Just put my car in for first MOT and brake fluid change. It has Haldex 4x4

 

The free health check came back clean, as one would expect for a less than 3 year old £40k car, EXCEPT for an advisory that “prop shaft donut seized advise replacement of prop shaft donut and prop shaft bolts”. Oh and yes they will be delighted to fix it for me for a mere £635.62. WTF!?

 

Can a donut even be seized? Surely it is a rubber thing with one bit attached to the shaft and one bit attached to the Haldex (or gearbox). How can rubber be seized? I have yet to speak to them but if it really does need doing, I hope it will be done under warranty which has a few weeks left to run. Or are they just fishing for a mug?

£635.62!!! and I thought Krispy Kreme's were expensive! 

 

In all seriousness, please keep us posted as a fellow 280 owner I'd be interested to see how this goes...

Edited 19 February, 20197 yr by penguin17

Oh and 32000 miles, which is not a lot! Still haven’t been called to say the car is ready (MOT and brake fluid change).

Just heard from the garage. They say it is a warranty issue so will be fixed at no cost to me. Phew! Parts coming from Skoda so booked in again for a week today. The lady I spoke to agreed with me that it was hard to understand how a rubber donut could be seized, but she will find out more info and update me when I call in to collect the car around 16:30. I’ll update on here if I find out more. But perhaps something to check carefully on 4x4 Skodas before the warranty expires!

Spoke to the mechanic chappie when I picked up the car, he said the donut is inside a steel ring thing (which it is, just in front of the Haldex) and the rubber bit swells or otherwise clogs up with gunge and jams in the steel ring. He said it was more common in cars used for towing (which mine is). Apparently there is a new design of donut which is (supposedly) less prone to the problem, and also that there was going to be an added maintenance item during servicing, to lubricate the donut with some kind of grease (red rubber, presumably).

 

Anyway, I’m getting a new one for free so I’m happy, although it is a bit worrying that a fundamental part of the car is knackered after 32,000 miles. Mind you, I do a lot of driving in the wilds of Scotland with roads routinely covered in salt and grit.

 

Anyway, moral is probably to get it checked out prior to warantee expiring (if you have a 4x4).

Good info this mate. I have a 4x4 diesel and when I first brought it the haldex clutch was shot and apparently that is a common problem with the Haldex 5. Replaced the controller, pump and haladex clutch pack, the clutch plates are apparently made of blamanche and mine had basically disintegrated. 35k miles. Will get them to check the donut when it’s in next week whilst it’s having the dsg service 

Thanks for the info Nick. You do tow some interesting things in your line of work  However, I would not have expected anything to seize after such low mileage. I'll keep an eye on mine at service times. 

Is this the known "Haldex screen" issue described here (with pics) ? 

https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47080

Or something completely different?

 

21 minutes ago, newbie69 said:

Is this the known "Haldex screen" issue described here (with pics) ? 

https://www.golfmk7.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47080

Or something completely different?

 

 

Something completely different. The donut is between the prop shaft and the input flange to the Haldex, ie on the outside.

40 minutes ago, boydeee said:

Thanks for the info Nick. You do tow some interesting things in your line of work  However, I would not have expected anything to seize after such low mileage. I'll keep an eye on mine at service times. 

 

The ASH25 is pretty heavy, but on the other hand I have probably only towed it 1000 miles max.

7 minutes ago, nicknorman said:

 

The ASH25 is pretty heavy, but on the other hand I have probably only towed it 1000 miles max.

It sounds more likely to be a fault with the car. 1000 miles is not a lot at all. Especially considering that it could be used e.g. to tow a caravan which I would imagine could be towed a lot further. 

Not good news at all!

2 minutes ago, boydeee said:

It sounds more likely to be a fault with the car. 1000 miles is not a lot at all. Especially considering that it could be used e.g. to tow a caravan which I would imagine could be towed a lot further. 

Not good news at all!

 

Well the fact that the chappy said there was a new design of coupling says it all. Clearly the original one isn't up to the job. The question for you is whether you have the new style or the old style!

