Given you have 1 year /12k miles repair warranty, I’d at least take a look at it from below shortly that time period is up and see if you see any evidence of dry coolant/corrosion, then you can just take it back in and have them redo it and keep kicking that can down the road.Just had this repair (leaking T-stat housing) for the second time, at 54K miles. First time was around 28K miles. I'm hoping it lasts a little longer this go-round as it most likely will be out of warranty by then...
I have a 2015 GTI SE that I purchased CPO 4 years ago. I noticed coolant loss after 2 months of driving, took it to VW and they said nothing is wrong. Kept driving and before my warranty ended I took it back to VW for the same issue (had to top off every 4 months) and they said nothings leaking. Now I am out of a warranty and still loosing coolant, and I found the source when working under the car; the waterpump/thermo housing. What courses of action do I have out of warranty on a 6 year old car?
If you can't get the dealer to fix what they obviously missed and if you do it yourself get the parts from FCP Euro. If you can't do it yourself you should let them get the parts if they warranty their work. If you supply the parts and it leaks you will have to pay for labor again if you supply the parts.I have a 2015 GTI SE that I purchased CPO 4 years ago. I noticed coolant loss after 2 months of driving, took it to VW and they said nothing is wrong. Kept driving and before my warranty ended I took it back to VW for the same issue (had to top off every 4 months) and they said nothings leaking. Now I am out of a warranty and still loosing coolant, and I found the source when working under the car; the waterpump/thermo housing. What courses of action do I have out of warranty on a 6 year old car?
I would fight that tooth and nail. If you still have copies of the documents showing you have asked them to check and they signed off there was no issue, I would go back and talk to the manager or director explain to them the situation. If they refuse to cover it under good will, I would just kick all the info to VWoA. It is a common issue and they know it.I have a 2015 GTI SE that I purchased CPO 4 years ago. I noticed coolant loss after 2 months of driving, took it to VW and they said nothing is wrong. Kept driving and before my warranty ended I took it back to VW for the same issue (had to top off every 4 months) and they said nothings leaking. Now I am out of a warranty and still loosing coolant, and I found the source when working under the car; the waterpump/thermo housing. What courses of action do I have out of warranty on a 6 year old car?
So was studying my receipts - looks like in 2018 at 27K miles, they only replaced the water pump and seals. Thermostat housing is not listed. This time round (54,600 miles) they replaced Thermostat housing (06L121111M), Union (06L1211131) and gasket (06K121043B). I do remember having to top off the coolant after the first visit way sooner than expected, and eventually a few months before I took it in I was topping it off every few weeks and seeing small puddles on the garage floor. Hoping it lasts a good while now.Given you have 1 year /12k miles repair warranty, I’d at least take a look at it from below shortly that time period is up and see if you see any evidence of dry coolant/corrosion, then you can just take it back in and have them redo it and keep kicking that can down the road.
Was the engine temperature the same when you took each picture?I am taking my car in for the last service before warranty expires. Is this amount of coolant loss normal? Seems normal to me, but want to get other opinions, in case the housing needs to be replaced soon.
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All things being equal, no amount of coolant loss is normal. It is a sealed system. If you're losing coolant somewhere. It could be burned off, it could be leaking out. I would certainly do a good visual from underneath before taking it in so you have an idea if there is an issue. If the dealer attempts to say it's fine, then you know already. As @jimlloyd40 asked, if the car was hot in the second picture, but cold in the first, then yes that is normal. You will get expansion as the car gets warm.I am taking my car in for the last service before warranty expires. Is this amount of coolant loss normal? Seems normal to me, but want to get other opinions, in case the housing needs to be replaced soon.
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Was the engine temperature the same when you took each picture?
The car was sitting inside for at least 24 hours when each picture was taken, so the car was cold and the ambient temperature would be ±5°F. I will bring this up with the service advisor since there is coolant loss.All things being equal, no amount of coolant loss is normal. It is a sealed system. If you're losing coolant somewhere. It could be burned off, it could be leaking out. I would certainly do a good visual from underneath before taking it in so you have an idea if there is an issue. If the dealer attempts to say it's fine, then you know already. As @jimlloyd40 asked, if the car was hot in the second picture, but cold in the first, then yes that is normal. You will get expansion as the car gets warm.
I have read too many times how dealers try to push these off, for whatever reason. They will say they pressure tested and the leak that are common to these are not shown with a static pressure test. Good luck with it. When I found mine leaking, I was very specific to the advisor about what and where I found it. It makes it harder for them to blow it off.The car was sitting inside for at least 24 hours when each picture was taken, so the car was cold and the ambient temperature would be ±5°F. I will bring this up with the service advisor since there is coolant loss.
You're exactly correct. They try to convince you that it passes a pressure test so it isn't leaking. It only leaks when you're driving and the engine is up to temperature. It's a pretty slow leak but if they visually inspect the thermostat housing there will be staining if it's leaking there.I have read too many times how dealers try to push these off, for whatever reason. They will say they pressure tested and the leak that are common to these are not shown with a static pressure test. Good luck with it. When I found mine leaking, I was very specific to the advisor about what and where I found it. It makes it harder for them to blow it off.
I have read too many times how dealers try to push these off, for whatever reason. They will say they pressure tested and the leak that are common to these are not shown with a static pressure test. Good luck with it. When I found mine leaking, I was very specific to the advisor about what and where I found it. It makes it harder for them to blow it off.
Thank you both for your input. If they push back, I will ask them to provide me a picture of the thermostat housing to make sure that it is not leaking from there.You're exactly correct. They try to convince you that it passes a pressure test so it isn't leaking. It only leaks when you're driving and the engine is up to temperature. It's a pretty slow leak but if they visually inspect the thermostat housing there will be staining if it's leaking there.
You can sometimes see the leak from the top. The housing lies underneath the intake manifold next to the trans. The leak usually ends up crawling down the front of the block. It will build up on the pan rail. An inspection mirror will help if you can't get underneath. This is a known issue with these so arming yourself with info will help.Edit: Any tips on what to say if they push back and say that it is normal and the level is still above the min line? I don't have an easy way to crawl under the car to do a visual.