TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

[gtx]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

i'am glad you guys are happy about your sales people
but why don't they disclose the fact about oil consumption and tdi carbon
issues or the fact if you install an after market blockheater or car starter you
void electrical warranty..B.S all they want is a sale..

when you buy a new or used car your generally in euphoria great purchase i'm moving up,all you want to do is burn gas,and all their promises are not in
the purchase contract so when you go back guess what the sales guy is no longer working there.

internet purchases here i come....

[forreal]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

i always get great customer service from the service department at 5th ave..lauren's usually my service advisor

[zero10]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

The girl I got was a taller blonde, who really can't spell.
One time she spelled antifreeze with an x....
I have never been super-impressed with her because at best she seems displeased to see me.

What oil consumption problem are you talking about?
Mine has gone through ~0.5L so far, and I'm about 4050km in. Most of the 0.5L was lost in the first 1000km, and it seems to be holding steady, so I'm not overly worried.

As for the carboning, a little right foot can keep it from fouling up too quickly. I'm keeping mine completely stock (At least for the warranty period), and I don't anticipate any problems with carbon buildup, but I do the good ol' italian tune up on regular intervals. From TDIClub, this is about the best thing you can do to keep it from carboning up.

[B5]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

Given enough time, you and the TDI, you will realized the Italian tune-up just not working. Stuff you read on the net are sometimes surreal. Wanna to test if you are lucky? Remove the black intake rubber hose. See if inside of the tube is clean as the exterior, then call yourself lucky. If you see oily black carbon crystals build up then ahah…. You need to work on your Italian tune-ups.

From what you've already been through with the dealership. I suggest you to get a refund from the unit and put it back into stock. I never need to plug-in my 00 tdi Jetta in winter.

About the refund. Look at this way. They sold you the unit, more or less you are bound with them and their services. For example, or just for a test, take your car to SFC and NL. Show them what’ve got and ask them for warranty questions. I am 99.5% sure the other two dealerships will turn you down or reply as “Unless your car is in stock form”. If you think deeper, that mother-trucker has already threatening you by saying ‘What about the service? & Warranty?’. That jack-@ss knows what back them up. You mentioned that you can do your own maintenance, right? I agree, ya, something small. But can you claim your own warranty items? Can you just throw them the bill and include your labor per hour charges? Can you do your own recalls? Do you have the special tools to perform the job and the specs sheets? No…no no…and no. Therefore, you still need to go back to them. Moreover, I do not know how you can survive with the bad relationship with them. It just prevents you getting goodwill items in the long run. It’s a long road ahead.

[Red90]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

I never need to plug-in my 00 tdi Jetta in winter.

You are missing the reason for plugging in. It is not to allow the car to start. Any modern car will start without plugging in if the battery is good. Plugging in substantially reduces engine damage from cold starts. If you actually care about your engine lasting and never wearing out then you would be be pre-heating when the temps are below -5.

[Red90]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

Do you have the special tools to perform the job and the specs sheets? No…no no…and no.

Yes, yes, and yes. It is not rocket science.

When I bought my car I asked. They told me that as long as I kept receipt showing I was using appropriate parts, then doing my own maintenance would not affect the warranty.

IME, purchasing special tools is usually cheaper than the one time labour cost to get the dealer to do the work.

[tintin]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

Yes, yes, and yes. It is not rocket science.

When I bought my car I asked. They told me that as long as I kept receipt showing I was using appropriate parts, then doing my own maintenance would not affect the warranty.

IME, purchasing special tools is usually cheaper than the one time labour cost to get the dealer to do the work.

There is nothing in the warranty that says your car must be serviced by VW. Otherwise they could charge whatever they wanted to get it done. It would be the classic, "get the razor and then they charge you for the blades", or "buy the printer and pay through the nose for ink".

Honestly, I trust my brother, who hand built a 914 and repairs aircraft for a living to service my car over most VW techs. Of course part of that is my brother charges one favour per hour for service.

Technically changing your oil requires 'special' tools.
From bentley:
"Oil extractor V.A.G 1307 A
or
Oil extractor V.A.G 1358 A
Torque wrench V.A.G 1331/ (5 - 50 Nm)"

[Stonewall]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

IME, purchasing special tools is usually cheaper than the one time labour cost to get the dealer to do the work.

With places like metalnerd tools pay for themselves 2 to 3 times by the time you get the job done. Also with knowledgeable walkthroughs (like those on the TDI club) and some common sence no job is really all that hard.

[zero10]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

Given enough time, you and the TDI, you will realized the Italian tune-up just not working. Stuff you read on the net are sometimes surreal. Wanna to test if you are lucky? Remove the black intake rubber hose. See if inside of the tube is clean as the exterior, then call yourself lucky. If you see oily black carbon crystals build up then ahah…. You need to work on your Italian tune-ups.

From what you've already been through with the dealership. I suggest you to get a refund from the unit and put it back into stock. I never need to plug-in my 00 tdi Jetta in winter.

