I had the same issue when I bought my car years ago. The convenience fuse kept blowing and the switch got so hot the plug melted. I swapped in a chinese rockauto fan and its been fine for almost 50k
The "What did you do to your B4 today" thread...
- Thread starter Windex
- Start date
thechoochlyman
Vendor , w/Business number
Swapped out my front console for one without a lot of extra holes in it. lol I've tried a lot of various things over the years and wanted one that looked "whole" again.
As part of this I wanted to redo all the wiring behind it, especially with how I had my switch plate wired up. I also repainted my plate and put in two matching blue switches.
Put a super bright LED in the E-brake light holder just for the heck of it
And moved that pesky relay from behind the console to on the side of the fuse box, where it should have been all along IMO.
As part of this I wanted to redo all the wiring behind it, especially with how I had my switch plate wired up. I also repainted my plate and put in two matching blue switches.
Put a super bright LED in the E-brake light holder just for the heck of it
And moved that pesky relay from behind the console to on the side of the fuse box, where it should have been all along IMO.
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Starion_slider
Well-known member
Reluctantly put a “new” viaco window regulator in drivers door. Surprisingly it worked perfect first shot. My last oem one has had the last few teeth welded back a few times and I decided i’ll just try the new one on the shelf. Also cleaned and lubed up the drivers door jam switch and screw so the alarm stops re-arming after i open the door without quickly starting the car. Still trucking along as the daily 100+ miles a day. I think it’s sitting around 440k now.
Did a rattle can job on the steelies, came out halfway decently. Gonna wait a few days for the paint to fully cure before I put the wheels on.
Self etching primer-> duplicolor wheel paint ->duplicolor wheel clear.
Put a 20w solar battery maintainer on it to keep the battery topped up between uses. Don't drive the B4 as much as I used to, so I am hoping this is a good solution. Solar (w/charge controller)-> SAE -> Anderson SB50->battery
Self etching primer-> duplicolor wheel paint ->duplicolor wheel clear.
Put a 20w solar battery maintainer on it to keep the battery topped up between uses. Don't drive the B4 as much as I used to, so I am hoping this is a good solution. Solar (w/charge controller)-> SAE -> Anderson SB50->battery
gfletch71
Member
I love reading stuff like the end of your message, about to take my 96 b4 glx that was tdi swapped down to Va to visit my buddy’s! But first had to do the front and back wheel bearing breaks on all four sides both front coil over mounts because they where squished badly. Did my oil change like 300 miles ago, today I’m doing the lower ball joints and separate belt tension as it’s wobbling and squeaking a whole ton!
JordanTr
Veteran Member
Got the last pesky door handle tuned up. 12/12 working now!! 
gfletch71
Member
Was up till 1:45am wrenching on the car cuz I leave Saturday. Ended up swapping the front lower ball joints and passenger side tie rod that broke doing wheel bearing and hubs. Swapped the new pads for a set from orielys because the R1m pads from amazing showed signed of being dropped before delivery and one side blew a part after touching the side. I’ll take a photo later today. Did the serpentine belt tensioner and pulley as those where wobbling and thought to be my squeaking, also greased it but it seems like my harmonic balancer is squeaking when cold and not when driving or on any throttle so I’ll replace after my trip down and back. Only got the little vacuum line in the ecu and my squished front motor mount to replace and it should be 100% caught up on maintence items. Still gotta look into the grinding breaks sounds like my dust shield is rubbing badly.
gfletch71
Member
Day late but I drove down to Va, no issues besides my limp mode which genuinely has me stumped for a few reasons, maf and map are still reading low vs specified. Mafs usually 100 or so low and only gets to 700+ usally sits around 400-550 tillfull throttle around 3500rpm or so(glx auto cluster ftw) and map only gets to 14000 at the same rpm and throttle and usually stays around 12 until then. Ive smoke test the intake twice checked all my vacuum lines even after I replaced them a month ago. Started to adjust the way but my laptop keeps crashing on me so yay. It was at 4.6-4.8 fully warmed up on idle and never got to more then 34 on full throttle. But I did have to replace the snapped serptine belt and torn power steering belt, fun on the side on 81 espically when I had no idea the power steering pump was held on by 4 bolts and needed to be moved over serval inches, anyone know why the pump was at the end of the adjuster in the old belt and the new one half way? anyways I gotta make a form for Leslie the green gaint. So I stop spamming this thread
thechoochlyman
Vendor , w/Business number
Got in my new shift boot from RedLine Goods. Really great quality and product, really can't recommend them enough! It was a long wait for shipping from Poland, but first-timers can get a decent coupon. This one was about $55 shipped, with the upgraded Nappa leather and white stitching. My previous one came from a seller in the UK and lasted about 4 years, but it was much thinner leather and I had worn through it in a couple of spots.
