Glow plug nightmare!

[Shaady]

Just a little rant...

EML came on a couple of weeks ago so ran it through Carista which tells me that the glow plug on cylinder 1 is kaput. Take the car to Seat so they could 'see which brand of glow plug it is to make sure they order the right one' only for them to tell me they cant get them out to check and to take it to a specialist - but of course they couldn't recommend one. The whole thing felt like a right fob off to be honest.

Take it to said specialist and 2 of the 4 have the heads snapped and will need to be cut out by a third party at 110 quid a pop. The garage the car is has a crazy good rep round here and are a VAG specialist so have no reason to lie to me, the car is with them already after all and they warned me that this might happen. First thing they asked me when they rung me to tell me about this was if it had been anywhere else for this issue. IF they cant get them cut out the manifold has to come off, costing me another £265...essentially all because Seat tried and couldn't get to them.

To top it off the plug in cylinder 3 has a pressure sensor on it...that plug is £110 alone. Car has only done 60k miles which is nothing for a diesel engine, was really hoping it wouldn't start costing me money yet but it is also due its belt change next service too...

Have asked for a full report from the garage and they are going to give me back the glow plugs after they have been cut out (or what's left of them) and video them coming out, then it's off to Seat to have it out with them I think.

And breathe...

 

[BigJase88]

Its common for them to shear when trying to take out. Unfortunate.

it does seem they have snapped a couple, bagged themselves and just thrown it back together and said they couldn’t reach them.

are seat not meant to be the specialists

 

[Jay5959]

This seems to be a common theme with Seat garages. Also surely as a Seat garage they are supposed to be the specialists . Hope you get it sorted mate. Put an update on here when you speak to the original garage with the report in hand. Interested as to what bs excuse they have

 

[Shaady]

Its common for them to shear when trying to take out. Unfortunate.

it does seem they have snapped a couple, bagged themselves and just thrown it back together and said they couldn’t reach them.

are seat not meant to be the specialists

This exactly, think they've snapped them and rather then admit it they've just sent me on my way with some excuse.

That was my thought too who's meant to be the specialist if they're not...

Will definitely update when I've spoken to them. Spoke to Seat CS about it and it was one of the most infuriating conversations I've ever had, straight to the our word against theirs argument she even told me to take it back to the same place who said they couldn't do it

 

[BigJase88]

This exactly, think they've snapped them and rather then admit it they've just sent me on my way with some excuse.

That was my thought too who's meant to be the specialist if they're not...

Will definitely update when I've spoken to them. Spoke to Seat CS about it and it was one of the most infuriating conversations I've ever had, straight to the our word against theirs argument she even told me to take it back to the same place who said they couldn't do it

They are generally clowns that work at main dealer garages. They get told what to do on a computer. They call themselves “technicians” the aren’t even mechanics. They are robots.

Who knows how much luck you will have. I would end up losing the plot and saying a few expletives to the service manager.

 

[SteveGSXR600K1]

They are generally clowns that work at main dealer garages. They get told what to do on a computer. They call themselves “technicians” the aren’t even mechanics. They are robots.

Who knows how much luck you will have. I would end up losing the plot and saying a few expletives to the service manager.

This is the exact conversation I was having with my friend the other day when talking about whether to get timing belt/waterpump done by the SEAT sealer or an independent VAG garage. 5 year warranty or know it's been done properly......

 

[Old hoburn]

the excuse cant get to them is a load of bull **** take the plastic cover of and they're staring right at you, no good closing the stable door after the horse has bolted but they should have been soaked in wd 40 well before any attempt to remove them, been going through my head to change mine, might just leave it now, good luck

 

[Shaady]

the excuse cant get to them is a load of bull **** take the plastic cover of and they're staring right at you, no good closing the stable door after the horse has bolted but they should have been soaked in wd 40 well before any attempt to remove them, been going through my head to change mine, might just leave it now, good luck

Unless they need doing mate I wouldn't bother, seems like its more hassle than its worth.

Somehow it has apparently burnt out 3 of the 4 in not even that long so hoping I just got unlucky and dont have to go through this every few years.

 

[Mr Pig]

They are generally clowns that work at main dealer garages.

I have to agree. Anything beyond an oil change and they have no idea. I have a noise from my engine and the dealer has misdiagnosed it twice. Noise still there, dealer has no clue.

 

[Shaady]

Just an update on this...

I finally have my car back and not driving around in a hateful Corsa courtesy car anymore.

They had to drill 3 of the 4 out in the end to the tune of £110 a pop. Luckily they got them out without having to take the manifold off as that would have added £260 to the price...still cost me £855 to sort though. The third plug with the sensor was £110 on its own...apparently they have never seen that before.

I know if I go to Seat about it they're going to go with the 'prove it was us' point but think I'll still have a chat with the service manager and see what they say.

 

[Rooster]

Glad you got it sorted in the end.