Recent content by RGL

Hmm...I've never done anything like that before. I presume I need a multimeter and then I unplug the ECTS and hook up the multimeter instead and monitor any changes through VCDS. I think I cannot read the voltage directly from the ECT sensor in VCDS HVAC module? Then again the current should...

Pipes to/from heater matrix are hot. Managed to get into the HVAC module this time. Yes, cannot do any output tests with VCDS Lite. What is however interesting is, that HVAC sees coolant temp as 0*C (see screenshot 7 attached). I guess this means, that it isn't receiving any information at all...

Thanks! I have to have a look at the heater matrix pipes, off the top of my head I'm not sure where they are exactly located under the bonnet, but logically thinking they shouldn't be too difficult to find. I will check the pipes, but changing heater matrix being a total PITA job, then I would...

Thanks! No 51c is for ECT. Checked today that the cabin temperature is channel 2 and 3 and those both showed around 15*C at the end of a drive. I might go for another unit if I can find one cheap from the breakers. Don't want to spend too much on wild guesses and my current unit looks mint, no...

Connected to VCDS Lite and it confirmed as I suspected that the dash gauge shows the correct coolant temperature and the climate control unit shows wrong. Engine module measuring block values matched the dash gauge showing 90*C, while climate control showed 25*C. Couldn't connect to HVAC module...

Thanks for the reply! Coolant level is normal and the coolant itself was changed recently. I initially also suspected thermostat and got it checked. Also the ECT reading from climate control shows only 20-30*C and even for a thermostat stuck fully open that is way too low IMO (should be at...

Hi! My A3 is constantly providing me with new puzzles to solve, but this one is going over my head. So as soon as outside temperature dropped below 0*C, then I lost basically all heating inside the car. If the climate control is set on AUTO, then there is no air blowing at all. If I manually...

Cheers for the writeup. I have exactly the same work waiting for me. Always figured that it's a PITA job so I keep delaying it. lol

To check cam-to-cam timing what you should be looking for basically are the marks and then count the chain links. It should count to 16 on the chain from mark to mark as shown in the picture

I've heard that Topran is generally pretty much crap. I don't know about oil pumps though, but haven't heard anything good ever about Topran.

When in doubt, I would clean/replace just to get a peace of mind. I cleaned mine last year, don't plan on doing it this year (maybe in about 2-3 years I'll take it up again), since I change my oil in less than 10k km (or after 6 months time) and haven't had any issues with coolant mixing etc. I...

Doesn't sound like it's anything to do with the cam chain IMO, that would be a more metally clack sound (I know since mine does it for a split second on every cold morning). To me this sounds like it's something with the exhaust, not even necessarily with the manifold, but somewhere else in the...

It isn't too complicated to fit them though. If you really want to do it then it is very doable. If you don't want to mess around with wires then you can just buy the connector loom off eBay (costs way too much for how small it is, but hey it works) and you only have to cut the wing a little...

Yes to fit the FL headlight you have to cut part of the wing. That is exactly the place that you pointed at, where the pre-FL indicator light would attach to. If you google a bit, then you see that every time somebody has fitted FL lights, there has been wing cutting involved. They also aren't...

My (notoriously bad) early 1.8 (N/A) engine has 205 000 km on the clock, which judging by the wear on the interior etc. has probably been reduced (as service history is unknown), so in reality it is probably somewhere between 300k-400k km. It has not needed any major engine work and has been in...