• September 2014 I paid for a static regeneration due to EML and running issues.
• Intermittent running issues; losing power, particularly in low gears, stalling, rough idling.
• Returned to garage on Wednesday 4th February due to difficulty driving and inability to get to work appointments (car off road 24hours). Discussed DPF issues but no fault codes, so waited for further information.
• 7th February 2015, the car went into limp home mode after persistent running issues. RAC called out and found fault codes ‘P0101implausible signal to air mass meter. Repaired air mass meter on 9th February (car off road 72hours in total from breakdown to repair).
• Intermittent running issues (see above) increasing in frequency.
• Break down on Saturday 28th February, RAC called as car started but repeatedly cut out. RAC mechanic found no fault codes but identified NO VOLTAGE CHANGE TO THE EGR VALVE during live diagnostics. (Car off road 48hours).
• Monday 2nd March took car for a regeneration drive on A1 to ensure that the problems were not being caused by a blocked DPF. After a sufficient drive I came off the A1 and immediately experienced running issues (same as previous weeks) and then car lost a lot of power and the orange glow lamp began to flash. I got it home and the RAC came out and the fault code read P0101, air mass meter: implausible signal. I was advised I could drive it at 40-50mph to the garage.
• I called Harlow dealership who offered a lift to the bus station to get home after dropping it off.
• March 3rd, I took the car to the Harlow dealership at 9.15am where I discovered I ought to have been offered a courtesy car or collection and delivery service. I left the car for diagnostics after explaining the history, providing documentation, advice from the RAC mechanic regarding the static voltage readings for the EGR valve and information regarding the common EGR valve fault experienced by many VW Mark 6 owners evidenced by the moneysupermarket.com forum thread which I had copied 11 of the 70 pages for information. I asked for a full diagnostics of the EGR valve based on the history and information presented.
• I was called at 2pm with the diagnostics results:
Air mass meter wire repair (2 hour job) at £300
Engine oil level over max: drained at £69
Rear brake pads at 80% £239
Cambelt £419
Water pump £400
(I was offered a price of £499 to have them both changed simultaneously)
Right front tyre £61.34
Rear left tyre cracked £61.34
Front left tyre £61.34
Rear right tyre cracked £61.34
Did I know when the brake fluid was changed and did I want that done?
So in total going ahead with the diagnostics/vehicle checks leads to a total of: £1352.36
• I explained to the service representative that my request that morning had been to assess the EGR valve, to repair a wire to the air mass meter for £300 wouldn’t necessarily resolve my car’s problem. The representative said he would speak to the manager Andy Bury and ask him to call me back.
• I received a call to tell me that Andy Bury was off site but that a colleague had said that because I had changed my air mass meter via a different garage (genuine VW parts) then they wouldn’t guarantee that work and that I would have to pay them to repair the job that was done. I didn’t really understand the point of this statement as it didn’t relate to the suggested repair from VW Harlow of the AMM wire. I explained that there were no problems with the work carried out by my VW specialist. The representative admitted he didn’t know what an air mass meter looked like, so I explained that its removal and refitting is a simple operation with not much that can go wrong.
• I then got a call from VW technician who had carried out the diagnostics and explained the air mass meter wire showing a high resistance, although he couldn’t recall the voltage to share with me. He hadn’t been told I had asked for a diagnostic of the EGR so went away to do this.
• When he came back VW technicianto me, informed me that the voltage had been 0.9 offset closed and 2.4 open exactly what he had expected, that he was happy that with his own eyes that the EGR was working perfectly. I reiterated that the voltage hadn’t changed the previous day nor two days before that on live diagnostics, that the fault was intermittent, his response was that EGR faults are static not intermittent.
• VW technician said that the fault had to be with the air mass meter and reinforced this by highlighting that these were the only fault codes. I asked what the diagnostics showed and he explained that when tested, the wire showed a high resistance. I queried what figure of voltage this was and he couldn’t answer, he asked his colleagues what the voltage drop was but no one could offer that information. When I asked if I could see the diagnostics print out, he told me that some of these sheets might be filled in manually.
• I think there is a lack of evidence for a wiring issue and at a cost of £300 am not inclined to pay for something which is not particularly likely to solve my running issues.
• Many people with a Golf Mk6 2010 model have written to Watchdog about a fault with their car which corresponds exactly with the symptoms I am experiencing. This later transpires to be a faulty EGR valve which when replaced is with a different design and a software update. VW offer goodwill on this kind of repair which suggests there is a known issue.
VW are now saying I might well have two problems; so looks like I'm going to have the £300 repair, then wait until the running issues begin again. I have no guarantee that I even need the £300 repair and no evidence.
Update from Mar 7, 2015: After correspondence with the technician, who was extremely polite and patient and then with the manager, I agreed for their recommended work to go ahead. The customer service was excellent and the staff I dealt with were able to reassure me that indeed the work needed to be done and provided the evidence I requested.
The car has been ok since taking it home, although only time will tell if the EGR valve problem is also ongoing.
I am pleased I raised the issues with VW, as they have been very professional and should further repair be necessary there is a case on file.
