Woodchuck...99 Passat 1.8T Timing Belt...sorta

Had the 60k mile check and timing belt changed last week...car sat in
the garage from Wednesday night (when I picked it up at the Dealer)
until today.

Stopped for gas tonight and noticed that the Right Front turn signal
lens is *missing*

No collision damage...no broken pieces...nada...just a gaping orifice
with an amber bulb flopping around in the slipstream.

Did the mechanic have to pull the front end off the Passat (99 1.8T
Wagon) to change the timing belt? Is there a common scenario where the
lens does not get properly seated when being replaced (assuming front
end removal).

I am not amused. Curious...but not amused.

Yes the front bumper and turn signal lens must come out to do the TB. So the
mystery question is: did the tech not get the spring connected well or did
the spring that holds the lens in break once it was connected? I'm sure your
dealer should work out sometime to keep both sides happy, such as maybe a
50/50 spilt of the cost of the lens... or maybe they would pick it up 100%?
If it was myself running the service department I would fix it for free. A
small price to pay to keep a long time customer.


"Boris Badinoff" > wrote in message
...
> Had the 60k mile check and timing belt changed last week...car sat in
> the garage from Wednesday night (when I picked it up at the Dealer)
> until today.
>
> Stopped for gas tonight and noticed that the Right Front turn signal
> lens is *missing*
>
> No collision damage...no broken pieces...nada...just a gaping orifice
> with an amber bulb flopping around in the slipstream.
>
> Did the mechanic have to pull the front end off the Passat (99 1.8T
> Wagon) to change the timing belt? Is there a common scenario where the
> lens does not get properly seated when being replaced (assuming front
> end removal).
>
> I am not amused. Curious...but not amused.

Yes the front bumper and turn signal lens must come out to do the TB. So the
mystery question is: did the tech not get the spring connected well or did
the spring that holds the lens in break once it was connected? I'm sure your
dealer should work out sometime to keep both sides happy, such as maybe a
50/50 spilt of the cost of the lens... or maybe they would pick it up 100%?
If it was myself running the service department I would fix it for free. A
small price to pay to keep a long time customer.


"Boris Badinoff" > wrote in message
...
> Had the 60k mile check and timing belt changed last week...car sat in
> the garage from Wednesday night (when I picked it up at the Dealer)
> until today.
>
> Stopped for gas tonight and noticed that the Right Front turn signal
> lens is *missing*
>
> No collision damage...no broken pieces...nada...just a gaping orifice
> with an amber bulb flopping around in the slipstream.
>
> Did the mechanic have to pull the front end off the Passat (99 1.8T
> Wagon) to change the timing belt? Is there a common scenario where the
> lens does not get properly seated when being replaced (assuming front
> end removal).
>
> I am not amused. Curious...but not amused.

After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police,
"Woodchuck" confessed the following:

>Yes the front bumper and turn signal lens must come out to do the TB....
>If it was myself running the service department I would fix it for free. A
>small price to pay to keep a long time customer.

Dealer is going to replace the signal lens at no cost to me. Service
Writer explained that the Tech has 20+ yrs with VWs and the Tech
thinks he might not have seated the retaining clip completely. Getting
it fixed in the AM...

I'm very pleased with my VW dealer's attitude and pro-active solution.

After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police,
"Woodchuck" confessed the following:

>Yes the front bumper and turn signal lens must come out to do the TB....
>If it was myself running the service department I would fix it for free. A
>small price to pay to keep a long time customer.

Dealer is going to replace the signal lens at no cost to me. Service
Writer explained that the Tech has 20+ yrs with VWs and the Tech
thinks he might not have seated the retaining clip completely. Getting
it fixed in the AM...

I'm very pleased with my VW dealer's attitude and pro-active solution.

Good honest techs and dealers do exist!

"Boris Badinoff" > wrote in message
...
> After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police,
> "Woodchuck" confessed the following:
>
>>Yes the front bumper and turn signal lens must come out to do the TB....
>>If it was myself running the service department I would fix it for free. A
>>small price to pay to keep a long time customer.
>
> Dealer is going to replace the signal lens at no cost to me. Service
> Writer explained that the Tech has 20+ yrs with VWs and the Tech
> thinks he might not have seated the retaining clip completely. Getting
> it fixed in the AM...
>
> I'm very pleased with my VW dealer's attitude and pro-active solution.

Good honest techs and dealers do exist!

"Boris Badinoff" > wrote in message
...
> After an exhausting session with Victoria's Secret Police,
> "Woodchuck" confessed the following:
>
>>Yes the front bumper and turn signal lens must come out to do the TB....
>>If it was myself running the service department I would fix it for free. A
>>small price to pay to keep a long time customer.
>
> Dealer is going to replace the signal lens at no cost to me. Service
> Writer explained that the Tech has 20+ yrs with VWs and the Tech
> thinks he might not have seated the retaining clip completely. Getting
> it fixed in the AM...
>
> I'm very pleased with my VW dealer's attitude and pro-active solution.