Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
As many of you may know, I had the flywheel replaced on the Beetle last year. Here's my dilemma, and I'll try to keep t short and simple.
The Beetle was previously serviced its entire life at Berge VW with the same service advisor. He told me that the flywheel was bad (VERY distinct chattering noise) and needed replacement. By the time I got around to having it replaced, he switched over to another dealership, Chapman VW. I decided to take the car there to keep the same service advisor (nice guy, doesn't upsell). I had the flywheel replaced for about $1,700-$1,800. It was dead silent, no chattering, and all was well for 2 months and 2,600 miles. One day the flywheel chapter noise came back (like I said, VERY distinct noise). I brought the car back and they diagnosed it as a bad flywheel again, that it was defective and had a broken spring. I received the car back as it still made the same noise. It has gotten louder and I decided to take it to anther dealership, Camelback VW. The service advisor says I need to sign a paper that, if during the diagnosis of the sound, they need to remove the transmission to see the flywheel and see if it passes their visual test. About $800 in labor if they say that isn't the problem.
My issue: They didn't need to remove the transmission in the first place to diagnose the issue, and we're more than happy to take my $1,800. Now when the repair is on their dime, I might have to pay $800 in labor if they decide to tell me the flywheel isn't bad.
Chapman VW says the sound "must be" the "Mechatronics" in the transmission making the noise. While buying parts recently from Chapman VW I spoke to the parts department guy (former mechanic) and even he said that's bologna, I spoke to a different service advisor at Camelback VW and he said it was bologna, and I also spoke to an independent repair shop German Motors and they said that was bologna.
If this were the problem, then WHY did the sound completely go away for 2 months? I mean it was dead silent. To me, it almost seems like a scam since they were so eager to take my money, but don't want to do the right thing and look at my car. The 12,000 mile warranty will be up in 1,500 miles which is only maybe a month for me.
I have also been told by the service advisor at Berge VW and Camelback VW, as well as the parts department guy that "you wouldn't believe how many parts come in from VW and are defective right off the bat".
My fear is that the flywheel will fly apart and cause catastrophic damage to the engine and transmission (which is what happens when these flywheels go bad) and it won't be under warranty.
I have called and left a message with the service department manager at Chapman VW and am waiting for a call back.
Any other advice for me to pursue this further? Thanks.
The Beetle was previously serviced its entire life at Berge VW with the same service advisor. He told me that the flywheel was bad (VERY distinct chattering noise) and needed replacement. By the time I got around to having it replaced, he switched over to another dealership, Chapman VW. I decided to take the car there to keep the same service advisor (nice guy, doesn't upsell). I had the flywheel replaced for about $1,700-$1,800. It was dead silent, no chattering, and all was well for 2 months and 2,600 miles. One day the flywheel chapter noise came back (like I said, VERY distinct noise). I brought the car back and they diagnosed it as a bad flywheel again, that it was defective and had a broken spring. I received the car back as it still made the same noise. It has gotten louder and I decided to take it to anther dealership, Camelback VW. The service advisor says I need to sign a paper that, if during the diagnosis of the sound, they need to remove the transmission to see the flywheel and see if it passes their visual test. About $800 in labor if they say that isn't the problem.
My issue: They didn't need to remove the transmission in the first place to diagnose the issue, and we're more than happy to take my $1,800. Now when the repair is on their dime, I might have to pay $800 in labor if they decide to tell me the flywheel isn't bad.
Chapman VW says the sound "must be" the "Mechatronics" in the transmission making the noise. While buying parts recently from Chapman VW I spoke to the parts department guy (former mechanic) and even he said that's bologna, I spoke to a different service advisor at Camelback VW and he said it was bologna, and I also spoke to an independent repair shop German Motors and they said that was bologna.
If this were the problem, then WHY did the sound completely go away for 2 months? I mean it was dead silent. To me, it almost seems like a scam since they were so eager to take my money, but don't want to do the right thing and look at my car. The 12,000 mile warranty will be up in 1,500 miles which is only maybe a month for me.
I have also been told by the service advisor at Berge VW and Camelback VW, as well as the parts department guy that "you wouldn't believe how many parts come in from VW and are defective right off the bat".
My fear is that the flywheel will fly apart and cause catastrophic damage to the engine and transmission (which is what happens when these flywheels go bad) and it won't be under warranty.
I have called and left a message with the service department manager at Chapman VW and am waiting for a call back.
Any other advice for me to pursue this further? Thanks.