Seatdriver

Hi all, My 2005 alhambra (45000 miles) has developed very slight play in the steering column, meaning if I apply upward force to the steering wheel I can feel and hear a slight clunk as it moves. The adjuster on the column is tight and my local dealer has never heard of wear developing like this. If it is a bush that has worn in the top of the column can it be replaced seperately or is it a case of new steering column required? Oddly there is hardly any movement when i push the steering wheel side to side (perhaps better leverage from below). Any thoughts Thanks

Hi all, Long time since my last post but my Alhambra parking sensors have stopped working. What happens is this. Put car in reverse Only the rear speaker bleeps once followed by a longer higher pitched tone, which stops after 2-3 seconds. The dash indication goes from steady to flashing The external sensors no longer sense proximity All external sensors are buzzing and if I put my ear to each sensor I can hear them ticking. The front speaker by the parking ECU does not bleep anymore. I suspect the speaker has gone duff, and suspect if any part of the system stops working the system turns off and shows a common fault indication. Penny for anyones thoughts. Oh and its as dry as a bone under the seat, and dusty!

Anyone any ideas Now suffering occasional difficulties selecting first and reverse no matter what the temp. Wife is now happily smashing up the syncro cones i suspect! Cost of new DMF+clutch

Hi all, Suspecting DMF failure here but all opininons welcome, Car now begins to shudder when on idle when cold, also when engine is upto operating temp and revs are lifted from idle the engine shudders until revs are kept steady. I also appear to have a dry bearing noise and increased vibraition in the cabin. The engine doesnt misfire and pulls without hesitation. Thanks all

My sisters alhambra has suffered the dreaded drivers door wiring loom degredation where the thick brown wire snapped (subsequently repaired, other wires (red/Yellow) is beginning to break up also. When the breakage ocurred the electrics in the car went a bit haywire, but the repair seems to have solved this apart from the following: 1 With the key out of the ignition the LED on the top of the drivers door remains lit and steady. 2 If you turn the key in the ignition the LED goes out, the car starts and there appear to be no other electrical problems ie everything works as it should. Does anyone know what the steady LED is indicating thanks

Right ho, 2005 1.9 tdi 130 32,000 miles, lots of stop start hilly driving and has developed the following, At idle the engine begins to shake (not straight away but begins randomly, and once there can remain or fade away!), feels like a missfire but it isnt. Touch the clutch pedal slightly, not even fully depressed OR slightly lift the idle without touching the clutch and the shudder dissappears (although the idle feels noisy, BUT THERE IS NO MIS FIRE ON THE ENGINE) If you stand outside there is an audible chattering noise from the centre/gearbox side of the engine bay which disappears when the actions described above are carried out. Now this coupled with another irritating noise the car developed 18 months ago leads me to suspecct the DMF is about to expire, has anyone any details on the internal make up of the VW DMF as all DMF's are constructed differently, and has anyone had to change the DMF to resolve this type of fault. Many thanks

Good point regarding masking the problem, but I think this is a DMF issue. The engine is not mis firing but develops a shake at idle, and in my opinion the only item capable of producing this shake is an out of balance flywheel or out of balance clutch. The gearbox would certainly be in a very bad way for it to cause the whole engine/gearbox to shake as the only really large lump in the box is the diff, and that will be static at idle. My thoughts are that my wife has a bad habbit of leaving the car in gear on the drive (which is quite a steep slope) which is not a bad thing but she always manages to rest the car on the clutch (ie if you depress the clutch pedal the car will drop forward slightly). This stress will have been placed on the clutch/flywheel all evening/night ie almost 12 hours most nights for the last 4 years (1 lecture regarding this = husband 0 wife 1 with NO option of a re match) This may have stressed the DMF/clutch. Now back to the topic. I was only interested in seeing if the problem was an oscillation issue ie 850rpm faulty DMF or clutch = shake. Lift revs to 900 see if it stops. This shake completely disappears once the car has warmed up. Any thoughts anyone? Oh and Ive come to the conclusion that Zafiras are not very well built and wont be purchasing one!

Now I have read somewhere on this forum that it is possible to raise the idle speed via VAG com. I have previously posted regarding this noise from under the bonnet but I also have an additional irritaton which is as follows. When the car is cold and is driven a short distance, when left to idle in neutral after a few seconds (not immediately) there is a peceptable shaking/shuddering develops that can be seen by the gear lever moving slightly (forwards/backwards) but can be felt inside the cabin. This shaking is directly related to an external chattering sound that can be heared from the passenger side of the car. However if I raise the revs whilst still in neutral and not touching the clutch pedal by 50rpm the shaking stops as does the chattering sound outside. The noise also stops is a depress the clutch but leave the throttle untouched (revs may rise with taking load of gearbox away but cant be certain) Now is this the sign of a dying DMF, can the idle revs be raised, or could it be something else? As posted before this is a 2005 1.9tdi 130 alhambra stylance.

