Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Please note that it is not permitted to have referral links posted in your signature. Keep these links contained in the appropriate forum. Thank you.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2055940817/signature-rules
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

VW diagnostics charge

  • 26-09-2014 4:04pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18


    An engine warning light came on in my 2010 Golf 1.6 TD yesterday. Took it to my local main dealer who I bought the car from and who have serviced it from new.

    They wanted €75 +VAT to book in the car for a diagnostics. When I asked why this charge so high she said that it takes 1 hour to run a full diagnostics. This I have issue with as a know from youtube videos that this process only takes a couple of mins to connect and read off the error message. All I wanted from them was to give me a price on how much it would cost to fix the car.....

    I didn't let my car at the dealership and will never again be going back to them.....

    "WHAT A RIP-OFF !!!!! "


Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,594 tossy
    ✭✭✭


    75 euro is actually one of the cheaper prices i've heard.

    Where are you based ? There are a number of people here myself included who scan it for you free of charge.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 120 Coldplayer
    ✭✭


    Apologies if this comes across stupid, but will the diagnostic give you a full check on the car, like if its burning oil etc?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18 harrington_cit


    Coldplayer wrote: »
    Apologies if this comes across stupid, but will the diagnostic give you a full check on the car, like if its burning oil etc?

    I am not an expert so others maybe able to correct me on this... Connecting you get an error which will relate to the module that sent the error code to the ECU in the first place. There are some options to activate certain modules but in general when the warning light comes on the car has generated some error that needs to be read and parts changed and the error cleared to make the problem go away.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,594 tossy
    ✭✭✭


    Coldplayer wrote: »
    Apologies if this comes across stupid, but will the diagnostic give you a full check on the car, like if its burning oil etc?

    It can't tell you if a car is burning oil, you should be albe to find out that from monitoring the level on the dipstick.

    It basically communicates with all the control modules on the car and sees what fault codes are logged, so say for example your low oil light came on but the dipstick indicated that there was plenty of oil, a scan might reveal that your oil level sensor was toast.

    There are more advanced features in some diagnostic software (like VCDS) that allows you to change settings or code electronic components of the car and measuring blocks which allow a person with the right knowledge (more than me lol) to see mechanical components are functioning ok.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,267 visual
    ✭✭✭


    Its a rip off from all the car makers.

    When you buy the car you buy the on board computers there is no reason why it should need a special reader in fact there is no reason why it can't display the fault code on your instrument display. .

    In fact my Jeep grand cherokee has a mode by stitching on and off ignition 3 times without starting it it will show fault codes or done if none.

    Ive been charged 80 euro just to read codes on renault and it is a rip off.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,298 martinr5232
    ✭✭✭


    visual wrote: »
    Its a rip off from all the car makers.

    When you buy the car you buy the on board computers there is no reason why it should need a special reader in fact there is no reason why it can't display the fault code on your instrument display. .

    In fact my Jeep grand cherokee has a mode by stitching on and off ignition 3 times without starting it it will show fault codes or done if none.

    Ive been charged 80 euro just to read codes on renault and it is a rip off.

    There are plenty of code readers out there to buy why not go and buy one and fix it yourselves if you think its too expensive to go to a garage.

    Nobody is forcing you to go to a main dealer sure paddy down the road could knock off that light doesnt matter that the fault isnt fixed as long as the light is gone for a while.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 478 Stella Virgo
    ✭✭


    heres a list of OBD readers available on ebay from a tenner to whatever price ya wanny pay.....if you can use a smartphone , u can use any of these....
    http://www.ebay.ie/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313&_nkw=obd+code+readers&_sacat=0
    (just double check that it will work on your specific car make..some are universal ,and some are not.....)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18 harrington_cit


    There are plenty of code readers out there to buy why not go and buy one and fix it yourselves if you think its too expensive to go to a garage.

    Nobody is forcing you to go to a main dealer sure paddy down the road could knock off that light doesnt matter that the fault isnt fixed as long as the light is gone for a while.

    My issue isn't with turning off the light of for that matter paying to get my car fixed. My car has a full dealer service which I could probably have got service elsewhere for less if I wanted to go down your "PADDY DOWN THE ROAD" route.

    My issue is with the charge involved in what is a 2min job of plugging in a PC and reading off a code/problem that is stored on the car ECU. When I went to the dealer that's all I was looking for initially so that they could give me a price on fixing the problem with my car.

    I have no problem in paying somebody a fair wage for a fair days work but €75+vat a couple mins work, I class as a rip-off. Sorry if you don't agree .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,728 George Dalton
    ✭✭✭



    My issue is with the charge involved in what is a 2min job of plugging in a PC and reading off a code/problem that is stored on the car ECU. When I went to the dealer that's all I was looking for initially so that they could give me a price on fixing the problem with my car.

