dbmonkey Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 How difficult is it to change the panel that is behind the driver's side door - is it welded or just screwed on? :? style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> Had a major issue at the weekend while changing rear wheel - used standard lupo jack to lift up the loop, but it failed spectaculary as I had my back turned. The car fell and the jack dug into the panel. :x As the car is lowered also, had to get my mates to lift the car up as the trolley jack was too tall!! :cry: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossjohnc Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 :shock: bad luck mate!!Were you using the proper jacking point?? If so, I'd talk to VW about it!Trick with trolley jacks and lowered cars is to drive on to a couple of bits of wood first (tip used when installing essexloop's coilovers). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmonkey Posted June 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Yup, it was the proper jacking point. VW said that as the car is not under warranty, neither is the jack. The jack didn't slip, it just broke!!I managed to push out most of the dent from inside, but there are 2 really deep dents at the bottom of the panel where the threaded parts of the jack dug in. There's no way these can be removed, even by a pro. Any ideas? style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossjohnc Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Did you speak to a VW dealer or customer care?I think it's silly that they won't help you in this situation - looks like there was something fundamentaly wrong with the jack. You could try customer care on 01908 601 611 and see what they say...Otherwise it looks like a bodyshop job style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmonkey Posted June 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Cheers, I'll give it a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmonkey Posted June 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 My other choice though is to get the JE sideskirts that are quite tall at the back. They would be high enough to cover the dents. What's the general opinion on these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossjohnc Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 I'm guessing they look something like this?If so, then I recon they'd look good if you got the rest of the kit - might look a bit daft on their own.If you're going to go down that route, make sure you put rust inhibitor on the affected area, and make sure no bare metal is left exposed! (although I'm sure I don't need to tell you that). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmonkey Posted June 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Have done. I've got the JE front spoiler, so it should look ok. May be a daft question, but with sideskirts, does that make lifting the car even more difficult? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossjohnc Posted June 14, 2004 Report Share Posted June 14, 2004 Yes, you'll need a trolley jack - nothing else will do the job really.As mentioned before, you'll need to drive on to something to get the jack under the car!Pains of modding I'm afraid! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmonkey Posted June 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 Phoned Customer care who said take it to dealer.Dealer took a couple of pics and said they couldn't do anything as car was out of warranty (fair enough). Suggested that I give CC a call again. Was told that given the age of the car, VW could not help at all. The car is 5years and 2months old. VW will only give goodwill to cars less than 5 years. I asked what they would do if this happened 2 months earlier - "Chances are we would have helped!" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":evil:" border="0" alt="evil.gif" /> Bloody crap customer service - even the dealer was surprised. Moral of this story: Test your jack thoroughly on something other than your lupo first and NEVER ask VW for anything. They are SH*T! style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":evil:" border="0" alt="evil.gif" /> style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":evil:" border="0" alt="evil.gif" /> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdwindustries Posted June 29, 2004 Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 hmm bad luck - i doubt whether 2 months would have made a difference though....BUT if I understand correctly the jack supplied with the car failed using it in the proper designed manner? I dont have a jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossjohnc Posted June 29, 2004 Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 GTis don't have jacks - has to be a trolley jack really (cos of the sideskirts).@dbmonkey, that is really harsh - 2 months, and seems to be a serious original fault.Under the sale of goods act, you have up to *6* years, not 5 where the retailer (whoever sold the car in the first place) can be liable.Mention this and they may change their tune, but by the sound of it you'll be lucky to get them to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdwindustries Posted June 29, 2004 Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 lol @ john I know I have a gti!i was getting at this.... the point is VW (group) are possibly liable if it was the jack that was supplied with the car and it did not do as described i.e. support the car. Therefore you should be able to claim back via the small claims court.Not sure if your mods would affect the use of the jack though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gargoil Posted June 29, 2004 Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 Try writing to the various UK car magazines and each time also send VW head office a copy of the letter explaining to them what you are doing and why! My mate had tons of problems with his car and eventually got a result this way! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossjohnc Posted June 29, 2004 Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 Should try anything else possible before the small claims court! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdwindustries Posted June 29, 2004 Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 Although small claims court is very cheap and very easy to use... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossjohnc Posted June 29, 2004 Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 ...but you should give VW a chance to reconsider, tell them what you intend to do and on what basis, and they may reconsider anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmonkey Posted June 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 Apparantley there is a lot of difference in two months - The woman's words "VW has a policy that under no circumstances will VW offer any Goodwill for vehicle over 5 years old"Oh well. :cry: I take it the rear 1/4 panel needs to be cut out, not unbolted?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdwindustries Posted June 29, 2004 Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 agree with john they may well help if they knew your course of actionhmmm 5 years seems an odd number to pick but then this is different to goodwill - this is a fault of the jack that was supplied, it should not break after 5 years so it must be a manufacture fault (if it was used correctly), so they should be very willing to helpwatchdog! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbmonkey Posted June 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 @bossjohnc - where did you get the info on the Sale of Goods act?I need some evidence for my argument for when I call VW up tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bossjohnc Posted June 29, 2004 Report Share Posted June 29, 2004 Here's a nice DTI Fact Sheet for ya.If you can put it to them that the jack was obviously faulty when sold to you, then that would be your best course.Either way, I'd say if it came to a small claims court you'd have a good case for a new jack and a repaired car on VW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.