19 hours ago, Esseesse200 said:

Good info this mate. I have a 4x4 diesel and when I first brought it the haldex clutch was shot and apparently that is a common problem with the Haldex 5. Replaced the controller, pump and haladex clutch pack, the clutch plates are apparently made of blamanche and mine had basically disintegrated. 35k miles. Will get them to check the donut when it’s in next week whilst it’s having the dsg service 

 

Did you get any symptoms? I too have the 4x4 diesel and it's starting to make noises from the rear that I'm not happy with. I've done 32K out of a total of 38k miles in it and over 6K of that with a caravan in tow.

 

It used to be nice and quiet apart from tyre noise but the tyre noise is starting to be drowned out by a sort of droning noise that changes in pitch with speed mixed up with a noise that sounds like and out-of-balance wheel. I also fancy I can feel some slight vibration through the seat though I might be imagining that. It doesn't start straight away though the first part of my daily commute is through town at 30 mph and less so it's hard to tell. However, a few miles down the A66 and the noise starts to build.

 

It must be noisy as even the wife has noticed 

 

I've booked it into the dealers on Thursday and although I've been impressed with their services so far, I'm fully expecting them to say they can't find anything wrong so any information I can go armed with will help.

Symptoms of the haldex clutch unit going. No drive to back wheels and traction control light flashing even under light acceleration and front wheels spinning. 

2 hours ago, Albourneboy said:

 

Did you get any symptoms? I too have the 4x4 diesel and it's starting to make noises from the rear that I'm not happy with. I've done 32K out of a total of 38k miles in it and over 6K of that with a caravan in tow.

 

It used to be nice and quiet apart from tyre noise but the tyre noise is starting to be drowned out by a sort of droning noise that changes in pitch with speed mixed up with a noise that sounds like and out-of-balance wheel. I also fancy I can feel some slight vibration through the seat though I might be imagining that. It doesn't start straight away though the first part of my daily commute is through town at 30 mph and less so it's hard to tell. However, a few miles down the A66 and the noise starts to build.

 

It must be noisy as even the wife has noticed 

 

I've booked it into the dealers on Thursday and although I've been impressed with their services so far, I'm fully expecting them to say they can't find anything wrong so any information I can go armed with will help.

 

I would say your issue sounds like this problem. The garage mechanic chappie said symptoms were vibration and noise. Anyway, get them to specifically check the coupling “donut” just in front of the Haldex. I presume, since there is a modified part, that there is a TPI about it, but I haven’t bothered to cough up €8 for an hour on ERWIN to check.

 

In my case I didn’t have any vibration or significant noise. The only thing I have intermittently had over the past 6 months or so is a very faint whine/drone only between 50 and 54mph on the overrun. Sounded a bit like a diff whine. It hasn’t got any worse and sometimes it goes away completely. It will be interesting to see if it permanently disappears when they replace the coupling.

I had my TDI190 in for main service on Monday, she's coming up to 30k so specified the Haldex oil change (and, to pre-empt any problems, a DSG service as well - and they recommended an air con service, although I'll do that in a couple of months).  I've had a whine for a while (usually just over 30mph, but dies out before 40mph), but put it down to either a tyre issue or just one of "those noises" - car is coming up to three years old and is my first DSG and 4x4, so didn't know what to expect - came from a 60-plate Insignia, so things are quite different!  

 

Anyhow, had a call to say car had been serviced and was being test driven and awaiting a clean, but they hadn't serviced the Haldex because it had logged a problem when they read the fault codes - I think they said the pump.  All under warranty, they're replacing what they need to replace on Monday next week (25th Feb).  I'll mention the donut and see what they say.

 

Would the Haldex cause a rattle?  I've got a rattle at the rear, but have read it could be a number of things; ARB bushings, fuel-lines rattling against body/undertray panels etc.  There's a few months left on warranty, so will see if the Haldex work cures everything - if not, I'll get them to check everything else over.  

 

Oh, and car doesn't (and hasn't - as far as I'm aware) towed anything - no tow-bar.  

