Shudder when slowing down

[Transporter]

Greg, Thanks for the feedback.

The "tinny rattling gushing" noise appears to eminate from the transmission or water pump area and can be heard with the head under the bonnet at idle and is a separate noise to the juddering noise and vibration at 1400 rpm on overrun. But may the cause may ultimately be the same. At this stage my money is on the auto transmission.

To check if the noise is from the water pump you could easily remove water pump cover - held by 3 bolts (no need for new gasket, just smear a bit of oil on that rubber gasket before you refit the cover) and try to move the water pump gear by pushing on the edge of the gear, if the water pump bearing is worn out the gear would be bouncing on the other 2 gears there. If that would be the case you can expect the coolant leak soon!

[Silver Caravelle]

To check if the noise is from the water pump you could easily remove water pump cover - held by 3 bolts (no need for new gasket, just smear a bit of oil on that rubber gasket before you refit the cover) and try to move the water pump gear by pushing on the edge of the gear, if the water pump bearing is worn out the gear would be bouncing on the other 2 gears there. If that would be the case you can expect the coolant leak soon!

Thanks Transporter, that's an interesting point regarding the water pump and very good picture. I have just sent a detailed email to the dealer regarding my concerns prior to booking it in for a thorough investigation. At least it is now detailed in writing as a potential reference source for the service guys when they are investigating. A five minute chat doesn't convey things in detail and is open to misinterpretation of what is actually occurring.

I will report back on the findings.

Cheers, Scott

[Tornado T5]

If any body in Melb with a T5 128 kw auto is available, I would be grateful of some time to compare noises!

Thanks,

Scott

Scott, would love to help however I'm away in a day and back end of Jan. Hopefully it's rectified before then, if not remind me with a PM and I'll see what we can do.

[Silver Caravelle]

Scott, would love to help however I'm away in a day and back end of Jan. Hopefully it's rectified before then, if not remind me with a PM and I'll see what we can do.

Tornado, much appreciated.

Best Regards,

Scott

[4wheels]

Hi Scott,

You're also welcome to compare 'notes' with me, but mine's a manual 4 Motion.
I'm in Fairfield, where are you? Any-way I'll be around the next few days. Call me on 9481 5673 to arrange if you wish.

Brian
2007 Trakkadu.

[Silver Caravelle]

Hi Scott,

You're also welcome to compare 'notes' with me, but mine's a manual 4 Motion.
I'm in Fairfield, where are you? Any-way I'll be around the next few days. Call me on 9481 5673 to arrange if you wish.

Brian
2007 Trakkadu.

Brian,

Thanks for the kind offer. I have discussed with the dealer and they are on board to take it for few days in a week to fully drive it and check it out. I am in Glen Iris. I will give you a call in any case.

Cheers,

Scott

[Silver Caravelle]

Dear all,

To provide an update, the dealer checked out the auto tranny and there was no fault found and they reset back to factory default. It felt a little more responsive and smoother. But in my view the underlying issues are still there. Until something actually breaks there is not much more that can be ascertained at this stage. I do have my theory that it is to do with the lock up clutch sticking/not engaging when it should - causing the vibration and rumbling/shudder.

P.S .received a Golf 2.0 TDI Pacific 6 speed DSG as a loan car. I be wouldn't be rushing to endorse one of these. My Mulltivan felt very refined by comparison! I am not sure the DSG is all it is cracked up to be and certainly wouldn't be hanging out for it in the new T5.2. It is sort of all or nothing with the response by comparison with progressiveness of the tiptronic 6 speed.

Regards,

Scott

[Tornado T5]

Dear all,

To provide an update, the dealer checked out the auto tranny and there was no fault found and they reset back to factory default. It felt a little more responsive and smoother. But in my view the underlying issues are still there. Until something actually breaks there is not much more that can be ascertained at this stage. I do have my theory that it is to do with the lock up clutch sticking/not engaging when it should - causing the vibration and rumbling/shudder.

