Garage Cant Find Problem They Caused

[ant192]

Hi guys, hoping that someone can help me with the problem on my mk2 v6 auto gal.

 

My gearbox broke a few weeks ago and after shelling out

[Scorpiorefugee]

Vicky,

 

Part of your problem could well be that your hearing is more acute than the mechanics - not uncommon. My wife is always complaining about noises I cannot hear. Also, you know what it was like before but they do not. It could just be that they have disturbed something which affects the sound insulation but that does not explain the steering fault code.

 

Re the steering being off centre, this is probably because they disconnected the track rods and, if they have not been replaced in exactly the same position, they could have set them for correct tracking but still in the wrong position. Others may disagree but my experience is that the tracking must be readjusted to restore the steering wheel centreing and do not allow them to just reposition the steering wheel as errors here can give tyre wear problems which will only show later and be virtually impossible to diagnose. They will dispute this but, if it were mine, I should insist.

 

This is not a solution to all of your problems but You should pursue the cause of the reported error and I hope that one of the many wise owls on this site can give an explanation as to what the error code means in mechanical terms.

 

Ron.

[insider]

First, check the power steering fluid level.

 

If the garage had followed the correct procedure for removing and installing the gearbox they would not have had to touch any part of the steering system.

However, as the steering wheel is now off-centre and wasn't previously they must have done something to it.

The "steering angle sensor" is included in the air bag sliding contact ("clock spring") located behind the steering wheel. If this was removed and re-fitted for any reason then the ESP module needs to be re-configured. Quote from TIS:

"WARNING:The electronic stability program must be re-configured. Failure to follow this instruction may result in personal injury. Configure the electronic stability program using WDS."

(WDS is Ford's version of VAG-COM)

 

Regarding the grating noise, if it is the driveshafts then it's possible these were damaged whilst the gearbox was being removed. Again from TIS:

"CAUTION:Support the halfshaft. The inner joint must not be bent more than 20 degrees. The outer joint must not be bent more than 50 degrees."

 

Hope this helps and good luck in tackling the garage with these issues.

[Scorpiorefugee]

From what I understand and, more so from what Insider has said, I think you should ask the garage to tell you exactly what they have done. It was all probably with the best of intentions but it seems that they have upset a few things that could have implications later. I should not criticise the garage, unless it was a Ford dealer as they should know better, because these things are getting complicated. It is really the stage where anything major should only be carried out by properly trained engineers but that is virtually impossible as there just isn't the time to train enough to the required standard and keep them up to date.

 

If you can get them to retrace what they have done without creating ill feeling you may have a way to sort it all out before it all goes wrong.

 

Ron.

[ant192]

Cheers for all your help guys! I'm going to call the garage tomorrow and explain that the noise/vibration has got worse and that i'd like them to check the tracking and driveshafts and try to find the problem. I'll post what happens over the weekend.

[Scorpiorefugee]

I don't want to labour the point but the key thing is to find out what they disturbed. If they are any good they will come clean but you may have to be a bit diplomatic.

[ant192]

Ok, car has gone back to the gearbox specialist, the mechanic came out with me on a test and fortunately it seemed to be particuarly noisy, which i guess made him take me seriously! Still a bit tight lipped on what he thought may be wrong tho. They've kept the car overnight, its going on the ramp tomorrow, and he conceeded that he may have to take the box out again, which he seems reluctant to do and will take a couple of days. Just goes to show, make sure that if you get work done - that you are clear that it is guaranteed for a period of time.

 

Regarding the steering angle sensor and wheel alignment, I read on a audi forum that wheels that need tracking would give a steerig angle sensor problem, so this could well be a simple fix. I know that they were ok when it went in, how would the garage taking the engine/box/subframe out affect the traking?

 

I'll post when i hear back from the garage

Vicki

[insider]

They didn't need to take the engine and subframe out to do it but apparently that's how they decided to do it.