• September 2014 I paid for a static regeneration due to EML and running issues. • Intermittent running issues; losing power, particularly in low gears, stalling, rough idling. • Returned to garage on Wednesday 4th February due to difficulty driving and inability to get to work appointments (car off road 24hours). Discussed DPF issues but no fault codes, so waited for further information. • 7th February 2015, the car went into limp home mode after persistent running issues. RAC called out and found fault codes ‘P0101implausible signal to air mass meter. Repaired air mass meter on 9th February (car off road 72hours in total from breakdown to repair). • Intermittent running issues (see above) increasing in frequency. • Break down on Saturday 28th February, RAC called as car started but repeatedly cut out. RAC mechanic found no fault codes but identified NO VOLTAGE CHANGE TO THE EGR VALVE during live diagnostics. (Car off road 48hours). • Monday 2nd March took car for a regeneration drive on A1 to ensure that the problems were not being caused by a blocked DPF. After a sufficient drive I came off the A1 and immediately experienced running issues (same as previous weeks) and then car lost a lot of power and the orange glow lamp began to flash. I got it home and the RAC came out and the fault code read P0101, air mass meter: implausible signal. I was advised I could drive it at 40-50mph to the garage. • I called Harlow dealership who offered a lift to the bus station to get home after dropping it off. • March 3rd, I took the car to the Harlow dealership at 9.15am where I discovered I ought to have been offered a courtesy car or collection and delivery service. I left the car for diagnostics after explaining the history, providing documentation, advice from the RAC mechanic regarding the static voltage readings for the EGR valve and information regarding the common EGR valve fault experienced by many VW Mark 6 owners evidenced by the moneysupermarket.com forum thread which I had copied 11 of the 70 pages for information. I asked for a full diagnostics of the EGR valve based on the history and information presented. • I was called at 2pm with the diagnostics results: Air mass meter wire repair (2 hour job) at £300 Engine oil level over max: drained at £69 Rear brake pads at 80% £239 Cambelt £419 Water pump £400 (I was offered a price of £499 to have them both changed simultaneously) Right front tyre £61.34 Rear left tyre cracked £61.34 Front left tyre £61.34 Rear right tyre cracked £61.34 Did I know when the brake fluid was changed and did I want that done? So in total going ahead with the diagnostics/vehicle checks leads to a total of: £1352.36 • I explained to the service representative that my request that morning had been to assess the EGR valve, to repair a wire to the air mass meter for £300 wouldn’t necessarily resolve my car’s problem. The representative said he would speak to the manager Andy Bury and ask him to call me back. • I received a call to tell me that Andy Bury was off site but that a colleague had said that because I had changed my air mass meter via a different garage (genuine VW parts) then they wouldn’t guarantee that work and that I would have to pay them to repair the job that was done. I didn’t really understand the point of this statement as it didn’t relate to the suggested repair from VW Harlow of the AMM wire. I explained that there were no problems with the work carried out by my VW specialist. The representative admitted he didn’t know what an air mass meter looked like, so I explained that its removal and refitting is a simple operation with not much that can go wrong. • I then got a call from VW technician who had carried out the diagnostics and explained the air mass meter wire showing a high resistance, although he couldn’t recall the voltage to share with me. He hadn’t been told I had asked for a diagnostic of the EGR so went away to do this. • When he came back VW technicianto me, informed me that the voltage had been 0.9 offset closed and 2.4 open exactly what he had expected, that he was happy that with his own eyes that the EGR was working perfectly. I reiterated that the voltage hadn’t changed the previous day nor two days before that on live diagnostics, that the fault was intermittent, his response was that EGR faults are static not intermittent. • VW technician said that the fault had to be with the air mass meter and reinforced this by highlighting that these were the only fault codes. I asked what the diagnostics showed and he explained that when tested, the wire showed a high resistance. I queried what figure of voltage this was and he couldn’t answer, he asked his colleagues what the voltage drop was but no one could offer that information. When I asked if I could see the diagnostics print out, he told me that some of these sheets might be filled in manually. • I think there is a lack of evidence for a wiring issue and at a cost of £300 am not inclined to pay for something which is not particularly likely to solve my running issues. • Many people with a Golf Mk6 2010 model have written to Watchdog about a fault with their car which corresponds exactly with the symptoms I am experiencing. This later transpires to be a faulty EGR valve which when replaced is with a different design and a software update. VW offer goodwill on this kind of repair which suggests there is a known issue.
VW are now saying I might well have two problems; so looks like I'm going to have the £300 repair, then wait until the running issues begin again. I have no guarantee that I even need the £300 repair and no evidence.
Update from Mar 7, 2015: After correspondence with the technician, who was extremely polite and patient and then with the manager, I agreed for their recommended work to go ahead. The customer service was excellent and the staff I dealt with were able to reassure me that indeed the work needed to be done and provided the evidence I requested. The car has been ok since taking it home, although only time will tell if the EGR valve problem is also ongoing. I am pleased I raised the issues with VW, as they have been very professional and should further repair be necessary there is a case on file.
- cooperherts, Hertford, Herts, UK