P.S .received a Golf 2.0 TDI Pacific 6 speed DSG as a loan car. I be wouldn't be rushing to endorse one of these. My Mulltivan felt very refined by comparison! I am not sure the DSG is all it is cracked up to be and certainly wouldn't be hanging out for it in the new T5.2. It is sort of all or nothing with the response by comparison with progressiveness of the tiptronic 6 speed.

Regards,

Scott

Sorry it's not all sorted to your satisfaction. Re the DSG, I think the new Transporter 7spDSG gets hill hold which (compared to current versions) stops the vehicle from rolling back slightly before engaging 1st. I agree it will take a re-adjustment in driving technique although I felt the Caddy dsg I had as a loaner changed more smoothly and far more quickly than my T5's A6. I think were it falls behind the current auto is when crawling around at very low speeds.

[Silver Caravelle]

Sorry it's not all sorted to your satisfaction. Re the DSG, I think the new Transporter 7spDSG gets hill hold which (compared to current versions) stops the vehicle from rolling back slightly before engaging 1st. I agree it will take a re-adjustment in driving technique although I felt the Caddy dsg I had as a loaner changed more smoothly and far more quickly than my T5's A6. I think were it falls behind the current auto is when crawling around at very low speeds.

Tornado,

Thanks again for the feedback.

Still rumbling when coming to a stop and still too much reasonant vibration for my liking.

To update, I have discovered a rattle in the rear silencer - probably just a lose baffle weld. Not sure to what extent that is contributing to the overall concerns. This will get replaced once verified by the dealer.

Furthermore, the auto reset by the dealer has not made any difference.

A little strange, on the rare ocasion when deaccelerating, the drive (ie revs) drops to idle (as if it is in neutral) as distinct from changing down through the gears. Once I accelerate, drive takes up again as normal.

Also starting to unearth there is something not quite right with the power steering pump that is possibly contributing to the abnormal reasonant vibration. The P/S has been on the noisey side for as far back I can remember. Interestingly, there is now a slight squaling (?) noise that can be traced to the P/S when there is no steering pressure applied - generally noticable about 1500 rpm to 1800 rpm. When the steering is applied the squaling noise disappears back to the other P/S noise - if that makes sense. Could this be a fauly P/S shaft or Gates belt? P/S has ample fluid in reservoir. Has anyone has P/S issues that I can draw upon?

Thanks,

Scott

[BrianJ]

My power steering pump also causes some vibration at low revs, and has been doing it for the last 20,000km or so. I had the gates coupling looked at during the last service but appearently it look ok. There are other threads around of people having their P/S pump replaced trying to fix similair vibrations but it was still there after enormous expense. I have begun to suspect that it might be greater load on the pump due to the front strut top bearings becoming tighter, and I may get that checked at the gates coupling replacement service when the entire front of the car must be removed.

I do not have the squeeling noise.

Brian

[Silver Caravelle]

My power steering pump also causes some vibration at low revs, and has been doing it for the last 20,000km or so. I had the gates coupling looked at during the last service but appearently it look ok. There are other threads around of people having their P/S pump replaced trying to fix similair vibrations but it was still there after enormous expense. I have begun to suspect that it might be greater load on the pump due to the front strut top bearings becoming tighter, and I may get that checked at the gates coupling replacement service when the entire front of the car must be removed.

I do not have the squeeling noise.

Brian

Thanks Brian, I think I have now resigned myself to waiting for something to totally break, as this is only tangible way of getting a dealer/VW excited about fixing anything under warranty. Otherwise they tend to go into denial with the 'this is normal' routine. Clearly they are not into good old fashioned diagnosis. I can only point out my observations to them, but get the impression that they think I am total pain in the arse.....and I am civil to them! The thing is, I grew up on a farm pulling engines out of cars and motor bikes and at least 35 plus years of seeing every conceivable thing that can go wrong with many a car and I am not even trained mechanic! It gives me the irrits when I know when something is not right on this rather expensive low km piece of VW machinery and they treat you like a idlot.

Cheers,

Scott