Seat Leon 2008 and Goodwill from Seat.

Subc

Active Member
May 12, 2008
426
5
Scotland
Id rather just wait and see what they say and do thats what the thread is about.
I personally see a difference in their customer services from contacting them a year ago, so lets see if its just smoke and mirrors or things have really changed for the better.
 
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Subc

Active Member
May 12, 2008
426
5
Scotland
First Installment!.
Phoned to book my Mrs Car in for service and door to be repaired and asked how my car is getting on.
Started it last night will be back on it when we can!, I ask any chance of a courtesy car as I have had no car since a week.
Dont have one, when will you have one, dont know!
 
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Subc

Active Member
May 12, 2008
426
5
Scotland
Second Installment
Just received courtesy car, stripped side of engine checked timing chain and await further investigation. I hope I dont have to sell a kidney to pay for this.
 

robdf2

Yellow is the best
Feb 21, 2006
3,605
3
location , location
Did you authorise seat to strip your car ? Or are they doing it anyway ?

Good luck with your goodwill gesture , lets hope seat really have turned a corner with their customer service but I won't hold my breath.
 

Subc

Active Member
May 12, 2008
426
5
Scotland
Had to get car Transported to SEAT Dealer as when I tried to start it it struggled and sounded like the chain rattling at the same time when it started it sounded like a bicycle chain freewheeling. I switched it off and then had it transported.

I was in contact with SEAT Customer Services before this as it was rattling on start up since over a year and has been to dealer for investigation and become worse leading up to the way it was last week.

I asked my dealer to find out what was wrong and they have advised that they are checking the timing chain and the Variator I don't know anything about the variator but from what I have read if that wast the problem I should have had warning lights.

Fingers crossed again that they help out as my car has only 52000 miles on and 5 years old and looked after well since day one. In fact the problem started before its 4th year and despite going to dealer no problem was found then.
 

Subc

Active Member
May 12, 2008
426
5
Scotland
Have a little diesel Ibiza as a courtesy car, complete with someone else s baby dummy and puke on the window, be handy if I end up spitting my dummy out. LOL

They advise they have checked timing chain and is OK they are now looking at ? Variator.

Ii am a little worried as symptoms were pointing to chain tensioner but hopefully will be put right.
SEAT have been very helpful keeping me informed but I guess it will all come down to if they help me with the bill or not.

If any mechanics could shed some light on the variator would appreciate it.
 

J400uk

Active Member
Jan 7, 2010
1,978
3
London, UK
Looked into it a little, seems this is what Seat are calling the variator:

pKVeieD.jpg


Its otherwise known as the Camshaft Adjuster. Part number is 03C 109 088 2. The last digit looks like it indicates which revision it is.

Appears to be the same as mentioned back here http://www.sciroccocentral.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=11007

To change that involves 6-8hrs labour as its located in the same place as the timing chain so it makes sense to do them both at once whilst the engine is open.
 

J400uk

Active Member
Jan 7, 2010
1,978
3
London, UK
Thanks that's a great help and am glad you got sorted as well.

No problem. Hopefully it should help others too given it appears to be a common weak point with the 1.4 TSI

Keep us posted how you get on, my only advice would be it makes sense to get both this and the chain done at once whilst the engine is apart.
 

Subc

Active Member
May 12, 2008
426
5
Scotland
Did you get the adjusters and cogs replaced or just a new chain. as well as the Variator also was the variator the main problem.
Thanks.
 

J400uk

Active Member
Jan 7, 2010
1,978
3
London, UK
Did you get the adjusters and cogs replaced or just a new chain. as well as the Variator also was the variator the main problem.
Thanks.

Variator was the initial diagnosis but when it was stripped down to replace that they decided to do the chain as well, so it got both. I suspect the faulty variator probably caused the chain to stretch but I'm only guessing.

Both components are in the same place so the risk is if only one is changed they might put it back together only to find the problem is still there, then you're back to square 1.

It certainly makes a big difference to the car, feels really nice to drive now and the engine is lot quieter. As these new parts are revised versions they should last for the rest of its life.

I hope nothing else can go majorly wrong with the TSI!
 
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Subc

Active Member
May 12, 2008
426
5
Scotland
Out of interest I have just found out, the variator has been modified and superseded 2 times since my car was made 2008.
 
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Brookie48

Guest
Will be interested to see how you get on,

I have a Mk5 Cupra currently sat at the dealers after my timing chain tensioner went, luckily only need a new gasket and not a new engine. But have been in contact with Seat UK and they have since told the dealers my car is at that they wont be offering me goodwill. I still need to get into contact with whoever was dealing with my claim and finding out why but the dealers seemed to think that it was because my last service was at an independant garage. bearing in mine my car is an 09 plate with 53000 miles on it and until the last service about 3000 miles ago had a full dealer service history!

Good luck with yours and i will let you know if i manage to have any luck on mine!
 

Subc

Active Member
May 12, 2008
426
5
Scotland
Hi Thanks for your sharing your experience (B48) I am assuming that you used genuine SEAT parts for your 3rd party service and can prove this to them, which if so is bizzare in my opinion because to the 2004 legislation set out by the Office of Fair Trading.

Under EU Block Exemption legislation which has been around for many years now, a manufacturer cannot force a buyer to have their car serviced by their official dealership network, and cannot refuse to honour a new car warranty simply because a car has been serviced elsewhere. However, a manufacturer does have the right to set a servicing schedule which must be adhered to. Also used car warranty's have to be read carefully as they can be tied into a certain garage/franchise.

Back on track: still awaiting word from the Garage as what is happening quite impressed with the Diesel Ibiza so fingers crossed get some help, and wish you the best too (B48).
 
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