 

I'll be watching this thread to see how the replacement donut goes!  

 

My Haldex packed up at about 20,000 miles. Pump failure. Again, it transpired there was a new design of pump due to a known issue, which I had fitted under warranty. Now at 32,000 and just exiting warranty, I think I’ll change the Haldex oil again and see how much gunge is in there.

 

I wouldn’t have though a rattle would be the Haldex but you never know.

Edited 20 February, 20197 yr by nicknorman

Turns out my noise problem was caused by the rear tyres. Though they had just over 3 mm tread left, there was some 'castellated' wear on the inner sipes and that's what was causing the noise. I could have left the tyres for another 5K miles I suppose but they had done >38K and I was fed up with the racket they were making so got them changed. All is now peace and tranquility again. I also had the DSG and Haldex oil changed as they should be done at 40K apparently.

Had the Haldex pump replaced on Monday and it has transformed the car.  When I pulled away after having the work done, it was almost like I was being pushed along - having never driven a 4x4 before, I'm guessing it had been an issue since before I had the car.  I know a Haldex car isn't always 4x4, but I did have a fairly spirited drive home on Monday...and the difference is definitely there. 

 

They also checked the donut, but that was all OK!  

 

It was either the boot lid or rear headrests - I un-twisted one of the rubber stoppers on the underside of the boot hatch to be level with the other side, but I also reseated all three rear headrests - whichever it was, peace has now been restored.

Oh yes, I should report back that the new donut was fitted yesterday FOC. I haven’t driven it out of town yet to see if there is any difference in the faint whine I can sometimes just hear. But I have to say, quite good service from Specialist Cars here in Aberdeen. They do seem to have improved recently.

I guess I should update this. When I did drive the car out of town the noise was much, much worse. Mostly in the 60-40 mph range.  Maybe it is the harder donut rubber, maybe it will bed in /settle down. But no, 2000 miles later just as bad so back to the dealers. The chap came out for a drive with me and we discussed whether it could be a rear wheel bearing. I said no because it didn’t change with cornering loads and there had been a step change between the before and after donut repair.

 

So they took the donut off and checked it, cleaned mating surfaces etc but nothing wrong. Then they had a feel of the rear wheel bearings and decided it was the rear nearside one. I was a bit unconvinced because of the step change on replacing the donut.

 

And of course now out of warranty so that said £320 please. However they did manage to get me 60% goodwill contribution from Skoda so in the end the new wheel bearing cost me £129. Which is not too bad, but a bit **** poor that it needs a new wheel bearing after only 36,000 miles! Along with its new rear discs at 30,000 miles. And its new Haldex clutch pump at 20,000.

 

But they were right, noise now completely gone and it’s back to the way it should be.

 

 

Edited 12 April, 20197 yr by nicknorman

Was the car in warranty when you reported the original problem.

If yes then your car should be covered as you reported the problem. Just because the fix did not work and it was found later should not make any difference. I have had work done after the warranty but because it was noted before it still stood as a warranty claim.

I'm with @Danny 57 you went with their diagnosis, initially incorrect and therefore now out of warranty.  Chuck it back at them.

No unfortunately by the time I'd reported it, the warranty had expired. The donut was done just a few days before the warranty expired- 26th Feb, it expired 1st March. I had a pretty busy time after that and didn't really take the car out of town so although it didn't sound right straight away, it didn't seem that bad initially until I got onto roads doing 50-60. I hoped the noise I could hear at low speed was just the new donut settling in, my mistake! I think it was about 3 weeks before I phoned them to complain about the noise which I put down to something not right with the donut.

 

Their original diagnosis of the donut seizing wasn't anything to do with a noise, just something they came up with during the MOT.

 

However with hindsight there had been a faint whine/groan on the overrun at a very specific speed range 53-50 for a while. That noise is now gone so I think the wheel bearing has been dodgy for quite a while. Maybe the jacking up / dropping off the jack or some such, when the donut was replaced, was enough to tip it over the edge.

Is it possible to change the donut your self? Mine has sized as well. Can’t afford the stealership prices at the moment !