R36 - common problems - what to advise VW?

[dannyjak]

Hi guys

Car is still under extended warranty but ending next year so wanted to get on the front foot and highlight any issues now and get them repaired under the extended warranty

1) Already had Mechatronics diagnosed and said it would need replacement (so ever so slight shudder, not really an issue but they'll have it replaced, parts and labour around $4k)

2) Heard the air con compressors often have an issue, my air con appears to work fine. Slight rattle from the front vents when aircon has been running for a long time but am told thats normal. However have heard guys here saying their compressors have gone kaput.

3) Haldex, not sure how to tell if there is an issue here

4) DSG makes a loud clack when the windows are down as it downshifts from 4-3 or 3-2 in D (coming to a stop), not all the time, sometimes its louder than other times. Reading on various forums and speaking to the technician, a common DSG behaviour as the solenoid/controller moves from one gear to another. Slow to engage reverse but am told thats normal DSG. Other than that is works fine, shifts smoothly.

5) Heard some people have a loud rattle on cold start?

6) Oxygen sensor, saw a recent post on this, but cant have it replaced under warranty if it hasnt thrown an error, they did a full scan and couldn't find a fault with anything other than the Mechatronics.

Anything I can do to test for issues or look at other common issues?

Thanks

[snerlo]

The loud rattle on startup would be the one to look at mate. Mine does it about half the time and apparently it is to do with the timing chain tensioner and goes quiet when oil pressure builds, normally after about 3-5 seconds. I think there is a fix but i am not 100% certain.

[eurobahn5]

Hey Snerlo how are those brakes going ?

[snerlo]

Good mate. They probably haven't quite fully bed themselves in yet but they are about 95% there. No noise or anything so all good so far thanks mate. I must be honest, I don't think they feel quite as grippy as the OEM products but that isn't such a bad thing as I thought that the OEM brakes felt like they were over assisted just a little. The way it is now is better I reckon, especially for those low speed braking efforts. Thanks for sending them too mate. I appreciate it. I think I was extremely lucky with the courier not pinging me for more weight as they clearly weren't 10kg's for the front two rotors that were strapped together!!

[XXX-1.8T]

Rattle cold start is Timing Chain wheels get them replaced about $3000 job.

Get that done too as there was a bulletin out on it.

[dannyjak]

Rattle cold start is Timing Chain wheels get them replaced about $3000 job.

Get that done too as there was a bulletin out on it.

Tried to google for the bulletin but couldnt find it, any chance you know where i can find it?

Also noticed you had your DSG fixed due to some clutch issue, any idea what that was and what the symptoms were that led you to report it?

[XXX-1.8T]

no google vw tensioner timing chain.

My symptons was the car wouldnt engage reverse.

And i had both clutches replaced and the tensioners replaced under warranty

[dannyjak]

Thanks - will check it out

When you said clutches replaced, that's a different part to the Mechatronics unit I assume?

[3C4M Guy]

My understanding is that during the early years of the B6 model run from 2006 to 2010, the timing chains fitted in the factory were not up to the job and failed early because they stretched. Ask around some specialist VW service centres and they will tell you it's very common. The timing chains on my 3.2L VR6 lasted only 60,000 km. And yes the job costs $3-4K to replace the 2 chains, sprockets and tensioner. When they stretch sufficiently, the car throws up a fault code for crankshaft position / camshaft position correlation error. Not sure what you do if you don't have the fault code yet.

[kleung]

[QUOTE=dannyjak;1148111]

3) Haldex, not sure how to tell if there is an issue here

Loss of traction under moderate throttle from takeoff. If the Haldex isn't working properly, you don't get drive to the rear wheels, so your car effectively becomes FWD only, which can't cope with the application of 220kw/350nm.

When operating correctly with reasonable tyres, it should be difficult to spin the wheels without deliberately intending to.

4) DSG makes a loud clack when the windows are down as it downshifts from 4-3 or 3-2 in D (coming to a stop), not all the time, sometimes its louder than other times. Reading on various forums and speaking to the technician, a common DSG behaviour as the solenoid/controller moves from one gear to another. Slow to engage reverse but am told thats normal DSG. Other than that is works fine, shifts smoothly.

It's not uncommon for there to be audible noise from outside the vehicle as the gearbox swaps cogs.

When you said clutches replaced, that's a different part to the Mechatronics unit I assume?

Correct. The mechatronics unit controls the cog swapping and operation of the clutches.

VW DSG (direct shift gear transmission) and Audi S-tronic FAQ-page 2 | VW TDI forum, Audi, Porsche, and Chevy Cruze diesel forum

[R36&GTI]

[QUOTE=kleung;1148495][QUOTE=dannyjak;1148111]

Loss of traction under moderate throttle from takeoff. If the Haldex isn't working properly, you don't get drive to the rear wheels, so your car effectively becomes FWD only, which can't cope with the application of 220kw/350nm.

Can be as simple as the motor powering the Haldex unit. Mine stopped working and P&P fixed the pump (stripped and cleaned I believe), which wound up less than $200. Now working perfectly again. Boy, you really find out how good the Haldex is (and how 'invisible' it is in operation) when it fails!

[dannyjak]

Thanks kleung, exactly what the VW tech said, that noise for cog switching is quite normal

Slow to engage reverse also is somewhat normal, but not engaging reverse at all sounds like a clutch problem?

[QUOTE=kleung;1148495]

Loss of traction under moderate throttle from takeoff. If the Haldex isn't working properly, you don't get drive to the rear wheels, so your car effectively becomes FWD only, which can't cope with the application of 220kw/350nm.

When operating correctly with reasonable tyres, it should be difficult to spin the wheels without deliberately intending to.



It's not uncommon for there to be audible noise from outside the vehicle as the gearbox swaps cogs.



Correct. The mechatronics unit controls the cog swapping and operation of the clutches.

VW DSG (direct shift gear transmission) and Audi S-tronic FAQ-page 2 | VW TDI forum, Audi, Porsche, and Chevy Cruze diesel forum