Guys, need serious opinions: Is the vr6 a money pit?

[AusScare]

Man who dug up this thread???? Its from OCTOBER 2008!!!!!!!!

Seems it's getting more relevant as time passes lol...

[Jace]

With the common faults with these cars (power-window motors, ABS whatever, cruise control whatever etc.), what are the actual faults, and roughly how much are replacement parts worth?

For example, my other car (early model MX5), the power window regulators break because the cable rusts inside the sleeve, resulting in lots of friction and strain on the motor and cable-ends (motor blows/cable snaps eventually)
About $90-$140 for a replacement motor/cable assembly. A spray of lithium grease on the cables will help stop them from breaking (for a while).

What are the details of the breakages of the power window motors, ABS module etc.?
Where/how much for replacement/repair parts?

[Jace]

Bump, because I edited my replaced my last post with questions!

[V®6]

With the common faults with these cars (power-window motors, ABS whatever, cruise control whatever etc.), what are the actual faults, and roughly how much are replacement parts worth?

For example, my other car (early model MX5), the power window regulators break because the cable rusts inside the sleeve, resulting in lots of friction and strain on the motor and cable-ends (motor blows/cable snaps eventually)
About $90-$140 for a replacement motor/cable assembly. A spray of lithium grease on the cables will help stop them from breaking (for a while).

What are the details of the breakages of the power window motors, ABS module etc.?
Where/how much for replacement/repair parts?

From what I have experienced so far, windows regulators with motors cost about $250 plus freight from overseas either America or Britain on ebay or sites like TMTuning or German Auto Parts. They break in a number of ways the crappy plastic which is a part of the clamps holding the window to the wires either breaks after numerous years or the cables snap or the plastic pulley gets eaten by the metal cables or the motor dies. Pick any one of the four, you'll be assured one if not all of them will happen. There is no aftermarket fix for any of this at all.

ABS module once again can be any number of things from brake sensors (one for each wheel), pump getting stuck or everyone's favourite dry solder joints. The sensors can usually be fixed by sprayign and cleaning them with some brake dust cleaner, the other two usually have to result in being sent away somewhere to get them fixed about a $300 charge not including freight I was told last time. You can always try to fix dry solder joints yourself if you're any good with a soldering iron and have a steady hand

Cruise Control again can be any number of things, I did find a link somewhere which gave a step by step how to so you could test your cruise control and find specifically what I wrong. I'll try dig it up and post it up. Here's a link to not only the bentley test but also a nice DIY fix for the cruise control: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3434133&page=1

The heater core dying on you is also a common problem. To replace this you need to literally take the dash out of the car, I am not sure how much a new heater core would be but at a guess I would imagine it would over the $300 mark everything else on these cars is. Thankfully there is a cheaper and less labour intensive option. You can bypass the coolant from the heater core which in turn will cause you to never have to worry about it ever again, the downside is you lose the use of your heater

The plastic crack pipe in the engine bay is known to crack and break also. Thankfully Dub Addiction sell an aftermarket billet aluminium replacement for about $99. Same goes with the plastic Y pipe in the engine bay as well. Dub Addiction have an aftermarket replacement for about $60

Coil packs are also known to crack and require replacement. Replacements can be found on ebay.co.uk for around $200 plus freight. Otherwise you have the option of the MSD Coilpack upgrade, which as MK3pete wrote in his thread would cost roughly the following:

hmmmm good question let me see
100 for each coil i bought them locally (3 required)
160 for leads shipped to my door
130 for bracket shipped to my door
i could have made one but i couldnt be bothered

[Jace]

The exact info I was looking for.
Thanks for that matey.

[VR6child]

Good write up on those common problems. Unfortunately, other issues do happen. I've had other problems not on that list.

[Jace]

Lay 'em on me then!
I wanna know what I'm up against. Had the (hopefully) most significant of problems right after purchase, and I want to catch everything else before there's any damage done.

[VR6child]

I've had my car 18 months, it has needed:

-replacement transmission (fitted new clutch also)
-new drivers side inner CV joint (fitted whole new drivers side drive axle)

-window regs x2 are giving up, will need replacing soon
-drivers side door lock doesn't work, needs replacing
-aux coolant pump leaks everywhere, will need replacing
-radio has never got reception since i got the car, including after a new headunit

As I said, these are pretty much random, uncommon problems but eh.

[V®6]

The exact info I was looking for.
Thanks for that matey.

Not a problem at all buddy, every one of those problems is the reason why I am considering getting rid of mine at the moment

[Jace]

Same! Feel like I bought a full on lemon.
Already need to replace one window motor. Rear left, so I'm not too fussed.

Thanks for the info you guys. I wouldn't be worried about my radio, haven't tuned in to FM in my CD equipped cars since I got my license. haha.

[MattyT]

From what I have experienced so far, windows regulators with motors cost about $250 plus freight from overseas either America or Britain on ebay or sites like TMTuning or German Auto Parts. They break in a number of ways the crappy plastic which is a part of the clamps holding the window to the wires either breaks after numerous years or the cables snap or the plastic pulley gets eaten by the metal cables or the motor dies. Pick any one of the four, you'll be assured one if not all of them will happen. There is no aftermarket fix for any of this at all.

ABS module once again can be any number of things from brake sensors (one for each wheel), pump getting stuck or everyone's favourite dry solder joints. The sensors can usually be fixed by sprayign and cleaning them with some brake dust cleaner, the other two usually have to result in being sent away somewhere to get them fixed about a $300 charge not including freight I was told last time. You can always try to fix dry solder joints yourself if you're any good with a soldering iron and have a steady hand

Cruise Control again can be any number of things, I did find a link somewhere which gave a step by step how to so you could test your cruise control and find specifically what I wrong. I'll try dig it up and post it up. Here's a link to not only the bentley test but also a nice DIY fix for the cruise control: http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3434133&page=1

The heater core dying on you is also a common problem. To replace this you need to literally take the dash out of the car, I am not sure how much a new heater core would be but at a guess I would imagine it would over the $300 mark everything else on these cars is. Thankfully there is a cheaper and less labour intensive option. You can bypass the coolant from the heater core which in turn will cause you to never have to worry about it ever again, the downside is you lose the use of your heater

The plastic crack pipe in the engine bay is known to crack and break also. Thankfully Dub Addiction sell an aftermarket billet aluminium replacement for about $99. Same goes with the plastic Y pipe in the engine bay as well. Dub Addiction have an aftermarket replacement for about $60

Coil packs are also known to crack and require replacement. Replacements can be found on ebay.co.uk for around $200 plus freight. Otherwise you have the option of the MSD Coilpack upgrade, which as MK3pete wrote in his thread would cost roughly the following:

Somebody sticky this stuff, I'm kinda getting sick of random noobs asking about this!

[V®6]

Same! Feel like I bought a full on lemon.
Already need to replace one window motor. Rear left, so I'm not too fussed.

I don't think I have bought a lemon, but if any of those problems happen I will be majorly bent over and reemed with a 24 inch dildo financially. I have no choice but to get rid of it and find something cheaper to run, service and maintain.

[BDI]

I don't think I have bought a lemon, but if any of those problems happen I will be majorly bent over and reemed with a 24 inch dildo financially. I have no choice but to get rid of it and find something cheaper to run, service and maintain.

Im feeling you on this one dog, may think about getting rid of mine too. Love the car but the car dont love me...Keeps on asking for new parts?

[MattyT]

They're old cars - what do you expect?

[V®6]

They're old cars - what do you expect?

I've had older cars that gave me less problems