Just crossed over to watercooler

[JosieH]

Hi
I'm a chick who has just crossed over to the watercooled "darkside" after owning a 1967 VW Beetle for 10 years. The beetle was great because it taught me everything I know about cars and I could solve basic issues myself (and advise the mechanic what the problem was with bigger issues), change the oil and all those maintenance things.

I have just bought a TDI Polo and am worried that I won't be able to do anything to maintain the car myself other than wash it, but am looking forward to the challenge of learning about my new car.

Jo

[vwguru]

hi,

you'll be right, you should still be able to change oil ect, it's still just a car.

[mrlex]

Welcome..you'll be fine, bet you didnt have a clue about the beetle at first!

[JosieH]

You are right, I probably didn't know much about the beetle at first, but that was 10 years ago and have learnt so much since, how short my memory is!

[phaeton]

Congrats Josie on your purchase of a Watercooler

As VW Guru stated you will be able to change oil etc.

Remember to check all fluids regularly such as oil, coolant and power steering fluid etc and you'll be right

[PSY604]

Welcome jo... im in exactly the same boat as you. except mine was a 68 beetle that had been very "warmed up" and i only took it to the mechanics if there was something i couldnt fix (or didnt have time to learn how to!)

gawd... new polo... so many lights and buttons and stalks and extra gears and new car smell and all that room!! wooooo!

I hope you are enjoying it as much as i am!!

[Buller_Scott]

hi josie,

congrats on the purchase!

i notice you've got a light metallic blue tdi? excellent choice of color.

in terms of maintenance, fluids etc will be fine but for anything more, i'd suggest leaving it to VAG specialists- i think this is a sample of the VAG error list:

18062 request error memory of the combination instrument select

18201 givers 2 for transmission speed -G196 no signal
18203 signal for driving speed interruption
18204 signal for driving speed short-circuit after mass
18205 signal for driving speed short-circuit after pluses
18206 givers 2 for transmission speed -G196 implausible signal

18221 pressure control valve 1 -N215 of electrical errors in the electric circuit
18222 pressure control valve 1 -N215 interruption/short-circuit after mass
18223 pressure control valve 1 -N215 short-circuit after pluses
18226 pressure control valve 2 -N216 of electrical errors in the electric circuit
18227 pressure control valve 2 -N216 interruption/short-circuit after mass
18228 pressure control valve 2 -N216 short-circuit after pluses

18232 pressure control valve 3 -N216 interruption/short-circuit after mass
18233 pressure control valve 3 -N216 short-circuit after pluses

18237 pressure control valve 4 -N216 interruption/short-circuit after mass
18238 pressure control valve 4 -N216 short-circuit after pluses

18242 pressure control valve 5 -N216 interruption/short-circuit after mass
18243 pressure control valve 5 -N216 short-circuit after pluses

18249 engine/transmission expensive equipment variants does not fit

18256 request error memory of the engine expensive equipment select

18258 data bus drive missing message of the engine expensive equipment
18259 data bus drive missing message of the ABS controller

18261 data bus drive implausible message of the ABS controller
18262 data bus drive defectively
18263 data bus drive software condition monitoring (data bus drive)
18264 butterfly valve potentiometers -G69 error message of the engine expensive equipment
18265 load signal error message of the engine expensive equipment
18266 number of revolutions of the engine expensive equipment error message of the engine expensive equipment

18269 givers for position of the gas pedal -G79 error message of the engine expensive equipment

18308 radiator exhaust control 2 interruption/short-circuit after mass
18309 controller for radiator exhaust oh run -J138 short-circuit after pluses
18310 controller for radiator exhaust oh run -J138 interruption/short-circuit after mass
18311 valve for exhaust cooling agent -N313 short-circuit after pluses
18312 valve for exhaust cooling agent -N313 interruption/short-circuit after mass
18313 relays for pump load air cooling -J536 short-circuit after pluses
18314 relays for pump load air cooling -J536 interruption/short-circuit after mass
18315 data bus engine/engine defectively
18316 data bus engine/engine software condition monitoring
18317 data bus engine/engine missing message of the engine expensive equipment 1
18318 data bus engine/engine missing message of the engine expensive equipment 2
18319 Synchonisationsleitung engine/engine of electrical errors in the electric circuit

18328 valve for engine storage -N144/145 interruption/short-circuit after mass

18331 request error memory of the engine expensive equipment 2 select
18332 controller pin coding implausible signal
18333 relays for coolant additive pump -J496 short-circuit after pluses
18334 relays for coolant additive pump -J496 short-circuit after mass
18335 relays for coolant additive pump -J496 interruption

18342 temperature sensors for drive cycle radiator exhaust -G382 signal too small
18343 temperature sensors for drive cycle radiator exhaust -G382 signal too largely

19456 indicator light for time the glow plugs are on -K29

19458 kick-down switches -F8 implausible signal
19459 relays for small amount of heat -J359 short-circuit after pluses

19461 relays for large amount of heat -J360 short-circuit after pluses

19463 cam shaft position sensor -G40 no signal
19464 cam shaft position sensor -G40 signal outside of the tolerance
19465 relays for pump, fuel cooling -J445 short-circuit after pluses
19466 relays for pump, fuel cooling -J445 interruption/short-circuit after mass
19467 relays for electrical fuel pump 2 -J49 short-circuit after pluses
19468 relays for electrical fuel pump 2 -J49 interruption/short-circuit after mass
19469 valve 2 for load pressure control -N274 short-circuit after pluses
19470 valve 2 for load pressure control -N274 interruption/short-circuit after mass
19471 valve for fuel bypass -N312 short-circuit after pluses
19472 valve for fuel bypass -N312 interruption/short-circuit after mass
19473 valve for waste gas valve 1 -N321 short-circuit after pluses
19474 valve for waste gas valve 1 -N321 short-circuit after mass
19475 valve for waste gas valve 1 -N321 interruption
19476 valve for waste gas valve 1 -N321 of electrical errors in the electric circuit

