Parts / engine shortages for Dieselgate repairs

[casioqv]

My '09 Touareg V6 TDI has now been sitting at the dealer for nearly 3 months waiting on a replacement CATA engine block under the dieselgate warranty. I've talked to a couple other people with Touaregs also sitting at dealerships waiting for new engines for close to a year now, so I'm not optimistic about getting one soon.

Does anyone here have any insight on this process? I can't make sense of VW sitting on supplying an engine this long, since they either have one or they don't, right? They gave me a brand new Atlas loaner for free, which I am putting a lot of mileage and wear on, so this whole process is costing VW a lot.

I noticed when you order a crate engine from the VW parts catalog online they charge a core charge, so I perhaps they have a shop in Germany somewhere that rebuilds used engines, and have a long backlog, but eventually can supply one? Does anyone think I might get more info if I escalate w/ VW customer care directly?

 

[turbobrick240]

I have no insight on why it's taking so long, but as long as you have a nice, new loaner, I wouldn't be hounding the dealership to get the vehicle fixed.

 

[casioqv]

I agree kinda, but the Atlas is pretty useless to me. My Touareg is a modified overlanding vehicle, and the Atlas is useless offroad.

 

[gearheadgrrrl]

Have to admit it, I'd probably enjoy beating an Atlas off-road!

 

[oilhammer]

I cannot say on the CATA specifically, but most VAG engines that carry a "reman" part number (an 'X' suffix, that gets a core returned) are not actually rebuilt at all, but are new. A lot of parts are like that, actually.

But that is neither here nor there, because that doesn't really address any parts availability or not, however that engine is long since out of production, so there is a chance that they only had whatever was in the warehouses globally and they've probably used them all up. Which might mean they are waiting to retool to build a few again, or something else. I'm not really sure.

I can tell you that this whole Dieselgate fiasco has really put VoA and VAG in a predicament. They clearly underestimated the ****storm of Fail this has brought on their warranty and just how much this stuff breaks.

Plenty of used CATAs on eBay, though.... that would require you become your own warranty of course, but at least you could drive your rig again.

The Atlas is pretty gross, isn't it? Reminds me of a Pilot or worse, a Traverse or something that clearly 'looks' like an SUV, but isn't really an SUV. More like a bloated Jetta with a severe obesity problem... and now they've ditched the VR6, so they're all gonna be the Fail-o-matic EA888 turds. At least I'll stay busy with those for the next decade.

 

[MrCypherr]

Last I heard, the CATA engine wont come as a long block but as a bottom end and both heads separate. And in 2022, There were only maybe 1 long block and 2 heads each available. So my guess is that its back ordered coming from Germany at this point because I dont see them having more stock just cause.

 

[oilhammer]

CATA engine ( 059-100-099-B) comes complete with:

crankcase, crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, oil pan, oil pump, cylinder heads, cylinder head gaskets, timing chains, oil filter housing, oil cooler, injectors, fuel pump, intake manifold, glow plugs, valve covers, water pump....

Sounds pretty darn complete... it is currently about $17k.... none in the country, not discontinued, red order by VIN only.

I just checked, but would have to escalate higher to see what Europe has in stock, and that is often not accurate anyway.

 

[MrCypherr]

Well thats BS lol, what the hell, I ordered an engine and they said it supersedes to just the bottom end and the heads separate. That was back in 2022.

 

[oilhammer]

They change things... I never really know how complete the next EA888 turd I order will be. Some have come just the long block, with timing covers and nothing else, some come with everything from the oil filter housing and cooler and water pump and HPFP housing and CMP/CKP sensors, knock sensor(s), cam phaser(s), spark plugs, last one came with a new water pump but no knock sensor that screws in the block BEHIND the water pump so I had to R&R the new pump and belt, and then it had a faulty piston oil cooling solenoid that was already on it!

 

[MrCypherr]

LOL, that is one of the dumbest things I've seen. They put the thermostat housing but yet dont put the sensor that is BEHIND it. So you gotta take it out for basically nothing. I understand its easy but still. Super annoying.

