Search found 823 matches

by steviemac
Mon Mar 25, 2019 10:59 pm
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Clonking noise from front suspension?
Replies: 18
Views: 2901

Re: Clonking noise from front suspension?

The easy way to check for play in front suspension joints on these cars (be careful - you do this at your own risk) Jack one side of the front up and put it on an axle stand with the tyre well clear of the floor. Make sure the opposite wheel is still on the ground. Get somebody to start the car, put...
by steviemac
Sat Feb 17, 2018 11:04 pm
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: New parts
Replies: 3
Views: 1079

Re: New parts

Bumper wise there is a US spec, which has no front number plate plaque. You could replace the black bumper inserts with the colour coded versions with chrome trim from a higher spec model. The US models also include marker lights in the insert. Also there are a couple of alternative front grilles, i...
by steviemac
Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:59 pm
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: New parts
Replies: 3
Views: 1079

Re: New parts

About the only thing you could do without major fab work would be to swap from the wings you have now (bottom pic) to the later ones in the top pic, which have no indicator repeaters - they’re fitted in the wing mirrors, which are a different shape
by steviemac
Fri Feb 16, 2018 1:45 pm
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Wheel arch grommet?
Replies: 6
Views: 1701

Re: Wheel arch grommet?

Good point, hadn’t thought of that!
by steviemac
Fri Feb 16, 2018 1:01 pm
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Wheel arch grommet?
Replies: 6
Views: 1701

Re: Wheel arch grommet?

Item 25 - thats the one that allows access to change the indicator bulb from the rear
by steviemac
Thu Feb 15, 2018 12:20 pm
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: 6th Switch position
Replies: 13
Views: 2698

Re: 6th Switch position

I fitted a Heatshot system last year and I’m planning to add heated jets. Don’t particularly want them on all the time - at the moment the Heatshot picks up a live feed from the front foglights, so if I want hot screenwash I need to put the fogs on first. A 6th switch just seems like the neatest so...
by steviemac
Thu Feb 15, 2018 12:05 pm
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: 6th Switch position
Replies: 13
Views: 2698

Re: 6th Switch position

Do mind that it has a much shorter timing than the rear switch, only 2 minutes. I guess you could swap just the fascia and put in a basic rear heater switch if you want a longer-in-staying button. I didn’t realise it was that short! I was thinking of swapping for a rear screen switch anyway for eas...
by steviemac
Wed Feb 14, 2018 11:17 pm
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: 6th Switch position
Replies: 13
Views: 2698

Re: 6th Switch position

Jultsu wrote: Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:12 pm Pick 'yer poison: http://www.passatplus.de/umbauteile/sch ... halter.htm
Dammit, you’ve put temptation in my path - I’ve just got off eBay having ordered a NOS heated front screen switch from the US! How do I end up talking myself into these things? :shock:
by steviemac
Wed Feb 14, 2018 11:10 pm
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: 6th Switch position
Replies: 13
Views: 2698

Re: 6th Switch position

Rather than having them fed from the front fog lights, why not feed them from the heated seats? Not a bad shout mate. To be honest they’re fed from the fogs purely for convenience - the fogs are retrofitted, with a direct supply from the battery via a relay attached to the fog pin of the (replaced)...
by steviemac
Wed Feb 14, 2018 3:44 pm
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: 6th Switch position
Replies: 13
Views: 2698

Re: 6th Switch position

I fitted a Heatshot system last year and I’m planning to add heated jets. Don’t particularly want them on all the time - at the moment the Heatshot picks up a live feed from the front foglights, so if I want hot screenwash I need to put the fogs on first. A 6th switch just seems like the neatest sol...
by steviemac
Wed Feb 14, 2018 12:58 pm
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: 6th Switch position
Replies: 13
Views: 2698

6th Switch position

Good afternoon chaps, I'm looking to source a switch for the 6th position (below right hand heated seat switch). I'm not prepared to entertain the long and tedious search for a Funk switch, and the resultant hole in my wallet that would ensue. I know I can make one easily enough, but the switch fasc...
by steviemac
Tue Jan 30, 2018 7:07 pm
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Headlight relay placement.
Replies: 6
Views: 1515

Re: Headlight relay placement.

I put my relay under the cover next to the power steering bottle, and took a run from the existing headlight live to switch the relay
by steviemac
Mon Jan 22, 2018 8:03 pm
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: blacksmoke remap...
Replies: 80
Views: 11697

Re: blacksmoke remap...

