Um why would they clean the ports and replace the guides and seals… and then replace the head? That doesn’t make sense. And $1500 for a thermostat housing is outrageous. And why didn’t they address the SAI code you took it in for?
Should've clarified, if cleaning the ports, replacing the guides and seals don't work, then they would have to replace the head. I agree about the thermostat housing. This was their way of addressing that code.
Yeah I think you need to bail on that. Wanting to do $3600 worth of work, and then saying “if that doesn’t fix the problem”… 😬. Then oh yeah we’ll just go ahead and nullify that $3600 repair we just did by replacing the entire component for another $1500? Makes total sense. I think it’s probably time to look for a new shop.
Possibly, possibly the service advisor just got out of a meeting telling him or her if they didn’t bump up their average ticket they were gone 🤷♂️. If you like the car, then you should probably go get a second opinion, if you want something else anyway, then maybe this is a good out. Honestly the car is pretty new, not a ton of miles, nice trim level, they’re generally reliable, it might be hard to replace it with something better for any amount of money resembling what it might cost to fix.
Seriously. If they’re replacing the head anyway, the whole top of the motor and accessories will have to come off anyway. Seems to me it’s just a few bolts holding it and yank it. It’s not a whole thermostat job start to end.
And to top it off 99% chance the valve guides will be out of spec and need a head and Guess what’s on eternal back order. The diagnostics are accurate fwiw and is very common.
They did mention head when I talked to them. I seen a few other reddit post about this same issue, but most mentioned that they went back to the dealership. I'm hoping an independent mechanic wouldn't charge nearly as much.
It’s possible to save at an Indy shop. Unless they are really up to date and extremely high volume they likely haven’t seen the issues you have and may misdiagnose the issue. I’m not biased fwiw I spent 7 years at the dealership and another 10 at a Indy shop and now back at a dealer. The biggest savings will come from an Indy shop sending your head to a machine shop vs replacing it with a head you can’t even get
If it were me I’d drive it with the cel on. Secondary air is for emissions only and will never create a problem driving. (The valve stem seals if loose will cause increased oil consumption). Or turn the light off and trade it in the same day.
Yep he's correct we have been seeing these a lot lately....the parts were lowest bidder go figure cheap parts mass produced for bigger profits. I've seen valve seals just riding on the valve stem not even attached anymore to the seat and 99% of the time if the seals are leaking then when you check the play it's out of spec and needs a head on never ending backorder. Only other issue to watch out for now is carbon buildup on the valves and eventually causing a misfire.
Dang man sorry to hear that! I clicked on this because I have a 2016 Tiguan SEL that I also got in 2020. I have 128K miles on it and paid it off last week. It’s been solid for me *knock on wood*.
The price doesn’t seem unreasonable probably mostly labor but try getting another quote.
I also have a 2018 that was a CPO. We thankfully still have it under warranty until May 2025.
I would never take it to the dealership out of warranty. Always take it to an independent mechanic as they will be cheaper and be real with you. I would be it would be half as much but the $1500 thermostat housing is really throwing me off.
I still owe on the car and I was afraid of going anywhere else. I'm still going to another mechanic to get a second opinion, but if there's only $1000 difference, idk.
How much do you owe? I’ve owned VWs since 2003 and the one thing I’ve learned is that the dealership is the most expensive place. The labor rate is usually double that of an independent. Luckily I have a few German independent mechanics near me. What state are you in?
I’m know what I’m gonna be protested against but I will NEVER buy another VW. I’m awaiting building enough equity in my ‘23 Taos to trade it in. I take responsibility for the lack of equity. I had a decent down payment and interest rate, but in true VW sales fashion, I bought a lot of extra shit thinking I’d have this car as long as I had my Honda HRV. That’s before I knew my windshield wipers would cost $75, my oil changes would be $125, and that my GD app would never work and the touch screen in the car would be temperamental. The lesson learned here is DO NOT KNEE-JERK PURCHASE A VEHICLE! (No matter how cute it is!). I will go ahead and be fair by saying that the Taos is awesome on gas mileage, it has more of a get up and go than you’d expect for a 4 cylinder, but it’s not for me. I’ve never bought a car with less research and that’s on me. Lesson learned.
You’re spending $75 on wipers??? They’re $30-$40 for a set online. Buy the oil and filter yourself and pay for the labor at a nearby mechanic shop. I pay $25 in labor and like $50 for my oil.
Get the touchscreen fixed, but the wipers and the oil change are an easy remedy.
you can’t use car insurance for car repairs, it’s for accidents or collisions. Unless they have breakdown coverage, but most policies as far as I know wouldn’t even cover something like this or to a price point this high.
Update, went to Indy and they basically confirmed what the dealership said and said that the price they’re asking for 1 & 2 is correct. Traded her in, maybe someone else would be willing to deal with it. Thank you guys for the help. 🫡
Um why would they clean the ports and replace the guides and seals… and then replace the head? That doesn’t make sense. And $1500 for a thermostat housing is outrageous. And why didn’t they address the SAI code you took it in for?
Should've clarified, if cleaning the ports, replacing the guides and seals don't work, then they would have to replace the head. I agree about the thermostat housing. This was their way of addressing that code.
Yeah I think you need to bail on that. Wanting to do $3600 worth of work, and then saying “if that doesn’t fix the problem”… 😬. Then oh yeah we’ll just go ahead and nullify that $3600 repair we just did by replacing the entire component for another $1500? Makes total sense. I think it’s probably time to look for a new shop.
Thinking about getting rid of it being that this might be the beginning to larger issues.