I had the "the wing mirrors are shaking like crazy and it's not from the stereo or the engine" so I figured I was on borrowed time with the glue on those mirrors. Got an aspherical, heated driver's side wing mirror and convex, heated passenger side wing mirror. Aftermarket, ebay from Latvia. Seems to be OK quality. ~$20/ea delivered
JordanTr
Veteran Member
I learned a painful lesson this week on just how useless these cars are when they lose prime. Discovered a no start condition when we returned to the car at the park and jet after being away for 8 days (and after 13 hours of planes, trains, and busses). The bottom of the IP was wet and there was a puddle on the ground. Since we were 250 miles from home still, I hailed an Uber and got a few useful tools (vac bleeder etc) but the leak was bad enough that I couldn’t pull enough vacuum to get fuel into it. Took a rental car home, had a short sleep, got a dolly for the truck, dollied the rental back since 1 way rental was not an option, picked up the car, and returned home after another 12hr travel day.
The worst part of all of this was that I squashed the little voice in my head that said maybe it wasn’t a good idea to take the car with the IP in this state. It never stumbled or had a hard start previously so I thought I still had some time before doing the seals since it was just a tiny bit wet on the bottom. Guess not!
I know what I’m getting up to later this week…
The worst part of all of this was that I squashed the little voice in my head that said maybe it wasn’t a good idea to take the car with the IP in this state. It never stumbled or had a hard start previously so I thought I still had some time before doing the seals since it was just a tiny bit wet on the bottom. Guess not!
I know what I’m getting up to later this week…
alanack
Veteran Member
Got the new turbo in the B4 GLX....
No more overboosting, builds a healthy 14-17psi.
Oil consumption is way down... went from a quart every 600 miles to a less than a quart every 1,000. Still need to work on that. Definitely a bit high, but for 320,000 ehhh.
Going to change the oil a few times and see where that goes.
Car is still bucky and runs crappy at low rpm in parking lots... I think its from the grabby clutch and the tune.... clutch grabs hard but slips at higher rpm with your foot in it.... i guess the south bend clutch is weak..
Going to do a new exhaust with weight reduction, definitely needs rear brakes and need to get some better 5 lug wheels for it. I would like to stay with 15s or 16s. Gotta figure out why the ac wont kick on, ( if you Jump the compressor it works) and the heated seats dont work either.
Body's really nice on this car, Black GlX leather is mint, and the 5 lug vr suspension and brakes is a good plus.
Steve Addy
Top Post Dawg
I need me some of those!!!I had the "the wing mirrors are shaking like crazy and it's not from the stereo or the engine" so I figured I was on borrowed time with the glue on those mirrors. Got an aspherical, heated driver's side wing mirror and convex, heated passenger side wing mirror. Aftermarket, ebay from Latvia. Seems to be OK quality. ~$20/ea delivered
Steve
alanack
Veteran Member
Timing belt time!
Took me 3 or 4 times to get it to run. Then another attempt to get it timed correctly.
For what ever reason the pump doesnt like to sit where the timing pin fully engages.
Did some experimenting with tensioning the belt with the pin in and out, pushing down on the pin helped a little, but the pin woud still bind in its slot.
The pump likes to retard to itself when you tension the belt, thus making the car not run.
I ended up leaving the pin out completely and purposely advancing the timing on the gear.
Tensioned the belt and it nothing jumped, and the IP pin engages now. Car start up and ran.
Timing is on the advanced end of the graph but i think it will be fine.
Super annoying. But good for another 50,000.
Old belt had 50k on and still looked good, but I dont trust it.
Took me 3 or 4 times to get it to run. Then another attempt to get it timed correctly.
For what ever reason the pump doesnt like to sit where the timing pin fully engages.
Did some experimenting with tensioning the belt with the pin in and out, pushing down on the pin helped a little, but the pin woud still bind in its slot.
The pump likes to retard to itself when you tension the belt, thus making the car not run.
I ended up leaving the pin out completely and purposely advancing the timing on the gear.
