2006 T5 2.5 AXD Engine Not Starting California Camper conversion.

[T5Derry]

A big thanks to everyone who’s taken the time and effort to respond. I will speak with BiL (Ron) and suggest as PhilH says, and try to sell as a none runner, preferably not worth nowhere near the £7.5k he’s already spent on it. Seems such a shame, Ivor Searle complete recon engine less than 4 years ago, recon gearbox together with complete new clutch 18months ago, only done 38897 miles since new engine, and now having to scrap it.

I suppose the morale of the story is unless your vehicle is less than 5 years old and develops a problem (like non starter) the last place you should take it is to a VW commercial van main dealership.

Who’s have thought it. Maybe VW dealerships don’t necessarily have all the equipment that us mare mortals think they have, even one of the largest VW, Audi, Skoda group in east Anglia.

Anyway, thanks again to all of you. Happy Travels

 

[manfrotto]

The main dealers rely on their diagnostics providing fault codes. And because Ron's didn't have any fault codes they were poking around in the dark, and guessing.
With the way the fault occurred I am still of the opinion that something simple has been overlooked, and someone will get a bargain. I am not a qualified mechanic but have always maintained my own vehicles because the main dealers can be so bad they often cannot even do simple maintenance items correctly.
Best of luck, and hope Ron at least gets a decent price for it.

 

[Kind of Blue]

I am not a mechanic on electronics expert by any stretch of the imagination. Unfortunately main dealers have to maintain an image for new car sales and satisfy consortium rules. It showrooms that are absolutely gleaming and soulless their for the would be pin striped. They have to spend fortunes on diagnostic gear and other kit and mainly service newer vehicles they do not like anything unusual or mapped in any way and that is understandable for what they are and they have large wage bills and other overheads.

Your storey is very unfortunate and I imagine that you are not alone or be the last to go through all of this but for future reference what ever vehicle you eventually buy try to find a specialist or a very trusted other garage. With VW their are Specialist VW garages around the UK and my experience is many also have VW type of diagnostics but where the Main dealer will not stray off there imposed strict rule for operation, the Specialist will deviate and often work down to experience with less than perfectly maintained vehicles. They will go the extra mile to solve a problem. Many employ ex VW Trained Mechanics and if they do not have an in house electronic expert they will buy a very good one in. They tend not to be so proud of image by subcontracting very specialist work. I found a very good one here in Wales the best I have ever used but I have in the past use one not far away from Chippenham Wilts when working over their and I know their are many other very good outlets. The guys on here are absolutely outstanding in there knowledge and capabilities and I am sure someone here might advise on a suitable specialist nearer to you or not too far away. When it is time to buy another VW Camper ask the guys on here I am sure that they will give excellent guidance.

I am really sorry that your experiences have been a bad result at cost but try to put it behind and use it postpositively and have a better experience next time.

 

[rod_vw]

@T5Derry I hope that you or Ron made sure that you had ALL of the parts that the dealer changed and has charged for. Those alone could be worth money when tested independently to prove their condition.
As @Kind of Blue says there is likely to be a small specialist workshop who would love to pit their wits against the dealership and find the fix for this van. If they could just think of the credibility points that would be worth in the local area!

 

[Sasquatch]

I'd have taken it to a diesel specialisty myself, but its your call of course.

It'd be intessting if you ever did take it somewhere and they fixed it - you might get some money back for the unnecessary work the dealer did. Guesswork via sustitution isn't a diagnosis method a costomer should be paying for.

Whichever way it goes, best of luck.

 

[T5Derry]

@T5Derry I hope that you or Ron made sure that you had ALL of the parts that the dealer changed and has charged for. Those alone could be worth money when tested independently to prove their condition.
As @Kind of Blue says there is likely to be a small specialist workshop who would love to pit their wits against the dealership and find the fix for this van. If they could just think of the credibility points that would be worth in the local area!

Hi Rod-vw

We have found such a guy (ex VW Audi) who set up on his own about 18months ago.
Having seen all what’s been done and the details taken from dozen of emails that I received from VW along the way over the last 6 months he said “if it’s got compression, timing and fuel it should start” VW confirmed it has all 3, but will only start and run as long as they spray brake cleaner into it.
Unfortunately the guy concerned is not able to take the job on. He did ask if VW had used a ?????box to check the wiring loom, I for the life of me can’t remember the full name of the box, but I think he said it’s fitted between the wiring loom and the ECU and is a very expensive peice of kit which all VW dealers would have. He did say it’s highly unlikely to be anything wrong with the cylinder head if it’s getting the correct compression as stated by VW.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[T5Derry]

I'd have taken it to a diesel specialisty myself, but its your call of course.

It'd be intessting if you ever did take it somewhere and they fixed it - you might get some money back for the unnecessary work the dealer did. Guesswork via sustitution isn't a diagnosis method a costomer should be paying for.

Whichever way it goes, best of luck.

Hi Sasquatch:
It did go to a Deisel specialist in Cambridge when it first went wrong Dec 2023) but after fitting various parts they too could not get it running. It was then after taking further advice it was recovered and sent to VW Ipswich in June 2024. Where it’s been until its recovery next Tuesday Jan 2025.
So, since Dec 2023 and Jan 2025 it been at a Deisel specialist and a very large VW workshop, pent in excess of £7k and we’re no further forward, hence the reluctant decision to draw a line under it.

I thought the final comment from VW was strange, “considering recent exchanges we clearly have differing expectations, so probably best to draw a line under it”

 

[Sasquatch]

I think the expectation was they mend your van and you give them money...?

 

[Dundee_Kev]

He did ask if VW had used a ?????box to check the wiring loom, I for the life of me can’t remember the full name of the box, but I think he said it’s fitted between the wiring loom and the ECU and is a very expensive peice of kit which all VW dealers would have

Breakout box I'm guessing. It's a good non destructive way for scoping sensor signals etc at the ecu

 

[T5Derry]

The stalemate was, they wanted to spend another c£3k on replacing the cylinder head without any promise or guarantee it will solve the problem and the vehicle would start and run unaided.

We (Ron and me) were unprepared to spend a further c£3k on top of the £4900 VW invoice.
That was the point VW agreed a small £200 discount on their labour charges and made the statement about differing expectations and draw a line under it. We reluctantly (so we can have the van back) paid the VW invoice £4700.00 yesterday.

As of yet I have purposely left out the name of the VW Audi motor group responsible, but this may not be the case in future.

 

[T5Derry]

Breakout box I'm guessing. It's a good non destructive way for scoping sensor signals etc at the ecu

Dundee
Thanks for that. Apparently it’s quite an expensive piece of kit.

 

[rod_vw]

As of yet I have purposely left out the name of the VW Audi motor group responsible, but this may not be the case in future.

Well as I see it there is only one VW Van centre in Ipswich with a phone number ending 221. Am I warm?

 

[T5Derry]

Well as I see it there is only one VW Van centre in Ipswich with a phone number ending 221. Am I warm?

Once Ron receives the technicians full report which we’ve been promised before the vehicle is recovered back to Ron’s next Tuesday and fact check against all their previous emails I will then disclose the dealers full details.

 

[oldiebut goodie]

I suspect that a Cardinal is involved.

 

[T5Derry]

I suspect that a Cardinal is involved.

Another very good cryptic clue