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Post edited 07/29/05 1:38 PM by paultakeda

Got this in the email, leaving it here for folks to see and advise:

Had mucho electrical problems in the beginning. Now, both my headlamps
are totally opaque and look like crap. Went to dealer, they said
nothing could be done. How difficult is it to replace these headlamps???? I
found a place on the internet that sells them, and want to have hubby
install. He is not a patient man, and is prone to flipping out when
things don’t work correctly.

Any suggestions?

Hello

I have a VW Golf GT TDI (115 bhp)which is chipped by www.superchips.co.uk and the other day i pulled off my drive and a STOP sign appeared and it said check coolant. Sure enough the coolant had nearly all gone. So i went to VW and got some more of the pink stuff and put it in with some water. The questions i have are:
1: Why would the coolant go?
2: Is this a sign of a head gasket failure?
3. if so what other things should i be looking for to be sure it is that?

Also the temperature gauge fluctuates between 70 and 90 degrees. It never used to do this. Im really worried as i keep thinking that my car is going to come to a halt.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what might be happening to my car?

Thanks, nicola

AND I QUOTE “THE JIG IS UP, I’M A NO BULLSHIT GUY. AND I’M TIRED OF THE BULLSHIT. FROM THIS POINT ALL VW EXECUTIVES, INCLUDING MYSLEF WILL NO LONGER BE BASED ON SENIORITY OR SALES, BUT SOLEY ON QUALITY CONTROL AND THE OVERALL IMPROVEMENT THEREOF.”

Monday my remote key stopped working. I suppose the battery could be dead, but I was surfing with my keys in my pocket this weekend(attached to the internal keyring) so I’m guessing I fried something in the inside. I’m a little suprised it happened now, I’ve surfed with them in my pocket/wetsuit for the past year with no problems.

Q1. Can I open the set and try to replace the battery?

Q2. I’ve seen people selling the remote key on Ebay, is it difficult to buy the key on ebay and have it programmed to open my car? I’ve heard dealers charge in the ballpark of $170 or so for a new key…ouch.

Reuters news article

Select quotes:
Forging ahead amid a damaging bribery scandal, Volkswagen laid out on Wednesday details of its plan to boost net profit by 4 billion euros ($4.9 billion) by 2008 while improving quality at its core VW brand.

As part of a quality drive, Bernhard plans to halve warranty claims for VW brand cars that are up to 12 months old.

This essentially states that VW acknowledges the scandal, automobile quality issues and a need to boost net profit (remember, sales may be down four years, but VW has never been in the red).

The news article basically has VW admitting that it has had problems with personnel, quality, and sales; basically, VW sucks. Efforts to remedy the situation are then detailed.

However, it does leave one question North Americans primarily have: what about the dealership customer service? VW did meet with dealers recently to discuss the sales slump (dealerships want more low-end models, not the fancy packages currently sent to launch the MkV campaign), but did VW discuss with them the increasing consumer dissatisfaction?

I wonder if any plans will be made by VAG Germany to address a fairly significant issue for VWoA… this is the other half of the equation towards recovering VW’s image as a people’s car.

2005 Engine of the Year.

VW has always been a pioneer at engineering technology, reliability and quality concerns notwithstanding.

Saw this on Yahoo News AP.

How can you explain shoddy parts?

BERLIN - Volkswagen AG’s personnel chief has submitted his resignation, the company said Friday a move that comes amid an investigation of bribery and kickback allegations at Europe’s biggest automaker.

“”…But he has come under pressure since news broke that German prosecutors are looking into bribery allegations against two personnel executives at the company’s Skoda subsidiary, amid reports that one of them took money from Volkswagen suppliers.”"

The company filed criminal complaints last week against Klaus Schuster, a former board member of its Skoda unit who resigned June 15, and Klaus-Joachim Gebauer, who was fired from VW’s personnel department.

Prosecutors have confirmed that they are conducting an investigation into suspicions of bribery. Gebauer’s attorney has said he was acting at Hartz’s behest.

Post edited 07/08/05 11:44 AM by V-dubber

Post edited 07/08/05 11:45 AM by V-dubber

Post edited 07/08/05 11:46 AM by V-dubber

Post edited 07/08/05 11:47 AM by V-dubber

See, VW Does Suck….

VW Scandal to ‘Sweeten’ Works Union Leaders
Evening Standard - London - July 7, 2005

Motor Trend

THE growing Volkswagen bribery scandal took a fresh twist today with allegations that the company had facilitated luxury travel and the use of prostitutes by some leaders of its unionised workforce.

The authoritative Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper said work council members had been invited on trips to Brazil and other countries in the company jet.

It claimed highclass hookers were often aboard and their clients given “”vouchers”" from VW of up to e30,000 (Pounds 20,000) each to pay for them.

It alleged VW wanted to sweeten the unnamed union leaders to ensure they agreed to changes to working practices, including moreflexible working hours and possible migration of manufacturing jobs to lower-cost centres such as China.

VW personnel chief Peter Hartz denied claims that management had sought to bribe the works council, describing them as “”absurd”".

Works council factory chief Bernd Osterloh also denied the council was “”bought out”". Former council boss Klaus Volkert, who stood down last week - nine months earlier than expected - said: “”I received no financial advantages nor wanted to allow other people to to do so to the detriment of VW.”"

The latest twist in the saga comes as the authorities begin an investigation into original allegations sparked by the shock resignation last month of Helmuth Schuster, personnel chief at VW’s Czech arm, Skoda.

He left the company amid allegations that he took bribes from potential suppliers and claims in magazine reports that he used front companies to secure lucrative VW contracts abroad.

VW last week called in auditor KPMG to review the matter, but has declined to make a statement on “”internal matters”".

Since Schuster’s departure, VW has been rocked by a series of further allegations, which appear to have caused chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder to postpone a decision on construction of a new factory in India and an assembly plant in Angola.

Volkswagens, Fords, Toyotoa Recalled.

Volkswagen AG is recalling nearly 40,000 Jetta sedans in the United States because fuel could leak and start a fire, federal safety regulators said Thursday.

Jettas from the 2005 model year are involved in the recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said a fuel supply line clamp may not be properly positioned, which could lead to a leak.