few mk3 questions

[klasse_puppe]

hello hello mk3 owners! Im new and I have a few questions about my golf, i have been to a mechanic.and.. he is stupid... really... so I was wondering if anyone could help me here with either a DIY solution or at least an idea of what the problems are?

1. My power windows. The rear ones dont go up. One goes down with no problem and the other makes a horrible grinding noise... both need to be pushed up an inch, then down a cm.. then up an inch.. then down a cm.. just to get them all the way up!.. i try not to use them. I have had them looked at twice, replaced the motor and arm once and still problems. Any ideas?

2. When driving, mostly when engine is warm, sometimes when i get to about 40-60km it makes a reallly loud tinny rattly sound as i accelerate, my mechanic said its the engine mounts.. but wouldnt it make the noise ALL the time if thats what it was?

3. My abs light is on sometimes. I hope this is just a sign that I need to change the brake fluid? I dont really want to take it to the mechanic cause dont want to be spending hundrds of dollars for something i can do myself.

4. Where do I get the fuses? i went to bursons and repco and they had never seen them before. I try to stay away from the dealership as they seem to like to charge large amounts of money for things.. I paid 40 bucks for coolant concentrate! argh!

5. What is the normal temp for the mk3? When i got the coolant i had to flush the system cause they were different colours and i couldnt mix them.. now it seems to sit hotter than what it used to?(about halfway) is it possile that i got the wrong coolant given to me? it was G12 PLUS and it says G11 on the coolant thingy.

thats all i can think of for now..lol.. sorry for the bombardment!

[Brisben]

hello hello mk3 owners! Im new and I have a few questions about my golf, i have been to a mechanic.and.. he is stupid... really... so I was wondering if anyone could help me here with either a DIY solution or at least an idea of what the problems are?

1. My power windows. The rear ones dont go up. One goes down with no problem and the other makes a horrible grinding noise... both need to be pushed up an inch, then down a cm.. then up an inch.. then down a cm.. just to get them all the way up!.. i try not to use them. I have had them looked at twice, replaced the motor and arm once and still problems. Any ideas?

2. When driving, mostly when engine is warm, sometimes when i get to about 40-60km it makes a reallly loud tinny rattly sound as i accelerate, my mechanic said its the engine mounts.. but wouldnt it make the noise ALL the time if thats what it was?

3. My abs light is on sometimes. I hope this is just a sign that I need to change the brake fluid? I dont really want to take it to the mechanic cause dont want to be spending hundrds of dollars for something i can do myself.

4. Where do I get the fuses? i went to bursons and repco and they had never seen them before. I try to stay away from the dealership as they seem to like to charge large amounts of money for things.. I paid 40 bucks for coolant concentrate! argh!

5. What is the normal temp for the mk3? When i got the coolant i had to flush the system cause they were different colours and i couldnt mix them.. now it seems to sit hotter than what it used to?(about halfway) is it possile that i got the wrong coolant given to me? it was G12 PLUS and it says G11 on the coolant thingy.

thats all i can think of for now..lol.. sorry for the bombardment!

OK, Item 1 cannot help you.

Item 2, I think your right, sounds like it is pinging under load, I suggest it may need a tune up, does it happen at the 40 to 60 KM per hour or does it happen at the rpm (REVS Per min) check as this makes a huge difference to possible causes. it could be happening at certain revs which would indicate tuning. Does it happen more when you throttle down hard, or drive with passengers or up hills ?


Item 3 - ABS light, could be low brake pads, low fluid, check the fluid level, then take a wheel (front) off and check how much pad thickness is left, report back.

Item 4, sure other guys get fuses for their golfs, have you tried supercheap auto ?

Item 5 - coolant, It should sit about halfway, do you have enough coolant in the header tank, do you have the right qty of oil in the car, check these things first and report back.

Hope this gives you something to work on !

[klasse_puppe]

WOW fast replies! thanks guys!

With item 2. I have watched the revs and it doesnt seem to be connected at all. It doesnt seem to happen so much when I am going downhill moreso uphill or straight. as with passengers, its about the same when im by myself or with someone. and it happens more when i accelerate normally, doesnt happen when i put my foot down hard and does it very lightly when i go slow on the acelerator.
Ill check the engine mounts like suggested and get back to you.

3. when it stops raining ill check the brake pads

4. i have tried going to bursons, supercheap, autobarn, hagans, repco and not one of the people there had seen a fuse like mine. And someone jammed a normal blade fuse in there and its stuck.. lol

and 5. I have a 2.0 GL. and there is max oil and coolant according to the dipstick and the lines on the little coolant bowl container thingy lol

[Mrk_Mickey]

What kind of fuses are you talking about dude? Surely you don't mean the 10a, 15a, 20a and 30a ones you can get from any petrol station...

your rear windows sound typical of regulator failure. You can source some brand new window regulators from places overseas or from VW here, or you can buy second hand ones that are still as prone to failing as the rest of them. I've bought two second hand ones and one has failed, so it's a very hit-and-miss sort of thing.

