We had decided that we would be getting rid of our Superb 140 tdi, but given the economic situation we decided that we were not prepared at this time to take out a large loan. Given the problems associated with this model and already having suffered a failed oil pump. we decided to take out a n extended Warranty with Warrantywise. to keep it brief, we recently had a leaking radiator so we had it fixed New radiator fitted cost. £250.57 submitted a claim. It was rejected. This was the jist of the reply.

''The reason we have declined you request for repairs on this occasion is because your repairer has confirmed the radiator seal has deteriorated seal between the core end tank end. this would not be considered to be a sudden failure as defined, but would suggest the unit is suffering from in service wear and wear and deterioration. Unfortunately worn parts are excluded on this plan.''

Now our car has only done 51K and I'm pretty sure that the Radiator is designed to withstand wear tear and deterioration for many more mile before failure.

What do people here think. should I except their decision. Challenge it and if so what would be the best way to proceed.

Jenks

You have just found out why insurance companies generally have the biggest offices in town - they're crooks.

Don't rely on them paying for a 2.0 PD oil pump drive failure either - they might just pay you the £3 for the hex coupling when it fails, as they all do.

Get rid of it.

rotodiesel.

Jenks having read your thread, how long has the radiator been in your car prior to it being replaced? And how many miles did your engine do before the oil pump failed, andwasfurther engine damage found? cheers

The car is three years old and the radiator is the original, The first sign of a problem was when the warning appeared on the Dash display.... STOP ENGINE COOLANT< etc.

the problem we have is that we took out the warranty less than 30 days ago and wear and tear is not covered for the first 30 days. My point is/was that as a radiator is designed to last for many years to have one fail at only three years or 51K miles is hardly fair wear and tear. The unit failed prematurely.

The oil pump failed at 37K with apparentely no futher damage.

The wear and tear clause of the warranty is only good until 90K. So we will for sure be getting rid before it expires.

Jenks

You have just found out why insurance companies generally have the biggest offices in town - they're crooks.

Don't rely on them paying for a 2.0 PD oil pump drive failure either - they might just pay you the £3 for the hex coupling when it fails, as they all do.

Get rid of it.

rotodiesel.

rotodiesel.

Believe me, I am trying to convince my wife that it has to go. I think I have convinced her that it must go before the warranty for defective items expires, that is when the vehicle reaches 90K. The chap / garage who looks after our vehicles (and has done so for thirty years) Recommends that we consider buying a Honda as a replacement. Any thoughts on that?

Jenks

Much as the Japanese makers produce reliable products with very few of the design stupidities that VAG love to inflict on their customers, I can't recommend any Japanese diesels - yet.

The Europeans still have a lead in this field and many Japanese diesels have European fuel system components made locally under licence. As there is still something of a "black art" to making diesel fuel system components, it doesn't always work. The Mazda 6 diesel in particular is an unmitigated disaster with some engines ending up with a sump full of fuel and a runaway. It almost makes VAG look good.

Where the Japanese do score, in my experience is in trading honesty. VAG as we all know will neither admit to design mistakes nor put them right - their contempt for their customers is quite breathtaking. The dealers, in my experience are useless at best and cause damage at worst. You pay for the privilege...

So, at the moment, my money would be on a Honda or Toyota petrol or a European diesel. If it will do your job, an 8v non balancer PD engine still has a lot to recommend it - and you avoid a DPF. If not, look very carefully - there are some flaky diesels out there now. I'll be keeping my Euro III PD for a good while yet - the taxi crowd seem to be deserting the diesels now, probably due to DPF blocking.

rotodiesel.

Edited 24 January, 201115 yr by rotodiesel

Roto.....

Thanks for your words of wisdom, much appreciated.

Jenks.

It's a quandary, really is. I'm extremely reluctant to buy a new Diesel car because of the DPF issues. I am keeping my almost worthless (but so far, reliable) 55 plate 2.5 TDi Superb for a while yet. I have looked at the new-ish 1.8 Mitsubishi Diesel in the ASX, it has no cambelt to break and has very good consumption figures, but it has a DPF.........

Looks like you were lucky jenks with getting away with no damage when your oil pump failed....i saw what happened to my oil pump and the bits when it failed.....one end was rounded off and after a while it sheared off further down....hence no oil pressure....and such a small oil pump drive as well....like roto says....its chinese finger !! Do you know if your replacement oil pump was the same design when it when back in? Was it improved? cheers

Sorry, I took so long to respond, not been on for a while. In answer to your question.. I have no Idea what type of replacement pump was fitted. Hope very much that the pump was not the same as the original.

Regarding the problem with Warrantywise and the Radiator. This is ongoing. Last evening I had an encouraging e-mail; from Quentin Willson so I have not given up hope that the matter will be satisfied to my satisfaction. Watch this space.

Jenks.

Sorry, I took so long to respond, not been on for a while. In answer to your question.. I have no Idea what type of replacement pump was fitted. Hope very much that the pump was not the same as the original.

Regarding the problem with Warrantywise and the Radiator. This is ongoing. Last evening I had an encouraging e-mail; from Quentin Willson so I have not given up hope that the matter will be satisfied to my satisfaction. Watch this space.

Jenks.

I have just had a phone call from the service manager of Warrantywise. They have agreed to meet my claim in full. So all's well that ends well. Pity I had to jump though hoops to resolve the matter. I could have so easily have put it down to experience and given up.

Jenks

What a shame they took that attitude. It is that kind of a response that gives that industry a very bad name. Well done though, good result.