OldSkoO1 Posted May 17, 2010 Report Share Posted May 17, 2010 I'm glad it turned out the way it did, if you know what i mean. I was a passenger in a hire car with someone from work. He picked it up from enterprise and hadn't checked the tyres. Which were illegal, being bald on the outer edges. It began raining heavily, all of a sudden on the m6 toll, next thing the car's back end swung left, sending us into a flat spin. Spun 3 times, hit the central reservation, ripped the wheel off, spun 2 more times and then hit the barrier again. Luckily still upright. I have no doubt that if that happened and we loss the back end on the m6 we would have been dead or killed someone else. So i can appreciate how serious this was for you. I hope that you get at least a satisfactory conclusion from VW. I would certainly bypass the dealer on the basis of incompetence; simply, not knowing that the diff oil needed changing at 40k and go straight to HQ with a letter. I would also be worried how small the tolerance is for a diff failure so close to 40k, it's recommended interval. It would suggest failure to check the level at previous services or drainage at the past service without refill. Assuming that this is all correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Man Posted May 17, 2010 Report Share Posted May 17, 2010 (edited) .No, the diff isn't sealed, there is a drain plug at the bottom of the sump plus a couple of level plugs. I don't know if a service entails a fluid check on the diff, I guess a service would include just a visual check and any leaks should be apparent from that. I can, and do blame the mechanic as I firmly believe that the diff oil was drained in error. Ok....then that`s a service failure....the levels were obviously not checked...an oversight with possibly dire consequences.....and if it turns out the oil was drained but not replaced as you suspect, then the mechanic is incompetent.....but it may just have been a catastrophic component failure....time will tell. Edited May 17, 2010 by Mr Man Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted May 17, 2010 Report Share Posted May 17, 2010 You mentioned your arguing with them over the service interval for the Haldex unit, and the subsequent changing of the Haldex oil, but what makes you think they even touched the diff if it was only booked in for the Haldex oil to be changed? surely they know the difference between a haldex unit and a diff? The Haldex oil was never changed. That was booked for later I think, after they realised their mistake in NOT doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted May 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2010 The Haldex oil was never changed. That was booked for later I think, after they realised their mistake in NOT doing it. The haldex oil was meant to be done on Wednesday last week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Tone_ Posted May 18, 2010 Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 Jeez what a nightmare - hope you get it sorted and without any further pain, I've had lots of shoddy work done on my old Golf by VW Dealers, and vowed never to buy one again. Good luck in getting it sorted and hope you recover ok cos it sounds like you were shaken and stirred! If I was in your shoes (and emotionally charged - understandable under the circumstances) I'd take a deep breath and think about what you want to do with the car, R32's are nice machines God I'd consider one (I know what I said above) knowing I could avoid the dealers and use APS. When you can use APS its worth thinking about keeping it as long as your happy everything has been put right and with what has happened I am sure someone will be checking all the work thats being done now. Whatever comes out hope you find that happier place mate. Tone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted May 18, 2010 Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 Just catching up with this glad you are ok, what is the latest have they admitted everything yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted May 18, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 There's nothing else to add really. I got a call about 4ish to say that the parts they ordered hadn't arrived and that my car hadn't made its way on to a ramp yet. Work was manic today so I didn't get a chance to chance them like I'd planned. I did talk to my house insurance company to see if my legal cover from them would allow me to take legal action against the dealership. In principal the answer is yes but I can only sue for physical injury, loss of earnings and/or cost recovery. I'm going to chat to someone else just to get that confirmed. The loan on the Prius (oh my god, what a complete pile of sh1te that is!) has been extended again and I'll be stuck with it for another week or so as I've got some work commitments that will see me being away from home from Thursday morning to Tuesday evening. I've pretty much decided that I will keep the car once APS have given it the all clear and from that point on I'll continue to use APS for all the servicing. I've got the upmost confidence with the chaps at APS and I think it'll take that level of confidence to get me comfortable with the car again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted May 18, 2010 Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 I've pretty much decided that I will keep the car once APS have given it the all clear and from that point on I'll continue to use APS for all the servicing. I've got the upmost confidence with the chaps at APS and I think it'll take that level of confidence to get me comfortable with the car again. Good to hear, once it's sorted and checked over, you won't look back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted May 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 I took a few pictures and videos while I was at the side of the M6. This still from one of the videos shows a 'puddle' of oil from when the RAC man took off the drain plug on the rear diff. This is ALL the oil that was in the diff, there is meant to be about 2.5 litres. You can also see some of the tyre marks on the road from when the wheels locked up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted May 19, 2010 Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 Hey Burble, drive the Prius in the same style as your R32, and see who MPG it gives Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted May 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 I am It gave mid 20's on the way home from work last night. The R32 being driven hard on the same roads gives about 23mpg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tipex Posted May 19, 2010 Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 Love the idea of getting the lowest mpg out of Prius! I take it the diff casing was still in tact then? And hadn't dumped any oil on the road before/during the incident? Looks like it probably was someones mistake then, as I doubt the diff would have lasted that long if it only had that much oil in from new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted May 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 The Prius is being given a tough time. I'll write up a review of it at some point to try and portray just how bad it is. When the back of the car was jacked up I had a good look around and saw no physical damage to the diff casing or signs of any leaks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted May 19, 2010 Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 What Prius is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted May 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 A sh1t one. It's one of the new ones, on a 10 plate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted May 19, 2010 Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 A sh1t one. ain't they all <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKTOyiKLARk&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKTOyiKLARk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> Prius 17.2mpg v M3 19.4mpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted May 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 17.2mpg? Clearly I'm not trying hard enough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theduisbergkid Posted May 19, 2010 Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 17.2mpg? Clearly I'm not trying hard enough! That's impressive ! Don't forget to shmoke the tyres at every opportunity. I'm with Tipex, there's something appealing about ragging a Prius. Drive like you stole it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted May 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 Schmoke the tyres? Sod all chance of that I think. It has got traction control as I found yesterday, no idea why though as you have to really, really provoke it to get it to kick in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Posted May 19, 2010 Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 That was on a track of course with Stig at the wheel. IIRC the M3 only had to keep up - had the M3 been driven in a similar style the headlines would not have been nearly as amusing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m4ttm4son Posted May 19, 2010 Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 17.2mpg? Clearly I'm not trying hard enough! Try using fewer gears Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted May 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 It's got a CVT gearbox so that isn't an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
burble Posted May 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 Feck me, apparently the car will be ready for me to collect at 4! I'd originally planned to collect the car when ready, go to APS and then have them take a look but with the very short notice I guess that won't happen. I've left a message asking Ed to call me. What I think I'll do is test drive it when someone from the dealer, see how it feels and get it over to APS as soon as I can for them to have a look. I'll make sure I have a full list from the dealer of what has been replaced and will see what the good people at APS make of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stooH Posted May 19, 2010 Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 Sounds like a reasonable plan, ask for the guy which originally carried out the service to go out with you on the test drive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted May 19, 2010 Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 ... and scare the sh*t out of him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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