Ho ho ho very amusing regarding whining BUT! This darn metallic bearing sound is still there when the AUX belt is removed and the car is static, it makes the noise with the clutch in or out. This clearly proves that it is not from the tensioner, alternator, power steering pump, belt or gearbox! But it could still be from the turbo or the clutch or the flywheel. BUT if I lift the revs very very slowly to 2400 rpm + then let the engine revs die it hardly makes the sound. Very suspicious that the DMF is going bad but I am going to start a new post on my second plan of attack regarding the chatter noise from the gearbox as I am mixing up two posts here.

Hello again, still trying to find the cause of this noise. My post appears to have gone a little off track so just to bring it back on topic. I have no noticed a second strange issue with this car of mine when it is started from cold. When idling with the clutch released the engine begins to shudder, this is directly associated with the chattering sound I can hear from the passenger side of the car. If I depress the clutch then the shudder stops, or if I leave the car in neutral and lift the revs slightly it again stops shudddering. Once the engine has been run for a few miles this shuddering doesn't happen. Now I still have this dry bearing sound I originally described, but I have now carried out many checks including once again removing the aux belt so the alternator, power steering pump etc are NOT turning and the noise is still there. I have blanked off the EGR valve hose and there is no difference. One question for someone who definately knows VW gearboxes, In neutral do all the gear shafts rotate or is there a single idler shaft? This problem is either turbo related (for the original posting noise) or the DMF/clutch going bad and the chattering I cn hear is the clutch springs being given a hard time by a shuddering DMF oh and the wife reports a very slight judder when reversing uphill. This doesn't happen when setting off forward up the same incline. Any thoughts out there?

This noise is driving me mad! Maybe this is why I am considering buying a very poor replacement, but someone MUST know what is making this noise. If I have to I will return the car to the main agent (or the local turbo experts) they charge the same per hour and see if they can diagnose the noise but I do not have an endless supply of money to throw at it. Is there any member who is a turbo wizz! Is there a re circulation system on the turbos on the Alhambra 130 1.9 tdi? Come on everyone save me from a fate worse than vauxhall,

Fleng, Right now then everyone else who views this post please next time you drive your car listen for this dry bearing sound on your car, on my car it wasn't there when the car was 12 months old but it is there now. Something is misbehaving or is choked up but what it is I am unsure. With enough information ie car mileage, how its been driven etc I am certain the cause of this noise can be diagnosed and cured. I have considered buying a Zafira as a new car replacement to be rid of this noise!!!!!!

Right ho, Now this 55 alhambra 1.9tdi 130 is driving me nuts. There is a noise that sounds like a dry bearing coming from under the bonnet. This sound appears after the revs of the car have begun to drop. The only item under the bonnet that I and the main agent can point a finger at is the turbo. I have noticed a few posts where people make mention of hearing this noise but no one ever posts a solution or the cause. I would be very grateful if all you 130bhp tdi guys could have a listen next time you drive your car and let me know if you hear a dry bearing noise that appears after the engine starts to slow (typically round the 2500rpm mark. So far I have followed a careful logical investigation into this by 1 removing the aux belt so PS pump Compressor Alt and tensioner are all static (noise still there) 2 With Aux belt removed I have revved up engine with clutch up (noise still there) 3 With Aux belt removed I have revved up engine with clutch down (noise still there) So you can see it can only be one or both of two things 1 Turbo or its associated pipework 2 The DMF Now its worth noting that when the car is cold there is a chattering sound from the gearbox area, which could be the springs in the clutch adjusting for a going faulty DMF or indeed could it be the DMF springs chattering. This noise dissappears when the car has gone a few miles. The car spends 99% of its time crawling round town so if it was a 110 tdi I would be expecting overboost issues by now, this doesnt seem to be an issue with the 130's. Having received good advice from this forum I would like anyone reading this to have a listen to their car and see if it is a common fault with the 130's. As a thought if the EGR valve was to stick open could this cause any sort of cycling of the turbo ie exhaust gas passing back into inlet when the turbo is spooling down. Oh and the main agent had a 130 which they sold that made the same noise but the guy who bought it moved away so they were unable to say if the noise was ever found. This is the only thing spoiling a damn good car. Thanks

mikej, Hold on absolutely no offence taken and none meant. This is the best forum I have come across, the only problem is loads of people dont come back to report if and when their problems are sorted. Car is now back home and how is this for main dealer service, they changed the regulator for

