CrazyL

Wifes car, 1.9 BXE auto, now has orange steering wheel symbol lit up. I wonder if it's low on fluid (don't laugh) then quickly discover it's not going to be that. Hey! I didn't know. I try the old lock to lock trick, it doesn't work. I check the fuse with a multi meter, seems fine. So, what else could it be before I get to the pump and what could I try within the realms of reasonable cost (to myself) ? Pump wise, where is that located? I have tried searching this forum and youtube to no avail. Suggestions, tips and cheats all gratefully received. It's also got a lazy starter motor, but I can't see that from above either so advice appreciated.

Hi guys Wifes car, a 1.9 TDI, automatic, with BXE engine. It's just had an MOT, which required new cv boots, and I've just changed the one way pulley on the alternator as it's been juddering its noggins off for, admittedly, a couple of years now, surely. So that's all done. Anyway, I drove it home and parked it up, but it felt funny. With the car in park, and the engine running, I could feel a vibration through the seat, that wasn't there before. I've read that it could be nothing more serious than a blocked injector/dodgy connection or an engine mount that has seen better days. Any suggestions? Maybe you've had a similar thing. Many thanks in advance

OK, thread revival time. I never did get round to investigating the horrid noise. Anyway, as luck (for her) would have it, I volunteered to take it for MOT to the garage near where I work as we all use this garage (Magna Carta, in Egham). It failed the MOT due to CV boots, usual MOT thing aren't they! anyway, so the chief mech in there, Chris, top bloke, told me off the top of his head, the alternator pulley is shot. I bought a tool to do the job, bought a pulley, replaced the alternator pulley, the noise has gone.

oh yeah, forgot to say that before that, I got it scanned. Had a code of P0403, pointing to the egr.

New

Hi guys. Right, so, 2.0L TDI 140, 2009 era, manual gbox'd VAG car. Driving along this morning and suddenly the glow plug light came on and started flashing. This went away when I did the ol' IT trick, of turning it off and on again, but soon came back on. Not only that, but now, the EML has come on too, presumably to keep the glow plug light company. Car is in limp mode, obviously, and sounds lumpy AF when started after being left a while. When I switched the car off, I had the bonnet up, and after switching ignition off, I heard a couple of, what I can only describe as, squelches. My ol' obd reader isn't reading any codes, probably due to its age. This is my daily, so priority is paramount.. Suggestions based on experience at this stage will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance

Good idea MicMac. The tensioner was moving around a lot when I looked at it the other week, because I remember my Mk1 doing a similar thing.

I popped the cover off and it still makes a noise. I charged the battery up and it turns over ok. It's my wifes car, and because she's a blue badge holder, she doesn't drive it everyday like most of do when we use it for commuting, so might just have run down through lack of use, but she has killed batteries in the past, so it might be safe to assume this one too has seen the best years of its life, being only a 75ah and not getting used everyday. Still doesn't solve why it sounds a bit rough.

I was due to check that, but now it's mashing down with rain. Not to mention that I went to start the car and the battery was flat. I say flat, it had 11.6v but would barely turn over. Does that sound like the starter motor has pooed its pants? Maybe that was the horrible sound I alluded to in my original post. How can I check for sure the starter is toss?

Just reading this as my wifes car has a similar thing, also sounds rough, but I think that's something else.

OK, that's audio only for some reason. It shows and plays as a video on my pc. Anyway, there's a knocking noise in there, and I don't believe it belongs there.

Cheers for that Micmac, the battery isn't that old, but it isn't my car either. I'm wondering also, if someone could tell me what this god awful noise is? I think it may either be the belt tensioner bearing, or the clutch mechanism on the alternator, which was an issue I had on my Mk 1 L&K. engine 1.mp4

Agreed. I've been trying to film it, but it's gotta happen while filming.

When the key is released. It sounds like it's fired, then you let go, and it cuts. So you turn the key again, and as it spins, give a bit of gas, and it'll take. It is also intermittent, but mostly after a run, so when its all warmed up. Doesn't happen cold, I've just tried. Filmed it half a dozen times on a cold engine, deleted them all, lol.

Hi guys, and girls My wife has a 1.9 ambiente. 105 btw, so nothing fancy. Anyway. When one turns the key, it sounds rough as a badgers jacksie. Sometimes, it has to be started again and given a tiny bit of pedal, as it cuts out as soon as you let of of the key. The noise then settles down, but she isn't as quiet as it once was. I had wondered if it was starter related, but I'm not sure. Also, it's more prone to doing this when the engine is warm. Any ideas folks? Please don't tell me it's something expensive

I thought that too as I'm doing the rear hub on my wifes Octy, but after a bit more reading, I found their video to be a bit wrong. They also say it's an M16 spline to remove the rear hub, when it's actually an M18. It is unfortunately, 180Nm, + 180 degreees.