If your ABS comes on every now and then, it could be a few things...your controle module could have a bit of a bad connection with all the soldered joints, in which case you'd need to take it out and have a look. But you're doing the right thing by checking the sensors on the hubs first

Running temps on mk3's vary a bit with each car. So long as your coolant temperature needle doesn't go past 5/8ths your car is normal.

I would have pointed the finger at a hole in the exhaust for number 2 lol..but if it's intermittent then I'm not sure.

[klasse_puppe]

you would think that i could get fuses anywhere but mine are not the same as the ones they sell anywhere here. The only ones they sell here are NAVARA brand (something like that) and they dont fit into mine it seems. There is one actually stuck in my car right now!
i took a photo of one of them and its here :

http://s944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/klasse_puppe/?action=view&current=Image009.jpg

[Mrk_Mickey]

you would think that i could get fuses anywhere but mine are not the same as the ones they sell anywhere here. The only ones they sell here are NAVARA brand (something like that) and they dont fit into mine it seems. There is one actually stuck in my car right now!
i took a photo of one of them and its here :

http://s944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/klasse_puppe/?action=view&current=Image009.jpg

Hehe....dude don't worry about getting the same ones. About 15 months ago I replaced about four of mine that had overloaded with the generic ones you get from any petrol station, and they're still working.

A 10Amp fuse is a 10Amp fuse, they're all going to do the same job .

[rayray086]

As Mickey said, the fuses are the same, just looks different. As long as you get the correct rating (sorted by the same colour) you'll be fine.

The horrible grinding noise is indeed the regulator cable. If the power windows sound like it's doing something, then the power window motor is fine, just have to change the power window regulator.

Could be the exhaust/cat heatshield working loose when you get the rattly sound?

It's good that you flushed the entire original coolant out before you put new stuff. The coolant temperature sitting exactly half-way is perfect.

[madglf3]

Hehe....dude don't worry about getting the same ones. About 15 months ago I replaced about four of mine that had overloaded with the generic ones you get from any petrol station, and they're still working.

A 10Amp fuse is a 10Amp fuse, they're all going to do the same job .

x2. I remember I did the same and never had a problem with them. The heads of the fuses may look different but they'll still do the same thing.


My coolant used to sit on around halfway (90 ish) if I remember correctly.

[pattso187]

Hi,

Number one definately sounds like a faulty window reg can be inspected easily enough just by removing the door trim.
Two could be you cat just rattling, does it occur mostly under heavy load, Heavy backpressure? Could be a variety of things though based on the info given.
Three sounds like most likely just brake fluid level. Worn pads will bring the light on permanently if you have pad sensors. If it is a faulty abs sender it will most likely be caused by either being a dirty face or a worn wheel bearing allowing the abs ring to come into contact with the sender or allowing the sender to not be read by the free play moving the sender wheel away from the sensor. Causing your light to come on intermittantly.
Four shoul be available at any good auto retailer or servo. Did you take a demo fuse or are you talking about a high current starter or fan or similar fuse in which case you will probably have to go to a dealer.
Five g12 plus or g12 plus plus is compatible with g11 but once you put g12 plus in you shouldn't mix it with any previous generations (g10,g11 etc) When you put in the g12 did you mix it one to one like stated on the bottle or did you put it in straight? Half up the guage sounds right anyhow. Most VW's run at around 100 degrees even though the guage usually reads 90 so no major concern as long as your fans are kicking in and the coolant is circulating.
Hope this helps,
Patrick.

[Ben_GTI]

Hi,


Two could be you cat just rattling, does it occur mostly under heavy load, Heavy backpressure? Could be a variety of things though based on the info given.
k.

My 2.0L make a rattle at 1700rpm when cold and under very light acceleration until the engine warms up.... No big deal, if I don't like it I just accelerate.

[Mrk_Mickey]

My 2.0L make a rattle at 1700rpm when cold and under very light acceleration until the engine warms up.... No big deal, if I don't like it I just accelerate.

that definitely sounds like an exhaust lol. Engine shake, such is life, tighten up anything that's affected by the shake or put something between the two items that are hitting to stop the noise. Simple!

That goes for the OP's problem, if it's the exhaust.

[klasse_puppe]

well i took m car to an exhaust place and they found that the exhaust was rattling against the heat shield. So they welded it and it doesnt seem to be making the noise anymore woot woot. $25 fix instead of a few hundred for engine mounts. Where on earth my mechanic got engine mounts from is beyond me, i dont think he even looks at the cars I take in there!

[Mrk_Mickey]

well i took m car to an exhaust place and they found that the exhaust was rattling against the heat shield. So they welded it and it doesnt seem to be making the noise anymore woot woot. $25 fix instead of a few hundred for engine mounts. Where on earth my mechanic got engine mounts from is beyond me, i dont think he even looks at the cars I take in there!

Something I've found with mechanics is that they're not as knowledgeable with VW's unless they've had experience with them before. Not that every mechanic is like that, just the ones I've been to