About the refund. Look at this way. They sold you the unit, more or less you are bound with them and their services. For example, or just for a test, take your car to SFC and NL. Show them what’ve got and ask them for warranty questions. I am 99.5% sure the other two dealerships will turn you down or reply as “Unless your car is in stock form”. If you think deeper, that mother-trucker has already threatening you by saying ‘What about the service? & Warranty?’. That jack-@ss knows what back them up. You mentioned that you can do your own maintenance, right? I agree, ya, something small. But can you claim your own warranty items? Can you just throw them the bill and include your labor per hour charges? Can you do your own recalls? Do you have the special tools to perform the job and the specs sheets? No…no no…and no. Therefore, you still need to go back to them. Moreover, I do not know how you can survive with the bad relationship with them. It just prevents you getting goodwill items in the long run. It’s a long road ahead.

Wow, who pissed in your corn flakes???
Look, I ALREADY had them remove the heater, and I ALREADY got my money back (well, the cheque isn't here yet, but it's been written). I NEVER said I planned to do all of my own warranty work, in fact, I actually said that is the only time they will ever touch my car. I do not have bad relationship with the dealer, since things actually went over okay, it's just the service manager who I disagree with. In the end, I didn't leave on bad terms, but I did leave very angry. Now as far as everything non-warranty, and everything after the warranty period, yes I do have my own damn tools, and yes I do have access to all of the information I need to repair my car properly. I am not exactly a shade-tree mechanic. I have a hell of a lot more skill, and a much larger tool/information collection. Now, if you don't mind, stop making assumptions about me, because frankly, you don't know jack.

On a side note, about the whole italian tune-up thing, at 4050km's, the intake is absoutely spotless inside. I plan to further adhere to my current policy of preventing the carboning problem, which is further supported by the group of people on TDIClub who have also used this policy, and have had absolutely no carbon-related intake issues.

About the refund. Look at this way. They sold you the unit, more or less you are bound with them and their services.

Umm, no I am not. If the product they sold me is repeatedly defective, and poses a significant fire hazard, I am in no way bound to them and/or their services. In fact, quite the opposite, which was re-enforced by the refund issued by them.


What the hell are you talking about?...

That jack-@ss knows what back them up.

Speak some damn english!


[/RANT]

[zero10]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

Also, remind me to never buy any vehicle you have owned, since you clearly don't believe in minimizing wear by plugging your vehicle in during the cold-spells we have (a.k.a. november-march). I actually care about the longevity of my car, and keeping things in good operating condition, so I will be installing a phillips zerostart heater, courtesy of FrostHeaters.

[Stampfan]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

What's the talk about *goodwill items* above? If your car is at a dealership for service so much that they actually 1) know you and 2) remember you to give you freebies, your car is a lemon and you 1) have reason to be pissed off and 2) its time to sell the car.

Its not like they put special little check marks in their computer about customers they do and do not like. And Fifth Ave has such a volume of customers (just look at the line up at 7:45 any morning there) they wouldn't remember you regardless of your last visit there.

My TDI went to Fifth Ave last year for a timing belt. Unless something goes horribly wrong, all of the minimal maintenance items can be simply handled by me at home and they won't see me again until its time for the next timing belt. And when I return 90% of the front-line service writer staff will likely be gone. Its not like they'll void your warranty for changing 4 filters and oil. And if you're worried about that BUY your filters and oil there.

On the note of the Zerostart, you'll love it. If its the 1000W version you'll likely have to plug it in for 3 hours to hit full warmth in very cold.

[VAG_Tech]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

WHAT A GONG SHOW!!

This should be the clubs new logo...

[zero10]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

On the note of the Zerostart, you'll love it. If its the 1000W version you'll likely have to plug it in for 3 hours to hit full warmth in very cold.

3 hours isn't too bad. I have a timer, I'll try it at 1 or 2 hours, and go from there depending on the temp. With yours, is it right up to operating temp when you fire it up? Some people are reporting that it will be, and that would be pretty neat.

The whole 'goodwill' warranty items, are for when there is a secret recall, and it's up to the dealership whether they want to enforce it. I've seen it go both ways, but I guarantee it will have virtually nothing to do with whether you installed your own block heater, or change your own oil. I plan to do everything that doesn't absolutely necessitate taking it to the dealership myself. For example, I just learned today that my rear washer doesn't work. Do I take it to the dealer? No, they will probably just break something else.

[gtx]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

The whole 'goodwill' warranty items, are for when there is a secret recall, and it's up to the dealership whether they want to enforce it. I've seen it go both ways, but I guarantee it will have virtually nothing to do with whether you installed your own block heater, or change your own oil. I plan to do everything that doesn't absolutely necessitate taking it to the dealership myself. For example, I just learned today that my rear washer doesn't work. Do I take it to the dealer? No, they will probably just break something else.[/QUOTE]

as explained to me there is no secret warranties,goodwill is what the dealer views and makes a call on a loyal customer who has done all maintenance at his store,% paid by dealer and V.W..
i think she said it only covers the original owner of the vehicle..
is it safety items only..????
has any body recieved any goodwill repair's.
"the truth is out there"

[zero10]

Re: TDI Block Heater/Fifth Ave Auto Haus experience

There are lots of secret warranties, go over to TDIClub, there are more than I can count.

So, if I pay their over-priced mechanics to work on my car at $100/hour + inflated price parts, there is a chance that down the road if something breaks maybe they might replace it because I took all of my work there?
No thanks, I'll save my $100/hour, fix things myself, and take my chances. Honestly, I'm saving them money, since this is all warranty work so far. They won't make money from fixing my rear wiper, so they should be happy I'm going to fix it myself.