scrote

OK - mind made up - we plan to up-grade the bus to a newer one. Small dilema - Have had a few probs with the current model which I have fixed - but there will be faults registered which a dealer will spot and probably haggle down the value - has anyone near to Bury St Edmunds got a VAG-COM so I can clear them ? - Or do you think this is not ethical ? Scrote

Sorted ! I had not had the chance to look at the pump as suggested - but it looks like all is well again after a few days the smoke stopped and the heater is working. I wonder if it was just burning off an accumulation of diesel ? hanks for everyones help. Scrote

Steve - thanks for your prompt reply and the rapid delivery of the new glow plug - much appreciated My next plan is cleaning out the combustion chamber before I buy a new metering pump - but if anyone could give me a steer in the right direction it would be helpful !

Hi everyone - sorry to raise this yet again - I have been through the entire 23 pages of the thread in FAQ and would like some clarification - 1 - heaps of smoke appeared last week (never had it before) - aux heater exhaust damp with un-burnt diesel 2 - Fitted new glow plug (had to drill out three bolts - bit of a nightmare but all back together now) 3 - still heaps of smoke - aux heater exhaust hot and have the jet engine sound, although this seems to cut out after a while. So - having read the thread, do I need a new metering pump or do I need to clean out the combustion chamber ? regards - Scrote

Thought you may be interested that new Brake light switches are sometimes very diferent from the original - but dont be put off. Having suffered the glow plug light flashing and other warnings on the dash - decided to replace the brake light switch (thank god for this site - could have spent hours or big bucks trying to find the fault myself) Fraud main dealer was not very helpful and was not able to get me a replacement until monday - vw main dealer had one in stock and said it would fit a sharan of similar age and type (115 tdi) - he came out with a bright green thing that looked very different form my old black one. However it fits and works (

Hi Guys - Grey smoke time !! - where is the best place to buy a new glow plug for the aux heater at the moment - Nothing on flea bay :lol:

Your views are very welcome........... My twin boys now 2 and a half, my daughter 9 - we do not have the need for that extra space now the boys are todlers - equally we like the room of the bus and the ability to go away for a weekend without a fuss with all thier stuff!!!!! We have an 02 Galaxy Giha with 105k on the clock and are torn between an upgrade to a newer version of the same or maybe a change? I like the Passat estate but would consider a Safira - although reviews have been poor. Anyone down-graded from a bus and regretted it ? There must be people in a similar position in the past who can advise - please let me have your views. Scrote

I have turbo cut out probs on my 02 tdi 115 and believe it to be for the same reason as after a really long run its fine for a few weeks - it has been highlighted before and someone actually took the turbo out and cleaned it up which cured it - unfortunately I dont have the time to do this so we just live with it. Ho hum - the joys of running a bus !!

Hi - had a misfire problem with my 02 TDI which was diagnosed as an injector fault - I took the top engine cover off and stripped and cleaned the wiring connectors to all injectors as well as the connector at the cylinder head which cured the problem. I am told the injectors are VERY reliable and your problem may be electrical ? Just a thought - good luck scrote

Hi everyone, Been out of the loop for a while disapearing up my own a

The air con coolant is pumped through the system by a pully which runs off the belt (on the left side of the engine on a tdi) The pully is idle until you press the air con button. Start the car without air con and look down the side of the engine - you may need a torch - you will see the idle pully. Then turn the air con on - you may well feel a slight change in revs - and the pully should be revolving. This will show you the air con is ok as if there is a problem anywhere in the system it will not rotate. This test MUST be done when the air temp is at leat 6 degrees as the air con will not operate below these temperatures. Good luck

weve all seen the adds on flea bay selling tips for the gal that are actually in the car manual - such as how to code keys and setting the service timer - Now i dont know how this site funds itself but im sure there are costs somewhere How about the site creates its own flea bay user id and gives away the same info for nowt in an auction - yes nowt - but has the option of hitting the buy now button for 50 p ? If they found the information useful ? this would stop those selling the information, who i despise, and may also create some funds! What do you think ? sorry if this is just plain stupid - i have these silly ideas sometimes and i am a little hung over from beers last night

Thank you Bus.... Recent 4 day trip to center parcs - two rear and the central middle seat removed...... 2 adults ( well me and the wife ) 2 wee men ( 14 months ) 2 adult cycles 1 trailer bike for the wee men enough toys to keep wee men occupied 3 suit cases and changing bags etc 1 large cool box 1 large box of food 1 two seater pram NO roof box - and it all fitted in yes weve had the odd problem - and ive fitted a new alternator, rear exhaust box and drop links, the turbo still cuts out when cold but we live with that for now and if i had to change it Id have another bus - be it gal shazza or alhambra.

recon MAF faulty ?

Hi Bleeno, If you need one in a hurry and have to go to main stealers I found VW to be cheaper than Fraud by more than half - I think Fraud quoted

I had to remove the tensioner when I replaced the alternator and its not a bad job you could try releasing the tensioner and locking it in position which would then enable you to check all the pullys to see which one is the trouble i used an open ended spanner on the metal block on the top of the tensioner and pulling it towards you you can line up two holes further down on the tensioner - you can then place an appropriatly sized nail or drill bit throughthe holes locking it in place. The belt will then be lose and you can play with all the pullys to see which is not running smoothly good luck

The initial repair was done by the Ipswich (murder capital of east anglia) branch and the subsequent repair/replacement was done by the cambridge branch as they did it at the wifes place of work in Newmarket - the sevice and help on the phone was also very good - very little waiting on hold and call backs when they said they would - all in all a top service :ph34r:

Had a repair done to a chip on the bus windscreen over a year ago by autoglass - didnt cost us anything as they claim through your insurers and they gaurantee it for the life time of your ownership - after about 12 months the resin lifted and they came out and repaired it again but said it may not hold - sure enough it lifted again so they came out today and fitted a brand new spangly heated screen for nowt. Im very rarely impressed with companies these days but I have to recommend them and their service. well chuffed :ph34r:

Hi MO4 - i dont want to confuse the issue but....... i thought I had a leak from the same - and went to fraud who said I cant buy the gasket separately and had to buy the whole rocker cover ( re-mortgage please ! ) However VW would sell me one on its own - or was it the other way round ??? I took the cover off (and theres one real pig of a bolt at the back right side so a flexi drive will be needed) and found that the gasket itself was fine and dandy - infact Id be surprised if many break as they are substantial rubber jobbies. You could just try nipping all the bolts up - wipe down the back of the engine and keep an eye on it. The only other possibility is a leaking EGR valve - which turned out to be my problem and a mechanic I know said not to bother replacing it untill it gets REALLY REALLY bad. good luck

My misfire came up as No 1 cylinder - which is, as you say, the furthest left if viewed from the front of the vehicle. My misfire was at first intermittent but gradually got worse but was cured by a strip down of the wiring, a clean up and re-connection with a wee nip on all the contacts to ensure a good connection. The best way to get the really awkward nut lose from the back of the cam cover is to cut your hands to ribbons and swear alot good luck

I only have one proper key and one flimsey plastic thingie - whats the cheapest way to obtain a proper spare ?

You could try re-programing the key Look at FAQ - theres a post there telling you how its done

Just a thought - could it be the water pump ? - i think its that side.

When i serviced the bus I removed the oil filter cap using an oil filter strap which is a fabric loop - I wouldnt recommend the chain type as this will also crack the plastic - but the fabric one did the job for me.