14 plate Superb Haldex pump issue

[911hillclimber]

Just had my great Superb serviced @ 62K miles. Car has been faultless.

Technician says the Haldex pump is "intermittent" on the diagnostics, checked when the Haldex oil changed (to schedule) today.

Thus, it is possible the 4x4 is not working. Tricky to test unless I can find a muddy slope.

Assuming the car needs a new pump which are readily available for about £150 new is this an 'un-bolt, bolt new back on DIY job or is it far more complicated/

 

I'm ok with spanners but don't want to start something I can't finish on my driveway.

Thanks, Graham.

[shyVRS245]

Perhaps the gauze has never been removed and cleaned properly (dealers tend to just change the oil) and gunk builds up inhibiting the flow of oil. Been mentioned on here loads of times. Simple enough for them just take out a couple of screws on the pump housing then rinse and put back. One chap on here was charged just £7 extra for his dealer to do this very recently IIRC.

[911hillclimber]

Thank you, just spotted it on the google vids, the filter can block.

Is it just unscrew, clean test the resistance and if good bolt back in?

Is there any electronic messing about?

 

If simple I can di the change, if complex needing diagnostic etc, then deal stuff and the cost of about £500.

[rover220]

Fiddle to do as wiring runs over top of haldex and is well attached but not impossible. Vcds required to prime the system and I strongly suggest replacing the filter. 

[911hillclimber]

Good info, thank you.

He said the diagnostics said the pump was open circuit intermittently.

He did not pop the connector and measure the resistance, but the car has never put a message on the dash that the haldex is faulty.

 

Time to test the car will link to 4x4 on a good gravel patch or wet grassy area and see if the rear wheels take up drive if the fronts are spinning.

If 4x4 is not in action, I'll take it back for replacement as I don't have the Vcds obviously.

I doubt the filter has ever been cleaned since new. Skoda serviced the Haldex to schedule about 20K miles ago.

 

The propshaft damper seems an easy task, but can't be more than an hour to do as the same time.

 

Techie is a VAG specialist.

 

It comes to the question of selling the car and buying something else or the same with low miles or spending £1000 and keep it.

The car has been trouble-free from new, but nothing lasts for ever.

Edited 19 August, 2020 by 911hillclimber

[rover220]

There is no dash warning or indication that haldex isn't working annoyingly. 

 

You have a replaceable filter, skoda deny this exists so it doesn't get changed on their service. Mine at 60k was just covered in sludge. 

 

https://www.haldexrepairs.co.uk/shop/filters/generation-gen-4-filter-kit-vw-audi-seat-skoda/

[911hillclimber]

This gets better!

Thank you for all this info.

Mad that the dash tells you a bulb has blown, but nothing about 4x4 failing!

The handbook has no mention about the Haldex either.....

 

If the car says the pump in Open circuit I presume the wiring has blown, and resistance will be infinity.

Changing this filter is a good move while in there.

[rover220]

23 minutes ago, 911hillclimber said:

This gets better!

Thank you for all this info.

Mad that the dash tells you a bulb has blown, but nothing about 4x4 failing!

The handbook has no mention about the Haldex either.....

 

If the car says the pump in Open circuit I presume the wiring has blown, and resistance will be infinity.

Changing this filter is a good move while in there.

Open circuit means pump probably dead, wiring rarely an issue. Filter change an absolute must. Vcds ideally required to prime system on refill. 

[rover220]

Make sure if you do the job yourself it's definitely the haldex drain and fill plugs you are working. Several instances where people have drained the diff and topped the haldex up leaving the diff dry with the inevitable outcome. 

[3T51704x4]

Mine started logging sporadic pump issues, simple way to check as I found out was when pulling out of junctions in a hurry the front wheels spin when the pump isn’t working. The brushes in the motor wear out or crud from the plates clog the impeller. Bought the genuine part from these guys along with the filter kit.

you will need to borrow a ramp as I did or you will struggle unnecessarily.

Do the filter and change the oil again.

Pump:

https://www.haldexrepairs.co.uk/shop/pumps/0ay598549a-generation-4-pump-haldex-vag/

Filter:

https://www.haldexrepairs.co.uk/shop/filters/generation-gen-4-filter-kit-vw-audi-seat-skoda/

I got the oil trade at TPS, but they sell it too.

