New Car - few questions

[Madz]

Hi Guys, Got myself a Mk4 Golf Gti last weekend. Already installed a boost gauge thanks to the great DIY/FAQ page here!

I've got a few questions though with some of the more mundane things on the car, hoping someone can help me:

1) When I open the car door I can hear a motor/pump or something run for a second or so. When I had the door open for a long time while installing the boost gauge I also noticed it run periodically. What is this??

2) What's the little red LED next to the drivers door lock button mean? It never seems to light up and I can't find anything about it in the owners book. Maybe it's broke?

3) I'm missing my remote/keyless entry from my last car - apparently that's optional - if I bought a key is the receiver in the car or is that part optional too?

4) Based on (3) missing, I thought I'd fit a remote system from Jaycar, wasn't sure if I'd get remote only or remote and immobiliser - so I thought I'd try the factory immobiliser. I took the little plastic black emergency key thing which I suspected would only unlock the doors, but to my surprise I was able to start the car with it! What gives there? Does this mean my car doesnt have an immobiliser?

5) Where do I find the compliance plate - I think it's a 2001 model, but I don't know what month it is. If it's after may 2001 does that make it the 2002 model??

6) The boost gauge shows about 6-7psi max. Seems to go up to that and stay - doesn't seem to overboost at all (peak higher and drop back). Does that sound right?

Thanks - really appreciate any help.
Mick

[SoVeReIgN]

Car door = Fuel pump priming itself.

little red LED = Blinks when the car is locked

6~7psi sounds right.

[Bubu]

5) No it does not make it a 2002 model. Its the build year that determines what year model your car is not the compliance date.

[Madz]

SoVeReIgN and Bubu, thanks guys for the quick replies...

SoVeReIgN - does the fact it's not flashing mean it's not locked? Based on another post here I saw some people's only flashed when turning the key to lock a few times - I tried that on mine and yep, it flashed after 3 turns!?, so I know the light is working. I'm getting a bit worried - light not showing it's lock immobiliser doesn't seem to be working!! Any ideas?

Bubu - I used to have an RS Liberty and I know with the Subarus they changed model mid-year (september) so a car manufactured in 2001.10 was actually the 2002 model - was wondering if VW was the same? or how do I find the official "build year" that you mentioned? is there a way to tell from the VIN number or something?

Thanks and if anyone can help me with questions (3) and (4), that'd be appreciated.

[HOLEIN1]

3) I'm missing my remote/keyless entry from my last car - apparently that's optional - if I bought a key is the receiver in the car or is that part optional too?

hey bud

not too sure what you mean here, are you saying that your car HAD remote centrall locking from factory and you have just lost the remote? or are you saying that it doesnt have it from factory?

if your car did have it and its just a case of a lost remote, you can get a replacement from your VW dealer - however be prepared to bend over and allow them to rip you a new one, prices are rediculous!

if your car didnt have remote locking fitted (like mine) i just got a aftermarket system fitted. i chose one of the dynamco ones as they had factory looking remotes and are aus standards approved

got it working fine with the existing immobiliser and LED

regards, dan

[Madz]

Righto - yeah, I meant my old car had it - golf doesn't - thought maybe the receiver was in all of them, they just didn't supply the keys, but that'd be pretty stupid.

Looks like I'll go aftermarket too....you talking about the drivers door LED - so how's yours work then - does it now start flashing when you press the button on your remote?

Thanks

[SoVeReIgN]

In most cases, if a car was built after august it was the next model year. But officially it should be when the car was complianced.

(These things are complianced when they are brought into the country, not when they are first registered)

I didn't know these golfs came without keyless entry.. Every mk4 I've seen has the cool flip key.

My brothers 03 GTI blinks it's little red light whenever the car is locked.. so I don't know..

[Treza360]

5) Where do I find the compliance plate - I think it's a 2001 model, but I don't know what month it is. If it's after may 2001 does that make it the 2002 model??

Mine is in the bootwell on the left hand side looking into the boot underneath the mat.

[Madz]

Mine is in the bootwell on the left hand side looking into the boot underneath the mat.

No wonder I couldn't find it! Thanks - there's also a little plate there with Build Date as well - so mines build date was 01/01 and complianced 04/01. Definately a 2001 model then, although I've only got the steelie spare (different to what the FAQ says)...

I bought myself a remote control/immobiliser kit from Jaycar - will give me something to do tomorrow

Thanks for all the help - main question I have left is why my factory immobiliser isn't working - is there any info around on how it works? ie are there any relays I should be checking or is it all done within the ECU? Is anyone able to confirm whether it should be possible to start the car using the plastic emergency key?

Mick

[Treza360]

No wonder I couldn't find it! Thanks - there's also a little plate there with Build Date as well - so mines build date was 01/01 and complianced 04/01. Definately a 2001 model then, although I've only got the steelie spare (different to what the FAQ says)...

Glad to help.
Shouldn't you have spotted it when you were checking out the spare and associated toolkit as well as checking for soundness and rust etc before you bought it?
Welcome aboard by the way.

[Madz]

Shouldn't you have spotted it when you were checking out the spare and associated toolkit as well as checking for soundness and rust etc before you bought it?

hahaha... yeah .... ..well...what can I say in my defence - 1 lady owner, lived nearby.... actually it's funny though because I did think for a while she'd stiffed me on the jack/toolkit - I opened up the left side panel where the hazard picture is and it was empty! Wasn't happy.....but now I've found all the gear cradled inside the spare!

Cheers for the welcome!

[Madz]

Well, I've got my immobiliser in and I now have keyless entry! Yay! It plays nicely with the factory system - I was worried when I had it half installed and then found the factory system requires a double pulse to unlock the doors (single pulse to lock). I think the first unlock pulse must be to disable the factory alarm (if one is fitted) - apparently this is a standard setup though as the jaycar alarm handled it no probs. For anyone who might be interested, the immobiliser is the Jaycar "Shadow" 3 point immobiliser (standards approved). It's not a trivial thing to DIY, particularly if you're concerned about blending the wiring in neatly under the dash.

I haven't hooked it up to flash the indicators yet as I read that you can program the standard Comfort and Convenience Module to flash the indicators when locking/unlocking the car - so I want to try that first. Will post back how I go. Speaking of the Comfort and Convenience Module mine most guys on the net talk about these having two plugs - a 23 pin and a 15 pin plug. Mine only has the 23 pin plug - anyone know what the extra functionality is in the other??

Cheers
Mick