Convincing dealer of intermittent faults

[markirel]

I have three issues on my Altea that are intermittent and have not shown as being as a problem when recently in at the main dealer.

Problems are:
- boot sometimes won't shut properly and the light stays on the dash, even shutting very firmly is not always effective
- ticking in the dashboard when the internal fan is funning
- battery light comes on occasionally under acceleration (bizarrely only in July and August for the last 3-years - how wierd is that!)

The first two I believe are known common issues with the fan problem also occurring on some mk5 golfs. The problem is that none of these have shown when the car has been at the dealers and so there is no agreement for rectification.

The car runs out of warranty next Feb and so obviously I want these fixing before then. I don't have the luxury of just being able to pop to the dealers when the "intermittent" problem occurs, in part due to Saturday morning being the only time when they (GK Derby) are open and I am not at work.

Any suggestions of what I should do to get these sorted?

 

[goble]

bizarrely only in July and August for the last 3-years =battery voltage too low due to a/c on
- ticking in the dashboard when the internal fan is funning=they all do that nothing can be done as there is a document relating to this in circulation and thats the way it is.
boot sometimes won't shut properly and the light stays on the dash, even shutting very firmly is not always effective= try adjusting clearance stops on tailgate and lubing up the lock

 

[markirel]

Thanks goble.
Do I need to do something about the battery light? Surely Seat haven't designed the car so that the battery light is intended to come on when the aircon is on. It's a warning light after all, indicating that all is not well.
I suppose I have to live with the fan ticking but I am interested in what you mention about the clearance stops for the boot. Would you mind expanding a little on the procedure so that I can sort this myself.
Many thanks.

 

[goble]

battery light could be caused by body computer fault/central electrics cu alternator ecu or battery itself
cant remember off the top of my head about the clearance stops

 

[aceman]

Regarding your boot, I occasionally experience this but I have learnt that when you open the boot to reshut it you have to leave it a second or two for the electronic lock to reset. It is very easy to forget this in frustration and the boot will never shut then. I find holding the palm of your hand on the centre wiper cover and pushing down with even force helps no end in ensuring the boot shuts properly.

 

[Tell]

There is a handle underneith on the right inside that you wack it shut with but I expect we know this. Hand't heard about the delay thing, but I'm only effected by not wacking it shut.

 

[aceman]

Well yes the correct way of course is to use the handle on the inside as you say Tell but on the occasion the boot doesn't shut lifting the SEAT handle and opening the boot slightly to slam it shut again you have to wait for the lock to reset, if you slam it shut too quickly it just keeps bouncing open again. I remember when I first got the Altea getting frustrated not being able to shut the boot but then realised I had to give it a second or too for the lock to reset, you can actually hear it cycle.

 

[Tell]

I've probably never been effected by the timer thing since I always lifted the boot up annoyed that it never shut the first time which is a good two seconds and shut it again by the handle .

 

[markirel]

Finally worked out why my boot wouldn't close properly. The catch bit on the boot sill was loose, really loose! So-much for my incompetent dealer having looked and not finding a problem. Tightened it up myself and working fine now. I wonder how much they investigated the other items or if they just hooked it to a computer, saw no error codes and signed the car back out.

 

[cupracooper]

Walk in... Slap dealer, walk out..
Walk in... Smile, walk out..
Walk in... Slap dealer, walk out..
Walk in and calmly say "doesn't happen all the time.. but its still bl**dy annoying isn't it!"

Now do you want to investigate my intermittent fault?


PS: I know this wasn't a productive reply, but I can relate to stealers not being able to find things, this is what I felt like doing.

 

[markirel]

Thanks that made me laugh.

Would certainly get their attention wouldn't it! Watch the papers for a Seat delear being attacked by a happy slapper.