I'm at a loss with this one, if I raise the idle to around 2000 rpm I can hear and feel a vibration of sorts, if I didn't know better I'd think it was a hose with a split in it, but I can't find anything, also as it vibrates you feel it between 20 and 30 mph, and things generally sound harsh and as if the exhaust has lost the back box, I thought I'd nailed it removing the engine cover and replacing the belly pan bolts I'd lost, but alas it hasn't, I'm starting to think perhaps the cam or crankshaft has become unbalanced as it's deffo a thing I can replicate at standstill, erradicating buckled wheels and shot suspension, engine mounts look ok, anyone else had this, and what was it?

I'm normally at vehicle replacement time now, but I can't find anything for less than 15k that fits the bill and has less than 20k on the clock, I'm not a lover of old cars as they show their age, that's why 60k is the cut off for most car warranty, ok the engine generally lasts ok but everything else starts to slacken off and get noisy soon after, I was all set to get a Passat, until I heard you need Vag-Com to replace the rear pads, and that there's an ECU in the steering coloumn that costs a grand to fix and breaks regular at varying milages, and add in the over book price and uncertainty about DSG reliability and I put my wallet back in my pocket, the whole concept of VAG seems to be to milk you, those inner wing bolts were £2.50 each, add the rear clips at 50p each, the need for 4 of each, and half a million £12's is a nice little earner for a plastic part that clearly isn't man enough for it's job, infact I recommend you change the clips regularly to avoid losing the bolts, and to put it into terms, I can get a C class Merc for £1000 more than a Passat, where do VW think they are at with the Passat, I had a sniff at an R-Line one today, no rear window electrics, the old S seats and a heater control that felt like it would break real easy, and as someone else said, it's a bland inside as it's pretty outside.

Edited 2 February, 201016 yr by Supurbia

If you're trying to track down a rattle/vibration you need two people really. One to replicate it, one to trace it. I'm doing the same sometime soon, although no vibration with mine just the exhuast and undertray I think.

You said you get a vibration with yours though right? A good place to start would be to get it on a ramp and narrow down where it's coming from. A mechanics stethoscope will help (like a regular stethoscope but with a long peice of metal attached). See if the pitch, frequency of it changes with revs. If not most likely just resonance rather than some rotational sound. The fact you say it's throaty sounds like an air circ or exhaust problem. I take it it's serviced regularly?

As for what you were saying changing cars, I hear you. I've decided to keep the Superb until it dies. Will buy a second car if I want a change. I see no reason to get rid of it. Residuals are crazy low. A bit boring to drive, a bit boring to look at but a good all rounder, comfortable and cheaper than most to run. VAG do seem to want to milk your wallet and hold the Passat in higher regard than it deserves. Saying that new new Passat CC looks the business.

Get someone to help you and get it on a ramp to try and narrow down where the noise is coming from. Right now the symptoms sound very generalised. I get a raspy noise at higher revs due to worn seals from the intercooler. Replacements on the way, but to be fair it doesn't sound like what you describe.

Edited 2 February, 201016 yr by allclownsareevi

I'm at a loss with this one, if I raise the idle to around 2000 rpm I can hear and feel a vibration of sorts, if I didn't know better I'd think it was a hose with a split in it, but I can't find anything, also as it vibrates you feel it between 20 and 30 mph, and things generally sound harsh and as if the exhaust has lost the back box, I thought I'd nailed it removing the engine cover and replacing the belly pan bolts I'd lost, but alas it hasn't, I'm starting to think perhaps the cam or crankshaft has become unbalanced as it's deffo a thing I can replicate at standstill, erradicating buckled wheels and shot suspension, engine mounts look ok, anyone else had this, and what was it?

