[Stu Moser]

Hi there, this is my first time posting to myturbodiesel even tho I have been reading forums on the site for years. This may be a lengthy post. I have a 2011 Jetta TDI and today just got my car back from the shop. last summer my car seemed to be going through a fair bit of coolant for a couple days. It started when we were on a road trip to visit some family. The coolant light came on and flashing red so I drove to the closest place i could get coolant filled it up the light was off and went on our merry way. The light came on I think 4 times that weekend and before I could take it in to the shop to have it looked at the light never came on again.
Until this past week. Each morning when I started my car the light came on, again flashing, again topped off and the light would go off. With my shift work and overtime its almost impossible for me to get to the shop when it's open so I was hoping this would be a repeat of last summer and it would stop. If not I would take it in when I took it in to get my snow tires taken off.
Monday morning I wake up, same story, topped it off and was on my way. This time, however, before reaching the end of my street the light came on again and flashing. I turned around and noticed a puddle of coolant where I park. I wait till the shop opens at 8 and take in the car as soon as I can.
When the dealership finally gets around to looking at it they said that there was a stick lodged into the radiator. Puncturing the rad, condenser and intercooler. Total cost of repair, just over $2,100 Canadian...
My question is, could the short episode with the coolant last summer and this be related? Added note to the question my AC worked fine through the summer. Also, does all this check out? It's not so much That I don't trust the dealership but that was a lot of money.

 

[Vdubcaddy]

Welcome Stu, don't be so afraid to post a question or reply everynow and then. Or you've been remarkably blesssed with such a God vehicle that you haven't had the need to post!

I had a similar situation last year, it wasn't a stick more a towbar, however the intercooler and condenser were both bent significantly radiator trashed. However it's fair to say that even with substantial damage the condenser was still working, as was the intercooler. Did you actually see the stick holes in these two, only I suspect that they weren't punctured but probably suffered an element of damage thus meaning they'll work. Although it's fair to say that they were correct to replace as there is quite a bit of pressure within.

 

[Stu Moser]

Yes, so far this has been the only major issue with my Jetta since owning. I was curious of the same. I asked Monday to see the stick and the service manager showed me where it was. Tuesday I was unable to make it to the shop before the mechanics left so I called and asked if they would place all the parts they replaced in the trunk. Sure enough there was a hole through all 3. I inspected the holes and they all had marks and bits in them that looked as though a stick had punctured them.