Boost piping

[mr_merc]

Guys

Leon MK1 TDI FR

Unfortunately, due to taking my car to a certain well known 'VAG specialist', my car now has a boost leak (which interestingly both this garage and Seat MK said didn't exist) from the boost pipe that goes from the i/c hard pipe, to the EGR. The hole and leak wasn't there before because I've only recently had that pipe off to check the EGR for cack build up and they would have had to have taken that pipe off to bleed my brakes properly.

However, I cannot prove it was them, so it looks like I'm going to spunk out more money, yet again because of this garage. I have taken photos of said hole, which looks like it was made by a screwdriver, if someone fancies hosting them for me?

In the interim, I need a new boost pipe now. Seat want £44 for it and SFS have said they only do an entire replacement kit for £175 + VAT Is the SFS kit really worth it, or am I better off just buying the single pipe direct from Seat?

Are there any other manufacturers of this pipe, so I don't have to pay stealer prices?

Thanks.

James.

 

[jonjay]

Your probably better of sticking with standard unless you plan on going for more power. Your also better of getting new clips and seals also.

Where are you getting your stuff from James? Why not take it to TotalVAG that gets nothing but praise for their work and good on prices too.

 

[mr_merc]

It was TotalVAG that bloody did it!

£240 for a service and fluid change. The work experience guy that washes the cars somehow managed to break my windscreen, so they replaced that and left dirty marks all up the plastic inside the car, near the window.

When I get the car back, there's a vibration that comes through the throttle pedal and a high pitched whistle that wasn't there before.

I send it back in and they say that the vibration is caused because my Parrott handsfree is loose (I fitted it, it's not!) but recommend changing the dog bone mount, which they do, at another £40. It doesn't make it any better and now my Parrott doesn't work either, so I need to find out what they've touched when they did that.

I also find that the boost pipe has a hole in it which seems a bit odd for it to have in that place and looks conveniently like a screwdriver hole, although why they'd have needed a screwdriver for that area I don't know.

It also appears to me that they've broken a plastic cover that sits over the wiring up the inside of the left hand side of the engine bay, near the brake fluid reservoir as it's just been crudely wrapped in electricians' tape.

All in all - going to TotalVAG for a service and brake fluid change is going to have cost me £320, hassle, time off work, a dirty car each time and a whistle and vibration that categorically wasn't there when it went in.

Patrick recommended them and I will never go back. I am disgusted. I will fit the boost pipe myself, at least then I know I've done a proper job.

Fancy hosting some photos for me?

James.

 

[jonjay]

Blimey well not sure what to say about that tbh apart from find someone who your happy to deal with.

Sign up to photobucket - you get loads of space and really easy to use.

 

[Husbandofstinky]

Why not take it to TotalVAG that gets nothing but praise for their work and good on prices too.

As Mastercard would say..... priceless.

You still didn't update on the tyres Mister (James).

 

[Husbandofstinky]

Back to the OP. Stick with the stock pipe and new clips etc.

 

[jonjay]

James seems to be having bad luck with dealers nowadays and its first bad thing I heard about TotalVAG to be fair. At the end of the day, like i say to everyone on this topic, everyone finds a garage that works for them. Luckily my garage looks afterme very well.

 

[mr_merc]

Sorry Lee.

Update on tyres is that:

Your suggested place, after factoring in the drive and cost is not comparable unfortunately. Still not sure why they can't get Falkens... I thought tyre places could get any tyres. You learn something new every day.

I have a choice now between:

1. Ordering FK452's at £300 from Camskill and getting somewhere in MK for £60 to fit them
2. Ordering Kumho KU31's (which I am assured are the same sort of tyre) for £320 fitted, including tracking and alignment and that can be done tomorrow

I have sucked it in and just ordered the standard boost pipe from Seat @ £44. They told me the seals and clips are extra (!), so I've ordered those too.

Rains but pours springs to mind. Funny how easily one can fall out of love with a car!

I am going to write to TotalVAG, having read my post above. Even if it gets me nowhere and they think I'm a snivelling little ****, I might get some satisfaction out of letting them know they've lost a client who would have probably gone to them year in/out if it'd been any good.

I wouldn't mind but even the car washing effort they did was appalling. If you're going to do a job, at least do it properly.

James.

 

[mr_merc]

James seems to be having bad luck with dealers nowadays and its first bad thing I heard about TotalVAG to be fair. At the end of the day, like i say to everyone on this topic, everyone finds a garage that works for them. Luckily my garage looks afterme very well.

Thing is, my queries aren't out of the ordinary and I'm polite and reserved to a point where I just wonder why people can't do their bloody jobs properly.

Seat MK did some 'warranty work' last week on two failing track rod ends. Not only would warranty only cover one because 'two are a sign of wear and tear' (which begs the question why they even bothered covering just the one) and I then had to pay £120 for the privilege of the second one, but warranty wouldn't cover the tracking being done either. I don't get that at all, if a part fails and affects another part (e.g. tyre wear or stability due to the tracking being out), surely they are obliged to do a proper job so that another component doesn't get screwed as a result of the original failed component?!

Sigh.

 

[Husbandofstinky]

Just read Maz's signature James. Hope it may makes you feel better.

You seem to have a ridiculous amount of grief with your motor - perhaps you should rename her Christine.

I've had the Leon from new and in the five and a half years of ownership I've not had one problem with it. All expenses have been either service items or modifying only - no component failure etc.

TBH in the twenty years of driving its been the best car I've owned and still do not have any immediate intention of getting rid of it.