Have you checked the trunking that goes to the air filter box? these can rattle, easily cured by removing the trunking and putting a bead of silicone sealant around the edge and replacing.

supurbia.....i had a vibration in my superb coming from the front , and my daughter traced it to the front dash board near the windscreen.....so we re-routed thesat nav cable and the little black box and wedged it between dash and windscreen....been quiet ever since.......and thats after i went though checking bushes exhaust alignment....engine cover...air filter box.....even tyres for damage !! put it down to shrinking and expansion with the dash board material flexing with temperature changes...more so with colder weather than hot summers......or maybe it might be a thrust bearing thats going dry on the clutch components via the gearbox.......im assuming your car is a manual?

supurbia.....i had a vibration in my superb coming from the front , and my daughter traced it to the front dash board near the windscreen.....so we re-routed thesat nav cable and the little black box and wedged it between dash and windscreen....been quiet ever since.......and thats after i went though checking bushes exhaust alignment....engine cover...air filter box.....even tyres for damage !! put it down to shrinking and expansion with the dash board material flexing with temperature changes...more so with colder weather than hot summers......or maybe it might be a thrust bearing thats going dry on the clutch components via the gearbox.......im assuming your car is a manual?

Thx guy's, I think I'm nearer the truth now, I've had a squeal from the aux belt which I thought was the PAS pump, however, having took the belt off the pump bearing feels ok, other suspect is the alternator pulley, when mine died I was forced to use a Valeo one instead of a Bosch one, it's made no difference being different other than the earth strap is slighty different in location on the alt, however while playing about today I removed the cambelt cover and low and behold it went away, bad fit, pressure from the engine cover I dunno, but until I get a few days out on the road I won't know for sure, the aux belt is a mystery, I started lubing the pulleys to no real avail, then I hit the non toothed side of the belt and it all shut up, I'm suspecting the tensioner now.

Anyway with regard to VAG and future motors, I went to Toyota today for a sniff at a Verso, sadly the rear seats in the boot aren't useable at all, and then Madame Avensis whistled at me, Far K me, what a car, I opened the door, adjusted the seat and I was hooked, so comfortable, a CVT that allows a petrol engine to do 30 mpg urban and nearly as much rear leg room as the Superb offers, all the knobs felt good, something the Passat can't boast, so I think it's off to Japan, or is it Derby for my next set of wheels, the car is huge, it doesn't suggest this in pictures, but in the flesh it's getting on to being a Yank tank, I'm so smitten I nearly mayonaised the monitor.

Anyway with regard to VAG and future motors, I went to Toyota today for a sniff at a Verso, sadly the rear seats in the boot aren't useable at all, and then Madame Avensis whistled at me, Far K me, what a car, I opened the door, adjusted the seat and I was hooked, so comfortable, a CVT that allows a petrol engine to do 30 mpg urban and nearly as much rear leg room as the Superb offers, all the knobs felt good, something the Passat can't boast, so I think it's off to Japan, or is it Derby for my next set of wheels, the car is huge, it doesn't suggest this in pictures, but in the flesh it's getting on to being a Yank tank, I'm so smitten I nearly mayonaised the monitor.

And with that accelerator recal problem I hear they're quite fast, whether you want them to be, or not.

:lol: Father-in-law is on his second Avensis, but I can't say he ever got excited - let alone orgasmic - about either of them...

:lol: Father-in-law is on his second Avensis, but I can't say he ever got excited - let alone orgasmic - about either of them...

If that's the previous models I can't blame him, this new one is something else though, I haven't driven it yet so I don't know what it will be like there, I just know it's the most comfortable car I've sat in for an age, and the build seems to be very good as well, and as the FIL will probably tell you, ultra reliable, my mate runs an 03 slablook version and it never sees a ramp.

As for the gas pedal issue, isn't it refreshing that Toyota are recalling it without question, can you imagine VW doing that, I can't myself, up till yesterday it was going to be another Superb or a Passat, I was going to ignore how quite frankly what is the worst customer care I've ever experienced could be balanced out by a good car, having felt the Passat heater control in action, and how weak and noisy it felt, until I was made aware of the steering issue I was still set on a Passat, VW are blaming taxi meter installers for it, which is fine if it was their fault, but how do they explain it failing in Mr Smith the chemist's car as well then, also something else I noticed in the showroom was the professional approach, I was asked on the way in by a receptionist how they could help, I said I'm just having a look at a couple of cars, ok if you need any help just ask, not one salesperson bothered me throughout, and when I went to leave the receptionist asked if I needed anything, I asked for a brochure and she duly went and got me one before saying goodbye, had I been in VX for an Insignia the salesperson would've been on me within minutes, and in my local Skoda dealer there would've been a fight over me, even though they know if I buy I'm going to use the young lad as he invested time in me when I was looking for my current car.