Tensioned the belt and it nothing jumped, and the IP pin engages now. Car start up and ran.
Timing is on the advanced end of the graph but i think it will be fine.
Super annoying. But good for another 50,000.
Old belt had 50k on and still looked good, but I dont trust it.
JordanTr
Veteran Member
I found the same deal with the lock pin on the pump. The pump is at the top of the stroke so it wants to jump off the pin. I’ve found the belt from crank pulley to IP has to be tight which ensures the pin can be pulled in and out without drag. On the next belt tooth, the pin still goes in but the pump is not timed correctly.
Steve Addy
Top Post Dawg
Yes, you always have to push down slightly on the lock pin to get the belt engaged in the proper tooth, it's annoying, but once you do it enough it becomes second nature.
Steve
alanack
Veteran Member
Yup it makes me wish i had another set of hands haha.
Getting slack out from between the IP and crank gear is critical!!!.
I think they changed the design for the ALH to fix this issue
Starion_slider
Well-known member
Starion_slider
Well-known member
Finished up the heater core job lastnite. Ahhh its nice to finally have heat again…..even though this morning was like 60’s out in CT. Last week was 30’s and all I had was heated seat on my 50 mile commute. Gotta love B4’s. ;-)
alanack
Veteran Member
I wish my heated seats worked..
Starion_slider
Well-known member
Mine are aftermarket ebay elements and switch in stock switch position. I was skeptical how long they would last…..but i put them in the car back in 2017-2018 so they must be decent. They get hot enough where you back them down to 3 from the pain.
coolusername
Veteran Member
Just had my first fill-up post ventectomy. Hand calc was like 32 MPG, which is honestly pretty solid because it was a lot of city driving and flooring it everywhere. This thing's range is nuts.
Sedan or wagon?Just had my first fill-up post ventectomy. Hand calc was like 32 MPG, which is honestly pretty solid because it was a lot of city driving and flooring it everywhere. This thing's range is nuts.
Starion_slider
Well-known member
Farthest ive ever made it in my sedan was 935miles on 1 tank. Mine will pretty much average 43mpg doing 75-80mph. If I really try I can get it to 47-48mpg but I generally just drive quick on highway thats hilly. I think the absolute worst I’ve ever calculated was like 39 and I think i had a hung up caliper.
coolusername
Veteran Member
1996, wagon, currently running a GT1856 hybrid with a custom front mount intercooler and aluminum air piping. Also has an upgraded clutch, rebuilt 11mm injection pump, few other things. Tune needs some work, it's a random Malone chiptune that likes to smoke if I punch it below 2500 rpm.
alanack
Veteran Member
My wagon gets a pretty solid 50. But i drive like a turtle.
Need to do vent mod, i just hold the vent down with the nozzle.
Jetta gets 55-60.
Need to do vent mod, i just hold the vent down with the nozzle.
Jetta gets 55-60.
Starion_slider
Well-known member
Its been a maintenance week for the B4. 450k so after a while all the little things add up so I just started running through the list. Shifting was being weird and I knew the slider for the side to side movement was falling out so the diesel geek slider repair part went in and solved that. Shifts perfect again. Next was transmission mount was tore pretty good. Replaced it like 10yrs ago so it was probably due. All others were fine still but I noticed most mk3 cars kill that trans mount first. The mount is fixed but im sure it contributed to the flex pipe breaking so I pulled the front pipe and jigged it up and welded in a new flex on the bench which came out beautifully. Next on the list is its most recently started leakin oil pretty good from around the oil filter standoff to block and its has a seep from the vacuum pump for prob last 5 years too. So replaced block-to-standoff gasket, oil cooler o ring, and the vacuum pump-to-block and top lid o-rings. Already had a fresh ccv pipe on it. Vacuum pump looked amazing clean and so did inside engine while glaring through the hole. Like zero gear wear on intermediate shaft. Cars lived on 5/30 Rotella T6 since I bought it about 13yrs ago. Still have a few more things on list to get it back tip-top but I just do a few things here and there because its the workhorse and it has to wake up at 5am everyday and make the 50 mile trip to work. I probably wont retire until 2050 so its gotta last hahaha.
alanack
Veteran Member
New exhaust turbo back. CAT and 5th injector removed. CAT was more than 50% clogged. Gasoline style CATs on a diesel are the dumbest thing I've ever seen.