KenONeill

Other than that Bertieboy74 last visited the site on 08 July 2020, I'm afraid not. If you'll say where you live, I may be able to recommend a specialist though.

That size should be literally cast into VAG alloys.

That's the engine number; it should also be quoted in your V5(A); the one you're looking for is 3 or 4 letters, such as "CACA".

Canny guid video wee man! @NM1199 - My other thought was is the temperature control maybe stuck on "hot" when the AC's off?

Knowing the engine code would help lots here.

I suspect that some 'sole had used a washing up liquid in the screen wash bottle.

I've posted it multiple times yes, and use it myself.

I don't believe either of these are available as caliper paint.

Yep; fast, easy and cheap way to adjust the rear brakes.

And that proves nothing else but no leaks. The brakes go hard and short travel because you've blown the vacuum out of the servo unit,

Just look at the number of software problems with MkIV reported in this forum!

@AnnoyingPentium - I see where @aubrey is coming from.

I'm thinking front wheel bearing(s). Jack the wheels up and check them yourself. I'd be most surprised if it's tracking, but it could be an outer rod end. Brakes. Have you tried holding the foot brake on hard, and then applying the handbrake as hard as you can twice. That often works the self-adjusters where normal service usage doesn't.

OK, suggestions:- Check the handbrake adjustment is good. Not sure on this, but a 1998 car may have a line limiter in the rear circuit, even with ABS. If so, is this working right? You don't say who your specialist is. Have you tried "A for Audi" over in Clydebank (handy for Clydebank railway station if you need to get into Glasgow).

@voxmagna That's what I was double checking is that this was diesel smoke and not lubricant smoke. So it's either injector(s) or throttle position.

What colour is the smoke? If it's white, what's the oil level like?

That's actually sort of helpful. I've got a feeling that it may be running rich on high throttle, hence the black smoke.

And the problem is? I sometimes drive a Honda Jazz 1.2l, and it will happily drive at 40mph in 6th gear on a level road.

"Front Assist" is the system that randomly stops you overtaking, and slams on the brakes when it thinks a crisp packet is about to run into the road in front of you.

Leaving the so-called "front assist" on.

That just could be it. Is there any evidence of the engine running cool (and don't quote the temperature gauge unless it's reading low).

Well, at least this is cheap; check the actual size, particularly width and section number, of all 4 tyres. If one is different to the other 3, then that's your problem.

So you should be, since they actually paid to repair your car with the parts cannon.

Why would you want to? The H4 twin element bulbs give you better range and spread.

No. Even if there was, the easiest way if getting PD130 performance out of an SDi is to buy another car.