Quote:
Originally Posted by VivekCherian Hi Suraj,
Can you please let me know from where you sourced the Fabia MaxiDot cluster? I have been asking Sugesh from VagTune about the cluster for a while now, but he has been shying away saying that procuring it will be very difficult. Also, if you don't mind, can you also share how much money the cluster cost you? |
Apologies for the delayed response, Mr. Sugesh only procured it for me and helped me in installing it also. Regarding prices please speak to him. I got many things from him so did not bother with the cost break up.
Update to all fellow Team-BHPians and readers.
I went through a horrible ordeal 5 months back. I wanted to pursue my post graduation hence took the laura (petrol - usage is less) and left this car with dad since his daily running was higher than mins apart from it being a hatchback helps in Bangalore traffic. The car went for a yearly service and without my father's approval, they went ahead with the ECU Update. This is where the problems started. My fuel pump at the tank side failed within 50 kms of the update. Dont know if it is coincidence or due to update. My father got it rectified the next day.
Within 3 days of changing the fuel pump, the car refused to start. The vehicle was towed to VW Rajajinagar service station. After more than a week of diagnosis, we came to know that high-pressure fuel pump, the rails had failed.The reason was found that the car had run lean due to the update thereby damaging the parts.
Me being a mechanical engineer couldn't believe all this. At 30000+ kms, these parts shouldn't give up. So spoke to Mr. Ali, wonderful person who helped me & my dad a lot. Now, there was another loaner car (Vento 1.6 TDI owned by service center- confirmed) which had run more than 1.5 lakh kms. Swapped the faulty parts & ECU from my car with that car and my car was running fine.The car was driven extensively and it was confirmed that these two parts had failed.
Now, my car did not have extended warranty and the bill was astronomical as you can imagine.Although Mr. Ali was instrumental on taking the customer's side (my side) and raised a red flag against the ECU Update. This was approved by VW finally after a lot of checks and people from the plant visiting and checking the car to confirm everything claimed by me & Mr. Ali. My father spent a lot of money on taking cabs for his daily running which amounted to a huge sum but we did not pay anything to VW for this.
The whole process took more than 3 months for various approvals and when the new parts came my father was picked up by service center personnel at "his" convenience to look at all the new parts which had arrived before going into the car. The work was carried out meticulously and my father was informed almost on a daily basis along with pictures attached as proof.
After going through all this, my father decided to sell the car and we sold within a week of getting the car back. After seeing the car in workshop and photos he said he has no confidence to use the car on daily basis anymore. I reluctantly agreed.
I wanted the future owner know every single thing which had happened with the car as it is unethical and amounts to cheating if the facts are hidden. Needless to say, the buyer was super happy with this and paid more than what my father expected and the car has been trouble free for him so far.
I removed the maxidot cluster, RCD 510 and the upgraded BCM before giving the car which I have it with me. I only gave the old steering along with car.
It was a really special car and I miss the car a lot.
To replace this car, my father told it has to be a VW again due to impeccable support from the service center (Rajajinagar) and VW. Kudos to both of them.
We got home a GT TSI more than a month before and it is a brilliant car.
I cannot disclose the source of this credible information but I am not alone in this and it is not the first 1.6 GT TDI/Vento in India to face such an issue.
PS: I shall try to dig the map version which was the last update before emission issue & flow restrictor fitment.
Fellow 1.6 TDI owners please share your ECU map version (before update for emission issues) as it may help the readers/owners alike.
My sincere suggestions:
1.If you have still not got the ECU update never get it. It is not reversible by the service center. They will say its reversible but its not. Confirmed by higher-ups in VW.
2.If you have got the update and thinking the car is running fine, you are lucky & I hope you don't end up like how I did.
3. I strongly recommend going in for a remap probably a mild one from Petes,ToT or any of the reputed tuners or get a backup of your ECU.
Disclaimer: No one has paid anything to me nor I have paid Mr. Ali or anyone for claiming from VW.
Hopfeully I should write two ownership reports within some time.
Moderators: Please close this thread as the car is now sold.