    I have no problem in paying somebody a fair wage for a fair days work but €75+vat a couple mins work, I class as a rip-off. Sorry if you don't agree .

    The point you are missing is that very few issues can be diagnosed in 2 minutes by simply plugging in a code reader. It's not that simple in the majority of cases.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18 harrington_cit


    The point you are missing is that very few issues can be diagnosed in 2 minutes by simply plugging in a code reader. It's not that simple in the majority of cases.

    You seam to know more than me. How long does it take to read off the error code?

    How much do Daultons charge?


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,795 Neilw
    ✭✭✭


    How long does it take to read off the error code?

    About 2 mins :D

    What you know about the code or what to do next is where the person earns their money.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,298 martinr5232
    ✭✭✭


    My issue isn't with turning off the light of for that matter paying to get my car fixed. My car has a full dealer service which I could probably have got service elsewhere for less.

    My issue is with the charge involved in what is a 2min job of plugging in a PC and reading off a code/problem that is stored on the car ECU. When I went to the dealer that's all I was looking for initially so that they could give me a price on fixing the problem with my car.

    I have no problem in paying somebody a fair wage for a fair days work but €75+vat a couple mins work, I class as a rip-off. Sorry if you don't agree .

    To diagnose your car properly is not just a case of reading a code and replacing parts thats what paddy down the road does.

    If im given a job with an engine managment light on nine times out of ten its not read a code and replace a part its read a code look up your wiring diagram check your wiring to and from the module concerned when you have that done then you replace parts.

    Most of the time that takes more than an hour to diagnose a fault.

    As i said though if you just want a code read go buy yourself a cheap code reader. Sorry if im coming across as being harsh but dealers spend thousands of euro every year sending technicions on brand specific coarses thats why when paddy cant fix it by turning the light off ten times and pulling at every sensor he can find he ends up sending you to a dealer who then takes hours to fix it because there is a list of fault codes stored.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,728 George Dalton
    ✭✭✭


    You seam to know more than me. How long does it take to read off the error code?

    Reading the code only takes a few seconds. But, contrary to what people think, the fault code rarely tells you exactly what the problem is. It usually just points you in the right direction and then further tests and checks are needed to establish the exact cause.

    Now I'm not defending the dealer's €75 flat rate diagnostic charge. In some cases with common issues the diagnosis may well only take a few minutes so they do end up getting paid €75 for doing feck all.

    That's why using an independent garage can be better than a dealer as they are usually more flexible in their approach. For example if one of our regular customers came in with a warning light on we would do a basic scan for free and only charge for diagnostics if more time was needed to figure out the issue.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,688 mickdw
    ✭✭✭✭


    How long does it take to read off the error code?

    Reading an error code takes only a couple of minutes including connecting up reader etc.
    Reading the error code is not a diagnostic service really.
    You might for example get a code than translates as engine running rich.
    You then need experience and know how to do further checks to narrow down what the issue might be.
    The code is not a magic tell all.
    So im sure a garage could offer a code reading service for small money but when you rightfully expect the garage to give you a diagnosis that will result in a permanent fix, they have to do alittle more in depth work to get right to the cause.
    Sure some faults will be simply read off but it's not always that way.
    Would you rather pay 20 quid for someone to tell you your car is running rich or 75 quid to tell you it's running rich and you need to replace x to fix it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,267 visual
    ✭✭✭


    There are plenty of code readers out there to buy why not go and buy one and fix it yourselves if you think its too expensive to go to a garage.

    Nobody is forcing you to go to a main dealer sure paddy down the road could knock off that light doesnt matter that the fault isnt fixed as long as the light is gone for a while.

    I have two code reader but that doesn't distract from the reason I bought them or having to pay to read codes

    there is nothing stopping all car manufacturers from showing the fault code other than trying to capture a revenue stream by exploiting their customers.
    Plus half the twats in garages that read the codes haven't a clue what it means.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,661 Voodoomelon
    ✭✭✭


    Just to add, in terms of man hours and actual chargeable time, it takes considerably longer than 2 minutes to book a car in, have the car driven round, correct cable chosen and diagnostic software booted, connected and configured to the car and then to actually run the diagnostic test, assuming that's whats being run and then get the car back to you.

    Even if the process was purely to provide just the fault code and no diagnosis at all, you would still be billed for a good 20-30 minutes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,298 martinr5232
    ✭✭✭


    visual wrote: »
    I have two code reader but that doesn't distract from the reason I bought them or having to pay to read codes

    there is nothing stopping all car manufacturers from showing the fault code other than trying to capture a revenue stream by exploiting their customers.
    Plus half the twats in garages that read the codes haven't a clue what it means.

