FWD Passat R36

[Radius]

Hi guys,

Having some trouble with my R36. Recently completely lost AWD function. Car has just been repaired by dealer, with replacement of an apparently faulty Haldex pump. However, I am still getting intermittent failure of the AWD system, confirmed by the dealer when I took it back the following day and a scan revealed a logged intermittent failure of the 1-day-old new pump (apparently the initial scan prior to the repair showed the old pump to be in full-time failure). They're not sure what's going on and I'm taking the car back to them for a more detailed assessment shortly.

Was wondering if anyone might have some ideas what would be the most likely cause of these issues? Most useful info I've gathered from here and other googling usually suggest that replacement of the Haldex pump is a definitive fix. I'm hoping it's not the Haldex clutch pack / rear diff itself. The car is a MY10.

If anyone's wondering.... it's very obvious when you no longer have AWD in an R36, even at normal driving pace in the dry with decent tyres.
Thanks everyone!

[Radius]

Ok so the print out from the dealer scan cam back with a 02248 error code, valve for controlling clutch operating angle error, intermittent mechanical failure. I’m guessing this valve is separate from the Haldex pump that was replaced?
Looks like I might be up for a new valve or maybe the Haldex ECU? Anyone have experience with this error state? Just like to be informed and prepared before going back to the dealer and really appreciate the collective knowledge here. Long time reader of this forum since 2009 after learning how to stalk my car across the ocean.

Thanks again.

[MIG]

The valve is part of the controller, you can see pictures of it here HPA Motorsports - Haldex.G40BRComp - Haldex Controller - Gen 4 Competition

Check ebay or the WTB section of this forum, as people replace these controllers with aftermarket ones.

[Radius]

Cheers thanks for that! Looks like a worthwhile upgrade if the original controller does indeed need replacing. I have always wondered whether there would be any accelerated wear on the Haldex clutch pack, rear diff & other rear driveline components given that the race controller will have them engaged more often. I have this notion in my head that the rear driveline would have been sized up by VW as a part time only, “light duty” component set. Happy to be corrected!

[Radius]

Will be a couple of weeks before I have a gap to get the car look at. Will let you know how it goes. Thanks again!

[Radius]

Hi team,

Just an update. So as expected, the Haldex ECU needed replacing in addition to the Haldex pump that went in a week or so ago. I opted to let the dealer sort it out so a new OEM Haldex ECU has gone back in. It's great to have an AWD R36 again for sure.

As an aside, I had a quick chat to a new sales rep at the dealer. He says that both Passat 206tsi sedans and wagons are now discontinued, to allow the Arteon to stand on its own. You'll still be able to get a Passat 206tsi for the time being until the current build cycle is complete. No new builds beyond what's already in production though. So, another rapid wagon is about to bite the dust it seems .
He also said that the Arteon "V6" is "definitely coming". Treat this with the usual dose of scepticism, but an Arteon Shooting Brake VR6 +/-turbo (rumours are out there that there's a factory 3.0 VR6 turbo Arteon prototype already running) would be a consideration for a worthy R36 replacement down the track! It'd want to be priced well below an S4 though.
If it adds any legitimacy, the sales rep did try to talk me out of getting the Golf R wagon (never had this happen before) and recommended I wait for the Arteon V6. Anyway, I'll believe it when there's a demo Arteon VR6 parked at the dealer.

[kleung]

As an aside, I had a quick chat to a new sales rep at the dealer. He says that both Passat 206tsi sedans and wagons are now discontinued, to allow the Arteon to stand on its own.

The VWAu website only shows two sedan models - the 132TSI and the Comfortline, both equipped with the same 132kw 1.8l turbo 4 cylinder, but the 206TSI wagon is still listed. Unless VW are planning to introduce a wagon variant of the Arteon I can't see how a go-fast Passat wagon would have any significant impact on Arteon sales.

[Radius]

Yes you’re absolutely right. Latest official media just yesterday confirms 206tsi wagon to continue but the 206tsi sedan has been dropped globally. I’d guess the Arteon would then likely be up for a price adjustment. Maybe the current promotional price will become rrp?

I’m interested to see what the facelift later this year will do for the B8 Passat. It’s expected to get some grafted-on Arteon design influences. Would be nice if it got some mechanical upgrades as well. As it stands, I do respect the 206tsi as a fantastic bang-for-buck package, but just not convinced that I’d be satisfied replacing the R36 with one. Any R36 owners gone down this path and how’d you guys find it as an upgrade? How about going from R36 to current Golf R wagon? Do you guys reckon it’s worth it?

[kleung]

Would be nice if it got some mechanical upgrades as well. As it stands, I do respect the 206tsi as a fantastic bang-for-buck package, but just not convinced that I’d be satisfied replacing the R36 with one.

Agreed.

I drove a friend's BMW 430i a little while ago, and while it was nice and all, the engine note just sounds wrong when you're driving an $80k car. Performance wise, there's nothing wrong with the 206TSI - it's actually slightly quicker to do the ton than the R36, and with less weight over the front wheels it should handle better too. All while using less fuel, too, but it's just not the same without a 6 cylinder engine under the bonnet.

Pretty please VW, can we have the 300kw twin turbo 3.0L V6 in the Passat wagon? Or failing that, give us the Arteon R Shooting Brake with the TTV6?

[dinot81]

Agreed.

I drove a friend's BMW 430i a little while ago, and while it was nice and all, the engine note just sounds wrong when you're driving an $80k car. Performance wise, there's nothing wrong with the 206TSI - it's actually slightly quicker to do the ton than the R36, and with less weight over the front wheels it should handle better too. All while using less fuel, too, but it's just not the same without a 6 cylinder engine under the bonnet.

