Passat GTE problem - Advice?

Sesshoumaru

Just wanted to ask the community for some advice. Dropped my 202 reg Passat GTE into a VW dealer today for a minor service. I cycled home and later got a call to say that the car has oil underneath the engine bay, so I won't get it back today. That it could in fact take a few days to look at and get fixed. Might even be / probably will be next week. My problem is that I'm supposed to be taking my wife and 3 kids on the ferry from Dublin to Cherbourg this Friday. The dealer so far hasn't been very helpful to me. The guy who rang me to say the car has an oil leak just said there are other customers they need to get done today/this week and that it could be next week, 'it would be best to make alternative travel arrangements' is what I was told.

So I'm just wondering should I be giving the dealer hell over this? or is it just not their problem (that I was planning on taking the car to France this Friday) and I don't have any leverage on the dealership? Our other car is a 2011 Leaf we've owned since new and that is just never going to drive from Cherbourg to Bordeaux! Should the dealer be giving me replacement car? Just wondering as well if a friend lent me there car and I transferred my insurance to it, would that work? I thought in France you have to carry you vehicle registration certificate with you, which if I borrowed a car wouldn't have my name on it?

BronsonTB

Take the car back, go on your hol - (check oil regularly)

Book it in now to have the work done when you get back.

Other options will be more complicated (borrowing/hiring etc).

greasepalm

Yes buy correct oil and carry it with you and assume it is engine oil that is seen on the tray. Does car have a level monitor to say oil low is helpful.

Get your holidays and enjoy it while you can.

Still need to bring an emergency pack with you and light diverters.

Atlantic Dawn

Did you notice any oil on the ground where the car was regularly parked before you brought it to the garage? Can't be major loss if there was no sign.

mickdw

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119195896#Comment_119195896

seeing as the dealer is now aware of the issue, they could play silly beggers with the warranty if you take the car away and do thousands of km with it prior to repairing.

To be fair, without knowing the issue, it might not be the smartest thing to do.

greasepalm

Well used to VWS and their dirty shields been oily.

Sesshoumaru

When I got home from dropping the car off for a service and received that first phone call with the 'bad news', it just wasn't reassuring at all. Even after explaining about the ferry this Friday and driving from Cherbourg to Bordeaux, the guy who called me said it would be best to 'make alternative travel arrangements'. Not helpful!

So I managed to figure out the Service Manager email address for the dealer and emailed him explaining my situation. Then I separately forwarded that email to the sales person I bought the car from and said something like 'hey I'm desperate, read this - any help appreciated'. So just before lunch I got a reply from the Service Manager to say -

• He looked himself and they suspect a seal gone between gearbox and electric drive motor (he describe it as a leak/weep that was being caught on undertray - so nothing on driveway)
• The part to fix it has been ordered
• It should arrive tomorrow and repair work should start tomorrow
• He told the Service Team to make it a priority
• He doesn't foresee us not getting the car back before Friday

So kind of feeling reassured now. Separately had a chat with the sales guys and he told me they'd take care of me with a suitable vehicle if it came to it. Would be hassle to have to use a different car, but will be happy just that we get to go on trip with a car.