VOLKSWAGEN Jetta,
Rabbit, Scirocco.
A quick and easy way to fix worn alternator
mount holes: drill out the hole to 7/16", press an old bronze Rabbit valve
guide into
the hole and remount the alternator. Even a new guide is an inexpensive repair
p/n 056-103-419A
costs about $1.
Q.
Why does the
LOW OIL PRESSURE
light flicker when I'm waiting at a red light
after exiting the freeway? My mechanic says the engine is fine but can't make
the
light go out. Can you help?
A. The flickering oil
light usually indicates low engine oil pressure. First, check the
wiring connection for the oil pressure sensor for any loose, corroded or
frayed wires.
Use a shop mechanical gauge to verify oil pressure when the engine is at
operating
temp. Replace the sensor if it is suspected to be defective. There are several
other
possible causes: Worn bearings, crankshaft and internal engine parts
(excessive
oil clearance) is the most common cause. The fix usually requires rebuilding
the
engine. but first be sure the correct amount of oil is in the engine. Low oil
levels
are the second mot common cause - but too much oil can cause the oil to
'foam',
resulting in low pressure. Another problem is using too light of viscosity oil
for
the operating temperatures/conditions. Using 5w30 or 10w40 on a hot summer day
can spell disaster in some engines. Try using a heavier single grade oil (40W
instead
of 10w40). Another common problem is extended oil change intervals. Changing
your
oil and filter every 3000 miles can solve/prevent a lot
of problems. The next most
common problem is overheating. The engine's cooling system is not working as
well
as it should (low or old coolant, loose or worn out belts, sticky thermostat,
corroded
or blocked radiator cores, corroded fan switch, etc). The excess heat thins
out the oil.
Also if the ignition timing is wrong or if the fuel system isn't in 100%
working condition the oil can be diluted with fuel, thinning it out. On rare occasions the oil
pump's relief valve will hang after a fast trip on the freeway. The pumps valve may
require a spring spacer or stiffer spring. And sometimes a new oil pump is required.
One last cause can be a dented oil pan/blocked sump pickup tube.
VOLKSWAGEN
Golf Jetta Rabbit Scirocco
water cooled engines. A loud noise in the
top end of the engine which may be mistaken as coming from the valve train or
near
the top of the valve cover nearest the timing belt, is usually caused by a bad
bearing
in the timing belt tensioner.
Volkswagen Golf, Jetta, GTI, Cabrio
1993 and later models with 2.0L engines. Ignition miss and/or poor performance may be caused by a bad coil wire or incorrect
coil wire routing. Replace the plug/coil wire set and route the coil wire away from
the heater hose.
VOLKSWAGEN Water
cooled models. Instead of
spending hours removing carpet,
pedals, etc to reweld a broken clutch cable guide sleeve - find a metal
sleeve, of the
same diameter and about an inch longer. Weld or braze a large washer whose ID fits the sleeve's OD to one end of the sleeve. Drill two holes 180 degrees apart in
the
washer, and from under the hood slip the sleeve thru the cable's hole in the
firewall
and attach it with two sheet metal screws thru the holes in the
washer. Install the
cable.
