Seriously bad start to my ED30 ownership - Help needed

[Hazy]

Hi guys,

I'm hoping you guys can help me. I'm really put off of the car now and feel like I've made a horrible mistake.

The ED30 has been in my ownership for about 3 weeks now. After a week and a half I noticed a coolant leak. Took it to my local garage who diagnosed a waterpump failure. Not too bad, I knew it was due and was on the to do list so I called around to get some quotes. Turns out my local VW garage was cheapest as they had an offer for £349 on the belt and pump. Last Wednesday 19th the work was carried out.

Saturday 22nd my coolant warning popped up again. The resoviour was practically empty. I have taken it back on Monday 24th and they said it had never happened before but the waterpump failed with no reason as to the cause and that they'd take care of it under warrenty. I expected the car back yesterday but when I called them to chase progress they were a bit sheepy and told me I'd get a call back from the person looking after my service. Now I'm being told the cylinder head or block has cracked which is causing a build up of pressure making the waterpump fail repeatedly. They've said the pump is fine and will not need to be replaced but they're going to have to strip the engine, send it off, and I'll have to wait 2-3 weeks and pay anywhere up to £1800. According to them I also 100% should not and cannot drive the car anywhere.

Does this sound right to you? There's no obvious signs of water in the oil. Dipstick looks fine, oil cap fine, coolant tank fine, no weird smoke, no overheating was showing on my thermostat on my dash(although I kept the coolant topped up reguarly due to the leak). Car ran 100% fine apart from coolant warning every 2 days.

I really can't afford a trial and error system. I can't even afford this up to £1800 they're quoting me. I've had the car about 3 weeks which I got a loan out for. The sale was private so the whole impression I'm getting about my rights is that I'm on my own. The car is only 7 years old, 68000 miles with full service history (only up to warrenty was VW). I have read the TDI's had a common problem with heads but not found a lot about the GTI's or GTI Edition 30's. I'm not convinced it's the problem.. but I'm no expert..

[olethalb]

without casting judgement or not having seen the car, all i'll say is

it's very very rare to crack a block / head (unless been left in subzer conditions and engine filled with pure water)

if they are stating crack is causing build up of pressure then there would be a VERY high probability you would have noticed fans on a lot of the time and temp gauge in the red

i would not be paying them £1800 or anything really i'd be recovering the car else where tbh

[mvb12]

the thing with Stealerships is that they have appentices working on your car and half the time the Master Tech couldnt even diagnose an isssue on a hot wheels toy car!

as already stated, get it on a trailer to a specialist and see what they say. 

[Hazy]

Thanks... I've not noticed fans being out of the ordinary, and like I said temperature was bang on 90 the entire time I've owned the car when it's had time to warm up. The only 'odd thing' I noticed was a weird smell coming from my air con which I couldn't quite put my finger on. Didn't think anything of it really as it just came and went.

This 'master tech' has been annoying me tbh. People always asking him questions and he doesn't really seem to have much clue himself, but I've not been able to speak with him. Because of the 'doubt in my voice' they're arranging for the technicians to call me so they can re-assure me this is the problem.

The problem I have with recovering the vehicle is:
* VW have given me a courtesy car free of charge as long as I need it. I live on my own and do need to get to work. The cost of £25 a day in taxi's or renting a car would be substantial if it really will be 2-3 weeks.
* The cost of recovery will need to be factored in as well as I have no trailer. I have break down cover but they'd only take me to a garage, which it already is. I could call and ask if they'd take it home but I doubt it. Plus I'd then need to get to to the other garage and back home again if I decide not to leave it there.
* The specialists I know of in my area seem to be very expensive, even compared to the stealers..

I think the car is stuck where it is unless anyone is in my area who can help recover it. I need the knowledge to go back to this mastertech and say this should be happening if it's the head, which it's not, so go back and scratch your head a bit longer.

[GTI-Pirelli]

Based on your symptoms, I would check the radiator.

I replaced mine on the Pirelli at around 100,000 miles. Apparently it's a common fault where they start to leak from the bottom.
It is not easy to see and I had no drips to start with. Just ran the engine up (helps on a cooler day) and saw steam escaping from the bottom of the rad under the fans. I just bought the rad and fitted it myself.

I know that this doesn't help with your current predicament but £100 - £150 + labour for a radiator is a damn sight cheaper than an engine block strip.

If you are only moving it a couple of miles or so, take a steady, safe route (where you can easily pull over) and carry a lot of coolant. In your initial post you stated a refil every 2 days. Should get you from one garage to another without a low-loader.

