qgoose

In the camshaft sensor cleaning guide (top sticky in this forum group) it has some instructions that if you have to disconnect the battery for more than 15mins then you need to leave the key in the ignition turned to the on position (but not started) for about 20 minutes to reset something. Perhaps this is what you need to do? Hope this helps Si (V)W

My car has just failed the MOT retest on emissions. Frustratingly when I took it in initially a week ago, the emissions passed and haven't driven it between tests (so only covered about 4 miles in the last 10 days) so I wouldn't have expected the cat to fail. My understanding of things is that the richer the mixture the more fuel and hence more CO being emitted (the engine passed the hydrocarbon test). Are there any common problems that I might have a look at such as air leaks, run the car so its hot and then take it back again etc, or do I need to get the vag-com on it as first priority? Tha

From actual experience a 'stock' G60 corrado would be eaten alive by a 'stock' golf vr6 in most situations. This is because of the fuel economy software that VW built in. Basically in the corrado the fuel is pumped through lean for a couple of seconds before delivering the full amount of fuel (this seems to be referred to as 'enrichment' by the g60 fraternity). What it boils down to is that if you have been trundling along and then floor the throttle then the car accelerates like a 8v but if you have been thrashing the car through the countryside (plenty of acceleration and braking) then the e

Just installed vag-com myself this weekend. I can recommend alpha bid as well. My cable was cheap and appears to work well. Helped me diagnose an electrical gremlin. If you don't have a laptop then it is possible to simply install the software on your desktop and carry it all down to your garage if you know you have a problem and want to fix it. I can vouch for the fact that its not something you'd want to do every day but if you have a problem then it's worth the hassle. There are a couple of similar programs I have found that work on some of the windows mobile phones. I am trying to get one

Out of interest where did you get the conversion done? Did you carry out the conversion yourself? I was quoted

Not quite the standard 'What does everyone else out there get' but more an expression of disbelief. I've finally managed to get all 6 cylinders running on my vr6 and driving back today through town I averaged 31 mpg (3.5 mile trip from cold)! Sure beats the 17mpg I was getting before the weekend! Who says that vr6s are thirsty? Not sure I would have got quite such good fuel economy if I wasn't following a micra for most of the way thought :-) Wonder how low the fuel economy goes now on the country roads round this way ;-) Si (V)W

I agree (with Justicevr6Sharan). Without just getting a standard socket for a ratchet fitting you may have problems tightening the plugs up to the correct torque settings. Si (V)W

>to tell u the truth, i have seen white residue like creamy stuff in the coolant (in the round holder) dont >knw if u call that the expansion tank. >I've had problem with the coolant also, been losing coolant very slowly, its visible slowly on the pipes, >whitey when dried.. I'm not sure what creamy stuff in the coolant means but generally in the case of a head gasket leak I would look for creamy residue in the oil - for example on the bottom of the oil filler cap, and check to see if the coolant feels oily and smells of oil (remembering to let the car cool down thoroughly first t

Ahh! Thanks for that. Is there a way to retrieve the blink codes or is it a case of saving up for a lap top and a copy of the vag-com software then? I have seen a tolol in halfords that claims to spit out blink codes but it doesn't list the early golf vr6 as being compatible (although the passats of the same era are covered). I don't suppose anyone has tried one of these tools with an OBD1 golf have they? Thanks in advance Si (V)W

I have an ODB1 vr6 golf (early type with only the 4 pins for connecting). I am trying to use the blink codes from the ECU but although I have jumpered the pins together, I can't see any flashing /blinking LEDs anywhere. I assume I should be looking somewhere around the dashboard but my workshop manual is rather vague as to where the MIL is located. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance Si (V)W

Interesting idea converting the connector. Does this make it easier to user diagnostic tools like VAG-COM? Si (V)W

According to my trip computer my overall average fuel consumption (it doesn't quite count as economy) is 28.9mpg. I haven't had the car that long but on a 20 min motorway trip round to mates houses I would normally see something like 33 or 34mpg. I have decided to see how the figures match up between the trip computer and calculating it by hand based on the petrol I use. Could be interesting though, the odometer already shows about a mile less travelled than the trip computer. Si (V)W

Ahhhh! What a good idea. I assume that you inserted it through the various drainage holes and then just worked all the cables round to the desired positions. Many thanks for your help. !lol BTW, The picture you have in the Authors box is of a cabriolet. Have you dropped a VR6 lump into it? 8) Si (V)W

Hi All My golf has an exceedingly rotten tailgate. I have sourced an appropriate replacement part to replace it. My query for anyone who might have done this swap before is how to route the electrics and air (for the central locking) and water (for windscreen wipers) pipes through the hatch in the channels at the side of the glass. Has anyone done this who might be able to offer advice. My best idea at the moment is to run some lengths of string through when removing the old cables and pull the ends back through using the string. Thanks in advance Si (V)W