope that if it goes before 60,000 (warranty for me)?

I'd say you have the best scenario for a good outcome - a high quality supply. I use the same fuel station 99.9% of the time.........I've been using the same station for 5 years. I have yet to see much of any water in a filter (BHW, dump the bottom & check) - doesn't mean I can't get a bad lot one day but it does mean it would take a LOT of convincing for me to believe "bad fuel".