Make no mistake the Superb is probably the one car I've owned that I will look back on with great fondness, she's been reliable, economic and generally pleasing to own, something I didn't think I'd be saying after owning it 3 mths, the change of opinion is because once Skoda had no more interest and I went into GSF land and self repairing it showed itself to be SUPERB, lol, I think the fact it's a bit of an underdog car helped as well.....oh it's a Skoda I used to hear a lot with a sneer, yes it is I'd think to myself with the thoughts of......yeah and it's miles better than that bucket of ***t Ford you drive mate.

Edited 3 February, 201016 yr by Supurbia

Yeah if we're being serious my jibe at the accelerator recal was a cheap dig but it was kinda meant to be. In reality I reckon Toyota have done well to admit the recall extends so far and to recall so many ... quite openly.

Judge the car on it's merits, not the sales staff. However if you've found a motor you reckon you'll be happy with that's awesome mate. Let's be honest it's a Toyota it's hardly going to be a bad car. Going to have to change that username mind. Toyotia?

I'd buy a Toyota like a shot if they could produce a diesel engine to match even the old PD unit in the Superb.

I'm far from convinced they can - so I'm stuck with VAG. The real problem with them is the importer at MK, and Wolfsburg obviously haven't the guts or the inclination to shake them out. So, buy your VAG used for the best price you can get and then use GSF/Eurocarparts/Independents for all parts and work unless you can do it yourself. The dealers are programmed to shaft you.

The redeeming feature of VAG is that their market penetration is so high in Europe that there are loads of pattern spares and diagnostic software around, together with the knowhow to overcome their extensive and uncorrected design c0ckups.

It's hard to believe that Toyota would produce a "new" model with the same serious design defects as the outgoing one. This is precisely what VAG did with the Superb. They knew all about the water ingress problems of the Passat - there's even a VW branded technical bulletin covering the fix.

I hate dealing with organisations which show this level of dishonesty. Toyota or Honda will get my cheque next time when their diesel engines are fully developed.

rotodiesel.

for my next motor, I have been starting to think about a Superb II estate - but then there's a guy round the corner with an Avensis estate and it looks really good. I've had great experiences with a couple of Toyotas - and their dealers - in the past, so deffo will be getting a closer look when time for change comes.

Been on test today, and I'm sold tbh, 1.8 CVT petrol, runs smooth, does the same sort of guzzling my Superb does, lot more quiet, just as fast, and NO DPF or DERV PUMP to worry about, everything was nice to touch and she went round corners just fine, dealer thinks mine is worth the 3k I'm asking for it in PX so once he's located me one in budget I'll be a signing, he's assured me the Prius CVT has had no issues, and tbh I went in a bit sceptical about it, but it changes up so smooth you hardly notice it, and performance wise it's no slug, especially in sport mode, the whole thing makes the Passat look ancient inside, and so far the dealer staff have been top notch, ok they want my money, but there's just no pressure with them and I'm finding that all so nice, had a long test as well, salesman just let me get on with it and I could've taken it out solo if I wanted to, only negative I could place was tyre noise from the front, but hey tell me a FWD car that doesn't have this noise.

As for forums in future, I won't be joining the Toyota one just yet, the whole idea is to cash the Sup while she's worth something, this brings me into budget, and have 2.5 years of being able to return it for repairs if need be without cost, then finish the last 18 mths off praying nothing goes wrong with it, so you won't be getting rid of me that easy, I'll hang about to help new and existing owners of Sup 1's.

...he's assured me the Prius CVT has had no issues, and tbh I went in a bit sceptical about it, but it changes up so smooth you hardly notice it...

Just so you're aware, you shouldn't feel ANY change-up / -down from a CVT. Unless you're running it in 'pretend manual / semi-auto' mode, any surge / lurch is a BAD sign. Unless you're giving it serious beans, the engine note on full-auto should be like on a diesel-electric train where the revs rise from idle up to the power band, and then just stay there as you accelerate...

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cvt2.htm

OTOH, my mum is on her second CVT Jazz, and has had no issues with either!

Just so you're aware, you shouldn't feel ANY change-up / -down from a CVT. Unless you're running it in 'pretend manual / semi-auto' mode, any surge / lurch is a BAD sign. Unless you're giving it serious beans, the engine note on full-auto should be like on a diesel-electric train where the revs rise from idle up to the power band, and then just stay there as you accelerate...

