SEAT 1.2TSi - the most unreliable car I have ever owned

[znww5]

The saga continues with my bought-from-new 1.2TSI DSG Ibiza.

Following innumerable visits to the main dealer for rough running, limp mode and clutch judder problems over the past 2 years, the car had to be recoverd by the AA for the 3rd time recently.

Now on my 3rd ignition pack, the previous AA guy (recovery number 2) handed SEAT the diagnosis on a plate - HT leads were sparking across between themselves and the engine which explained the ignition problems. There is now a TPI for this problem.

The main dealer repeatedly claimed that the gearbox was 'normal', despite the clutch judder which I had reported on numerous occasions. An identical loan car lacked all of these judder 'features'. However, the clutch judder problem was finally solved last Sunday night by virtue of the fact that the gearbox failed entirely . . . no reverse and loose cog noises if you dared inch forward.

Yesterday the main agent told me that there was problem because their diagnostics weren't showing a fault code - despite there being one when the AA looked at it - so they weren't sure what to do.

So my question is this - do we have a generation of "Computer says no" car mechanics who assume that Fault Codes cover every eventuality and are incapable of diagnosing a problem without a laptop?

Thankfully, the warranty runs until next spring - lets hope the car does the same. I sadly have to say that whilst it is a great car when it works, it is the most unreliable vehicle I have ever owned and has given more trouble than even the old bangers I had as a student. My next car will absolutely not be a VAG.

 

[pel]

Have you thought about buying an alfa??

 

[DEAN0]

So my question is this - do we have a generation of "Computer says no" car mechanics who assume that Fault Codes cover every eventuality and are incapable of diagnosing a problem without a laptop?

In short - YES.

The modern dealers believe that using the computer will save them the time of old school diagnostics.

Quite how a computer can diagnose a mechanical issue is beyond me.


I also believe that this current trend of high powered small engines to replace bigger less stressed engines has a lot to do with it.

I chose the 2.0TDi deliberately with the intention of ending up at a very reliable 185hp after remap.

 

[ZBOYD]

VW globally across all its brands have just issued a recall notice regarding problems with the 7 speed DSG gear box (DQ200) Claiming the issues are related to the kind of oil that has been used, but I've also seen other unconfirmed alleged reports that they are also swapping out the mechatronics too.

My mums 1.2TSI DSG Yeti has an intermittent judder at slow speeds, but it is intermittent, does it occasionally and seems to be worse when its hotter.

Sky reported the recall yesterday.

http://news.sky.com/story/1168639/vw-recalls-2-6m-cars-worldwide-over-faults

 

[znww5]

Well we've seen this trend in light aircraft engines too, where thirsty large-capacity engines are giving way to smaller high powered designs, yet we don't see the kind of failures which I am encountering. After all, it isn't rocket science to design a reliable ignition system - the issues on the 1.2TSi were a) poor quality HT leads and b) poor design which routed them too close to hot spots.

And 'pel', I decided against a Mito when I noticed the showroom car was sitting in a puddle of its own clutch fluid - I'm not that much of a masochist !

 

[znww5]

Zboyd, that's very interesting. I had found the recall story for DSG boxes (384,000 recalled in China!) but it didn't specifically identify which DSG. The Yeti has the same drive chain as the SEAT so presumably they both have the DQ200 box. I believe that VW has also had to offer a 10 year warranty in the USA due to the same problem/s and there is a recall going on in France.

Your description of your mum's Yeti problems are exactly the same as the issues I have been experiencing for the past year or more. Thanks for the link.

 

[Jarre]

The only issue I had with my 1.2TSi was an injector leak, which took 4 weeks to be sorted. As you said above it would seem out dealer 'mechanics' just plug in the diagnostics and get a code. If there's no code there's nothing wrong with it. In my case I think my code was P0304 - cylinder 3 misfire. They swapped the coil packs and told me a misfire at low revs had gone but misfire at high revs was still there. The spark plugs were changed and then they basically said - it's broke. We don't know what to do with it. It went to another dealer who blamed my missing sound proofing and then said that the car needed a software update that SEAT hadn't written yet, and until then the car couldn't be used!! It then went to a third dealer who, after two hours, diagnosed a leaking injector and promptly replaced it under warranty. Other that it went in for the wastegate recall. Every other warranty claim was linked to the leon mk2 rather than 1.2TSi in particular.

 

[znww5]

The saga continues, had a call from Cust Care to say that the main dealer does not have the tool required to remove the mechatronic unit to check for swarf. Also, the tool is on back order - unbelievable!

 

[DEAN0]

main dealer does not have the tool required to remove the mechatronic unit

That's what they are calling Seat techs nowdays - haha

 

[znww5]

You may think that, but I couldn't possibly comment ;-)

 

[ALAN H]

I can,no probs with mine whatsoever yet.