19481 angle sensors 1 signal implausible for butterfly valve drive 2 -G297
19482 angle sensors 1 for butterfly valve drive 2 -G297 signal too small
19483 angle sensors 1 for butterfly valve drive 2 -G297 signal too largely
19484 angle sensors 2 for butterfly valve drive 2 -G298 implausible signal
19485 angle sensors 2 for butterfly valve drive 2 -G298 signal too small
19486 angle sensors 2 for butterfly valve drive 2 -G298 signal too largely
19487 butterfly valve drive 2 -G296 of electrical errors in the electric circuit
19488 butterfly valve control unit 2 -J544 errors in basic adjustment
19489 givers 2 for intake air temperature -G299 signal too small
19490 givers 2 for intake air temperature -G299 signal too largely
19491 butterfly valve control unit 2 -J544 of mechanical errors
19492 butterfly valve control unit 2 -J544 undervoltage during basic adjustment
19493 butterfly valve control unit 2 -J544 adaptation not started
19494 butterfly valve control unit 2 -J544 lower notice one does not reach

19560 transfer valve for suction tube flap -N239 short-circuit after pluses
19561 transfer valve for suction tube flap -N239 interruption/short-circuit after mass

19656 exhaust bank 3, probe 1 heizstromkreis short-circuit after mass
19657 exhaust bank 3, probe 1 heizstromkreis short-circuit after pluses
19658 exhaust bank 3, probe 1 heizstromkreis interruption
19659 exhaust bank 3, probe 1 heizstromkreis of electrical errors

19662 exhaust bank 3, probe 1 tension too largely
19663 exhaust bank 3, probe 1 electrical error in the electric circuit
19664 exhaust bank 3, probe 1 no activity
19665 exhaust bank 3, probe 1 signal too slowly
19666 exhaust bank 3, probe 1 heizstromkreis achievement too small

19671 exhaust bank 3, probe 2 heizstromkreis short-circuit after mass
19672 exhaust bank 3, probe 2 heizstromkreis short-circuit after pluses
19673 exhaust bank 3, probe 2 heizstromkreis interruption
19674 exhaust bank 3, probe 2 heizstromkreis of electrical errors
19675 exhaust bank 3, probe 2 internal resistance too largely
19676 exhaust bank 3, probe 2 tension too small
19677 exhaust bank 3, probe 2 tension too largely
19678 exhaust bank 3, probe 2 electrical error in the electric circuit
19679 exhaust bank 3, probe 2 no activity
19680 exhaust bank 3, probe 2 signal too slowly

19686 exhaust bank 4, probe 1 heizstromkreis short-circuit after mass
19687 exhaust bank 4, probe 1 heizstromkreis short-circuit after pluses
19688 exhaust bank 4, probe 1 heizstromkreis interruption
19689 exhaust bank 4, probe 1 heizstromkreis of electrical errors

19692 exhaust bank 4, probe 1 tension too largely
19693 exhaust bank 4, probe 1 electrical error in the electric circuit
19694 exhaust bank 4, probe 1 no activity
19695 exhaust bank 4, probe 1 signal too slowly
19696 exhaust bank 4, probe 1 heizstromkreis achievement too small
19701 exhaust bank 4, probe 2 heizstromkreis short-circuit after mass
19702 exhaust bank 4, probe 2 heizstromkreis short-circuit after pluses
19703 exhaust bank 4, probe 2 heizstromkreis interruption
19704 exhaust bank 4, probe 2 heizstromkreis electrical error
19705 exhaust bank 4, probe 2 internal resistance too largely
19706 exhaust bank 4, probe 2 tension too small
19707 exhaust bank 4, probe 2 tension too largely
19708 exhaust bank 4, probe 2 electrical error in the electric circuit
19709 exhaust bank 4, probe 2 no activity
19710 exhaust bank 4, probe 2 signal too slowly

19716 exhaust bank 1/2 Lambda probes before Kat exchanges
19717 exhaust bank 3/4 Lambda probes before Kat exchanges
19718 exhaust bank 1/2 Lambda probes after Kat exchanges
19719 exhaust bank 3/4 Lambda probes after Kat exchanges
19720 Vorkatalysator exhaust bank 3 effect too small
19721 Vorkatalysator exhaust bank 4 effect too small

19756 bank 1, cam shaft position sensor, discharge opening -G300 short-circuit after mass
19757 bank 1, cam shaft position sensor, discharge opening -G300 interruption/short-circuit after pluses
19758 bank 2, cam shaft position sensor, discharge opening -G301 short-circuit after mass
19759 bank 2, cam shaft position sensor, discharge opening -G301 interruption/short-circuit after pluses
19760 bank 1, exhaust cam wave position sensor -G300/crankshaft position sensor -G28 wrong allocation
19761 bank 2, exhaust cam wave position sensor -G301/crankshaft position sensor -G28 wrong allocation

so its probably good to leave anything more than the basics, to VAG mechanics, unless you're very patient and have a VAG diesel expert as a friend so that they can be your back-up warranty.

cheers!