Edited 19 August, 2020 by 3T51704x4
typo

[3T51704x4]

Just seen rover220 gave you same info..... Well too much info better than not enough 🤣

Edited 19 August, 2020 by 3T51704x4

[rover220]

Matt at haldex repairs is full of knowledge. He's happy to help over the phone aswell for tech queries 

[TasMan]

The haldex issue with Skoda / VAG is on a par with the emissions scandal in my book...!  How many 1000s of cars will be running around as 2WD when they should be 4WD.....Skoda not recognising a clearly serviceable part and filter....very poor. 

My pump failed after 4 years and full dealer service history.  After losing trust in the dealer, I took it to an independent in November 2018 who replaced the pump, filter and oil with parts I bought from Haldex Repairs.  So far no trouble but I am going to get the oil changed again very soon which will be approx. 16k and 2 years since the pump was renewed.  The schedule is 30k for an oil change, I don't think I feel comfortable leaving it much longer without attention....£100 well spent.  Skoda won't be touching the Haldex unit again on my car.

At the same time I will think about getting the diff oil and gearbox oil changed too.

I posted up about my tale of woe on here, probably find it if you search for Haldex 00448.

Cheers Dave

[911hillclimber]

Too much info is just enough!

Again, thank you all so far.

In this wet weather I'll find a quiet spot and abuse the start to see if I have 2 WD and not 4x4.

Decided it's best to keep this car rather than find20K to replace it with another or similar.

 

The prop damper disc is cracking up also so may as well get the pump, that filter, and the disc all done.

 

I don't have a ramp and don't have the 'youth' anymore to clamber under the car only as high as my axle stands go (about 15")

 

Will need a set of tyres before long for the winter, so in for a penny, in for about £1000!

[rover220]

its normally obvious pulling away on a greasy road whether it is working or not. 

[StuH78]

Does a failing pump cause codes to be stored?

[3T51704x4]

Mine did, kept erasing it then notice a wheel spin one day pulling out of a junction in the wet.

[911hillclimber]

Hope it is still wet tomorrow, can quickly see if I get wheelspin.

Never drive it that hard normally (oil burner) but if the wheel spin is excessive then I'll talk to the guy who has just serviced it.

By this info you have all given me I can point him in the right direction back with a good understanding of the device.

[TasMan]

17 hours ago, StuH78 said:

Does a failing pump cause codes to be stored?

 

You might get a few different codes, I had 00448 Haldex Clutch Pump but also had 01324 Control Module.

The dealer checked it before I eventually got the pump replaced and suggested water ingress to the connector but in truth it was the pump on its way out.

 

[3T51704x4]

A few pics from when I replaced mine.

Friend let me use a ramp which makes it much easier as I’m old.

[3T51704x4]

Tip for your mechanic, tie wire to the pimp plug, much less frustrating routing it across the diff unit. 

[911hillclimber]

How does a filter get so clogged?

Great trick with the cord on the loom!

Other question for me is why the pump has gone open circuit.

Wheelspin check tomorrow I hope.

[3T51704x4]

The filter catches the fibrous friction plate material when it wears off the plate surfaces during normal use, which when mixed with the oil, causes a sludge buildup. This causes the pump brushes to burn out as the pump has to work much harder pulling more current which heats up the carbon brushes which is why it's intermittent to start with but as the brushes wear further they no longer make contact with the motor commutator, the braided wires hold the brushes away until the pump body is lightly tapped then it will work again for a bit. I kept my old pump, at some point I will take it apart and replace the brushes and have it as a spare. But the filter will be getting replaced at every oil change, mind you it hasn't done 50K yet so may be a while as don't use it that much.

Edited 20 August, 2020 by 3T51704x4

[911hillclimber]

Thanks, and sorry for the delay to your post.

 

Finally made some progress. Found a good sloping grassy area to test the haldex.

Got on the wet grass area, in 1st, dropped the clutch to induce wheelspin with Trac Control OFF.

Fronts span for about 1 to 2 seconds, bit of a 'bump' in the drive train and the car simply went up the slope.

Did this several times, same reaction every time.

Decided to change the filter (Haldex Gen4, £47.50) when the car goes in for some other repairs that have manifested themselves, the rear rubber/steel resonator disc that is badly cracking it's rubber bond and a bad exhaust leak on the turbo clamp/sensor, the ingress of fumes into the car is acute....

 

The car has been faultless until the last 1000 miles, so doing well I think.

[simon100gs]

Hi, I am taking my car in for Haldex filter and oil change next week, I have a feeling the pump may need replacing which are around £170, what other costs should I incur for the garage to fit and is there anything I should be asking to check.

 

the car has been spot on but realised when I booted it a month or so ago it struggled to get traction.

 

Thanks