W8 Diary
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
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From: In Bed..... fordshire
First issue with the car today: On the way home from Hatfield I noticed a warning light, consulting the manual it means a problem with emissions - not damage to the catalytic converter apparently, that would be a flashing light. A steady signifies an issue with engine emissions and I should drive carefully to the dealer.
As Lookers Battersea (50m from where I work, so chosen simply on that basis) can't get me in until the 14th, so I'll spend the morning trying other dealers / specialists in the area. At the same time I'll get them to check out the creak from the rear suspension which manifests itself on motorway undulations.
Other than that, all good.
As Lookers Battersea (50m from where I work, so chosen simply on that basis) can't get me in until the 14th, so I'll spend the morning trying other dealers / specialists in the area. At the same time I'll get them to check out the creak from the rear suspension which manifests itself on motorway undulations.
Other than that, all good.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 29,526
Likes: 4
From: ...by a lake...somewhere
First proper use of the estate part of the car this week as following a mix up 8 office chairs were delivered to someone's home rather than the office. Her first impression of the car was certainly good, along the lines of "oh wow, it's really nice". I have to say the interior is in really good condition. (leather recaros all round). The odd crease in the leather are barely noticeable.
Needless to say with the back seats down and the load cover out of the way 8 office chairs (self assembly I hasten to add) were no problem.
I have a trip to Peterborough and back today, then on Friday it's Bristol, Birmingham, Nottingham so an opportunity for a lot of motorway miles which I'm really looking forward to. Although the Alfa was never a pain to drive on the motorway it was interesting to note the difference in the VW. In the Passat I can have the stereo on and have a conversation with a passenger, rather than making a choice of either. I wouldn't have really criticised the Alfa for that - I was mostly in the car on my own anyway - but it's very nice to experience in the VW
Mileage this week (short trips through town mostly) was 12.3mpg but those motorway trips should improve it a lot.
Overall mileage over the last 3 fill-ups is 15.6MPG (540 miles / 34.63 gallons) but that has been a higher proportion of town driving. I'll recalculate at the weekend after the motorway miles.
Needless to say with the back seats down and the load cover out of the way 8 office chairs (self assembly I hasten to add) were no problem.
I have a trip to Peterborough and back today, then on Friday it's Bristol, Birmingham, Nottingham so an opportunity for a lot of motorway miles which I'm really looking forward to. Although the Alfa was never a pain to drive on the motorway it was interesting to note the difference in the VW. In the Passat I can have the stereo on and have a conversation with a passenger, rather than making a choice of either. I wouldn't have really criticised the Alfa for that - I was mostly in the car on my own anyway - but it's very nice to experience in the VW
Mileage this week (short trips through town mostly) was 12.3mpg but those motorway trips should improve it a lot.
Overall mileage over the last 3 fill-ups is 15.6MPG (540 miles / 34.63 gallons) but that has been a higher proportion of town driving. I'll recalculate at the weekend after the motorway miles.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 29,526
Likes: 4
From: ...by a lake...somewhere
First issue with the car today: On the way home from Hatfield I noticed a warning light, consulting the manual it means a problem with emissions - not damage to the catalytic converter apparently, that would be a flashing light. A steady signifies an issue with engine emissions and I should drive carefully to the dealer.
As Lookers Battersea (50m from where I work, so chosen simply on that basis) can't get me in until the 14th, so I'll spend the morning trying other dealers / specialists in the area. At the same time I'll get them to check out the creak from the rear suspension which manifests itself on motorway undulations.
Other than that, all good.
As Lookers Battersea (50m from where I work, so chosen simply on that basis) can't get me in until the 14th, so I'll spend the morning trying other dealers / specialists in the area. At the same time I'll get them to check out the creak from the rear suspension which manifests itself on motorway undulations.
Other than that, all good.
Banned
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 31,739
Likes: 69
From: Survivalist enclave
First issue with the car today: On the way home from Hatfield I noticed a warning light, consulting the manual it means a problem with emissions - not damage to the catalytic converter apparently, that would be a flashing light. A steady signifies an issue with engine emissions and I should drive carefully to the dealer.
As Lookers Battersea (50m from where I work, so chosen simply on that basis) can't get me in until the 14th, so I'll spend the morning trying other dealers / specialists in the area. At the same time I'll get them to check out the creak from the rear suspension which manifests itself on motorway undulations.
