To my surprise, I got a call at 4pm yesterday saying the car was ready. This after the dealer said they had to order the heater core and it would be a few days. I did not fall for the heater box so all was covered free of charge (as it ethically should have been in the 1st place). In addition to my surprise, they did not rip the dash board all apart. In fact, they did this job with the dash in, apparently, as I have read is possible, this heater core was done with the center console and knee bars removed. I need to see if they cut the box up for access.
At any rate, I have not been able to get a good "quality control" look at the job in the day light, but for now, I'm satisfied. Thanks, Jim In a message dated 12/18/2002 1:02:48 PM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: > I'd say keep pushing to get a totally free replacement. The box is held > together by clips and with minor agility, it's possible to pop the thing open > without ruining it. I think they want to do a hack job and just destroy the > box to save the 15 mins of cracking it open. Besides, 295$ for a stupid > plastic box is like way too much in my opinion. Maybe try to get this box > from impex or something for more than half this price and give it to them :) > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 12:06 PM > To: [email protected]; [email protected]; > [email protected] > Cc: [email protected] > Subject: [a2-16v-list] Re: Heater Core Replacement? Good News! > > > Well, I just got a call from the dealer and mentioned that VWoA will pick up > the heater core tab, but not the heater box ($295). The reasoning for the > heater box according to the dealer, was the foam lining would be wasted and > that they may have to break into the box to get to the core? I'm not too sure > I need a new one? Anyone have any thoughts on this? Should it be covered in > the overall heater core job? Are they just trying to stick me for money? > > At any rate, I'm pleased so far that VWoA is acting responsible enough so > far. I was ready to battle. We'll see how the work turns out. Finally, I hope > that this scenario helps out those who run into this issue: where the dealer > says NO, sometimes in the case of a recall and it borders on if it will be > covered, you may be able to get something accomplished through VWoA. > > Thanks, > > Jim > > In a message dated 12/18/2002 8:07:16 AM Eastern Standard Time, JLPAWLICKI > writes: > > > I thought about doing it myself, but working in the driveway in freezing > > temperatures does not turn me on. In addition, I feel that VW owes me one > > here. On the other hand, I did think hard about the potential quality > > issues that I may have when the job gets done. I did some research on the > > dealerships around here in (Boston/NorthShore)here and took it to the one > > that has gotten some good reviews. As a result I will keep my fingers > > crossed and will be diligent and firm when the dealer starts to give me > > some crap. I'm looking forward to a conference call with the dealer and > > VWoA :) > > > > Jim > > > > In a message dated 12/17/2002 9:28:34 AM Eastern Standard Time, > > [email protected] writes: > > > > > Do you really expect the dealer to do a good job? I mean we don't trust > > > them for anything else and then we decide to send a 10+ year old car to > > > them > > > to tear apart the dash and replace a part buried deep in there. Shit, > > > most > > > of the techs in the service departments were like 10 when the last A2 was > > > made. Just do the job yourself. Its not hard just tedious. > > > > > > -Scott > > > > > > >From: "Fli GLi" <[email protected]> > > > >To: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]> > > > >CC: <[email protected]> > > > >Subject: RE: [a2-16v-list] Re: Heater Core Replacement? > > > >Date: Mon, 16 Dec 2002 18:13:30 -0500 > > > > > > > > > > > > Jim's problem is that VW, thru his dealer, it telling him is car IS > > > > NOT > > > >covered under the recall. I had a similar problem with my B3 16V Passat > > > >when the heater core blew. VW told me the recall for Passats was VIN > > > >specific and mine VIN wasn't specific enough, so I wasn't covered. > > > > > > > > What I did was call VWoA in Michigan and talk directly to them. Do > > > > NOT > > > >try > > > >to talk to VWoA thru the dealer, pointless. I explained that this was a > > > >known defective part on more than one platform and was curious why, when > > > >I > > > >was exhibiting the exact symptoms of a defective heater core, they were > > > >not > > > >standing behind their recall. I kept pushing. That's the trick, be > > > >direct > > > >and firm with them. They told me to take it to a dealer, have them tear > > > >it > > > >apart and determine what failed, and if it was consistent with recall > > > >failures they would cover it. > > > > > > > > I did what they said. I actually had the service manager talk to the > > > > VWoA > > > >rep that I spoke with while I was at the dealer. After a couple weeks of > > > >waiting and playing phone tag, they approved covering the replacement. I > > > >firmly believe being cool to the service manager helped with a favorable > > > >report to VWoA. Be prepared to have the dealer do a shitty job. I am > > > >still > > > >finding out how badly they butchered everything up. But, at least when > > > >the > > > >dealer does it, if they mess up something big, you can take it back to > > > >them > > > >and have them fix it again. > > > > > > > > Hope that helps...moral of the story, get VWoA involved and keep them > > > >involved and don't take no as an answer from them. > > > > > > > > Renard > > > > > > > >-----Original Message----- > > > >From: [email protected] > > > >[mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of > > > >[email protected] > > > >Sent: Monday, December 16, 2002 1:16 PM > > > >To: [email protected] > > > >Cc: [email protected] > > > >Subject: [a2-16v-list] Re: Heater Core Replacement? > > > > > > > > > > > >My local dealer says the VIN does not fall under the > recall. More research > > > >on > > > >vwvortex seems to indicate that once diagnosed, a call > > to VWOA will likely > > > >then advise the dealer to handle it under a recall > > > situation. > > > > > > > >Jim
