VRS Running Issue/Climatronic

[THE_Liam]

Hi guys,

Had a weird problem with the VRS on the way to work. The EML came on a couple of weeks ago but I haven't had time to get it checked. I was pulling away from some lights and it started juddering really badly, like it was missing and running on 3 pots or maybe losing boost. Done a little reading and I suspect a coilpack fault or maybe a blown boost pipe, but at the same time the Climatronic just went totally dead, like there was no power to it at all. I revved it a few times with the clutch in and it sounded smooth and revved fine, but even after switching on and off there's no power to the Climatronic and it still judders when I pull away...

It's weird because I can't think of any connection between the running issue and the Climatronic, I'm a bit worried that it could be an ECU fault or something that could cost me £££££££ :(

Anyone have any ideas? This couldn't have happened at a worse time....

Edit: Also, my oil light flashes for a few seconds after I start the engine even though the oil level is fine, the temp and fuel gauges don't work, and the interior lights are temperamental.... Could this all be connected? I'm really regretting buying this car, I think I might have bought a pup :(

Edited 16 March, 2012 by THE_Liam

[chicken_eyebrow]

Have you checked the cable between the fuse box on the top of the battery and the alternator, this can overheat and burn the fuse box and cause all kinds of wierd electrical issues

[THE_Liam]

I'll have a look tonight mate, cheers

[THE_Liam]

Ok, I checked the battery fuse box and all seemed fine, no melting and no blown fuses. Weird thing though, I checked all the fuses that I thought might be connected to the problem, and found that the number 5 fuse had blown, so I replaced it.

So now it runs fine again, and somehow the gauges and interior lights have started working again, but the climate is still dead?

[THE_Liam]

Dropped it off with an auto electrician this morning so I'm waiting on a call with the verdict. Expecting the worst to be honest....

[gav c]

My climatronic is dead and also have the yellow oil light flashing on start up. Let us no how you get on

[chicken_eyebrow]

If it turns out to be just the panel that's broken there's always a few on ebay for around £25-50.

The Mk4 Golf ones also fit but have blue backlights instead of green.

[THE_Liam]

Right, just spoke to my auto electrician, he went to start it up to move it into the workshop and it ran for 10 seconds and died every time he tried it....

This is getting really worrying now, it's like the whole electrical system is dying :(

[THE_Liam]

Right, turns out my spare key was a dud, it starts OK on the main one. My auto electricians got it now, so I'm just waiting for a call...

[THE_Liam]

OK, so I've got it back and here's the verdict...

My climatronic is dead and also have the yellow oil light flashing on start up. Let us no how you get on

Get it to an auto electrician and tell him to look at the oil level sensor. My oil light was flashing, and it turns out that the wiring had overheated and melted the plug, plus a few other wires around it causing a lot of the issues. It's now disconnected, and I need a new sensor plus the plug and about 6" of wiring from another car, but the Climatronic, remote locking, heated mirrors and trip computer are all fine again. He also re-soldered the circuit board on the instrument panel which has got my gauges working again, and he found 2 burst breather pipes that are causing the bad running/stuttering on boost, and also flashed the ECU and found codes for the TCS and thermostat which were supposed to have been replaced by the dealer I bought it from when I took it back with the EML on...

So I need 2 breather pipes, a TCS, a 'stat, a oil sensor plus a load of oil and filters (might as service it when I drain the sump). Best bit is though, the bill for the climate, mirrors, locking, trip computer, gauges and oil sensor wiring (when I bring it back, he'' fixing that for nowt!) fixing, plus the codes reading and finding those hoses? £70

[chicken_eyebrow]

The dealer could have replaced the TCS and stat but not cleared the codes. I would wait and see if the codes come back before buying replacements

[THE_Liam]

The dealer could have replaced the TCS and stat but not cleared the codes. I would wait and see if the codes come back before buying replacements

I thought that, but they cleared the EML, could they do that without clearing the specific codes? And would they?

[gav c]

Get it to an auto electrician and tell him to look at the oil level sensor.

I was fiddling with mine at the weekend and decided to just try a new fuse. And guess what it worked but looking at the old fuse i couldnt see any break in it. I guess i was lucky. Cheers for keeping us updated tho :-)

[THE_Liam]

The dealer could have replaced the TCS and stat but not cleared the codes. I would wait and see if the codes come back before buying replacements

Thing is, I've just had it out for a run and it won't get up to temperature, and the heater isn't blowing hot? Can only really be the TCS and 'stat...

[chicken_eyebrow]

I thought that, but they cleared the EML, could they do that without clearing the specific codes? And would they?

You can still have codes without an EML, the 17705 code being a prime example. So possibly the EML was cleared for an earlier fault code before they changed the bits. Ideally you need a cheap fault code scanner and clearer to check and clear codes yourself without relying on the dealer. If its still not getting up to temp though then it does sound like the stat isn't working, I would take it back to the dealers and complain if they've done the work recently. I'm pretty sure TPS and VAG parts have a warranty so they should be able to get another stat for free but whether they'll charge to replace it again is anyone's guess.

[THE_Liam]

It's been working intermittently over the last few days, I think it might be air locked...

[chicken_eyebrow]

Let it idle for a bit with the expansion tank cap off, any bubbles in the system should come out in the expansion tank. You can squeeze the hoses a bit to help but make sure there's plenty of coolant in the expansion tank when you do it otherwise you can end up sucking in more air.

[THE_Liam]

I'm gonna give it a try when I get a chance, would do it tonight but I'm at the rugby

I think just for peace of mind I'm gonna do a full flush of the cooling system and change the thermostat, I'm still not sure they actually replaced it...