Other than that, all good.
As Lookers Battersea (50m from where I work, so chosen simply on that basis) can't get me in until the 14th, so I'll spend the morning trying other dealers / specialists in the area. At the same time I'll get them to check out the creak from the rear suspension which manifests itself on motorway undulations.
Other than that, all good.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VGate-VS45...item35c165f990
Be careful VW don't charge you £80 to do little more than read the code(s) and then recommend something like a cat replacement (O2 sensor would always be first on my list ahead of a cat and don't believe anyone that tells you 02 sensors are an engine out job
the shite written about these cars is phenomenal)Once you've got the code(s) the internet may be more useful than the main dealer in deciding what to do next
With the W8 a flashing light may go 'solid' after a set number of repeat fault cycles. After that, the light can only be extinguished using a reader such as the one linked
You might find the flashing light simply doesn't recur now, especially if it was triggered by an unusual pattern of driving, different batch of fuel, etc
Was there a detectable misfire?
The car has (OEM) new plugs and coil packs and the code will tell you much more
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,759
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From: In Bed..... fordshire
No voltage issues that I'm aware of, and no problems starting the car.
Thanks for the recommendation Pete, ordered the scan tool this morning.
Managed to get the car into another VW place on Tuesday so it won't arrive before the car goes in.
As it happens I have a week when I'll not have to use the car as I'm in the office, so have time to verify anything VW come up with.
ETA no misfire or any other noticeable issues. Day's driving was about 70 miles (London, Cheshunt, Hatfield, London Colney, Hatfield) mostly A roads and roundabouts. Noticed the light slowing down for a roundabout on the A1 after a 70mph run for about 10 miles.
Thanks for the recommendation Pete, ordered the scan tool this morning.
Managed to get the car into another VW place on Tuesday so it won't arrive before the car goes in.
As it happens I have a week when I'll not have to use the car as I'm in the office, so have time to verify anything VW come up with.
ETA no misfire or any other noticeable issues. Day's driving was about 70 miles (London, Cheshunt, Hatfield, London Colney, Hatfield) mostly A roads and roundabouts. Noticed the light slowing down for a roundabout on the A1 after a 70mph run for about 10 miles.
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Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Herts
It'll be interesting to see over time which of the 11 or 20 mpg is the more representative figure. I know if I had a something like that - a bit like when I had the TVR - it would be the lower figure, and in this day and age with fuel prices as they are, I just couldn't justify the spend.
Undoubtedly fun though ...
Undoubtedly fun though ...
28 on a motorway cruise at 80.
Not interested on a back road blat (I can confirm that it is of course well down into single figures)
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 4,759
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From: In Bed..... fordshire
Unfortunately the code reader I ordered didn't arrive in time and the car has gone to the dealer.
Their diagnosis is fault codes which need further investigation - I suspect mostly old, due to the "chipped" nature of the car and can be ignored.
Yesterday they told me - and Gad, are you psychic - that it could be the cat or possibly the O2 sensors. I should get a call later this morning with an update.
They haven't mentioned engine out yet, but forewarned is forearmed and if they're suggesting that's what is needed then I'll get the car back off them and try somewhere else.
Their "inspection" has picked a couple of minor maintenance things that I'll get sorted while it's there - I don't need the car this week so it makes sense to have it done now while convenient rather than wait.
Finding a VW specialist in London is high on the list of priorities though.
Their diagnosis is fault codes which need further investigation - I suspect mostly old, due to the "chipped" nature of the car and can be ignored.
Yesterday they told me - and Gad, are you psychic - that it could be the cat or possibly the O2 sensors. I should get a call later this morning with an update.
They haven't mentioned engine out yet, but forewarned is forearmed and if they're suggesting that's what is needed then I'll get the car back off them and try somewhere else.
Their "inspection" has picked a couple of minor maintenance things that I'll get sorted while it's there - I don't need the car this week so it makes sense to have it done now while convenient rather than wait.
Finding a VW specialist in London is high on the list of priorities though.
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 13,330
Likes: 180
If you are passing through Leighton Buzzard - there is a very good independent there - http://www.total-vag.co.uk/ might be worth talking to them if you find yourself up this way. They do a fair range of stuff and the two guys that run it are very knowledgeable.
