The emissions fix caused an EGR fault with my Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI - should I push for a FoC repair?
I've just had the EA189 emission fix on my 2012 Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI, 52,000 mileage. Got the dreaded glow coil warning light within 2/3 days of service and the car went into limp mode. I took it back to a local Volkswagen garage to diagnose the fault. I was told it was an EGR fault but was not related to the emission fix. I don't buy this. They said they would consult with Volkswagen UK and get to me and have now offered me a repair but I must pay 10 per cent of labour cost i.e £62 (total labour/parts £1057) otherwise they cannot offer any warranty on the replacement parts/labour. Are they trying to pull a fast one? As you have mentioned in previous replies to queries on EGR costs, in your opinion, they should be FoC and there are instances where customers have obtained FoC. Therefore Volkswagen is inconsistent in its handling of these complaints and is claiming they cannot warrant the repair without customer contribution. So should I push for FoC?
I had a meeting with engineers from Wolfsburg on March 1. The fix for the EA189 1.6TDI engines was not approved by the KDA until 13th December 2016, so no 1.6 TDI could be fixed until after then. Basically the fix involves reducing NOx without any effect on power, torque, fuel economy or CO2. But reducing NOx means increasing soot, which has to be burned off in the DPF and requires additional fuel. To do this without affecting power, torque, fuel economy or CO2 the software changes the injection pattern, so fuel is now pre-injected, followed by a main injection, followed by a 2nd main injection. Obviously, for this to work, the injectors have to be in tip top condition and the EGR valve stem must not be won. Problems have arisen when injectors were old, dirty or worn and where the EGR valve stem was worn. But, out of 480,000 fixes applied so far, there have only been 3600 complaints and out of them 60 per cent were noise related and 35 per cent were complaints about poorer fuel economy and EGR problems. Only 150 cases of problems after the fix remain outstanding. £62 is buttons for this work. Pay up and don't complain. But scream very loudly indeed if it doesn't work.
I thought EGR replacement up to around 50,000 miles should be FoC up to the point when I had the meeting with the Volkswagen engineers and they explained what they are doing. It remains true that EGRs on EA189 1.6 TDI seem to have a remarkably short life compared to EGRs on other engines. All the figures mentioned are whole of Europe, not merely UK. The total fixes required in Europe are about 11,000,000 worldwide, 8,500,000 in Europe and 800,000 in the USA.
I thought EGR replacement up to around 50,000 miles should be FoC up to the point when I had the meeting with the Volkswagen engineers and they explained what they are doing. It remains true that EGRs on EA189 1.6 TDI seem to have a remarkably short life compared to EGRs on other engines. All the figures mentioned are whole of Europe, not merely UK. The total fixes required in Europe are about 11,000,000 worldwide, 8,500,000 in Europe and 800,000 in the USA.
Answered by Honest John on