 

[casioqv]

The Atlas is pretty gross, isn't it?

The Atlas is absolute garbage. I don't think I have any interest in owning a newer VW after driving it. Here is an in depth review/complaint of the loaner Atlas(es) I've had: Offroad review of the VW Atlas (vs Touareg)

I've taken the 4Motion Atlas on a week long offroad trip in place of the Touareg. Overall, the vehicle is pretty terrible, but the 4motion system and hill descent control are better than I expected, although still not anywhere near the 4XMotion system on my T2 Touareg.

I can tell you that this whole Dieselgate fiasco has really put VoA and VAG in a predicament. They clearly underestimated the ****storm of Fail this has brought on their warranty and just how much this stuff breaks.

Yeah... I estimate when everything is said and done they will have spent well over $100k on my old Touareg in support of the warranty.

 

[casioqv]

CATA engine ( 059-100-099-B) comes complete with:

crankcase, crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, oil pan, oil pump, cylinder heads, cylinder head gaskets, timing chains, oil filter housing, oil cooler, injectors, fuel pump, intake manifold, glow plugs, valve covers, water pump....

Sounds pretty darn complete...

The dealer said they are waiting on just the short block for my new engine, so it seems they did order the heads separately and were able to get them quickly.

 

[MrCypherr]

The Atlas is junk compared to the Treg. The treg is like a tank and way better built/designed. Brand new engine for your 09 seems like a great deal though. Basically going to be brand new once its done and unless the body rotts out, youll have that for a long time.

 

[oilhammer]

Yeah, that's frightening.... lots of stuff to assemble if they are just doing a short block + heads...

 

[MrCypherr]

Especially if for some reason they took it apart before hand for warranty purposes and its been sitting for awhile. People tend to forget where things go which makes it even worse.

 

[casioqv]

This is what the dealer tells me they ordered: short block, both cylinder heads with all gaskets , bolts, nuts, washers, injection pump, turbo-charger , oil lines , thermostat, water pump , timing chain, all tensioners

I cannot figure out the logic of this set of parts, and they are very reluctant to communicate. The turbo is basically new, something they installed new in the last year, and there are no apparent problems with the injector pump. Based on feedback on here and on TDIClub, most people suggested the issue with my engine is just a plastic timing chain guide.

They have not taken anything apart at all. They seem not interested in diagnosing the existing engine, and just want to essentially replace everything in the engine bay with new, rather than diagnose.

 

[casioqv]

Basically going to be brand new once its done and unless the body rotts out, youll have that for a long time.

Bodies don't 'rot out' here in Northern California... I would like to keep this vehicle for a long time if I can!

 

[MrCypherr]

Sometimes they just order things to have on hand incase something goes wrong. Now it seems odd that they didnt take anything apart or diag anything and somehow got it covered under warranty. Wonder what they said. I think the additional parts are just things they might want to replace due to age of the engine or whatnot unless otherwise instructed. I guess if they are replacing all of that, I would be happy regardless. Less things to worry about in the long run.

And lucky. I wish I didnt have to worry about that issue up in Canada lol.

 

[casioqv]

They send a video to VW corporate of the engine making a loud ticking sound at idle, and VW responded with buyback offer of $6k, which I refused. This is a built overlanding vehicle in very good shape, that I've put a lot of expensive components onto.

 

[turbobrick240]

You could always pick up something like an older 4runner for adventuring, and sell it when they finally fix your Treg. I had several 4wd Toyota pickups that would go anywhere I asked them to. Often loaded down with a bed full of hardwood.

 

[casioqv]

You could always pick up something like an older 4runner for adventuring, and sell it when they finally fix your Treg. I had several 4wd Toyota pickups that would go anywhere I asked them to. Often loaded down with a bed full of hardwood.

Not a terrible idea, but I simply don't have time to get a used vehicle in the shape I'd want for solo desert traveling- need to move the roof tent over, change all fluids, probably buy new tires, etc. Luckily my GFs parents have an F150 overlander with a pop-top bed camper they are going to loan us for an upcoming trip.