Electrical Gremlins Strike Again! HELP!!

[locosol96]

OK, here's the problem: Last week, the wife says the AC doesn't work in her car (99 GLS 2.0). Turns out, the whole blower is dead. Fan doesn't blow cold, warm or hot anything. Took it to my mechanic. He replaced it and everything seemed fine. The day I picked it up, now the parking brake warning light is on and stays on, the outside temp display is dead (clock works), and the cooling fans by the radiator do not shut off. They keep running until they kill the battery. My mechanic is at a loss. He's a very good mechanic and is very honest, so I know he's not trying to pull one. Anyone have ANY ideas?

[sb_beetle]

Originally Posted by locosol96

OK, here's the problem: Last week, the wife says the AC doesn't work in her car (99 GLS 2.0). Turns out, the whole blower is dead. Fan doesn't blow cold, warm or hot anything. Took it to my mechanic. He replaced it and everything seemed fine. The day I picked it up, now the parking brake warning light is on and stays on, the outside temp display is dead (clock works), and the cooling fans by the radiator do not shut off. They keep running until they kill the battery. My mechanic is at a loss. He's a very good mechanic and is very honest, so I know he's not trying to pull one. Anyone have ANY ideas?

Do you have access to a Vag-Com scan tool? Good you have a trustworthy mechanic! You might try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes to see if it will reset things. Kind of sounds like something was shorted, or continues to be shorted.

[locosol96]

Since I don't know what the tool is, I'm going to have to say I don't have one. But, my mechanic got the problem with the battery dying fixed. However, the parking brake light and the outside temp is another story....

[sb_beetle]

Are you having any difficulty engaging your transmission? There is a known brake switch recall.

[locosol96]

Originally Posted by sb_beetle

Are you having any difficulty engaging your transmission? There is a known brake switch recall.

Don't know. Will ask the wife. It's her car. It just be time to get rid of it. It's 8 years old and has 120,000 miles.

[locosol96]

Yes! She is. She called me on her way home tonight and said, "By the way...." She's having major problems getting the car out of park into drive. You think this could be related?

[sb_beetle]

Originally Posted by locosol96

Yes! She is. She called me on her way home tonight and said, "By the way...." She's having major problems getting the car out of park into drive. You think this could be related?

It's the brake switch which is a recall item. Have her take it to the dealer.

[Lnzbug]

Don't get rid of it yet,it's still got some miles left. I have 170k on my 01

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

This is one major reason why other than myself, I never let anyone except a VW dealership technician under the hood of my car, avenue mechanics rarely posses the necessary overall experience and/or tools to be working on these cars.

[locosol96]

Well, I took it to the "Stealership" over the weekend. Told them about the brake light being on. They said it needed the recall done. They replaced the brake light switch. So, I go to jump in the car, and the brake light is still on! I go back inside to ask about it (since it was the entire reason why I brought it in), and the Service advisor says, "Oh, well if it's still on, then that could be your ABS system, or a problem with your brakes. You'd have to bring it back and leave it with us for a day". At least my "avenue mechanic" has a dedication to customer service since his name is on the building. I don't get treated like this when I visit his shop, and this is the first time he has ever encountered a problem he's unable to fix....

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

I don't know what your level of automotive knowledge is but I don't experience the dealership run-around that you noted, regardless of the vehicle brand, probably because I choose dealership locations that don't pull that crap, more importantly, my level of automotive knowledge and experience causes them to shy away from trying such nonsense, even if they wanted to.

My comment was a general one, my comment is based on many years of automotive experience on both sides, also, you might want to revisit eactly what it is I said, >>"avenue mechanics rarely possess the necessary overall experience and/or tools to be working on these cars".<<

Note the word "rarely", this means that there are a small percentage of exceptions, maybe, your mechanic is one of those exceptions.

In actuality, dealerships have a lot more to lose as a result of poor customer service than the aftermarket repair shop down the street, I know, I've worked at both.

If you handle it correctly, most dealerships will bend to your will, providing your requests are reasonable and/or justified, bad customer reports cost them dearly and they don't want that.

[locosol96]

I'd have to agree with you for the most part. I've owned lots of cars, and I'd say that 80% of the dealers were pretty good. Unfortunately, the last 2 VW's (wife's current Beetle and an '01 Jetta 1.8T) and last 2 Volvos I owned left a very bitter taste in my mouth when it comes to taking them to the dealership. I had a very satisfactory experience with my last Honda and with my Acura. Same with my wife's previous car, a Toyota. Not trying to lump all dealerships together, I just have yet to find an honest one when it comes to my VW's!

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

Many dealerships (VW included) are only as honest as you make them be, the journeyman factory/dealer or master technicians are normally very good, it's usually the service manager and/or service writers that you have to get a handle on.

Whenever I find it necessary to take a car to the dealer, I make very clear to them who is in charge and it ain't them, I also request a particular tech. to work on the vehicle.

I have had cars and motorcycles of different brands and I have had no trouble with any of the related dealerships when it came time to have them do any work, I let them know from the get-go that I am in charge and after that, they don't test me.

You have to get these guys to respect you from the start, once you have that, they won't be too eager to try any funny stuff and if they do, you can‘t let them get away with it, as visibly modified as my car is they don't hassle me about it, they just do what they're suppose to do.