2009 VW Fox.

I’ve taken my car to the garage a couple times now and had no success in figuring out the problem. A few months ago my car started to drive differently, it was shuddering and felt like it had lost its power but there was no engine light and the mechanic told me there was nothing wrong. More recently the engine light comes on every now and then and the car still feels weak to the point where I’m nervous to drive it. Yesterday I took it to a mechanic (engine light was on as I drove there), they ran diagnostics and told me there was nothing wrong and to come back when the engine light shows. The light seems to come on and off completely randomly, but the car feels so weak I don’t even like driving for 5 minutes in it but I keep being told nothing is wrong.

Any ideas on what this could mean? Or any tips on making the engine light show so i can take it to the mechanic again?

  • Ok_Copy5987@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    Customers are too quick to complain and call mechanics scammers. I would assume this is the issue you’re having. They are not completely sure what the problem is and don’t want to deal with a complaint if they are wrong. Vw of that era love killing coil packs. Personally If you were my customer I would go down the route of inspecting spark plugs and possibly replacing coil packs. But a diagnostic should be carried out first. If the eml light is appearing the code should be getting saved so unless they are just cleaning the code and sending you on your way. I suggest taking it to a reputable VW specialist not a backstreet garage. If the specialist says it’s fine I would trust them more than others. Wouldn’t even trust main dealer personally

    • jazpunksux@alien.topBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      I don’t see where they called the mechanic a scammer. But this mechanic is obviously unwilling or unable to diagnose the problem. As you pointed out there will be a code whether the engine light is on or not, so the fact that he said there’s no problem is ridiculous. I agree that a different mechanic who either specializes in these cars or in diagnostics is what OP needs

      • frankiertoe@alien.topOPBEnglish
        1·
        10 months ago

        That makes sense to me, I don’t understand how the code can just not be there. I’ll look at finding a diagnostic specialist if it’s not too expensive but I’m not sure that’s a common thing (in the UK). Thanks

    • frankiertoe@alien.topOPBEnglish
      1·
      10 months ago

      Thank you. I’m not sure if I can afford taking it to a specialist as a student but I could try taking it elsewhere again? I also thought it could be a spark plug issue but both mechanics I’ve taken it to haven’t even mentioned that- I’m not sure how hard it is to just take a look?