The "What did you do to your B4 today" thread...

[Steve Addy]

The original to the car black one it was replaced with a gray one now

Good to know. When I start hearing about grey ones failing then I'm going to get concerned...

Steve

 

[Stromaluski]

Apparently, its the time of year for ECU relays to die. Driving home an hour ago, mine died in the middle of an intersection. The car came with a box of parts when I bought it and there was a box for an ecu relay with a relay in it among all the parts. I (wrongly) assumed that meant that it had been changed at some point in the past. Had a feeling a while back that I should buy a spare ECU relay to keep with me, so luckily, I had one with me. Pulled out the old relay and it's a black case. Popped in the new one and it started right up.

I'll have to check that box of parts later to see if I now have an extra grey relay.

 

[thechoochlyman]

Well, I'm glad to know I've got a brand new one in my trunk then. Just in case I am also stricken by the great relay outage of ought-16.

 

[Stromaluski]

I'll have to check that box of parts later to see if I now have an extra grey relay.

So what about the clear relays...? It most definitely isn't black or grey.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

At this point many manufacturers have made 109s in a variety of colors. Black, grey, white...doesn't indicate whether or not it'll be faulty.

 

[Steve Addy]

So what about the clear relays...? It most definitely isn't black or grey.

That's the rare albino relay. You never see those...

Steve

 

[Abacus]

And they're a protected species.

 

[ToddA1]

Replaced the vacuum hoses that I missed from the N18.

Swapped out the dirty EGR cooler for one I cleaned a few days back. Wow... what a pita. Be sure to clean both and install both as a single unit. Now I need to turn down the EGR cycle, since everything's freshly clean.

Since I had to top off coolant, it made sense to install the VR6 overflow that I purchased a couple summers ago.

-Todd

 

[thechoochlyman]

I don't see how you guys manage to buy parts and leave them laying for years before installing. Lol I feel like I'm gonna explode from the anticipation if it takes me longer than two days.

 

[ToddA1]

You're 30 or below. I used to have your energy....

Now, I only want to fix what's broken.

-Todd

 

[Steve Addy]

I don't see how you guys manage to buy parts and leave them laying for years before installing. Lol I feel like I'm gonna explode from the anticipation if it takes me longer than two days.

It happens a lot, multiple vehicles and parts ordered in anticipation of needing always results in stuff sitting on the shelf for a while.

Steve

 

[Windex]

I used to be the same - parts went in within the week they arrived.

I have a whole control arm set for my B5 with adjustable uppers still sitting on the shelf from last year.

I figure they'll last longer if they season for a while.

 

[ketchupshirt88]

replaced my relay 109... been a tdi owner for about 4 years (and 5 diff cars) and this is the first one to die on me.

it was a black one, I replaced it with the grey one from the B4V and now I gotta order a couple. At least they are cheap.

 

[Digital Corpus]

Clutch slave cylinder lost its seal. Clutch slips at about 60-80% throttle depending on gear, but isn't a worry for normal driving. It's a dual feramic clutch disk that is overkill for what I need, but that's proving useful right now. It's not getting worse than what it is right now, so I'm going to bide my time. Starter, crank position sensor, front engine mount bracket, front engine mount, flywheel replacement, and 6th gear install are all inter-related to a clutch job so I'm going to give it some thought as to what I'm going to switch out and take some time off of work to do so.

 

[ToddA1]

I never displayed a front plate on either B4, and never got hassled. A couple months ago, I started getting pulled over all the time. Got another ticket last night, because the plate wasn't mounted. That was enough for me, so I made a plate bracket.

It mounts using the 3 stock holes with plastic anchors that I found in my parts box. No clue where they came from. The euro plate mounts over it and the state plate follows the same angle as the lower part of the bumper.

I was going to put a smoked plate cover on, but that may get me pulled over...








Fog dummy lens was coming off, so it was getting reattached.

-Todd

 

[powerstrokeless]

Okay now!

Had the HVAC worked on and I think he took the dash out? also came back to him and he installed a new controller, but since I wasn't using the A/C much,.. didn't get alerted about the condensation.
This whole summer have been experiencing water on the floors (passenger). Installed several pipes, including a radiator hose to the condensation pipe... had to just now renew it, hope what I did works!
Don't know why it has failed nor if what I did will work, tired of trying to find parts!

