Fair point. I wasn’t really sure what insurance would/wouldn’t cover as I’ve never had issues.
Just like I don’t need something to have caused a fault at home for it to be covered by buildings insurance.
Audi warranty denial....
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Fair point. I wasn’t really sure what insurance would/wouldn’t cover as I’ve never had issues.
Just like I don’t need something to have caused a fault at home for it to be covered by buildings insurance.
I wouldn't automatically assume its not covered by insurance. It would depend on the policy, I'm sure, as well as the cause. However, unexpected faults may well fall under the terms of insurance. Have a read here:
https://www.comparecarinsurance.com/does-auto-insurance-cover-electrical-problems/
VWFS OK'd you fitting a third party immobiliser to a car they own?
An american car insurance website is relevant how?
No car insurance in the UK will cover faults for a vehicle unrelated to an accident. The closest you will get is breakdown repair cover where they pay something like up to £500 towards costs.
Even your american link points to thinks like rodents chewing up wires and their other examples are:
- A vandal tore out the wiring
- A giant rock fell off a hill, hit the car, and wrecked electrical components
- Massive flooding impacted the electrical system
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I have GAP insurance, I was merely protecting my investment due to car theft crime (which I have previously been a victim of).
The unit piggy backs on to the wiring harness somewhere in the car. I have been told by the installer that no wires are cut during the installation and the part is 100% removeable without leaving a trace. When the car leaves its current dealership its going straight to the Ghost installer to have it removed.
Audi already know it has a ghost, that bus has gone.
the known issues with the steering system modules, and, establishing that his steering failed with the same manner, sounds more productive course of action
plainly - those making insurance suggestions have never had a car insurance policy.
the known issues with the steering system modules, and, establishing that his steering failed with the same manner, sounds more productive course of action
plainly - those making insurance suggestions have never had a car insurance policy.
Soldato
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I reckon this is the best way forward. Correct me if I'm wrong but from what I gather it's not been established exactly what is wrong with the car.
If you can get the car back without having to pay for the steering rack you can get a specialist independent to look at it and hopefully diagnose the exact problem, they won't have any vested interests re warranty etc.
If you get the car fixed that way you'll have to suck up the repair bill but at least it's mended, the finance company will be none the wiser and you've not been stung by legal bills.
The only flaw I can see in this plan is how you stand with the finance company by NOT getting repairs done by Audi, if this is somehow logged by the car or electronic maintenance records.
indeed, unbelievably the steering rack was replaced (presumably) so that they could get the car to communicate with the diagnostic machine correctly as they were having issues with this initially...
The cause for the breakdown is still unknown *sigh*
Free steering rack though? No way I'd be paying for that if I hadn't authorised it.
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Are people stupid suggesting car insurance will cover mechanical faults lol?
Why would you install ghost when you have gap insurance? I would rather have my car stolen and get full payout than having a car that’s been broken in to. It’s not a luxury or rare car, who cares if it gets stolen. Gap insurance will pay out - buy a new car.
Just accept you have voided your warranty. Pay and get your car fixed. It doesn’t matter whether the immobiliser is to blame here, you have no warranty. All that’s going to happen is, you’re going to spend time on a losing battle, you’re going to pay for legal fees and also to repair the car. Your solicitor doesn’t care, they still get paid at the end of the day.
Why would you install ghost when you have gap insurance? I would rather have my car stolen and get full payout than having a car that’s been broken in to. It’s not a luxury or rare car, who cares if it gets stolen. Gap insurance will pay out - buy a new car.
Just accept you have voided your warranty. Pay and get your car fixed. It doesn’t matter whether the immobiliser is to blame here, you have no warranty. All that’s going to happen is, you’re going to spend time on a losing battle, you’re going to pay for legal fees and also to repair the car. Your solicitor doesn’t care, they still get paid at the end of the day.
Why dont you try and calm down a little bit?
For all you know, the electrical fault could be due to rodent damage. Don't be so quick to dismiss what might or might not be covered. I've not said it would be covered - but it's worth exploring for OP, even its only to rule it out.
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gap insurance usually requires zero mods too...
Haha.
I'd like to hear the OP phone their insurance company and try this. Maybe you could for them and embarrass yourself.
Maybe they could also claim on their home insurance? Maybe a tile fell off the roof and caused electrical damage. Should probably explore that.
Lots of people assuming mechanical damage and blaming the ghost. The car was fine for over 12 months reading the original post. Clearly, something has happened to cause the fault. Without a proper diagnosis, it could be a multitude of things.
The hardest part is now a) working out what, and b) proving fault (if indeed someone is at fault).
Probably also worth checking if your car legal cover helps here.
The hardest part is now a) working out what, and b) proving fault (if indeed someone is at fault).
Probably also worth checking if your car legal cover helps here.
I'm not sure that's entirely provable though.
You'd effectively need all the original parts back in place for a start - and then have to prove by removing the ghost immobiliser that the fault would still develop without it.
The ghost system could still have been a trigger to the chain of faults, it might not have helped with RAC boosting the car to get started, but the point is you'll never be able to prove it, and Audi/VWFS/dealership will just do as they have currently done and blame a 3rd party modification knowing that you've not got a chance of proving otherwise.
Civil cases are done on the balance of probabilities I think. So you might not need to absolutely prove it. In the same way Audi don't need to prove the ghost system caused the fault to refuse initially.
But yeh sounds like an uphill struggle.
I am indeed starting to feel that my only real avenue is with the RAC. That's fine by me at this stage because I just need to get the car back and see some progress. I haven't got the inclination to fight this legally. If its a case of spending a few thousand to fix it myself then so be it. The Ghost has put me in a situation I never really thought about but I can understand Audi's position its just unfortunate that I didn't consider this a factor when I got the ghost installed. I had purely good intentions by installing it but yes its causing me agro now which is was supposed to do the opposite of!
It's funny that dealers won't bat an eyelid over something aftermarket on the car when they want your custom. I bet they'd happily sell you an extended warranty and not mention it.
I think you, yourself, said initially they had no qualms about it when they thought it was just the steering rack. But as soon as it became more complicated and costly, suddenly its being used as a catch all excuse to not do anything.
I can see their reasons but you'd think they'd at least try and be more helpful, if only out of goodwill.
I think you, yourself, said initially they had no qualms about it when they thought it was just the steering rack. But as soon as it became more complicated and costly, suddenly its being used as a catch all excuse to not do anything.
I can see their reasons but you'd think they'd at least try and be more helpful, if only out of goodwill.