Pretty please VW, can we have the 300kw twin turbo 3.0L V6 in the Passat wagon? Or failing that, give us the Arteon R Shooting Brake with the TTV6?

According to German car magazine AutoBild, Arteon R with Turbo 3.0 VR6 (can't remember if twin turbo was mentioned) is expected to go on sale in December this year in Europe. Also planned is Passat R with same engine.

2015 Tiguan 130TDI R-Line, Pepper Grey, Panoramic Sunroof

[Radius]

That’d be exactly what I’m looking for dinot81. Either an Arteon Shooting Brake VR6 or Passat R wagon VR6 (really don’t mind even if it’s naturally aspirated again.... the US Atlas is still using the VR6 3.6L). I agree Kleung, the 206tsi I’ve testdriven before and at normal Aus road speeds, it feels punchier from low revs than the R36. The overall car though just doesn’t have that unique feeling I get with the R36 though. It feels a bit like just another engine option for the B8 Passat. There used to be a real “R division” with properly unique R versions of the Golf, Passat and even Touareg. Now if you want a real R Performance VW, there is only the Golf.

The B6 Passat and Mk5 Golf/Jetta come from a time when VW took some risks and really went out there to take on the premiums on a budget. Yes, there are reliability issues due to over-complexity. Apparently Mk5 Golfs/Jettas are hated by panelbeaters due to the overly complicated front end shut lines and the number of components involved in a simple front-shunt. The following VW generations have brought in massive improvements in refinement and technology, they’ve dropped a lot of the unnecessary complexity / fragility, but they feel a bit like “GFC specials” in the sense that they seemed to have been designed with a factor of perceived austerity in mind. A small example.... I went to check out the Golf R during the last service. It’s an awesome car, I’m still to testdrive one and it’s still seriously on my shortlist. For me though, the back seat is always the first place I check out in a prospective new car as I’ve got kids / parents / in-laws to fit there. I found hard plastic renditions of the soft-touch front door cards in the rear. The sales guy rightly said to me that “no one really cares about that”, and don’t me wrong, I know it is a really little minor thing. But coming from a Mk5 Jetta and a B6 Passat which were consistent from front to rear, it was a tad disappointing and hard to ignore once aware of it. Anyway, I’m sure I’ll completely forget about it once I actually testdrive the Golf R LOL.
Sorry for the rant, I’ve just been really keen to update from the Passat R36 and if there was a direct new version, then VWA would have had my money ages ago.
There’s lots of talking up about the Mk8 Golf being a massive leap forward, and definitely the next Touareg looks like a step in the right direction. I just don’t want to be waiting that long.

[kleung]

There used to be a real “R division” with properly unique R versions of the Golf, Passat and even Touareg. Now if you want a real R Performance VW, there is only the Golf.

It seems odd that VW started diluting the R brand almost immediately after its introduction. All three of the original R models - the R50, R36 and R32 had fairly extreme engines for their respective classes. The R Touareg was dropped altogether, while the VR6-powered Passat lived on for a few more years in the B7 Passat after the R36 was discontinued along with the B6 range. The R32 was replaced with an admittedly even more potent turbo 4, but the performance is just no substitute for the noise that 3.2l VR6 engine made.

The B6 Passat and Mk5 Golf/Jetta come from a time when VW took some risks and really went out there to take on the premiums on a budget.

And it showed. There's so much clever stuff in the B6 Passat and the Mk5 Golf that hasn't been matched to this day. Sadly, VW has again diluted a lot of the clever stuff no doubt in a bid to cut costs. For example, even today, few mainstream manufacturers use laser seam welding to assemble their vehicles. The telltale is the uninterrupted roof line - if you look, most cars have a trim piece that runs fore-aft on either side of the roof. This covers up the seam where the body panels were welded together. VAG cars don't have this trim piece.

What's really remarkable is that VW never really actively marketed this stuff. Some of these things were so simple and subtle that you'd barely notice them, yet VW baked them in to the design. Something as simple as triggering the auto headlights early if the auto wipers operated at greater than a specific frequency for a period of time. Such a simple thing, and so easy to incorporate, yet few manufacturers do it. VW never really marketed it either - the car was fitted with auto headlights, but unlike most other manufacturers, they really were automatic, and not just dusk-sensing.

they feel a bit like “GFC specials” in the sense that they seemed to have been designed with a factor of perceived austerity in mind.

But that's a core element of VW design - conservative yet elegant designs. They tend not to do 'look at me' designs like most American marques do, and what Honda is currently doing with the design language on the current Civic range.

[QUOTE]But coming from a Mk5 Jetta and a B6 Passat which were consistent from front to rear,[QUOTE]

Not quite. The lower part of the door cards on the B6 Passats are a hard scratch plastic, as are the plastic sills below the side windows in the cargo compartment.

There’s lots of talking up about the Mk8 Golf being a massive leap forward, and definitely the next Touareg looks like a step in the right direction. I just don’t want to be waiting that long.

VW don't really do 'massive leaps' I think. Their designs tend to evolve. There was a marketing photo done for the Mk7 Golf where they parked all 7 generations side by side, and you can see clear links and family resemblances between each generation.

Personally I think each generation has been an improvement on the last (except perhaps the Mk4-Mk5 changeover - the Mk6 was probably what the Mk5 should have been), and having had a Mk7 110TDI Highline as a loaner a few years ago, I'm quite impressed with the Mk7.