Nickel and diming __

 

[Stromaluski]

Okay now!

Had the HVAC worked on and I think he took the dash out? also came back to him and he installed a new controller, but since I wasn't using the A/C much,.. didn't get alerted about the condensation.
This whole summer have been experiencing water on the floors (passenger). Installed several pipes, including a radiator hose to the condensation pipe... had to just now renew it, hope what I did works!
Don't know why it has failed nor if what I did will work, tired of trying to find parts!

Nickel and diming __

Does the water on the floor coincide with using the A/C or does it only happen after it rains? It could be clogged rain tray drains. I've had that happen a lot.

 

[john.jackson9213]

Okay now!

Had the HVAC worked on and I think he took the dash out? also came back to him and he installed a new controller, but since I wasn't using the A/C much,.. didn't get alerted about the condensation.
This whole summer have been experiencing water on the floors (passenger). Installed several pipes, including a radiator hose to the condensation pipe... had to just now renew it, hope what I did works!
Don't know why it has failed nor if what I did will work, tired of trying to find parts!

Nickel and diming __

Check the Cabin Air filter. Also make sure the Cabin Air filter plastic holder is properly installed and tightened down. I pulled mine a few years ago, forgot about it till one day I left the car out in the rain (yes, rain in So. Cal.). Had water in the passenger side floor. Finally figured it out. Worth a quick look.

 

[Col Sanders]

For info, Anyone looking for a TDI, Caddy, Golf, Jetta, Van, and Passat, Craigslist Chicago has more than I've seen in along time ! I post this here because more visit this thread than any other. A green 97 B4 for $ 1100.00. Not bad at all. However it's GREEN, UGH ! Sorry Abacus.

 

[Stromaluski]

However it's GREEN, UGH ! Sorry Abacus.

I laughed.

 

[Abacus]

That's ok, I'd be divorced if I brought home another one.

And people who haven't owned a green one just wouldn't understand.

 

[john.jackson9213]

That's ok, I'd be divorced if I brought home another one.

And people who haven't owned a green one just wouldn't understand.

I have been told the green wagon goes or else... So I am patiently waiting for Anita to leave... That will give me one more space in the garage!!!

 

[Steve Addy]

I have been told the green wagon goes or else... So I am patiently waiting for Anita to leave... That will give me one more space in the garage!!!

Where I'm at I don't need to be told, I have no desire to look out on bunch of undone projects anymore.

Two vehicles and two motorcycles left to sell this year.

Steve

 

[ToddA1]

Stripped and repainted a Corrado Steelie, from the B4V. No clue why, but after 3 years the paint on just one started coming off. It was looking pretty haggard, so it had to change.






The stripper easily pulled the paint with just brush agitation, but the paint at the hub held strong. Scuffed up the metal with a red Scotchbrite, and painted with some leftover caliper paint. Not a dead-on match, but it'll do.

Also started refinishing the G60 steering wheel, from the sedan.

-Todd

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

I bought some of the last available Corrado steelies for my B4. Paint didn't do very well on mine, either.

 

[ToddA1]

Other than the hub area, that was the weakest paint that I've ever dealt with. I had the entire wheel stripped in less than 15 minutes.

As mentioned, this was the only wheel with an issue. I wonder if this wheel didn't get baked properly. It's in the rear of the wagon, baking in the sun.

-Todd

 

[Stromaluski]

I bought some of the last available Corrado steelies for my B4. Paint didn't do very well on mine, either.

Same here. I'm on my third set of Corrado Steelies. Paint on all of them has had the same issue. I need to repaint the ones I've got now. I'll get around to it sometime...

 

[tdidieselbobny]

Same here. I'm on my third set of Corrado Steelies. Paint on all of them has had the same issue. I need to repaint the ones I've got now. I'll get around to it sometime...

Any place near you that can powdercoat?

 

[ToddA1]

Same here. I'm on my third set of Corrado Steelies. Paint on all of them has had the same issue.

I guess I should feel fortunate that I've only had an issue with one.

I bought the most aggressive Kleen Strip stripper Home Depot sold... Pretty much effortless.

-Todd

 

[Stromaluski]

Any place near you that can powdercoat?

That's the plan for my current set. Just have to get around to it.