Fuse box on top of battery - outrageous dealer price

[susanh02]

Hey, I'm new here and wanted to share my experience with my local "stealership." (Love that term!)

I took my 2000 New Beetle GLX to my local Boardwalk VW in Richardson because the cable running from the fuse box/block on top of the battery to the battery was horribly corroded at its connection to the battery. The stealership said they couldn't replace just that cable, they had to replace it and the fuse block, for a cost of $493 -- $300 for the part plus 2 hrs labor. I ended up letting them flush the brake system thinking that would get me off the hook for their $105 diagnostic charge, but they still tried to stick me with that. I sweetly asked why I should pay it when I told them what the problem was and that anybody could see it by lifting the little lid. After thinking hard about it, the service advisor waived the fee.

Today my wonderful hubby fixed the problem by purchasing a cable from Napa, attaching new connectors, and hooking it up to the fuse block thingy. Cost? $9.59 plus his time. Oh the satisfaction!

[Daisey]

Isn't it wonderful to get one over on some of the so called mechanic's

[Fowvay]

I had to replace that fuse block recently and can assure you that you can find it for around $85 from many online sites. Gotta love dealer mark up, eh?

[Deafhands]

I know exactly what you mean. I bought a 2003 Ikon second hand in January and took it to the dealership to have the once over and to also have a few things done. I needed the centre armrest tightened as it was really loose, the light cover under the sun visor repaced as it was missing, a door stopper replaced (missing also) and my lighting system checked as the Courtesy lights were not coming on and the petrol light indicator looked at as it never turns off and a new key as i only received one and have the habit of leaving them in the car (ooops). Now instead of attempting to fix the problems they merely looked at them said they were busted and needed replacing. The prices quoted including labour? Hold on to you seats everyone-
- Centre arm rest $945
- Plastic light cover $25
- Stopper $10
- petrol light $3000
-key replacement $2000 (said something was wrong under the dash and could not verify the car yadda yadda yadda
-Courtesy lights- $1000 ($500 PER DOOR!!!) Said it was faulty key barrels which needed replacing.

So far my funky father has fixed the arm rest cost - $0
The rest will be looked at when he has time.

Seriously it is ridiculous!!! I told them outright that I wont be paying that amount and to please print out a picture of the parts I needed- which they did. I then explained that I was Dutch and that the Bloody Germans owed me!!

[LadybugEwa]

I needed a clip the other day and went to the stealership.
The clip having been ordered, I decided to confirm that the timing belt I plan to buy online is made by the same company as the dealer one.
Sure enough, when he brought it out it was Contitech, like the online offering, and the box looked identical as well. I just nodded when he told me the price, but couldn't quite hide my smirk. He proceeded to explain that even though the two are made by the same company and come in identical boxes, theirs is the good one, and the other's probably made in China and a factory second, and will give my car swine flu
Since I was in a good mood, I managed not to laugh in his face.

[BlueMartian]

Wow...

I noticed that I had some corrosion around my cable and one of the fuses had melted the case little. Metro VW in Irving, TX quoted $200 for the parts/labor. I decided to do it myself and bought the whole assembly for $55 shipped off on ebay. It took all of about 15 minutes to clean up the terminal and install the new part. And as an extra bonus my P2181 (cooling performance) CEL seems to have gone away for now. The service guy said that the corrosion was most likely affecting the performance of my fans...guess he was right.

[Daisey]

I think this would be a GREAT thread....

"STEALERSHIP EXPERIENCES"

[kaiser]

you got hosed.

i'm a dealer and that fuse block is less than 100 bux.

[2004NBTURBOS]

So tell me Kaiser. How much is a resister for the blower motor, on a 2003 TurboS. Did not mean to hi-jack the thread but I want to know what to expect if I go to the stealership parts dept.

[kaiser]

pm sent to avoid the hijack.

[Beetlemania]

I've had to have my fuse box replaced 3 times and it's gone bad yet again. I filed a complaint with VWoA. We'll see if it goes anywhere.

[kenholio]

Mine caught on fire today, really
After the dealer had it for a month putting a new top end in her after I threw the belt and water pump.
Stealer said they will all do it at some point, said the cable to the alternator will not handle the amps and to replace it with a better grade of cable.
Told them they need to eat the cost since they had it all apart and their faulty assembly caused it. $529 to replace it.
Do not drive the car with the fuses blown, fans won't turn and the engine heats up fast, lucky I was by the stealership when it happened.
UGH
Amazing how busy the VW stealerships repair shop is, that you have to make a appointment

[JLasvegas]

Originally Posted by kenholio

Mine caught on fire today, really
After the dealer had it for a month putting a new top end in her after I threw the belt and water pump.
Stealer said they will all do it at some point, said the cable to the alternator will not handle the amps and to replace it with a better grade of cable.
Told them they need to eat the cost since they had it all apart and their faulty assembly caused it. $529 to replace it.
Do not drive the car with the fuses blown, fans won't turn and the engine heats up fast, lucky I was by the stealership when it happened.
UGH
Amazing how busy the VW stealerships repair shop is, that you have to make a appointment

Crap Kenny, you have had the worst luck bro. Hope things get better

[kenholio]

Originally Posted by JLasvegas

Crap Kenny, you have had the worst luck bro. Hope things get better

I will never buy another German car

[JLasvegas]

Originally Posted by kenholio

I will never buy another German car

the trick is to get the lower end of the spectrum and then fix it up, so when something goes wrong its cheaper to fix