[Closed] What have the garage done to my Passat?

the garage may be able to supply the necessary info, as they were directly involved. we just sat here yesterday. try calling them. complain even.

they'll have flicked the 'random central locking/engine emissions light/intermittent lack of power' switch under the bonnet.

try calling them. complain even.

I will do in the morning, just looking for some ammunition.

Maybe a bit of air in the fuel filter or they fitted back to front, or if they didn't do anything wrong a typical 1.9tdi failure would be a MAF.
Did you have the key in the ignition when it was locking itself?

I will do in the morning, just looking for some ammunition.

I would have thought the symptoms you described would suffice

Air Mass Meter = Gubbed.

Did you have the key in the ignition when it was locking itself?

Nope.

If you unlock a car with the doors shut if you don't open a door it locks itself again.

We had a similarly odd set of problems with our car when it came back from a service a couple of weeks ago.

It turned out (apparently, not 'fixed' yet so we don't know for sure) that on removing the pollen filter (on a Mazda 3) they disturbed the fuse box and it happened to have some dodgy dried out connections on the circuit board so odd things started to happen (doors not locking, some but not all windows operating).

I can't imagine it is the same for you, but all I am saying is that a seemingly totally unconnected thing could be causing your woes.

[i]If you unlock a car with the doors shut if you don't open a door it locks itself again.[/i]

really? what model? mine doesn't do that

I will do in the morning, just looking for some ammunition.

Christ, they might have ****ed your car but shooting them isn't going to resolve anything 🙄

I'd guess a random electrical fault caused by disturbing something, earth related seems to be the norm for odd problems.

mine does not either if you unlock the doors they stay unlocked.

Mine re-locks itself after a minute. (08 Passat). So does my wifes (03 beetle).

Mine re-locks itself after a minute. (08 Passat). So does my wifes (03 beetle).

our 07 f0cus does aswell

Could the turbo pipe have come off?

Yup, most modern cars will relock if no door is opened after a short time of being beeped open, security feature in the unlikely event of another cars key fob unlocking the car wrongly.

Passat problem could be a sensor cable disturbed whilst the garage had it and it's sending intermittent signals to the ecu.

03 plate Mazda here, mine will also re-lock itself if I don't open a door within 30 secs.

The 07 SMax does it but my 07 Fiat Bravo doesn't...it isn't a standard on all cars but I think Ford and most VAG variants do it...pain in the @rse...

58 plate Mondeo will relock if you unlock it with the fob and don't open a door.

+1 for MAF issues, I think they can be cleaned rather than replaced though?

VW T5 Transporter relocks after 30 secs.

Check the samll hose that is attached to the overfuel vaccuum is still attached and not holed. I would assume if its been in for a service that they have had the air filter housing separated wich means that if they have been heavy handed and bashed it about that they could have done for the air mass meter as they are very susceptible to damage (from speed humps too).
If its a leak in tha main air inlet to at the far end ie large bore pipe holed or not connected properly you will be blowing loads of black smoke too.
I am afraid that even main dealers cannot be relied on thesae days to do a 100% job. Last time the dealers had my Passat it came back with one of the mounts for the engine cover completely ripped off! Less than impressed and it also had all the cover caps to the engine cover missing. I raised the issue to be told 'No they were not on there to start off with' which I know was 100% a lie as i had put the thing back on the week before. Annoying thing was they did the same with the daughters Polo a few months later, found those caps on the scuttle.
Go complain loudly-you pay a lot of money these days for any main dealer work and for me, the mechanics that like to call themselves technicians should be doing an exemplary professional job. rant over..

Surrounded By Zulus - Member
Air Mass Meter = Gubbed.

Nah Sounds like EGR valve needs cleaning, the door issue is something they have done when they have taken the battery off... disturbed a relay maybe

Door issue is as described earlier in this thread - if no door is opened then after unlocking then it will local again on the Passat.

Symptoms sound like air mass meter - but I also had similar symptoms when the loom to the injectors, which sits under the cam cover, in oil, started to break down.

well you live & learn. I don't think mine does it (57 Saab 9-3), I certainly haven't experienced it yet in 18 months of ownership. what a nuisance that must be

You wouldn't notice it in normal use. try it tomorrow 😉

I might do that. how long does yours take before it does that?

Bloke at works passat tdi had the same problem after leaving it at the airport for a week in -12ish over xmas.

AA sorted the battery and it was all fine.

Thanks for the advice. I'll call them in the morning and see what they say.

The other thing the lack of power could be is sticky vanes in the turbo (only if you've got a variable vane turbo obviously 🙂 ) my 03 octavia is starting to do it, the vanes are supposed to move to vary the boost at different revs but often get sticky causing overboost as the revs rise,the ecu senses that, opens the wastegate and you effectively have no turbo. Turning the engine off then on again clears the ecu and all is well again for a bit. It normally happens when booting it from fairly low revs in 4th or 5th, it starts to pick up then feels like it's hit a wall and there is no power.

Fix is either a new turbo or, if you're fairly handy, stripping the turbo and cleaning all the soot off with solvent and a toothbrush.

I had a similar loss of power issue with mine.

I think the garage said it was a problem with the vacuum pipes. (I got this info second hand so it may not be the exact term)

Anyway £30 later it was fixed.

I'm pretty sure that'll have been caused by a slow puncture on the nearside front tyre.

what a nuisance that must be

Generally speaking, when I unlock the car it's because I want to get in it.

Both my cars (Toyota and VAG) auto lock the doors - because sometimes the button can get pressed by accident in your pocket. Or your toddler finds it and presses it from inside the house, etc etc.

Gaaah! They're saying it might take up to a week before they can even look at it. I don't really fancy commuting 120 miles a day on my Handjob.

ask for a courtesy car ?

Gaaah! They're saying it might take up to a week before they can even look at it.

I had this once with a Toyota dealer, I turned up with a very sick car but they wouldn't entertain even taking it in for a week or so

So, I just called the RAC

The image of the RAC fella with his head under the bonnet trying to get the car going right outside their showroom persuaded them to relent somewhat

I'd tell them you're taking it elsewhere [as they can't fix it] for an inspection and repair and sending them the bill for a hire car + the repair if it's something they've cocked up

If it is the MAF sensor at fault, just unplug it and drive the car. No harm will be done.

And don't use that Garage again - piss poor service.They should have had you bring it straight back. No wonder the motor trade has a reputation.

Hth
Marko

I did ask for a courtesy car; none available. No wonder there's an 'I hate Arnold Clark' page on Facebook. Think I might add my name to it.

And don't use that Garage again - piss poor service

+100. I'd be fuming!

Apparently, there are bare cables on the wiring loom that are shorting out and causing the problems, a fault so rare that VW are willing to pay for half the repair. Sounds a bit fishy to me, but I've got no way of proving it one way or the other.

If it was so rare surely they'd pay it all?

Oh and I have an Arnold Clark lease car and found them great but all servicing and the likes is done at a VW garage not associated with them.

Call VW Customer Care and ask ? 0800 0833 920