Fw: Customer Service Action re: Ignition Coils

[Wylie Bean]

For those of you that doubted VW/Audi's ethics and ultimate course of
action............here's to ya!  Supply has obviously started to come close
to what's necessary for such a massive undertaking.

A. Wylie Bean
Audi Brand Specialist
Flow Motors, LLC
425 Silas Creek Parkway
Winston-Salem NC 27127
1-800-489-3534
TheRingmeister at triad.rr.com
abean at flowauto.com
90 coupe quattro
99..5 A4 Avant quattro

>
> >
> > Subject: Customer Service Action
> >
> > Below is the VWoA ignition coil press release that was distributed on
the
> > US wire service today at 10:30 a.m.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> > Tuesday, February 4, 2003
> >
> >
> >
> > VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI TO REPLACE ALL IGNITION COIL PARTS
> > ON 2001, 2002 AND SOME 2003 MODELS
> >
> > AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Volkswagen of America, Inc. and Audi of America,
> > Inc. today announced a customer service action in which the companies
will
> > ultimately replace the ignition coils in all 2001 and 2002 model year
cars
> > equipped with certain engines that have been experiencing a
> > higher-than-normal failure rate.  Also affected are very early
production
> > 2003 models.
> > The companies are currently notifying all customers potentially affected
> > and are initially replacing those ignition coils that fail at no cost.
> > The updated customer service action, replacing all ignition coils
whether
> > they fail or not, will be implemented in the coming months.
> > "We know that some ignition coils installed in our cars are not up to
our
> > high quality standards, and we are determined to do the right thing for
> > our customers.  The right thing to do is to fix every single car with
> > these coils by replacing them whether they are broken yet or not.  That
is
> > exactly what we will do as soon as we have the parts," said Gerd Klauss,
> > president and CEO, Volkswagen of America, Inc.
> > - 2 -
> > The vehicles affected in this action include cars equipped with 1.8
liter
> > engines, which includes the Audi TT and A4; and the VW Golf/GTI, Jetta,
> > New Beetle and Passat. The companies also included the Passat W8 engine,
> > all VW's equipped with the 2.8 liter VR6; as well as the Audi 3.0 liter
V6
> > engine.  In total, approximately 530,000 cars are affected by this
action.
> > The ignition coils provide electricity to the engine's spark plugs
during
> > operation. Volkswagen and Audi have recognized through service reports
> > that the ignition coils used in the products listed above have a
> > higher-than-normal failure rate.  If an ignition coil fails, the check
> > engine light/malfunction indicator lamp will blink.  The car's
performance
> > may, in some cases, become rough and/or the engine will lose some power
> > and the car should be taken to an authorized dealer for repair.  The
> > engine and its electronic controls are designed to keep the vehicle
> > running. Some deterioration in performance, however, can be expected.
> > Volkswagen and Audi are announcing the following customer service
action:
> > * The supplier is working triple shifts and seven days a week to make
> > as many new parts as possible.  Additionally, a second supplier has been
> > activated.
> > * Soon customers will be notified by mail that Volkswagen and Audi
> > will proactively begin replacing all ignition coils in cars potentially
> > affected, whether a failure has occurred or not.  This action will begin
> > in the coming months as soon as replacement ignition coil supply volumes
> > will allow.
> > *
> > * - 3 -
> > * In order to minimize inconvenience to customers during repair,
> > Volkswagen and Audi dealers will offer alternative transportation at no
> > cost.
> > Customers with questions should call VW Customer Relations toll-free at
> > (800) 822-8987 or Audi Customer Relations toll-free at (800) 822-2834.
> >
> >
> > # # #