UKPassats

Looks like the pulley is stuck on the end of a shaft.

My faulty brake light switch cut the power to the engine when I switched on main beam! Great, I was on the motorway at the time! VW found the fault code for the switch, all normail with a new switch. You tell me what that was about.

There is a distinct clunk after about twenty minutes of driving when the brakes are applied. A garage checked the brakes, new rear discs and pads put in, front set quite new, was checked, all appeared ok. I figured at 90 k the control arm set must be tired even if none were leaking or knocking. I an...

I spoke to a couple of suppliers and read all I could on forums before buying, I only want to do this job once! !. FORGET the cheap sets under £200. 2. Febe Bilstein at about £250 is, allegedly, the preferred replacement part by most VW centres - so I was told. 3. Meyle HD, recent price increase p...

Having practised on the off side for over a day, I did the nearside today. Four hours work from start; taking the wheel off, to finish, driving it round to the tracking centre. Tracking was spot on, Bonus! Four arms, c link and tre on each side. The drive is much more positive, no vague wandering, n...

Long walk to car spares shop today. Bought Draper long handled ball joint splitter, 19mm jaw width, for £15. Just the job. Lowering the subframe was hard, until I released the fourth bolt. Realigning all the spigots on reassembly was tough too. Other side tomorrow.

I am replacing all the control arms. A full Meyle kit of twelve pieces and assorted bolts. I have got the pinch bolt out! The suspension unit with the upper plate and two attached arms now lying on the drive. But how do I release the lower arm ball joints? I am as stuck as they are. Any clues anyone?

I had to find out, this gives a clear answer to what ESP is:
http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/technology/ ... ystems/esp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

What, exactly, does the ESP do? I know it is to assist roadholding in poor weather conditions; ice/snow/heavy rain, but what does it activate?

Sounds like passenger side axle bush has ripped.

Has anyone found a worthwhile improvement from replacing any part of the front suspension top mount? What is the best upgrade?

Took it out today to sweep the dead bugs out of the high level stop light. 1. Unplug the tiny power plug under the high level lamp. 2. Drop the rear seats forward. 3, In car leading edge of shelf is held by three, hidden captive pins, just press the shelf upwards at those points. 4. With the three p...

I have just changed the ARB rubbers on my B5.5 The clamp over the rubber is held by captive bolts, a pair of self locking nuts hold it all together. If it is spinning, the captive bolt (on mine) would require welding.

I used to de-coke two strokes with washing soda. Strong mix, drop the part in and watch it fizz. Be very careful when cleaning aluminium parts this way, soda eats ally too. Corosive stuff, keep it away from organic bits, like your hands and eyes!

£25 each is the cheapest you want to go for new ones. Second hand you will probably be buying your old ones back. Wheel off, four bolts to release old unit. The car is lowered by using shorter springs, not the dampers. Dampers suffer more on lowered springs, they will fail sooner than normal.

My mates A4 has climate. It stopped cooling one day. About a year later, a problem with the turbo made him take a closer look under the bonnet, found broken air con belt. Next significant service, he had a new belt fitted. Switching on the climate almost stalled the car, much screaming from belt. Tr...

Eibach lower by 30mm, about £180 full set, was my choice too. But I am hoping to find a normal height set.
I checked and there is no broken spring, but there is a bad, light rattle from the near side rear on bumpy roads. I cant find the fault!

Magnecor. Blue leads. Family business who care about their product. Fitted to three earlier motors, feel the difference!

It sounds as though I may have a broken spring on the rear of my saloon. If so, I would like to replace with progressive but not lowered springs. Does anyone know of a good brand that will do this? In time, I intend to put an improved set of shocks on all around, like Koni FSD. Anyone with advice?

I got a quote of £350 for my 2.0 B5.5, cat back, full system. I see by the suppliers list, it is Longlife that supply/fit in Mr Clutch, who quoted for me in Canterbury.

I successfully painted my car some years back using Brolac gloss, applied with a used sheepskin roller. it was a windless day about this time of year, out of direct sunlight. One carefully applied coat. When it had dried, there were no runs and it looked as though it had twenty spray coats. It took ...

I found this earlier: http://www.allgermanparts.co.uk/ourshop/prod_447624-Meyle-HD-control-arm-set.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; which suggests their prices have had to go up recently, so £382 + delivery for Meyle, which I understand to be one of the better sets. I h...

I know the price of the standard VW kit made by Delphi is about £250. Is it merely adequate? Are there better makes out there? If so, who sells them and for how much? I want this to be a once only job. 2004 2.0 saloon.

With 90k on my 2.0 B5.5 I suspect the handling can be improved with some fresh dampers. But which ones for the best, controlled comfy ride? I do not want to lower the car or stiffen it to rally spec. I have seen stock replacement gas, rear pairs at about £50; Koni FSD - a technology that came out a...

I took my advisory; lower ball joint on a Civic; to my tame mechanic. He really heaved it about and said the 'discount' MOT centre was probably fishing for work. If half of their advisory's get taken up throughout the course of a days MOTs, it would give two or three mechanics permanent employment. ...