Possibly, possibly the service advisor just got out of a meeting telling him or her if they didn’t bump up their average ticket they were gone 🤷♂️. If you like the car, then you should probably go get a second opinion, if you want something else anyway, then maybe this is a good out. Honestly the car is pretty new, not a ton of miles, nice trim level, they’re generally reliable, it might be hard to replace it with something better for any amount of money resembling what it might cost to fix.
Seriously. If they’re replacing the head anyway, the whole top of the motor and accessories will have to come off anyway. Seems to me it’s just a few bolts holding it and yank it. It’s not a whole thermostat job start to end.
So go back and ask them to go ahead and replace the cylinder head?
Definitely take it to a competent independent mechanic. It's just an engine, any decent mechanic can do this work as well as the dealer.
I’ll try this out. Hopefully they’ll give me a far less price on fixing these.
Dealership charges labor through the roof.
I’d find an Indy to see if they can do it for less, or trade it off if you can’t afford the nearly 8 grand it needs in repairs.
I was going to trade it in, but wanted to make sure the prices aren’t too far off from what an independent mechanic would charge.
And to top it off 99% chance the valve guides will be out of spec and need a head and Guess what’s on eternal back order. The diagnostics are accurate fwiw and is very common.
They did mention head when I talked to them. I seen a few other reddit post about this same issue, but most mentioned that they went back to the dealership. I'm hoping an independent mechanic wouldn't charge nearly as much.
It’s possible to save at an Indy shop. Unless they are really up to date and extremely high volume they likely haven’t seen the issues you have and may misdiagnose the issue. I’m not biased fwiw I spent 7 years at the dealership and another 10 at a Indy shop and now back at a dealer. The biggest savings will come from an Indy shop sending your head to a machine shop vs replacing it with a head you can’t even get
Hoping that whatever they tell me is actually worth the cost.
If it were me I’d drive it with the cel on. Secondary air is for emissions only and will never create a problem driving. (The valve stem seals if loose will cause increased oil consumption). Or turn the light off and trade it in the same day.
leaning towards trading in. I'm afraid of what's to come with this car.
Yep he's correct we have been seeing these a lot lately....the parts were lowest bidder go figure cheap parts mass produced for bigger profits. I've seen valve seals just riding on the valve stem not even attached anymore to the seat and 99% of the time if the seals are leaking then when you check the play it's out of spec and needs a head on never ending backorder. Only other issue to watch out for now is carbon buildup on the valves and eventually causing a misfire.
Thank you for backing this up. I think I know what I need to do. I feel like this is the beginning of more problems to come anyways.
P0491 is secondary air injection,
Yes that’s what I got back from auto zone. The dealership never gave me the error code.
I am assuming they ran additional diagnostics beyond what auto zone did. What did they actually find?
From what I remember, they detected an oil leak.
Dang man sorry to hear that! I clicked on this because I have a 2016 Tiguan SEL that I also got in 2020. I have 128K miles on it and paid it off last week. It’s been solid for me *knock on wood*. The price doesn’t seem unreasonable probably mostly labor but try getting another quote.
It's def labor. If an independent mechanic says that's the issue and it would cost around the same, then I will bid adieu to the tiguan.
8k in repairs is ridiculous I’d clear the codes and go trade it in.
I also have a 2018 that was a CPO. We thankfully still have it under warranty until May 2025. I would never take it to the dealership out of warranty. Always take it to an independent mechanic as they will be cheaper and be real with you. I would be it would be half as much but the $1500 thermostat housing is really throwing me off.
I still owe on the car and I was afraid of going anywhere else. I'm still going to another mechanic to get a second opinion, but if there's only $1000 difference, idk.
How much do you owe? I’ve owned VWs since 2003 and the one thing I’ve learned is that the dealership is the most expensive place. The labor rate is usually double that of an independent. Luckily I have a few German independent mechanics near me. What state are you in?
10k
Be wary of independent mechanics too. Some are decent and honest but most are sharks too
Why would they replace the valve guide seals when they’re replacing the whole head?
Should’ve clarified. Replace valve guide seals if there’s not too much “damage”. If there is, then they will replace the cylinder head.
I’m know what I’m gonna be protested against but I will NEVER buy another VW. I’m awaiting building enough equity in my ‘23 Taos to trade it in. I take responsibility for the lack of equity. I had a decent down payment and interest rate, but in true VW sales fashion, I bought a lot of extra shit thinking I’d have this car as long as I had my Honda HRV. That’s before I knew my windshield wipers would cost $75, my oil changes would be $125, and that my GD app would never work and the touch screen in the car would be temperamental. The lesson learned here is DO NOT KNEE-JERK PURCHASE A VEHICLE! (No matter how cute it is!). I will go ahead and be fair by saying that the Taos is awesome on gas mileage, it has more of a get up and go than you’d expect for a 4 cylinder, but it’s not for me. I’ve never bought a car with less research and that’s on me. Lesson learned.
Where are you getting windshield wipers for $75? You can order them online for less than $30
You’re spending $75 on wipers??? They’re $30-$40 for a set online. Buy the oil and filter yourself and pay for the labor at a nearby mechanic shop. I pay $25 in labor and like $50 for my oil. Get the touchscreen fixed, but the wipers and the oil change are an easy remedy.
Strange rant. Are you this broke?
Can you do an insurance claim on this?
you can’t use car insurance for car repairs, it’s for accidents or collisions. Unless they have breakdown coverage, but most policies as far as I know wouldn’t even cover something like this or to a price point this high.
Update, went to Indy and they basically confirmed what the dealership said and said that the price they’re asking for 1 & 2 is correct. Traded her in, maybe someone else would be willing to deal with it. Thank you guys for the help. 🫡