TGI got a warranty

[sidewaze samm]

I recently posted a query about my second failed alternator in 6 months:

http://briskoda.net/forums/superb/alternator-blues/109917/

and from the lack of response that posts usually get, I guess this is not a common problem.

The car ran out of warranty 2 months ago and not surprisingly SUK have said the unit fitted 6 months ago did its job by getting to the end of the car's warranty period - OK, legal requirement maybe, but customer service?

Oh that's right, it's SUK.

When the car ran out of warranty, after much deliberating, I opted for cover with Warranty Direct - 13 months for the price of 12 with the franchised dealer option.

I collected my car last night, complete with new unit fitted (which apparently comes with 2 year guarantee). I have to pay the bill and reclaim from WD. The test will be how long I have to wait for my money, but the message is this...

new alternator is a front-off job. Total bill £491.77 !!!:eek:

I know... local independent - VAG specialist - trade/recon parts etc etc.

but £500 notes:eek::eek:

Yeah - glad it's got a warranty - even if I have to wait for a bit!

[rotodiesel]

Now you know why they're sometimes called "stealers". This is incompetent - with a little ingenuity you can get the alternator out on a 1.9 PD engine without pulling the front; it's only the top bolt which doesn't clear. On the last one I did, I moved the fan forwards, cut the bolt in half, took out the machine and replaced the bolt with a length of studding and a nut. The stud screws in through the back. Less than half an hour.

Dealers and warranties are money pits. On a newish car the alternator can be refurbished easily enough - even though the one I had to refit needed a new stator. Valeo have to learn to put the windings in the slots, not leave them in thin air where they get hit by the rotor.

rotodiesel.

[Supurbia]

Tis another Superb weakspot, everyone and I mean everyone I know who has one has the standard belt squeal coming from it, including one who had the pulley shear off, £200 to fix iirc, and guess what, Skoda couldn't supply one for 3 weeks.

[sidewaze samm]

Other than total failure :( Twice :(:( I've had no problems with belt squeals or any other alternator shortcomings. But 2 units in a car that's 38 months old and done less than 30k miles:thumbdwn:

I'm just not knowledgeable enough to take on this stuff myself. Things were different and simpler when I had my Cortina in 1981 - like there was room to see what you were doing and space to get your hands in

I've never bought a warranty for a previous car, and probably wouldn't have done now but for some of the threads I've read on this forum. (so thanks guys - and I mean that most sincerely folks)

My view of it is - OK I spent a load on the warranty, but the repair bill is nearly double that. And I've still got 11 months of cover left.

I just wish I had an experienced VAG-trained diesel expert living next door who wanted to take on foreigners at the weekend - not me, the job

So, anyone got any recommendations for suitably qualified, knowledgeable and trustworthy independents in South Manchester?