If, by the subframe, they mean the front crossmember (i.e. what attaches the suspension to the body) then it's always recommended to check the tracking after re-fitting it because it's unlikely to go back in exactly the same position.

[MadBaz]

The track rods need to be disconnected to get the box out, the tracking should be redone as a matter of course! The steering rack needs dropping too, this is where problems occur, the box may come out without dropping the steering rack but it's a bitch to wiggle it out, and even more of a bitch to get back in.

[ant192]

Right, called the garage today to find out if its ready. they told me that they have had the box out stripped down (took 2 days?) but still cannot find the cause of the noise. they say that the noise is still there though. The prognosis was "could be a wheel bearing or summit, love". great

 

Luckily my hubby is back next week, but he will be as stuck as me i think. I forgot to ask if the tracking had been done, would dodgy tracking cause wheel bearing noise?

[Scorpiorefugee]

It sounds like you're no further forward and one has to have some doubts as to whether they did take the box out again. If they did, they would have disconnected the steering again.

 

Are you aware of any changes to that? Does the steering feel normal - apart from being off centre? Is there any sign of wear/feathering on the edges of your front wheels. The tracking would have to be a long way out to generate noise and you would certainly be aware of the problem.

 

Have you used the garage before or do you now anyone who has?

[ant192]

The noise is maybe slghtly worse. In a way i just want whatever it is to break so that i know what it is! My hope is that the noise, steering off-centre and steering angle sensor code is all the same thing. From reading other forums, the tracking being out could make the sensor record a fault, and it needs calibrating:

From ross-tech wiki

 

00778 - Steering Angle Sensor (G85): Mechanical Failure

Possible Causes

 

* Steering Angle Sensor (G85) Basic Setting lost

* Steering Angle Sensor (G85) Installation Position incorrect

* Suspension Geometry incorrect - Could this mean tracking/wheel alignment?

 

From the sounds of it i have to then re-calibrate the sensor - http://wiki.ross-tech.com/index.php/VW_Sha...s_(MK25)#Coding

 

I've borrowed some axle stands and trolley jacks so the plan for the weekend is - tracking on sat (anyone have any advice on where, what type what price etc) then if necessary have a good look underneath at bushes, bearings to try to find the source of the noise. Anything else i should check while i'm there? wish me luck ;)

[Scorpiorefugee]

Vicki,

 

I am sure that there are people on this site who are far better qualified to advise you than I am but my advice is that you need to be very careful and really should be leaning on tha garage to be a little more helpful. It does seem certain that they have disturbed something and, if they genuinely cannot advise you as to what is wrong, you have little chance of sorting it out unaided. Tracking and suspension geometry can be tiger country and working under 2 tons of galaxy can be downright dangerous. Tracking needs to be done with the wheels on the floor and if the suspension geometry is out then there must be something probably damaged or out of position which would mean any attempt to sort out the tracking would be couter productive. It is vital to start in the right place and be certain that your judgement of what is right or wrong is correct. If you get it wrong you can only make things worse.

 

By all means have a look but do please get someone to stand by if not to help.

 

And....... Good luck!

[ant192]

Ok, a little update. I took the car to get the wheels aligned on sunday. That seemed to straighten the steering wheel.

When my husband got home on monday (yay) he reset the basic setting on the steering angle sensor with vag-com, and hey presto, no ESP warning light.

So it would appear that little problem is fixed.

My car still makes a horrible grinding noise though, we checked the suspension and wheel bearings today and there appears to be no problems or play in anything. So i'm a bit stumped now. I've been using the car reguarly, it may just be me getting used to it but when i have been driving a while (i mainly do short journeys) it seems to get a bit quieter. like something warming up.

 

We made a couple of other discoveries today too, firstly the car had an EVAP emissions fault code which we found out was me not putting the fuel cap on properly!!

Secondly that the garage that did my gearbox have decided to hang on to my engine and battery cover (in addition to