corradophil

Just been experimenting again with mine. Still cannot find ECU controller, but tries with the ABS and comes up with too many communication errors. I have three ideas left. 1. I'm using an adapter from serial to usb, but it works fine on OBDII. 2. My adapter is opto-isolated, maybe it need electronic isolation. 3. A fault with the cars wiring or ECU, VW downloaded the codes a couple of years ago with no problems.

corrado g, The plug on a MK3 Golf is behind a cover on the centre console above the storage tray. The cover just unclips.

Here you go this is where they are. Map If you click the north arrow on the map, you will see the Galleywood A12 junction.

Cool, thanks. I'll make sure mine is set the same and have another go later. Maybe the issue is the isolator, although if electrical isolators are newer I'd have thought it would not be so much of a problem, mine being an old car. I'm not too bothered about the ABS faults, but really want to access the ECU codes.

If you are going, when you enter temple farm you go down a concrete road with loads of speed bumps, park in the area just before all the yards. The first one on the right hand side of the road is where the Corrados are. When you go in you need to go right to the back of the yard and to the right hand side. Pretty sure it is Nevenden salvage.

I've tried vagcom 409 and got nowhere with it which when you read their website is what they say. So 311 is the one to use. kerrinmay, Could you post up the settings you use on yours on the screen where you set up the baud rate. I'm interested to see if your settings are different, and whether that is why you can download codes from the ECU and mine is not responding.

Daisy, You could go with both rear handles and if the central locking fails, get in through the boot. There are two Corrados at Nevenden Salvage at Temple farm near Galleywood, not sure if they have handles but may be worth having a look. Plenty of Passats there too.

I tried one on mine and got nowhere with it, they definately don't work on the Corrado, although they list the Passat with the 9A engine on the box. Not sure on VR6's though.

So, whats the verdict, was it a worthwhile job, have you noticed any improvement?

Blinky16v, You could try washing up liquid, that is very slippy.

I think I used petrol on mine, they all went in with a little force.

Yep, maybe its something to do with the colour-why we cannot get vagcom working. kevHaywire, What software do you use?

My ABS works fine, the light always goes out and never comes on to show a fault. The last time it came on was when it was on the rolling road where the rear wheels were not moving! To be honest I am far more interested in the ECU fault codes. I've downloaded and installed v409, but doubt I'll get a chance to look at it untill tomorrow night. kerrinmay, Mine is green pearl effect.

Will do, its giving me hope that I can use my opto-isolator which I previously thought was not possible. I think it is more down to software set up now. I was speeking with RW1 last year about this via PM, he is very knowledgable on this. Here is some of what he said. "I have difficulty in recommeding the interface with a 9A engine ECU. The EBAY ones I have reservations with as their build is unknown and the early OBD1 ECU's can be difficult with just one interface to another. Everything settled down after 1994 cars generally so they are likely to tell you it works not thinking of the various querks on OBD1 1992 - 1994 VWs. If you talk to and explain it's the 9A 16v 1992 - 1994 problem with VAG-COM, they will be better able to sort you out :- http://www.skpang.co.uk/ or http://www.onboarddiagnostics.co.uk/ I would really get someone to plug into the car and then buy that interface as the 9A engine ECU is really picky on what connects to it. I use a Twin-Com from Ross-Tech but they've stop distributing them now. Could always be cheeky with them and ask to but a secondhand one off them. Don't know if your copy of VAG-COM is registered. Going to v409.0 means re-registering the software as Uwe Ross upted the anti on security of his product. Defo you need VAG-COM v409.0 or above for the 9A. Until I got the electronic interface from Ross-Tech and then upgraded to v409.0. Only the ABS would talk on the 9A Corrado." Going by that v409 sounds better, but you got nowhere with that!

Had a quick go tonight with Baud rate set to 4800, I get the the too many communications errors message for the ABS. It cannot find the ecu controller. the equipment I have works fine, I used it loads to sort out my Leon which was OBDII. I'm using vagcom 311-2, is this best or is there a better version to use?

Mine came from Euro Car Parts and I'm sure they were about £120 all in, so may be worth seeing if they are cheeper than GSF.

kerrinmay, Just to add my opinion, I was not experiencing a any probelms with my injectors, but felt at 140k miles they could do with a clean. After researching this I had some people saying you could clean them and it would be worth doing and others saying its not. In the end I decided new injectors was a better route. Once fitted the car was a little smoother and a little more powerful. No huge change, but a noticable improvement which I felt was worthwhile.

IIRC there is one clip per injector. I did mine a couple of years ago. It was an easy job, I'm sure you'll work it out when you do it. I replaced the O rings too.

So on that basis I should be able to use vag-com 311 and my opto-isolator on my 9A 2.0 16v. I tried ages ago, but the baud rate was set to 0. I've not tried it since because I have been under the impression that an opto-isolator will not work. I will set the baud rate as described and give it a go.

Can anyone explain why you need electronic isolation instead of opto isolation?

Nice colour!! Thats not fair yours makes more power than mine.

MK3 mechanism for around £40 sounds alot better than £300 at VW. I definately want to sort mine out this summer. I'm coming to the end of a long list of jobs to do on my car, and this is the last of them.

I was expecting a quite for £100 - £150 but not double that.

I got a quote from VW for the following parts to rebuild my sunroof mechanism, which still works but has a about 5mm vertical movement on the passanger side, and a couple of small scratches on the outside panel. At the moment I only use it in the tilted possition because I don't want to have to paint the sunroof. I was pretty shocked by the costs, and would like to know do I need all these items, do these prices seem right and does anyone know where the parts can be obtained cheaper? My aim is to rebuild the mechanism once, so I want to make sure I cover all areas known to fail. 1H0 898 017 A & 018 A - Repair kit for guide - £20 Each + vat. 1H0 898 019 & 020 - Repair kit for water guide plate - £36 Each + vat. 1H0 898 014A - 2No. reqd. Guide plate with cable - £70 Each + vat. This little lot will come to £296.10 including vat...

A cam change on a valver can be done in a couple of hours, but you must be confident in setting up the timing marks correctly. If you get these wrong you risk pistons hitting the valves - big damage + big money = big pain in the arse. I've tried with and without the cat, I eventually sold my cat bypass and kept the cat.