8.5R Gremlins

[mahalo]

It is not clear from MrBlobby's post whether he is still awaiting return of the car or if he has it back as he  says that the gearbox is getting more and more sluggish which implies he has it back.

In terms of rejection then if the car has a significant fault from new and you reject it in the first 30 days then you do not have to give the manufacturer/dealer the chance to fix it. You should get full refund. The issue here is what is defined as a significant fault. 

After the first 30 days have passed then you can still reject the car within the first 6 months for a significant fault but you must give the manufacturer/dealer one attempt to fix the fault. If they cannot then you can reject the car. In this case you would not get a full refund but one based on time and mileage. There are no fixed guidelines so if you cannot agree it would be up to a judge to decide. 

After six months then in theory you do not have a right to reject, however I rejected a car after six months and many issues with the car which the manufacturer could not fix.  In this case, the dealer was very much on my side and in the end the manufacturer supplied a brand new car which I was happy with . I guess the point here is to try to keep the discussion non confrontational and conciliatory rather than going all guns blazing.

[Booth11]

48 minutes ago, MrBlobby said:

I sent them the rejection notice within the 30 days meaning I don’t have to give them the opportunity to fix the car, after 30 days they are allowed one attempt right?

 

I haven’t been communicating directly with the dealership, it’s all going through the car broker I used but what I’m going to do now is forward the videos. They haven’t asked me for these yet, just keen to paw the car back to me which I’ve lost faith in, I’ve driven a few MK8’s before and it’s clunky it is hard to explain but it just does not feel crisp at all.

 

 

I didn’t realise that it was within the 30 day period that you’ve requested rejection. Yes after the 30 day period they have the right to attempt a fix and if unable to resolve it, you can reject the car. 

 

Of the others that have experienced the paddle issue (I haven’t, despite plenty of paddle use partly to see if it manifests) they haven’t mentioned the gearbox being sluggish in general, so perhaps it’s more than the paddle issue with your car?
 

I can understand your reasons and once you’ve lost faith completely it’s hard to come back from that. 
 

 

[mahalo]

As you have rejected the car within the first 30 days and have documented evidence of the fault then it should be fairly straightforward case of a valid rejection.  As your car is financed, it is the finance company who own the vehicle so you need to work with them  and keep them onside.

[Booth11]

Well what would you know, my car must have been listening in, as I have just come back after an hour’s driving (with a couple stops) in manual in Race mode and right towards the end of the journey the car reverted from M to S and would not go back into manual using the paddles.  A switch to another driving mode and attempt to go into manual didn’t make any difference.  I’ve driven in manual mode a fair bit since getting the car but this is the first experience of this known issue.  I will call my dealership next week to report it.  I’m quite glad it’s shown its face fairly early on in ownership. Not something you  want materialising near the end of warranty.

[blizzard60]

6 hours ago, Booth11 said:

@blizzard60, @dv52, @AHG

I’m of gracious mind today (and as you know am not remotely scary), so there’ll be no kicking you off the thread into the diabolical depths of the forum abyss, especially as the conversation has evolved from a post which was relevant to the thread topic (well, partially).  Indeed it is very educational reading for all of us, even those of us (self included) whose knowledge of such is next to non existent. Plus the good news is that whilst there isn’t much being reported in the way of actual gremlins (a good thing), we may as well put that this space to related learning.  
 

Of course, if you wish to have a thread devoted solely to the topic of the wiring and inner electrical gubbins of the mk8/8.5R, then feel free to start a thread where you can post and discuss anything in that area to your hearts content.  😊

Haha, thanks @Booth11. I hope you know I was totally being silly with my post! 😍 

[Booth11]

1 hour ago, blizzard60 said:

Haha, thanks @Booth11. I hope you know I was totally being silly with my post! 😍 

Yes, of course @blizzard60. ☺️

[Rossdh91]

Hello again all, not been on for a while. 
 

My car, for the most part, seems okay. Had the paddles not working once or twice in the last few weeks but hasn’t really bothered me too much but I do want to get it sorted. Haven’t had a chance to let my local dealer know mind you. 
 

I do have a question though. Windscreen washers. I’m not sure if this is normal behaviour but when I trigger the washers, there is a 0.5s-1s delay then a small spurt (giggity) before they come on full stream? Is this normal for the Golf?

[nn7man]

13 minutes ago, Rossdh91 said:

Hello again all, not been on for a while. 
 

My car, for the most part, seems okay. Had the paddles not working once or twice in the last few weeks but hasn’t really bothered me too much but I do want to get it sorted. Haven’t had a chance to let my local dealer know mind you. 
 

I do have a question though. Windscreen washers. I’m not sure if this is normal behaviour but when I trigger the washers, there is a 0.5s-1s delay then a small spurt (giggity) before they come on full stream? Is this normal for the Golf?