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cvt2.htm

OTOH, my mum is on her second CVT Jazz, and has had no issues with either!

Cheers, I've been studying CVT today, and it's lept along since the DAF days, it looks positively the way to go, very little mechanical parts and a much easier rebuild and fault diagnosis program.

On the original topic, I've nailed it, it's so obvious you'd look past it.

Now beans time.......... I can officially reveal the cause of this vibration and throaty sound iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis..........

Wait 4 it!!!!!!!!

The dam air tube to the airbox, the final one between the pipe and the box, it locates over the airbox intake, as time goes by heat must deform it so it no longer makes a snug fit, this allows the air pressure to blow out of the side of it, hence the throaty sound, and because it's now loose it plays a tune with the silly plastic cover that screws to the airbox.

Another of mother Superb's great mysteries solved.

Oh, and I got a deal on an Avensis today, fantastic deal infact, but I'm blowing it out for now until the pedal issue is resolved fully, I have total faith it will be but until it is I'm not risking my kids or the paying public, I can see me in for one around May tbh, hopefully I'll do an even better deal, as the Superb has bottomed out in depreciation, where the Avensis hasn't and the year 10 plate will help force it down some more, mind you the one I was after is 4 mths old and up for 25% less than list, but it is going to be my next one, if one thing swayed me it's the abysmal way VAG treat customer's, if they'd make customer services as well as they make their cars they'd have it licked, the Toyboater is a very reasonable package, year for year it's 3k cheaper than a Passat dsg, and the services are £150 and £230 every 10k, as it's a chain drive there's no £300-£400 bill there, and every member of Toyota staff I've had dealings with has been so nice and helpful I wanted to kick them down the stairs for attempting to ruin this evil world with kindness.

Edited 4 February, 201016 yr by Supurbia

Do i win a prize then??

Do i win a prize then??

Hahahaha, o'course you do Giz, sadly I missed you're original cure and only found it while bored on a rank tonight, which type of sealant would you recommend?

I might use some plumbers mate on it, that stops most things and remains flexible if not messy.

Edited 5 February, 201016 yr by Supurbia

I just used some white bathroom sealant i had left over (wipe off the excess and you can't tell it's been done) it also peels off easily when it's service time etc.

If i had to buy it then i would go for clear silicone sealant, just don't use the black stuff as that takes a few days to fully cure

I just used some white bathroom sealant i had left over (wipe off the excess and you can't tell it's been done) it also peels off easily when it's service time etc.

If i had to buy it then i would go for clear silicone sealant, just don't use the black stuff as that takes a few days to fully cure

Thx mucker.

CVT is very late to make an appearance in the domestic market. I know they have problems handling high torque engines at times, but in terms of economy and performance CVTs offer a fair bit over standard gearboxes. For performance the control unit just keeps the car at the revs to achieve maximum power output whilst for economy it just chooses the most economical engine load.

It's like rotary engines never really got exploited. You'd think by now, with composite materials advancing all the time, a manufacturer would have come up with something that'd negate the need to have rotary engines re-tipped every 30k or so. I had an RX-7 years ago. It looked like a mini dodge viper and got from 0-60 in 4.7 seconds. Ok so top end was only about 130 but man, what a fun way to get to 130mph.

.... and now I drive a Skoda oil-burner. WTF happened?

I'm not having it now, I still want it, but business is very bad and I'm dreading the summer, add in something that happened Friday night, and the absolute arseholes I've had tonight.....hence early finish, I'm considering at the very least an hours change if not a career one, I put it down to the increasing BBB's that are appearing now they've hit 18, BBB's is Benefit Book Babies btw.

Sorry to hear that, wondering just how bad your Friday night was now.

Things may pick up and just because you don't buy today doesn't mean you won't buy tomorrow, you know?

i know what you mean superbia......my eldest daughter is a bbb and a pain in the *rse.......

Sorry to hear that, wondering just how bad your Friday night was now.

Things may pick up and just because you don't buy today doesn't mean you won't buy tomorrow, you know?

It's still there, I think I'll have to buy a new pipe piece, it's deformed in the middle, vibes gone but noise hasn't,

Edited 10 February, 201016 yr by Supurbia