I'm actually wondering if I've posted more questions about fixing my wifes car than I ever did with my old Mk1. Probably cos Mk1s had less crap on them to go wrong.

Cheers MicMac Good suggestion, although I have since found that getting a drill in there is nigh on impossible, unless it's at an angle, from underneath. I do need to do rear discs and pads too but I've noticed upon watching videos that once the disc is off, the sensor is visible and looks quite accessible., so I may be able to get some plusgas on it, then whack it out. then give the hole a clean, a wipe over with some acf50, then lube up the new sensor and slide it in. So I think I have learned something today. Everyday is a school day, and I'm teaching myself.

Hi chaps I know you're all going to berate me for not having some electronic device costing 100s purely for fault finding, but in my defence, its not my car, it's the wifes, which still costs me money anyway. Right, so A few weeks ago, I run my cheap handheld scanner (yes, I know you don't like them but it's a relic and I no longer own a vag car) and it gave me an error code of 00287, which could explain why abs, tc, and flat tyre lights are on. Anyway, I bought a new sensor when I bought some wiper blades and I chose today to do the job. how hard can it be? Jack it up, pop wheel off, reach around and gently prise out the sensor, before installing new one with a smear of lube on it. Re-assembly is reversal of removal. Job done. Aaahh, but no, as you deduced from the title of this thread. For sure, gently, gently, then some more gently, then snap. The blooming sensor snapped off in the casting. How hard is it remove? i'm assuming that if I stripped it down, could I drill it out? Does anyone have an assembly drawing? I can't find a single thing on the internet about how it's put together behind the brake disc, so have no idea what I could be getting myself in for. Any help massively appreciated.

Yeah, you're probably right.

Yeah, JR, I don't really want to talk about it. What's done is done, maybe I should have let them take my car apart again, maybe not, but with some problems in life I have right now, I was of the frame of mind that if they haven't got the hang of fitting clutches after several decades, then I don't fancy my chances with them admitting/finding/being honest about what was the matter. I have other issues. Case closed Anyway, I'm still here as the wife has a Mk2 and she is inept at mechanical stuff and forums, not her fault though, she is disabled. See you around chaps

Thanks Softscoop The airbag light came back on again after a couple of miles. It needs a scan with a proper scanner I think, to give me more of an idea as to what's what. Where Sir, pray tell, would I find said wiring loom and abs module if sensor doesn't work?

Well, since you asked. Imagine forking out £800 for an apparent Sachs clutch and DMF from a national chain that has the aforementioned mechanical part in their name. Imagine not going for the intermittent checks as it's a non adjustable hydraulic clutch and it's lockdown anyway, and with your disabled wife, you're not sure you want to risk it. Imagine the clutch slipping after only 4000 miles later and after only 14 months. So I only missed the 2 checks out of the 4 required. I asked an indy if they thought my clutch was slipping, he said yes, I was due to go back to the franchised garage where it was fitted but thought that as soon as they take a socket to my car, That's more money, because I doubt they would admit to fitting a recon item or doing a shat job. Left a 1 star rating on trustpilot, received a letter from owner of chains lawyers threatening me with defamation of character, loss of income (as I didn't go back to the garage) and alleging they fit reconditioned clutches, when I said no such thing. I have other troubles in my life so didn't need the hassle, thus removed my review and shut down my trustpilot account. In hindsight, maybe I should have gone back and let them take my car apart again, but in my defence, it's like when you know you don't someone touching your car/bike again so you don't go back, it's like that. I would feel very uneasy about letting them take my car apart again, who knows wtf they'd do. Trustpilot are well aware of this happening to others but don't actually tell the chain garage to do one, probably because they get a steady bit of dosh for the garage having a trustpilot account.

OK chaps. the airbag light went out on its own earlier, so that's a good thing, a loose connection somewhere maybe. The rest of the lights are still on. I tried AJs steering wheel thing, it didn't work. one theory I've read is that it could the angle sensor or something. Is this in the steering column somewhere? Just ordered a rear wheel sensor, so will do that job when it arrives. I'll keep you posted.

Hi guys. I have to say, I've had to say goodbye to my Mk1 L&K. After over 7 years of ownership, it was time to move on, especially after being tucked up by a national franchise which then tried to sue me after I left a 1 star review on Trustpilot.....Anywaaay, that's another story. I'll still be on the forum as my wife has her Mk2 which she spends no money on so there are problems to fix. You'll all be saddened to learn I replaced my Octy with a Volvo. My excuse was I needed a car but couldn't find an Octy with the spec I wanted at that time. It did take me a year of looking to find my Mk1 in the 1st place y'know. Anyway that's that. Take care chaps. Till we meet again