craigowl

Bojmobile I think someone has replaced the original pcv (positive crankcase ventilation) flametrap/valve with just a bit of rubber tube. This is not as serious as it sounds, so I believe from other comments on this forum, but it is not how the car came from the factory. See my pic for the funny gubbins that should be in place that I have just this minute snapped in my own engine bay. Hot oily fumes in the rubber tube used in your system have probably eaten their way through the rubber and are now dribbling out (either that or someone at your work has gobbed radioactive pitch onto the manifold---- Only kidding! :shock: :lol: ) I believe (from this forum) that VAG will only sell you the whole piping flametrap item in a one-er for nearly £100. However, I also believe that if you go to a Ford garage and ask for the bit(s) you need (or perhaps the whole thing) they will sell them seperately or possibly the whole thing will not cost as much. (PS Our most carefree son would probably say, "just get another bit of rubber tube like the bit that has rotted through, and chill out, ffs!". Personally, I cannot recommend that to you, a professional scientist. :) Best of luck and regards Iain

Aux pump. If you switch off engine when it is at working temp, then switch on ignition, but not enuf to start engine, you can normally hear the aux pump start, whirring and gurgling a bit as it does so, even from inside the car in the driver's seat. The fact that the aux pump is not working is not as serious as your other potential problem IMO - my pump had not been working for an unspecified period - perhaps weeks, perhaps years - but I never knew until I saw blown fuse and replaced it. (i never had any temp or overheating problems to give me reason to suspect anything was wrong with the cooling system, but then I dont abuse the engine.) Cold heater matrix Im not an expert, but I would say you have air in the matrix now. Presumably an air lock has worked its way round the cooling system and into the matrix. Others on the forum know a lot more than me. with luck, they will come in and advise. Good luck.

Thank you, Roger, ever the gentleman. :) I really need to get out more in the C.

Lukemanic Here is some edited text and pics from write up I did last year. Hope it helps. I replaced auxiliary (electric) water pump on VR6 a couple of days ago. Pump price to nearest £, including VAT: Quote from VAG Advantage, Stirling – £93, but, when asked, he kindly offered about 10% discount if you can produce CCGB card. Bought from ECP (Edinburgh) - £68 including CCGB discount on showing card. – identical to original Bosch unit. After installing new pump, I took old one apart - it was seized - both the impeller and the electric motor. You will possibly not know it is seized, because, from my experience, the car still runs OK and I had no overheating or coolant loss problems. Consequently, I would recommend those with VR6s check the pump’s 5 amp fuse, you will mostly not know if it has failed, except by visually examining it. CAUTION - BE SURE THE RADIATOR FAN IS DISCONNECTED FROM THE POWER WHEN DOING THE FOLLOWING, IN CASE YOU MAKE A MISTAKE - IT STARTS SUDDENLY AND YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR BITS CAUGHT UP IN IT. Tested in isolation, a new pump does make a slight running noise but if fans are on they drown it out. I found you can listen to the aux pump in isolation by disconnecting the power supply plug to the (Bosch) radiator fan and linking the two appropriate terminals on the yellow coolant temperature sender as described in both the Bentley and the Peter Russek books. (I used a small U-shaped staple to bridge the brown wire’s terminal and the one diagonally across from it, i.e. the two terminals you are told to bridge in the books.) By the way, I found there is no need to drain all the coolant from, say, the bottom hose connection (really awkward for me) or the “official” drain plug (can crumble, I believe!)- I merely drained coolant from a very accessible hose half way up the engine. (see pic) ………shows the extension I fitted to a cordless power drill (9.6v) to retighten the hose clips after refitting the two hoses to the new pump and the one from which I had drained about half of the coolant. After a lot of frustration, I found this to be a far easier task using this arrangement, compared to trying to screw up the hoses using an ordinary screwdriver. Wish I had thought of it years ago. I used a torque setting of 2, cautiously followed by 3.

If your pump has seized, herisites, you may need to replace its 5amp fuse, too, when you do the work. It is situated in module in pic.

I did this job OK last August on my 1995 VR6 and I am no wizard mechanic. I got new pump from ecp for £68.15 incl VAT Their part no is 201440740 - it is a Bosch. Will look for more info. PS I can confirm you only need unplug leads from coilpack end - no special tool involved. Also, you can get enough coolant out of system by letting it flow out of coolant hoses attached to pump - no need to empty all coolant from bottom of engine.

