bora 2000 problem

[vwbora1]

Hi guys!

Have Bora for the last 6 years. Never had any problems until lately.

The car is 11 yo its 4 cylinder sedan. Ir still runs fine but sometimes it makes some noise under the stirring wheel and with the noise car starts running a bit rough. As soon as you put the gear box to Neutral its runs smooth as new.
The trick is it starts and finishes anytime. Went to a mechanic but it was running smoothly fine.

Hope my explanation make sense and someone had such experience.

Thanks for the help.

[Manaz]

I have a whirring steering setup - had one of the power steering hoses replaced, doesn't seem to have fixed the issue, but the steering does seem to work fine.

On the rough running - get the car diagnosed by a VW specialist (they have access to appropriate tools for interrogating the VW ECU, which keeps track of a surprising number of things). Not overly familar with the 4pot engine, but if it runs individual coil packs, they'd be something I'd be investigating.

The other thing to look at would be engine/gearbox/dogbone mounts, particularly if the behaviour changes as you take it out of gear...

[vwbora1]

Thanks Manaz. The car is at the mechanic, will see what they find this time

[whiteVR6]

The 4 cylinder runs a single coil and it doesnt have the misfire fault code feature found on the later v5/v6 engines.

[vwbora1]

just got a phone call from the mechanic. Looks like the computer is stuffed.

[Manaz]

VW specialist with the correct tools to query the ECU (no standard OBDII doesn't count)?

[vwbora1]

VW specialist ?

I wish I had that money to afford VW specialist.

[Manaz]

I wish I had that money to afford VW specialist.

Really not that expensive, compared to say, a replacement ECU (particularly if you find you didn't need it and replacing it doesn't resolve your problems...

There's a VW specialist down your way if I recall (not talking dealers here, specialist independant workshops), and Golf_Loon at Camden GTI wouldn't be a horrid trip for you...

[vwbora1]

I actually haven't tried non dealer VW specialists. The guy who's doing my car right know I can trust him. The only problem is I can't leave car for too long. I need it almost every day. So the guy is really doing A good job. But this time I ll leave it until its fixed.

[Manaz]

I actually haven't tried non dealer VW specialists. The guy who's doing my car right know I can trust him. The only problem is I can't leave car for too long. I need it almost every day. So the guy is really doing A good job. But this time I ll leave it until its fixed.

Unless he has the correct tools to interrogate the ECU, I'd be concerned with a claim that the ECU is dead...

[vwbora1]

Im sorry my fault. Perhaps word stuffed was a bit to much. The ECU isn't dead but it has to be replaced.

Thanks for the help Manaz

[dylan8]

without questioning your mechanic. but what makes him think it needs replacing?
and without the correct tools like what manaz is saying i'd imagine it would be impossible to tell what was wrong.

Have you had the MAF and things like that replaced before? Is the car doing anything different, temperature guage not sitting on 90oC, blowing smoke or bad fumes?

[Speed]

Im sorry my fault. Perhaps word stuffed was a bit to much. The ECU isn't dead but it has to be replaced.

Thanks for the help Manaz

I've not needed to yet but if ever I have a problem, I'll be going straight to Golf_Loon at Camden GTI and I live near Blakehurst.
Especially when it comes to specific VW stuff, like an ECU or electrical issue.

[RolfGolf]

You are better off getting the car scanned by a VW specialist.

No one here is trying to send you off in the wrong direction. I understand you may feel loyal to a particular mechanic that you've seen for many years, but the car can reveal many faults via the software a specialist uses to interrogate it. It is not something your average mechanic would have access to and it will save you a lot of time and money tracking down what could be one of many things.

Check the Recommended Repairers and Parts Suppliers thread for someone near to you. They are all reasonably priced and are recommended for a reason.

Best Wishes.

[Manaz]

Im sorry my fault. Perhaps word stuffed was a bit to much. The ECU isn't dead but it has to be replaced.

Thanks for the help Manaz

What possible reason is there to replace the ECU unless it's dead (partially or fully)? It could just be throwing fault codes (it's meant to do this) which need clearing (need the right tools to do so).

Changing ECUs is not a simple or cheap matter...