To be honest I have never had an issue with the main SEAT agents round where I live, now the time I owned a Ford Galaxy thats a different story! Most competent garages round my way charge approx

Hi again Car due into Seat main agent on Friday for repair. Quoted prices for D/S regulator

Mirez, Thanks for the response, the sound just seems more pronounced than usual! I am hearing three locking sounds not two. Just wonder if the problem with the electric window mechanism is causing a problem. The car is due into Seat main agent on friday for repair to either the regulator/motor or both so i'll report back at weekend if the locking changes.

Hi all, My 55 plate Alhambra still has a bust drivers window that wont move (believe the regulator has broken) but something else has been bugging me. When I lock the car with the remote I hear the lock motors move to lock the car, but it seems to last longer than usual, like its having an additional go at locking the doors. It never fails to lock or open but it seems to take longer than usual. The battery is fully charged and all the other functions from the drivers door control work perfectly. Penny for anyones thoughts! Oh and Happy new year everyone.

Had a dig on youtube and lo and behold there is someone on there asking what is the possible cause of a rattle from the passenger side front of his golf. It was the same rattle. Once the car has been driven for a couple of miles the rattle is gone. Does anyone know if these 6 speed boxes have common faults etc. Oh on another note the car still makes the dry bearing chatter whilst declutching and changing gear. anyone ever heared this noise on their car and found a cure? Merry Christmas everyone.

Right ho, Wiring seems intact and I noticed tonight that when I move drivers side switch to either raise or lower the window all the lights dim (ie there is a load on the electrics following the switch movement), so I am now suspicious the window is somehow jammed shut (maybe pulled itself out of true during the cold snap when it was frozen shut). I will now try to find the post where it was mentioned that the window can jam fully closed and the cut off regulator cuts in and therefore the window will not move. Penny for anyones thoughts

Thanks seatkid for your fast response, will check wiring tomorrow. On another issue is there an issue with the 6 speed box with regard to it chattering when in neutral and left at idle when the engine and gearbox is cold (can only hear outside at the passenger side front). I have noticed this noise dissappears once the car has warmed up slightly. Many thanks

Hi all, merry Christmas. My prezzie on Christmas day from my 55 alhambra was no movement from the drivers door window when the switch is operated. The only sound is two very quiet humms like a door lock mechanism. Nothing else? All other controls work fine. Came across a post where someone mentioned the window becoming jammed in the raised position. With all this cold weather I wonder if this is also a possibility. Oh I also noticed that the central locking when it locked made additional locking humms that I have never heared before! But the car still locks, although my wife mentioned that the car did misbehave once when she came to lock it (it didn't lock properly the first attempt) Penny for anyones thoughts.

Hi, During the cold weather I have noticed the manual gearbox in my 55 plate alhambra 130 (33,000 miles) has developed a chatter when the engine is at idle and stone cold (-5 at the time). If the clutch is depressed the noise stops. This noise is not there once the engine has warmed up. My question is does the 6 speed vw manual gearbox have a weakness to cause this chattering sound, is it hearalding some future

Bit early? SEAT asured me the belt needed changing at 4 years regardless of mileage, anyhow they stood the cost due to other issues so no loss to me there. Nope its not a belt as I have run the engine with the aux belt removed so all pulleys static and the noise is still there. I have noticed that I get a whistle from the turbo if I stay in 1st gear and accelerate hard then take my foot off and let it slow down on the engine. I seem to remember reading that the EGR valve can stick and cause problems, or maybe turbo! Surely someone else out there has had the same noise found the culprit and cured it. Is there any way to stop the turbo spooling up to check it isnt the cause (I realise I will get an underboost fault). Anyone?

Hi, I have read several posts where people report hearing a whirring noise from the engine compartment. As it appears to be a common issue can anyone enlighten me as to what the cause is. My car 1.9TDI 130 55 plate done 33000 miles mainly crawling round town. I can best describe the sound like a ball bearing swirled round in a tin can which eventually slows once you stop swirling it. This noise appears when I accelerate and dip the clutch or when static with clutch down and rev the engine and then release the throttle? The cam belt has been changed last year and the noise remains when the aux belt is removed and the engine run. Anyone got any ideas or theories as to what could be causing it. The noise seens to be devorced from the engine revs (it appears to follow and slow after the engine revs have begun to drop) if this makes sense! Its the only thing spoiling a very good car thats given up to now 100% reliability. Any ideas anyone?