[Hazy]

I've asked the radiator to be looked at and they're saying it's fine. I even still have the first 'iVHC' video VW sent me saying the leak was investigated further from the pump but no issues had been identified. But I do still have my doubts...

I think I'll call them later and ask for the car back. I'll tell them I'm just getting a second opinion and from a trusted garage and if they confirm the fault is what they say it is I'll go back (if factoring the free car etc works out cheaper than having it done by said trusted garage).

Can anyone recomend a specialist in Northamptonshire area who can do a free diagnostic? I know there's VRS but never had any dealings with them before. I'm not sure if I should risk the distance taking it to vagtech in Milton Keynes.

[olethalb]

get on the tfsi or mk5 owners fb page you'll get more attention, i've never used VRS personally but been there and Will knows his stuff and is a nice guy to talk to, maybe worth ringing a few companies to see what they advise and asking Alex at AKS for his opinion he knows his TFSI's inside out 

[Andy]

If the coolant is taking a week or so to empty then it will be fine to drive to another garage but take a bottle of water just in case.
Trouble with the dealers is they don't check the basic first..never heard of a head going on a ed30..As mentioned give Alex a ring and have a look at it

[Hazy]

Thanks for the help so far guys. Called VRS who said absolutely no chance it'd be the head cylinder, especially if my thermostat never went above 90... They want me to come in at 3pm for tests but the problem is is that they say if they identify the pump/belt problem as before they'd charge me for the work and I'd have to go through a lot of hassle asking VW to refund my 349 I spent there on a 'poor job' as the guy from VRS put it.

Alex @ AKS is too busy atm, just tried calling :(

Coolant is taking 1-2 days depending on the amount of driving I do.

Ugh this is horrible.... Do you guys think me keeping coolant on me and topping it up every day or two is going to be okay or will it potentially cause more damage..?

[Andy]

Pick the car up from the dealers and book it in with Alex and as you mentioned carry a bottle of water  to top it up

[Paradox1]

As said, take some water and coolant and kee it topped up and take it to matey at VRS. he seems to know what he is talking about
Unfortunately, VW go of guess work and seem to diagnose issues as replaceing the whole unit rather that the small jobs so to speak.

Im sure you can claim back from VW. May even be worth claiming more for to inconvenience too?

Always a fear when buying a new car having to go through these problems bud

[Hazy]

Okay so here's an update.. Alex is fully booked for a long time but was pretty stumped. Very unusual apparently.. I've just been to VW to pick my car up but I have been persuaded to let it stay for awhile, for free, to do some further investigation before they decide to suggest I strip the engine and send it off (by this I was told I'd get a call tomorrow morning). They've got a torch and took me to the car. Under the engine at the front there's an obvious, pink related rust mark where the coolant been leaking for quite some time. It's not looking good, but they now want to strip the front of the engine bay as he says there's a very very slim chance it could just be something little but he's saying he's pretty sure it's from the head.. I couldn't get a picture since my phone had low battery.  I have made a bad attempt of explaining this using the pic from google images below.. red is where we looked through with a torch. Purple is where the pinky rust section was where it had been leaking.

http://postimg.org/image/brgsysidl/

[GTIite]

Speak to James at VDS performance might be able to help. (Based in Surrey) www.vdsperformance.co.uk

[Llew]

take it somewhere else for a pressure test to find out where the leak is and at least get a second opinion -sounds strange that when you went to take the car they say engine might not need to be stripped

[99hagued]

Okay so here's an update.. Alex is fully booked for a long time but was pretty stumped. Very unusual apparently.. I've just been to VW to pick my car up but I have been persuaded to let it stay for awhile, for free, to do some further investigation before they decide to suggest I strip the engine and send it off (by this I was told I'd get a call tomorrow morning). They've got a torch and took me to the car. Under the engine at the front there's an obvious, pink related rust mark where the coolant been leaking for quite some time. It's not looking good, but they now want to strip the front of the engine bay as he says there's a very very slim chance it could just be something little but he's saying he's pretty sure it's from the head.. I couldn't get a picture since my phone had low battery.  I have made a bad attempt of explaining this using the pic from google images below.. red is where we looked through with a torch. Purple is where the pinky rust section was where it had been leaking.

http://postimg.org/image/brgsysidl/

looking at your picture it might just be leaking from the thermostat, that's where that is buried would prob need to remove the alternator to see better