RE: Relying on the infinite wisdom o' the list (long)

[Tim Irwin <timi@Interlinq.com>]

The first thing is to make sure you have is your complaint in writing
(preferably written by a dealership or regional rep) with the date and
mileage of the car to create a paper trail to prove that the problem existed
before the warranty expires. Theoretically, this should be enough to get
things taken care of under warranty within a reasonable time after the
warranty expires. If possible, extract a promise from the regional rep (in
writing) that this problem is a warranty item, and that it will be covered
even if the repairs are after the warranty date.

Make sure (politely) the regional rep. is fully aware of your displeasure
with how this has been handled, and use that leverage to your best
advantage. 

Also remember, if it isn't in writing, it didn't happen and that cold,
polite anger is much more effective than ranting.

Also, its a bit steep, but you might want to look into an extended warranty
plan before your 2/24 runs out. Warranty Gold's plans differ greatly
depending on whether or not you're under factory warranty.

Best of luck,
Tim Irwin
'98 GLX

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	posaune [SMTP:erik@a1usa.net]
> Sent:	Tuesday, October 20, 1998 9:48 AM
> To:	GTI-VR6 List; Jetta GLX List
> Subject:	Relying on the infinite wisdom o' the list (long)
> 
> OK, guys, girls, I really need some guidance on this one.  Please help
> me out if you can.
> 
> First some background.
> 
> I bought this car in Oct. '96 (a '97 Jetta GLX) and starting on a trip
> (Jan '98) from home to school (LA to KY) I started to hear a scraping
> noise coming from the driver's rear wheel area.  Right before I pulled
> into the driveway, the ABS light finally came on.  [[Of note here is
> that when I got out of the car, the area smelled a lot like rubber.]]
> Well, I took it to the dealer there and they "fixed " it by replacing
> the wheel speed sensor for that wheel.  All was well until...
> 
> April '98 The same thing happened, but this time when I took it in, they
> just cleaned the brakes and said it was fine (wrong).  So while waiting
> for the wheel speed sensor again, the problem got progressively worse
> until the ABS light was on most of the time and the sound was very loud
> (it got to be more of a clicking at slow speeds -- sounding like a
> scrape at higher speeds).  Backing out of the garage one day, when I
> applied the brakes, the ABS pump began to cycle.  This continued (every
> time I would back up slowly and brake).  Soooo, I went out to test the
> ABS -- oops, the wheel in question would lock (whether the ABS light was
> on or not) while the others would not.  Needless to say, this is a scary
> situation.
> 
> FINALLY:
> 
> Today I went to the local dealer (this is now in Pittsburgh, PA) to get
> the scraping noise from the rear brakes fixed -- again.  My car is just
> under the 2/24 warranty, FYI.  I explained the whole long process and
> waited for the car.  When I got it back, I looked at the receipt and all
> they did was clean the brakes and put it back together -- ALSO, I was
> charged for this!!!  So I bitched and tried to explain (HA, like they
> listen).  They said if it wasn't an obvious problem, I had to pay.  So I
> took the Asst. Service Mgr. for a ride to show him the obvious problem.
> They persisted that it is just a pad scraping or something on the rotor
> -- something normal.  I told them to show me any other car VW in Pgh.
> that did the same thing off the lot and I would go away.  They, of
> course, dismissed that and they still wanted me to pay.
> 
> Well, I didn't, and I now have an appointment with the regional rep on
> the 28th.  My warranty expires on the 31st and I'd like to know what to
> do here.  Even if I get them to replace the wheel speed sensor again,
> chances are it will happen again.  There is something else wrong here.
> I need to get them to do something anyway.  This really pisses me off.
> I refuse to go back to a dealer every three months to have the same
> thing done.
> 
> HELP!!!
> 
> -erik
> '97 Jetta GLX -I'm about to have to open a can of whoop-ass on someone
> Edition-