Wheel centre cap corrosion - covered on warranty?

[wintercooled]

I'm sure I've read a few members saying that they've had corroded centre caps replaced on warranty but my VW dealer say that they're not and want to charge me 32 quid for 4 new ones. Any advice?

[wigit]

Try another dealer as plenty of members have had them replaced under warranty, if they do it properly it's a wheel off job to replace

[a4gee]

They should but depends what they look like? Can you put up a pic?
They may think it down to the sort of wheel cleaner your using.

[RW1]

There's a slight bit of judgement in it for them whether they can claim back under warranty ........

Wheel Cap Corrosion.JPG

As wigit says, go to another sensible dealer.

Had this for years gone by when this type of cap design came out in the 1990's. As a4gee indicates, its down to what you use to clean the wheels. Wheel cleaner agents are to be avoided. They use corrosive methods which seep into the cap emblem and damage them. Also avoid using jet washers at garages/superstores as that sort of cleaning is corrosive by nature of the way the shampoo works, not to be used on the wheels area.

I use DoDo Sour Power and elbow grease around the wheels with a good coat of Collinite 476s every 3 to 4 months. Have found Iron-X is OK more recently for the dissolving of brake filings. But agents like Wonder Wheels does attack the cap VW silver. Caps still perfect at the 3rd birthday.

C.

[Chungster]

Had all four of mine replaced at last service - done under warranty no probs!

[Starshaped]

The white worm corrosion is very common and definatly covered under the 3 year warranty,mine is 2 years old and has it but im leaving them until next year before i get them replaced.

[Deagol]

Mine have been replaced twice now under warranty and I will be checking the car shortly before the end of the third year

When the second set started to go, I wrote to VW Customer Services to "alert them to the issue". I also referred to our Touran, Beetle and previous Golf and Polo all having the same gripe. One phone call from VWCS only wanted to make sure my Roc was now sorted and they didn't really care about the others. I pointed out that I was a fussy B and that I would be checking again.

My dealer, Helston Garages, has been good as gold about my "claim" - they also suggested I contact VWCS to hammer home the problem. They removed the wheels to fit the replacement items and, first time around, passed me the damaged caps which I still have.

I don't use much in the way of wheel cleaner products - the car usually gets a shampoo and rinse only. Occasional Autoglym wheel cleaner but I try and avoid the plastic bits.

My advice / request to all members affected by this is to:
a) Press home the warrantly claim at dealer level. If there is any resistance, state that a lot of other dealers nationally DO deal with the replacement as a warranty issue;
b) Mention the membership of this and any other forums;
c) Write to VWCS to complain and to ask for a written response stating what they intend to do about the quality issue during manufacture.

D

[wintercooled]

Thanks for all the advice. My dealer - VW Newport - are pretty useless all round actually so will try another dealer.

[wigit]

my dealer just did mine while i waited as they are normally a stock item

[scirocco1974]

you can get them off e bay for about ten quid i am on my third set seem to only last about twelve months

[Starshaped]

If they are £10 for a set they arent genuine, not that the genuine ones last much longer though.

[scirocco1974]

they are genuine got the vw part number on them

[a4gee]

Remember that the dealer will be credited back by Vw if its under warranty. If not the dealer won't do anything unless its a good will gesture and deal pays.
Mine was replaced as dealer said that its a known issue.
Wonder if the dealer in this case went over a budget or something?
Or just plain rubbish?

[Gilez]

I had 2 of mine replaced. One of the others i had to buy as it went missing off my car and the other wasnt showing any signs of "whiteworm" as I understand it it known.