Same here. Takes a second to wake them up properly.

[R_wannabe_owner]

37 minutes ago, Rossdh91 said:

Hello again all, not been on for a while. 
 

My car, for the most part, seems okay. Had the paddles not working once or twice in the last few weeks but hasn’t really bothered me too much but I do want to get it sorted. Haven’t had a chance to let my local dealer know mind you. 
 

I do have a question though. Windscreen washers. I’m not sure if this is normal behaviour but when I trigger the washers, there is a 0.5s-1s delay then a small spurt (giggity) before they come on full stream? Is this normal for the Golf?

Yes it’s normal. 
 

AFAIK VW don’t fit a non return valve in the flexible tubing between the washer jets and the washer fluid reservoir. Therefore, after using the windscreen washers, any residual fluid in the tubing drains back into washer fluid reservoir.
 

The 0.5 - 1.0 second delay can be an inconvenience, but VW’s system stops washer fluid freezing in the tubing in sub-zero temperatures if an owner hasn’t used the correct concentration of screen wash for winter / sub zero temperatures. 

[AHG]

A feature, not a bug …

prevents sediments (calcium, detergent)

from accumulating in the injectors or tubes

[dv52]

14 hours ago, Booth11 said:

@blizzard60, @dv52, @AHG

.................. the diabolical depths of the forum abyss,...............................................

Arrhhh.......... a place that I know well from past transgressions on other forums - the dreaded "forum abyss" where hangs a sign over the entry gates!

Absolutely, positively the last mention on this off-topic matter - and thanks for your generous indulgence (tautology?)

 

Don

[Msportman]

On 26/04/2025 at 13:42, Booth11 said:

Well what would you know, my car must have been listening in, as I have just come back after an hour’s driving (with a couple stops) in manual in Race mode and right towards the end of the journey the car reverted from M to S and would not go back into manual using the paddles.  A switch to another driving mode and attempt to go into manual didn’t make any difference.  I’ve driven in manual mode a fair bit since getting the car but this is the first experience of this known issue.  I will call my dealership next week to report it.  I’m quite glad it’s shown its face fairly early on in ownership. Not something you  want materialising near the end of warranty.

The factory will be hard at it gti sort this out as it seems very common. Some good old data logging of the TCU will be needed I suspect which I’m sure they are doing. It’s probably a software glitch.

[blizzard60]

2 hours ago, Msportman said:

The factory will be hard at it gti sort this out as it seems very common. Some good old data logging of the TCU will be needed I suspect which I’m sure they are doing. It’s probably a software glitch.

 

You have a LOT of faith in VW being able to come out with a software update quickly. This is an extremely negative comment on my side, and you are right to stay positive, but here in Canada, the 2024 ID.4 has had really really significant software issues since it came out more than a year ago. 3 or 4 of them. Including wipers and keyless entry not working. And now the dealer is saying “hopefully July”.

 

Any way, I am sounding a bit like the prophet of doom and gloom, that’s not my intent!! I genuinely hope they fix this issue ASAP!!!

 

[Msportman]

8 hours ago, blizzard60 said:

 

You have a LOT of faith in VW being able to come out with a software update quickly. This is an extremely negative comment on my side, and you are right to stay positive, but here in Canada, the 2024 ID.4 has had really really significant software issues since it came out more than a year ago. 3 or 4 of them. Including wipers and keyless entry not working. And now the dealer is saying “hopefully July”.

 

Any way, I am sounding a bit like the prophet of doom and gloom, that’s not my intent!! I genuinely hope they fix this issue ASAP!!!

 

Well if they don’t sort it soon there will be significant “ rejections” of  cars on finance. Cars are so complicated these days and it’s if the manufacturers have scored an “ own goal” making cars that can be a PITA .  Just look at JLR right now let alone VAG group.

 

With EV they crash in value so finance companies must be reeling.

The BMW 5 series tourer launched just over 9 months ago for £100 k can now be had with just 3k on the clock for under £50k. Nobody can sustain that sort of loss including the finance houses.

 

The car industry seems to be in a right muddle.

[chillly]

On 26/04/2025 at 13:42, Booth11 said:

Well what would you know, my car must have been listening in, as I have just come back after an hour’s driving (with a couple stops) in manual in Race mode and right towards the end of the journey the car reverted from M to S and would not go back into manual using the paddles.  A switch to another driving mode and attempt to go into manual didn’t make any difference.  I’ve driven in manual mode a fair bit since getting the car but this is the first experience of this known issue.  I will call my dealership next week to report it.  I’m quite glad it’s shown its face fairly early on in ownership. Not something you  want materialising near the end of warranty.

I’m perplexed at this issue considering primarily the paddles are surely running the same software as the 7.5 for this feature? Sadly I’m beginning to think that amalgamating the EV software into Ice cars is never going to work. Such a shame as the car is awesome otherwise.