Car Servicing

My wife has a VW Golf Cabriolet Convertible 118TSI, which we bought brand new in late 2012. We have had some issues with oil usage on this car, and have had to accept that it does use oil, as the dealership continues to tell us its oil use is within spec. It needs topping up at least three times between services. But in March this year, five months out of warranty, it went into limp mode and the 'check engine' light came on.

On checking check I discovered a fault code associated with the intake manifold shutter.

The dealer advised us that a new intake manifold needed to be fitted. The total bill, including a $165 "diagnosis fee", was a little over $1200. My attention was elsewhere at the time, so while we grumbled about the bill and that a new intake manifold was needed on a 3 ½-year-old car with 40,000 km on it, we paid it and moved on.

Last week it went into limp mode again, and after checking with a scanner, we came up with same fault code. Initially the assistant service manager advised me that they normally charge (another) $165 "diagnosis fee", however they would waive it this time.

A day later, we were advised that the new intake manifold is faulty, and that a new one would be fitted with no charge. So far so good, but we were then also advised that there was a fault code related to the timing belt. This would necessitate, we were advised, pulling the engine down, and another "diagnosis fee". This time it would be $660.

Before I could say any more, the assistant service manager indicated that they would fit the new intake manifold and recheck the car and any fault codes, before deciding if any further diagnosis or work was required.

All being well, the intake manifold will be fitted in the next day or so.

Whatever the outcome on the timing belt fault, I am certainly not going to pay $660 for a "diagnosis fee", nor will I have that dealership do any more work.

Whilst we await the outcome of this matter, we have decided two things as a result of this experience, and particularly in light of Volkswagen's issues with the DSG gearbox and emissions debacle. First, our Volkswagen experiment is over, second, we will do our level best to convince others not to buy a VW either.

What do you think of "diagnosis fees"? Are they the new norm within the industry, or is it a Volkswagen creation?

When I purchased my 2013 Subaru I requested a reversing camera, and they agreed to fit one, but I have had nothing but trouble with it. When I first complained about it shortly after the purchase they came out and cleaned it and it worked well, but at night it's so foggy it's hard to see anything. Now they say it's not a genuine part they fitted, but they never told me it was not a genuine part. That's very deceptive.

A light on the right side of my instrument panel on my E220 Mercedes-Benz comes on and when it does I cannot accelerate the engine. To get it to disappear I have to switch the engine off and restart again. How can I fix this problem?

My 2014 BMW 116i has only done 18,500km but uses more than 1 litre of oil. The dealer said it was normal and topped it up for me. I checked the engine oil level again yesterday and found the oil level decreased to between the max and min. Is this normal?

Our 2012 Subaru XV has been burning excess oil, and every five months or so I have to top the engine up with a litre or so. After contacting Subaru they told us this was the first time they have heard of this problem, yet in a US class action suit Subaru admitted to the problem and have been replacing piston rings in affected models. I'm at a loss, now that the vehicle is out of warranty do I pay for Subaru to replace the oil rings out of my own pocket?

I bought my 2012 Ford Focus Trend new thinking I would have at least 10 years free of worry, but at 18,000km I was told that the auto transmission clutch needed replacing because it was shuddering. It was replaced under warranty, but it's now done 27,000km and I have since been told it needs doing again. I have been advised that this is a fault with the car and Ford cannot fix it. I have contacted Ford and they advised me to have the car assessed, which I have done. Ford has offered me a $14,500 change over price into a new $25,000 car, which means mine is worth $11,000. I was disgusted with the trade-in price and the extra money I have to pay, considering the car they sold me is faulty. Ford doesn't think this is a safety issue, therefore the car is not to be recalled. I believe that Ford has offered me a wholesale trade-in price on my car, but want me to pay the full retail price of a new car, not very fair I don't think. I'm not sure what to do at the moment. Can you please help?

I purchased a 2012 Holden Cruze in 2014 from a Holden dealer with 45,000km on the odometer. It has now done 65,000km and the transmission has failed. The dealer says it needs a new transmission. What are my options, as they say there is a cost involved?

The last time my 2011 Holden Cruze was serviced a hydraulic oil smear was noticed underneath the motor area. Could this be an indication of the transmission problem that affects the Cruze? It has had two recalls in the past, but the dealer dodged what exactly the issues were on both occasions.

In December 2010 I bought a Hyundai ix35 and it has done 86,315km. My cars are always kept in immaculate condition but I have a problem with peeling on the steering wheel. This began some time ago and has progressively deteriorated. The dealer took pictures and referred it to Hyundai head office in Sydney as it was out of warranty but they would not replace or repair it. I am a pensioner and cost is a factor in my maintaining the service of my car. I'm extremely disappointed with the outcome. Can you approach Hyundai for some assistance with my claim?

I have a 2005 Toyota Camry Altise that has done 372,000km and I service it every 10,000km. Apart from a reconditioned cylinder head and replacement water pump at 266,000km, work needed because I run LPG according to the Toyota mechanic, it still runs well. Would it be better to have the motor reconditioned when the time comes or buy a replacement car for $6000 or $7000, which is all I can spare? I do about 25,000km a year and need something reliable and economical. I have been to Birdsville and Innamincka in the current one and haven't had a speck of trouble.