Cat VR6

Hi Guys, Having a bit of a nightmare with a leaking sunroof... I've recently had the headliner relined and while it was out I decided to have a look at my sunroof to see why it wouldn't open. I've then re-installed it deciding now's not the time to fix it as I've more important things to spend the money on...it's a corrado after all!! Then before I've had chance to refit the headlining I've been getting little puddles of water in mine and my passengers laps when braking or cornering sharply. The water seems to be spilling over the 'drip tray' in the corners at the front. Having read other posts about leaking sunroofs I've disconnected the front drains and poured some water down which just runs nicely out the bottom of the car as it should so I don't think blocked drains are the problem. I'm also sure its nothing to do with the aerial as given the headliner is out I would be able to see. I know the seal to the outside of the car is not supposed to completely prevent water coming in but could it be that now I have disturbed the position of the sunroof too much water is getting in? The seal is quite old and tired.. I'm absolutely scratching my head with this one... I never noticed any leaks before and figure I would have seen water damage on the reverse side of the headliner if the problem was there before? Anyone seen this problem before? I can't see many other answers anywhere.. :( Thanks Cat

My VR6 has recently started making a very loud ticking noise that increases with engine speed. It seemed to start after i fit a replacement water pump but if I use a screwdriver to listen to the pump the noise doesn't seem to be coming from it. The noise is far louder if you crouch down and listen under the bumber and is quite quiet from above. I recently replaced the chains and tensioners and so I'm fairly sure that's not the problem and as the noise seems to come from below i don't think it's the lifters either. Any search I run on 'ticking VR6' just comes back with lifters or chains. Anyone have any idea what this noise could be?

Hi, thanks for the fast replies! It had a new toad alarm/immobiliser fitted and the guys did a good job of sorting the wiring out at the time so don't think it's related to that. It had a new coolant temp sensor with all that work a couple of months ago as well. Yeah the car runs fine when warm, apart from that occasional hunting revs issue. I mostly use the car for short runs for work which return anything from 20-27 mpg depending on traffic/how much of a rush I am in ;). Not great but I think this is about normal? I have seen about 33 mpg on the motorway. Will check out the wiring to the idle valve later but as the garage new about the problem last time they had it i would be suprised if they hadn't given the whole area a once over.. Right, back to work... :)

Hi Guys, looking for some help with start up issues on with my VR6. Basically, most times when I start it up, I have to keep my foot on the gas to stop it cutting out again. This can be anything from a short sharp rev to literally having to sit on it for about a minute. Makes for quite awkward manoeuvring trying to operate all 3 peddles at once lol. Other symptoms include dipping revs just after it starts causing the headlights to dip as well, and also hunting revs occasionally at random times through a run but not on every run. This problem has been occurring for quite some time but this morning, for the first time, I was actually worried it wasn’t going to start at all. It struggled to turn over and then sounded quite pathetic for the first few seconds. So possible causes I suppose are battery, alternator or ignition switch, but would any of these failing cause it to cut out when it’s already started? Also perhaps low fuel pressure? Other than that I’m really not sure. It runs fine most of the time when it is running, it’s just this start up thing. Recent relevant work done on the car is new head gasket and associated gaskets and seals, plus quite a few hoses and ancillaries including plugs, coil pack, throttle body (second hand) and new fuel filter. Also the when the garage had it for its MOT they reset the throttle position sensor and said that should help but it didn't. The problem was happening before this work was done and I had hoped it would cure it but sadly not :( Is there anything I can easily rule out or test before I start replacing things? Or anyone seen this problem before? Thanks in advance for any advice you can give. Cat

Well, 4 weeks later and he is finally back on the road! Unfortunatly MPG is no better and oil temps still sitting around 130 deg in normal driving (although we are having a bit of a heat wave I suppose). That's with new oil, G12++ coolant and a new water pump. Will have to get in and look at the oil pump but other than that I think the mocal will be going on soon! During the MOT the garage found a spring that wasn't seated correctly which they have now put back and I havn't noticed the clunk since? Still need to pull my finger out and look at the spoiler..job for this weekend probably. Anyways, thanks for all the advice, I'll get there in the end! :)

Hi Guys Just after a bit of advice about my VR6, quite a few things up with it at the mo. The main thing is it's been running at very high oil temps. When I bought it in January it was running at about 116 to 118C in the cold weather. On the first hot day of the year and a 40 min trip on the motorway it reached 140C. Since then it's easily reached 130-140 on the 20 min commute to work and I've been driving it like an absolute granny to try to keep it down. I've read people saying 120 is high. Had the temp sensor changed a bit back and that didn't change anything. Water temps have always sat quite nicely around 90, occasionally up to 100 and once did get to 110C. Just spent the weekend removing the head gasket which was absolutly knackered and sent the head off for skimming, new valve seals, valves reseated etc today. Also it's been running on the green coolant....g11 or g12? Gonna fill up with G12++ when its back together (with a good flush out in betwen). I've also put a lower temp stat in but just read this isn't such a good idea...especially with winter coming up? Should I take this back out? Aso got a mocal oil cooler to fit but thinking I should wait to see how it runs after a bit of a refurb and new coolant before definatly fitting this. By the way does anyone know what a good length for the hoses are with the mocal kit? The ones I was supplied are too short to route the cooler to in front of the radiator so need to get longer ones ordered.. I wanted to ask about MPG as well, I've had 33 out of it on a long trip, and depending how I drive it it tends to be about 22-27 to and from work on 30-60 mph roads depending how I drive...should it be better than this? Also when i turn full lock at slow speeds for example when I'm parking, there is a 'clunk' noise...been trying to identify this for a while but failing, is this a common fault? It's only when I turn one way (can't remember which) and it doesn't happen when I straighten back up. There's a tapping/knocking noise when I start up that's quite loud. It increases with engine speed and does go away when the engine heats up, I've been told it is probably the tappets, does that sound right? Also, recently my spoiler has started to malfunction slightly, is there anything obvious I can try to fix this? I've noticed it not going all the way up or down, but not every time. Oh and last thing, is there somewhere better than the stealers to get water hoses from? Had to cut the one that joins the head-throttle-heater to get the head off.. and the stealers want about £50 inc VAT :( I think that's about it...I'm hoping it's gonna be a new car after the work I'm doing at the minute but any advice about any of this would be great! Thanks in advance! Cat

I'm getting an aftermarket alarm/immobiliser fitted to my VR6 and just wondering what you would recommend? I've just had the wheels stolen off my other car that I was about to sell and i'm very worried they are gonna come back for the original BBS on the Rado. Car theft isn't a big problem in my area but clearly wheel theft is as the mkII gti golf that parks oppiosite me was done 3 weeks ago! So I reckon I need one with a tilt switch..does this come as standard with most alarms? Also if they manage to jack it up level somehow would this stop it activating? Also thinking of getting a proximity alarm but heard these can just be a pain in the arse? Any advice about manufacturer and features would be appreciated. I'm happy to pay somewhere around the £300 mark mybe a bit more.