UKPassats

The dintrinol range is good for undersealing. I think powdercoating is overrated as a finish. It is thin and not as tough as people like to think. I agree - once there is a crack or chip water seems to seek under powder coating and wreak havoc. Anyone see the powder-coated chassis on that TVR on wh...

On cars in the past this has been due to wear in the sliding contact switch within the wiper motor assembly. There are usually two power feeds, one powered permanently when the ignition is on and the other from the wiper switch. The permanent feed powers a track-like switch that returns the wipers t...

To be certain of the right fluid number you will need to quote your gearbox code, though I am pretty sure your 98 4 speed box will use the same fluid as that in the 4 speed box of my 1999/2000 SEAT. The part number has changed from time to time as the fluid spec changed, the current VW number for t...

If I brake near a junction and then accelerate, the car thumps as it goes into gear and I think that this is due to low ATF as it moves forward in the sump. My question is what is the spec and can you get it from Halfords? Haynes says G 052 152 A1 or A2 but I suspect a typo.... Where do you get it f...

Done! Only issue was that the lock button actuator bar fell off the door lock and was a pig to re-locate back in. The window works great now and the old cable was rotten and shredded.

Cheers. Waiting for the cable then under way...

I went ahead and ordered a cable and I'll fix it myself - sorry, Swindon is a long way from me - however, is there a difference between how the glass is retained on the front and back doors? I had to replace the door lock mech on my back door and the glass is held in by a plastic peg and central lif...

My 1997 1.8 saloon is playing up. Tonight, I lowered the drivers window to escape work and there was a grating scratching clunking sound as went down. Then a series of scraping noises as it tried to go up only to stall near the top. Now it wont go down unless you press the button a bit and then manu...

First thing I thought of this morning, I should have put some spare hose or even some rubber to stop the pipe deteriorating any more. Didn't think of it yesterday because I was rushing. That intercooler/ charge pipe above it is not the easiest thing to get out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I ...

My 1.8 20v petrol engine rattles badly when started from cold for the first 10 minutes or so - I think I'll try removing the engine cover and see how it goes as I hadn't considered that.

The spark plugs on my 1.8 1998 petrol engine (AFT) seem to become tighter with time, despite being torqued correctly and having their threads cleaned. The plugs are VW/Audi 4-terminal types. When I first got the Passat I decided to remove the plugs and see how they were - and they were dramatically ...

**Final update** - forgot to mention that I cut my finger whilst working through that large grommeted hole above the window dowell access. First time I've been cut by aluminium I think. For interest's sake, and after fitting my new "chinese" £14 lock, I decided to take the old one apart an...

The only difficult task was re-fitting those ferrules correctly that hold the window glass. The nylon retainer for the rear window? Not a good idea to try tapping the inner piece of nylon out, because the window can shatter and I know it takes a long time to get all the bits out of the door! To rem...

**Update* - no snow! Left the car unlocked overnight ready for today's lock-based fun. Pulled the outside handle - nothing, and the inside handle didn't work either. I had to strip the door from the inside. Removed the door card and window regulator panel. Lock still stuck on so connected up the wir...

**Update** My door lock is obviously knackered as it went through some weird behaviours and then locked solid again. First, my daughter got out of the car and the door wouldn't close - just thumped to and didn't "catch". The solution - as we were in a shopping centre car park turned out to...

This cold weather looks like it is going to finish off my battery as it's getting sluggish. Does anyone know the three digit code that represents the correct battery? It's a 1998 1.8 non turbo 20v auto saloon. Thanks.

The bonnet looks closed on the Gumtree pic - did you fix it?

Remember, it is OK to clean and lubricate the bearings and the pre-engaged fork mechanism on a pre-engaged starter motor but it will ruin the motor's operation if you grease the shaft that retains the small "bendix" gear that meshes with the flywheel as this incorporates an anti-reverse fr...

My last car was an XJ40 and they are known for diff whine due to low oil levels. The whine gets louder and then the bearings fail leading to disaster. First thing I did when I got my Passat 1.8 auto six months ago was to check the diff oil level. Simple matter using a 17mm hex key held in a 1/2"...

Might also be worth a check for damage or breaks in the wiring in the door bellows, common issue for cracks or breaks to form there. Had issues on my first Passat, the previous owners solution had been twisting, taping and letting water also corrode the joke connections. Thanks. I did check in ther...

*Update* - can't imagine anyone's still reading this but...the latch has started to work solidly now. The solution was a firm blow to the external handle which must have re-seated the "square" end of the cable that may not have been fully located. I tested it dozens of times and it's as th...

I agree with the consensus - sounds like a stuck caliper pin. Usually with this you'll notice that the boot is ill-fitting or split. Remove the pin (may take quite some force if well crusted) clean up the pin and "hole" and grease and reassemble. Has always worked for me. As for the grease...

*Update* - on Sunday I drove 12 miles to a local town and 12 miles back. For the heck of it I tried the rear door handle and it opened - just like that. Without allowing the door to close I removed the latch unit (what a pig to disconnect the exterior handle) and cleaned / oiled / lubricated it and ...

S reg having some work done up on a jack on the road into Crewe town centre today Saturday.

Just ordered a mech from ebay - not expensive either. Window propped up with wood and tape like a chav. Now I'll wait for the new lock and then get busy with some retribution.