What should the lifespan be of a T32 Kombi clutch and transmission? I have a 68 plate with less than 45k and both have gone in recent succession and warranty are not paying up even though it's covered until November 2024.
☝ That's the short version.
The long version first dates back to February 2024 when the clutch first went coming off a motorway in Newcastle, changing down from 6th. The pedal refused to come back up, although somehow in transit to the warranty-approved garage it managed to do so. Now this garage are pretty useless but they have managed to sort some unrelated items under warranty in the past. On this first occasion I am unsure if they actually did anything, although allegedly the master cylinder was fixed under warranty, for the clutch to again become 'sticky' and then completely stuck again shortly afterwards. Back to the garage again for a second and third attempt, each time paying nothing but unsure as to whether anything was actually done as a fix. Each time the issue seemed to occur when in a high gear for a prolonged period and then changing down, such as exiting a motorway.
Then came Aberdeenshire at Easter when it went again, a long way from home. Stalling on a mountain pass at night in fog, unable to get into first was a little stressful, and not the best start to a break away. I managed to nurse it for the length of the stay and gradually worked out that pumping the clutch before changing down seemed to help. By now this was across the entire range, not just high gears, and wasn't much fun driving home either, especially in rain on the A65. It also meant I had to do all the driving as my partner found it too dangerous.
Back in West Yorkshire, the garage needed approval from me for a number of hours of labour for clutch disassembly to make an assessment for the warranty company to then make a decision over. A week or so later I was informed that the clutch had completely gone (slave?) and it would not be covered under warranty. £1027 and another week later the van was eventually back and seemingly running perfectly. Although for four figures I was at least expecting a mini valet!
We're nearly there, I promise. As I was, again with the kids, on the M1 coming back from Sheffield over three weeks ago, when the transmission completely went. There was little warning, bar the clutch being a little sticky again on the way down. Luckily I managed to exit at an upcoming slip road and into an emergency layby, but there was no drive at all. There was also an awful noise when the van was rolled off the low loader recovery vehicle.
Back to the garage for another warranty claim, with a report from a (seemingly quite rare) gearbox specialist that was apparently "inconclusive". Meanwhile as the parts are apparently difficult to get hold of I approved the garage to order them in anyway but interestingly they offered to pay half the parts cost and not charge any labour if the warranty claim was rejected. Which it was, last week.
Today the work was completed but I'm yet to collect the van, nor pay the £1500 for half a gearbox. I also had to hire a vehicle for a week so we could still go to Wales over half term.
I have already raised a complaint with the warranty company over the clutch lifetime, which itself has been rejected. I shall do the same over the gearbox too. In both cases I have/will ask what metrics they use to determine "end of life" because for me 43,000 miles does not sound fit for purpose and to be honest makes me worried about what fundamental mechanical failure could happen next. Surely the whole point of warranty is for peace of mind? I've had much older cars than this with mixed history that have had fewer issues. It's certainly putting me off VW.
Does anybody think the garage have been complicit in any way? Could driving with a dodgy clutch for a prolonged have damaged the gearbox, which led them to feel the need to discount the (hopefully) final fix?
Sorry for the long, ranty first post!
☝ That's the short version.
The long version first dates back to February 2024 when the clutch first went coming off a motorway in Newcastle, changing down from 6th. The pedal refused to come back up, although somehow in transit to the warranty-approved garage it managed to do so. Now this garage are pretty useless but they have managed to sort some unrelated items under warranty in the past. On this first occasion I am unsure if they actually did anything, although allegedly the master cylinder was fixed under warranty, for the clutch to again become 'sticky' and then completely stuck again shortly afterwards. Back to the garage again for a second and third attempt, each time paying nothing but unsure as to whether anything was actually done as a fix. Each time the issue seemed to occur when in a high gear for a prolonged period and then changing down, such as exiting a motorway.
Then came Aberdeenshire at Easter when it went again, a long way from home. Stalling on a mountain pass at night in fog, unable to get into first was a little stressful, and not the best start to a break away. I managed to nurse it for the length of the stay and gradually worked out that pumping the clutch before changing down seemed to help. By now this was across the entire range, not just high gears, and wasn't much fun driving home either, especially in rain on the A65. It also meant I had to do all the driving as my partner found it too dangerous.
Back in West Yorkshire, the garage needed approval from me for a number of hours of labour for clutch disassembly to make an assessment for the warranty company to then make a decision over. A week or so later I was informed that the clutch had completely gone (slave?) and it would not be covered under warranty. £1027 and another week later the van was eventually back and seemingly running perfectly. Although for four figures I was at least expecting a mini valet!
We're nearly there, I promise. As I was, again with the kids, on the M1 coming back from Sheffield over three weeks ago, when the transmission completely went. There was little warning, bar the clutch being a little sticky again on the way down. Luckily I managed to exit at an upcoming slip road and into an emergency layby, but there was no drive at all. There was also an awful noise when the van was rolled off the low loader recovery vehicle.
Back to the garage for another warranty claim, with a report from a (seemingly quite rare) gearbox specialist that was apparently "inconclusive". Meanwhile as the parts are apparently difficult to get hold of I approved the garage to order them in anyway but interestingly they offered to pay half the parts cost and not charge any labour if the warranty claim was rejected. Which it was, last week.
Today the work was completed but I'm yet to collect the van, nor pay the £1500 for half a gearbox. I also had to hire a vehicle for a week so we could still go to Wales over half term.
I have already raised a complaint with the warranty company over the clutch lifetime, which itself has been rejected. I shall do the same over the gearbox too. In both cases I have/will ask what metrics they use to determine "end of life" because for me 43,000 miles does not sound fit for purpose and to be honest makes me worried about what fundamental mechanical failure could happen next. Surely the whole point of warranty is for peace of mind? I've had much older cars than this with mixed history that have had fewer issues. It's certainly putting me off VW.
Does anybody think the garage have been complicit in any way? Could driving with a dodgy clutch for a prolonged have damaged the gearbox, which led them to feel the need to discount the (hopefully) final fix?
Sorry for the long, ranty first post!