Happy Days.

 

[jonjay]

I wouldn't let any garage wash the car anyway James. I played hell with SEAT when they washed the car after they replaced a faulty aircon unit under warranty. I make it a point now whenever the car goes in to a main dealer (hardly never now anyway) under no circumstances are they to wash, wipe, clean anything outside of the engine bay.

 

[mr_merc]

James seems to be having bad luck with dealers nowadays and its first bad thing I heard about TotalVAG to be fair. At the end of the day, like i say to everyone on this topic, everyone finds a garage that works for them. Luckily my garage looks afterme very well.

To be quite honest mate, from now on I will be driving to AmD and getting them to do my servicing I think. Even with the drive, at least I know that a proper job will have been done.

 

[mr_merc]

Just read Maz's signature James. Hope it may makes you feel better.

You seem to have a ridiculous amount of grief with your motor - perhaps you should rename her Christine.

I've had the Leon from new and in the five and a half years of ownership I've not had one problem with it. All expenses have been either service items or modifying only - no component failure etc.

TBH in the twenty years of driving its been the best car I've owned and still do not have any immediate intention of getting rid of it.

Happy Days.

I think I'll rename her 'Eleanor'

I know what you are saying, it will probably still be the best car I have owned. I am just tired of dealing with people who don't do their job properly, or alternatively who just lie rather than tell it how it is!

Fingers crossed this is the last £800 in one month I'll need to spend on it!

@ Jonjay: Mate, I look after my car religiously like you do, can't remember the last fortnight where it didn't get a coat of wax, or alternatively the sealant removed entirely as I wasn't happy with the finish. I didn't expect TotalVAG to wash it and will know to say to whoever deals with the car next not to touch it.

 

[jonjay]

To be quite honest mate, from now on I will be driving to AmD and getting them to do my servicing I think. Even with the drive, at least I know that a proper job will have been done.

I think you should give TotalVAG a chance. Speak to the owner (greg??), explain your concerns. I am sure they will help you regain your confidence.

From experience every garage makes a mistakes, thats the human condition. However for me what makes AmD great is that if they do get something wrong and thats not often, they bend over backwards to fix it.

 

[Husbandofstinky]

I am just tired of dealing with people who don't do their job properly, or alternatively who just lie rather than tell it how it is!

Unfortunately you'll get that everywhere in any business and industry for the rest of your life. The hard part is identifying them. Best ones you'll come accross are tradesman - sparkies and plumbers in particular.

It may sound a bit of a bodge, but wouldn't a bicycle repair kit patch hold the pressure? Possibly not but it wouldn't be too much time lost or expense just to find out. Just don't know what sort of PSI pressures in the pipes.

Just an idea that's all.

 

[mr_merc]

Unfortunately you'll get that everywhere in any business and industry for the rest of your life. The hard part is identifying them. Best ones you'll come accross are tradesman - sparkies and plumbers in particular.

It may sound a bit of a bodge, but wouldn't a bicycle repair kit patch hold the pressure? Possibly not but it wouldn't be too much time lost or expense just to find out. Just don't know what sort of PSI pressures in the pipes.

Just an idea that's all.

Reasonable idea, but from what I understand that pipe still carries nearly 1 bar of pressure. The heavy duty electrician's tape I tried just got annihilated and now makes an even 'gayer' whistle!

The new pipe arrives tomorrow.

As I say Jon, I will whip a letter off over the weekend. Nothing pissy, but just giving my concerns. Simple fact is that I can't prove anything really, so I can't expect them to do anything about it.

 

[Husbandofstinky]

1 bar is nothing - just over 14 PSI

Most bike tyres require pressures exceeding 40 PSI. In fact some racing bikes require pressures over 100 PSI! (7-8 bar).

 

[trebormint]

Sorry Lee.

Update on tyres is that:

Your suggested place, after factoring in the drive and cost is not comparable unfortunately. Still not sure why they can't get Falkens... I thought tyre places could get any tyres. You learn something new every day.

I have a choice now between:

1. Ordering FK452's at £300 from Camskill and getting somewhere in MK for £60 to fit them
2. Ordering Kumho KU31's (which I am assured are the same sort of tyre) for £320 fitted, including tracking and alignment and that can be done tomorrow

I have sucked it in and just ordered the standard boost pipe from Seat @ £44. They told me the seals and clips are extra (!), so I've ordered those too.

Rains but pours springs to mind. Funny how easily one can fall out of love with a car!

I am going to write to TotalVAG, having read my post above. Even if it gets me nowhere and they think I'm a snivelling little ****, I might get some satisfaction out of letting them know they've lost a client who would have probably gone to them year in/out if it'd been any good.

I wouldn't mind but even the car washing effort they did was appalling. If you're going to do a job, at least do it properly.

James.

Have you tried www.blackcircles.com

They do FK452 tyres - though not sure what size you need.

Price for example 205/55 R16 W (91) is £65.71 per tyre including fitting and balancing.

Tyres are delivered to a local tyre place and you book a date and time online.

You can even get 3% off with this code: CSMACLUB

 

[mr_merc]

Have you tried www.blackcircles.com

They do FK452 tyres - though not sure what size you need.

Price for example 205/55 R16 W (91) is £65.71 per tyre including fitting and balancing.

Tyres are delivered to a local tyre place and you book a date and time online.

You can even get 3% off with this code: CSMACLUB

They don't have FK452's in stock, even emailed them to ask.

 

[trebormint]

What is your tyre size?