Our two local garages with VAG trained staff charge £35 + VAT/hour. 8)

As above. Find yourself a good local non franchised garage and save about 50% (several hundred ££s in your case) on labour as I do.

Dont know anything about G60s or AFRs, but what about a fuel filter change? Didnt see it in the list. Apologies if it has been changed - and Good Luck, Riley.

Bicarbonate of soda (available in any supermarket in cookery/baking section) will neutralise remaining acid after flushing with water, then flush bicarb away, too. Bicarb in solution is also good for getting rid of foul odours on carpets, etc if, say, you spill milk or they have a bad smell.

I did not get the number of the Tarmac lorry but they must've agreed to pay up. If you think about it, those who operate lorry/van fleets must have to deal with incidents like this every week if not every day, so with a bit of luck they may not query your claim if they know that a driver of theirs was in your street that day. Good luck.

Sorrry to hear your bad news, bojmo, I watched a dairy lorry reverse into my newish Manta in Johnstone a very long time ago. Driver said "Ach - insurance'll fix it - I couldnae see oot as the windae was steamed up." (grrrrRRRR!!) I filled in my insurance claim form and repair was paid for no problem. Same thing when I had an altercation with Tarmac cement mixer truck at busy Edinburgh roundabout during evening rush hour! (nightmare!) You should report incident to local B&Q "transport manager" first by telephone, perhaps, so they know about it before communications with insurance co start. I think I did that. Good luck - as if those bumpers werent scarce enough and expensive enough already.

Any garage will have these screws, I believe. Same thing happened to mine. Sometimes screeching will occur due to a stone trapped between disc (inboard face) and metal shield/guard. I have had this happen about 3 times in 35 years of driving. Noise is very loud and as you say embarassing. Often occurs after driving over freshly tarmacadamed road as gluey bitumen helps stone to stick. Tarry stones will be stuck in your wheel arches and all over your suspension/steering arms if you have driven over such a stretch of road. Good luck with your investigation.

skimask makes a good point there.

I have seen that a diy ICE fitting can be the culprit. As dr_mat says, though, do the fuse check to try and identify source of drain.

Dr Forinor said - Being a dentist, I've extremely steady with my hand and I'm a bit of a perfectionist which is why I feel I can at least try and tackle it. If I'm not happy then I'll pay for it but I do want to try it myself. Thanks for the words people Yes, did think of that, Dr F. Perhaps if you catch the perpetrator of the crime you can also carry out some grinding down of his teeth to the gums with an unsteady hand! :evil: :)

That's rotten, Dr F. Our home town always had a number of sad, nasty b####### like anywhere else, unfortunately. :( Personally I believe that if you attempt to repair it yourself, unless you have a talented artistic touch, you will never be hapy with the finish. As suggested already, get a couple of estimates from pros who touch up paintwork. All the best!

Yes - spoke to him a couple of times. Efficient and obliging man.

Went here for a few bits again last week. Discount applied again on tentative request. When I returned to the car two pleasant guys from sales were out admiring the C in the sunshine. One of them remembered selling his last Storm almost exactly 12 years ago. If you want a newish VW, speak to Craig - clearly he has an interest in the older VWs too.

Thanks for that, Mr S. Same applies if you are ever up in this region. 8)

Blimey! - Another reason to pack the tent and get down there! :lol:

You guys are so lucky living in that district. 8) Ever since I saw Ken Russell's classic BBC film about Sir Edward Elgar over 40 years ago when I was a teenager, the music and the scenery have never left me. Corny but true! I have always meant to come there and do an Elgar tour or something. I suppose like all residents in interesting places you take it all for granted and wonder what all the fuss is about. Sir Edward, the son of a shopkeeper/piano tuner is almost certainly the greatest English composer of all. As you may know, he had an unparalleled ear for melody and orchestration. Awesome enough, but we need to remember, too, that he had had no formal musical education either. He is in my top 3 of all musicians - I have 21 CDs by him, and about as many by Santana and Pat Metheny. What strange company, he would probably have thought. Sorry for the gushing, but I am sincere. :D

Nicely done, Mr Sands. I thought the reflection of you in the bonnet was taken in your refereeing pose. Please sir, may I leave the room? (Do pupils still say that nowadays?)

Quality car and website, Torsten. Beautiful photos - not near "Heimat" country are you? Please forgive my avatar - there is respect for the machinery, there, too! Best Regards from Scotland, Iain

Very interesting and educational. 8) Thanks to our oilman. :thumb right: