So, I'm posting again just to vent my frustration. The popup message is still pestering me since the end of November.
After my last post, I used the E-Mode to keep the "error" there and
allow the dealer to see it (since earlier he said he didn't, see
above).
About 3 weeks ago, I eventually
brought the car in and explained them again to check for the popup when driving with the ICE (
Hybrid mode). After 4 days without any message and seeing using the (holy) We Connect app that the petrol consumption was 0 l/100 km (so
they didn't even try to use the Hybrid mode), I phoned in for explanations and they said
there were no errors or issues. So I went there the same day.
I drove with the "technician" (I have to use quotes...) and unexpectedly (sarcasm) the infamous popup message
came up immediately! He travelled a bit and tried to speed up but - of course - the engine never shut off, neither when parked with the gearbox in "P" mode.
When he got out of the car he said
it is a NORMAL behaviour because - according to him - the electric motor and the ICE work together to provide the optimum performance. I asked why the car cannot "sail" anymore (i.e. turn off the ICE when on straights) but I wasn't given an answer.
I tried to insist in all the possible ways and when I mentioned the fact
the car always correctly worked until November, then he said that the car may
have received an update that blocked/changed the behaviour.
These guys - an
official VAG service center -
do not know how an hybrid vehicle works. In their opinion, a mild hybrid vehicle has a start/stop system, while a plug-in hybrid car with more than 10 kWh of batteries should not turn the thermal motor off when not necessary!
Well,
it's not the end of the story. I insisted they try to call the
VW technical department to explain the issue (even though they still didn't think it was an issue)... do you guess what they suggested to do after 3 days of waiting? Sit down.
They said that the VAG service should
try with another (similar) car! What answer is that?!? I was baffled and of course they have not another plug-in vehicle to try...
Depressed, I eventually tried also with the
VW Customer Care by phone, but they don't offer any technical help and they restrict themselves to
accept what the "technical department" (quotes again)
has suggested to do. So, basically, anything!
TL;DR: we have a good car, but the people behind don't even know how it works. I hope the error goes away soon on its own, but if it hasn't gone away until now, I don't believe it will do it quickly...
I still didn't bring the car in for the software update but have a service on the 4 of January
Did you try to ask them about the message, possibly? Maybe in your country there are more skilled guys...