I had a similar issue - I took a photo of my ECU label and sent it to Blacksmoke - codes and suffixes are critical. Mine wasn’t shown but he had one to match and sent that
by steviemac
Mon Jan 22, 2018 7:51 am
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Switching off alarm
Replies: 14
Views: 3437

Re: Switching off alarm

No mate, I’m doing that whilst leaning in from the passenger door - I should have made that clear, but if the OP is staying in the car it was irrelevant.

Incidentally, as far as I was aware double clicking the fob on the Passat only disables the deadlocks, not the alarm
by steviemac
Sun Jan 21, 2018 1:16 am
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Switching off alarm
Replies: 14
Views: 3437

Re: Switching off alarm

Locking the car using the switch next to the master window switches on the drivers door will lock the car without arming the alarm. I do this when on a cross-channel ferry to avoid the alarm going off for 2 hours
by steviemac
Sun Jan 21, 2018 1:01 am
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Alternator tensioner??
Replies: 6
Views: 1856

Re: Alternator tensioner??

I used a strap-type oil filter removal tool to hold the pulley
by steviemac
Tue Jan 16, 2018 6:05 am
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Just got stitched right up
Replies: 30
Views: 5994

Re: Just got stitched right up

Nope, it’ll have a clutch switch too. Good shout on the brake switch and the CCM methinks By the way, when checking for damp carpets be aware that the carpet and sound deadening is very thick, so it could feel dry to the touch but be wet underneath. The critical area for the CCM is under the carpet,...
by steviemac
Fri Dec 22, 2017 11:12 am
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: B5.5 Features?
Replies: 85
Views: 10447

Re: B5.5 Features?

Handy for leaving your phone on charge whilst locked up and out of sight
by steviemac
Wed Dec 20, 2017 5:07 pm
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Has anyone considered a H4 conversion on a B5.5?
Replies: 8
Views: 2124

Re: Has anyone considered a H4 conversion on a B5.5?

Hmm - checked voltage drop yesterday, totalling 1.26v drop combined over positive and negative. Rewired today with 27amp cable, 30amp relay and 15amp fuse for direct feed to dipped beam from battery (earth returned direct to battery too) - seems to have made quite a difference. Should be able to tel...
by steviemac
Tue Dec 19, 2017 10:40 am
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Has anyone considered a H4 conversion on a B5.5?
Replies: 8
Views: 2124

Re: Has anyone considered a H4 conversion on a B5.5?

All good points those mate, and I know what you mean about cheap ballasts! I’ve seen an article about that bi-xenon conversion you mentioned, I’m sure I have it saved somewhere. When I looked to see which manufacturer/ models they came on as OEM they were all high end motors, making it less likely t...
by steviemac
Tue Dec 19, 2017 10:02 am
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Has anyone considered a H4 conversion on a B5.5?
Replies: 8
Views: 2124

Re: Has anyone considered a H4 conversion on a B5.5?

That’s worth knowing Gaz, nice one - I was about to order some Extreme Vision 130’s 👍 Going back to the above I forgot to add - I can’t be bothered with the hassle and expense of tracking down a pair of factory xenons which will no doubt need some fettling before fitting anyway PS I bought the Night...
by steviemac
Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:27 am
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Has anyone considered a H4 conversion on a B5.5?
Replies: 8
Views: 2124

Has anyone considered a H4 conversion on a B5.5?

Been giving some thought to my headlights. The lenses are clear, not yellowed. I have tried both HID’s and LED’s and ended up switching back to Nightbreakers. I find the problem with both is that they are fine when the roads are dry, but when it’s raining heavily (or more recently in Germany snowing...
by steviemac
Tue Dec 19, 2017 9:13 am
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Original Clutch And Turbo Life Expectancy?
Replies: 15
Views: 3128

Re: Original Clutch And Turbo Life Expectancy?

I’m a gnats fart short of 200k on the original clutch and turbo, remapped AVB occasionally towing a caravan
by steviemac
Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:19 am
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Cambelt Gurus ????
Replies: 78
Views: 12436

Re: Cambelt Gurus ????

Alternator tensioner’s easy enough - top tip is using a strap oil filter wrench to remove the viscous fan pulley
by steviemac
Thu Nov 09, 2017 11:14 am
Forum: B5 & B5.5 PASSATS
Topic: Boot won’t open
Replies: 9
Views: 2352

Re: Boot won’t open

I’ve done a saloon in the scrapyard - crawl into the boot and remove the trim panel from the boot lid, you’ll then be able to see the mechanism. For the life of me I can’t remember if I yanked a cable or flicked the mechanism with a screwdriver but when you can see it it’s self-explanatory 👍