Volkswagen Problems

You must replace it; the car isn't legal if you don't because the part is a part of the exhaust emission control system, which is required by law to be functional. Going to a van of another make is an expensive move, one that needs careful consideration.

Don't listen to "European car motor mechanics" for starters. I reckon if you checked in his back yard you'd find it full of Passat engines he would like to sell you. It's not a good idea to only do very short runs where the engine, gearbox and differential don't get a chance to warm-up, but runs of 10 to 50 km are fine.

Our information from VW's commercial vehicles people is that they are unaware of any issue with the Amarok wiring. They source their dealer-fit tow bars locally and there's no issue with them, which suggests there isn't an issue with local tow bars/trailer wiring. They did tell us that an adaptor is needed for trailers with LED lights and that all VW dealers have the adaptor available. Beyond that I would suggest you go back to your dealer and discuss the issue with them.

You would certainly appear to have cause for grievance. The only thing you can do is to make it perfectly clear to the dealer and VW that you are very unhappy with the product they have sold you. You could also consult the consumer affairs people in WA and put your case to them that you believe the Polo you have been sold is not fit for the purpose for which it was sold.

Under the Australian Consumer Law introduced in January 2011, a consumer can request a refund or a replacement for persistent problems if the car doesn’t do the job it’s supposed to do.

When your car is doing a real 110 km/h the speedo could read up to 125 km/h and be legal, but the odometer must be within two percent of the real distance travelled. On that basis when your odometer shows 100,000 the real distance could be as low as 98,040 real kilometres, but then, does the company warrant the vehicle for 100,00 'real' kilometres or 100,000 'indicated' kilometres? Perhaps you should go back and read your warranty document and find out.

We have had a few similar reports of problems with the VW engines, and the DSG gearbox in particular, and have taken the issue up with VW in an attempt to clarify the situation. At this point we don't have an explanation, other than some anecdotal information that suggests that if the DSG gearbox fails, it does so at quite low kays, and that if that doesn't occur it seems to run troublefree. I know of a number of people with Golfs and the DSG gearbox who haven't had any issues.

We have sent your complaints on to VW, as we will do with any other report of a DSG problem we receive, and seek an explanation of the problem and what the company is doing to fix it.

Unless you can show that the cat converter fitted in 2007 was in some way faulty I would think you would have to pay the full cost of a replacement now. The Polo is out of warranty, so I would suggest you consult an independent VW specialist who would likely be able to supply a cheaper converter.

 Yes, if it is genuinely reconditioned and comes with a warranty.

Check the catalytic converter to make sure it hasn’t collapsed internally and is blocking the exhaust flow.