    Thats very true but most of those so called twats know a hell of a lot more than joe soap and have put four years of theyre life into learning a trade.

    As was said above its not just about reading codes its about having the experiance to decipher the information you are looking at and know which route to take.

    As i have said if you want a P code buy a cheap reader and google your faults but chances are you will be going to that so called twat to fix your car when you cant.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 18 harrington_cit


    I have no problem what so ever with the service provided by main dealer except in this case. I bought my car and got it serviced regularly at this main dealer and always found them good. What gets my goat up is when the light came on and I did as I was supposed to do and took it to my dealer they wanted €75 plus vat to look at the car. There are are not to many industry's that charge you to get a quotation to get something repaired. It wouldn't have cost them very little in man hours to do a quick plug in to see if it's something straight forward and if it was something more complicated to charge me the €75 then. I was in their garage with car problem and would probably have paid to get the car fixed if they hadn't insisted on the €75

    That dealer ship won't have to worry about me and my problem as I won't be back to them ever again. And when the finance is paid on the car next year they won't have the problem of offering me a price on a new car. Who knows by then they may even be charging to give a price on quoting for a new car.

    Their short sighted approved has now cost them a lot more than €75 plus vat.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,786 slimjimmc
    ✭✭✭


    Just to add, in terms of man hours and actual chargeable time, it takes considerably longer than 2 minutes to book a car in, have the car driven round, correct cable chosen and diagnostic software booted, connected and configured to the car and then to actually run the diagnostic test, assuming that's whats being run and then get the car back to you.

    Even if the process was purely to provide just the fault code and no diagnosis at all, you would still be billed for a good 20-30 minutes.
    One dealer I've used told me they bill by the hour so it doesn't matter if the job takes 10 mins or 50 you're charged the same.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,102 Roger Mellie Man on the Telly
    ✭✭✭


    This is from VW Ireland:

    "First 15 minute diagnosis for free.
    We promise that if you have a problem with your car that you’d like us to look into – if you decide to have us carry out the repair, we’ll waiver the first 15 minutes of labour."

    So you'll get some of the €75 back if you let them fix it.

    They also wash and vacuum the car, so there's another tenner back. Free tea and chocolates...eat loads of chocolates...say another fiver.

    Not so expensive now.


  • Advertisement
  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,594 tossy
    ✭✭✭


    This is from VW Ireland:

    "First 15 minute diagnosis for free.
    We promise that if you have a problem with your car that you’d like us to look into – if you decide to have us carry out the repair, we’ll waiver the first 15 minutes of labour."

    So you'll get some of the €75 back if you let them fix it.

    They also wash and vacuum the car, so there's another tenner back. Free tea and chocolates...eat loads of chocolates...say another fiver.

    Not so expensive now.

    Thats ones weak argument. :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,688 mickdw
    ✭✭✭✭


    I have no problem what so ever with the service provided by main dealer except in this case. I bought my car and got it serviced regularly at this main dealer and always found them good. What gets my goat up is when the light came on and I did as I was supposed to do and took it to my dealer they wanted €75 plus vat to look at the car. There are are not to many industry's that charge you to get a quotation to get something repaired. It wouldn't have cost them very little in man hours to do a quick plug in to see if it's something straight forward and if it was something more complicated to charge me the €75 then. I was in their garage with car problem and would probably have paid to get the car fixed if they hadn't insisted on the €75

    That dealer ship won't have to worry about me and my problem as I won't be back to them ever again. And when the finance is paid on the car next year they won't have the problem of offering me a price on a new car. Who knows by then they may even be charging to give a price on quoting for a new car.

    Their short sighted approved has now cost them a lot more than €75 plus vat.

    To be fair, much as we all went to the trouble of explaining the process of a proper diagnostic, you are right. You bought new and have returned to them for servicing and came straight to them for repair. They might have done themselves a favor if they offered to have taken a look. If it was a simple sensor fault or something, they would have got part and labour cost from you.
    If it required a bit more diagnostic, they could have said as much and at that stage you would likely have been happy to pay.
    I've found in cases such as yours it's no harm to have a chat with the sales man you bought off. If you are known as a returning customer and likely to be buying soon, the sales division can cover the diagnostic cost if you spin them the right yarn.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,267 visual
    ✭✭✭


    Put it in perspective some yob pugs in a laptop for a couple of mins and sticks his hand out for 75 yoyos

    nice work if you can get it .

    Not doing VW or dealer and long term favours


Welcome!

It looks like you're new here. Sign in or register to get started.
Advertisement