The doom blue Passat - kept in suspense

[bunglebus]

I thought it was about time I formally introduced my Passat, as it's just turned 21 so is officially "of age". I've not really bothered talking about it before as it's so reliable there's not much to say.

It was my dad's for 6 or 7 years and was another family member's prior to that, so I've known of it for quite a while. I acquired it as my dad didn't like the idea of me doing long journeys in my Renault 5 (not that it bothered me). I've had it about 5 years and added 78,000 miles in that time.

I think it's still got most of its original bits other than suspension parts and wear and tear stuff, never had a clutch or an exhaust change as far as I can tell - not bad for 238,000 miles!

I can't leave anything alone, so it's got lowering springs, tinted lights, debadged grill,  Audi alloys and some silly paint as there was laquer peeling on the bonnet - the roof and boot are like it too, think they were re-sprayed at some point in the past.

[Kiltox]

 

[bunglebus]

As for actual repairs, it's had all new upper suspension arms, and is about to have the lower ones done, mainly to rectify an annoying creak at low speed and a mysterious knocking over poor surfaces, not that there's any play in anything. It also has the usual VW habit of marking its spot wherever I park it - thought I'd cured that when I found a crumbling breather pipe but it still drips. Also had both door carriers off recently, one for a broken cable and the other for window regular clips.

A lack of power had everyone including a VW master tech scratching their heads for two years, I heard the inlet manifolds get gummed up so I took it off and cleaned it. As I had access I decided to investigate a rattle from the exhaust - turned out to be a broken cat. Removed its innards and fixed the fault. The cloud of crap that came out the first time I booted it was huge!

It's also on at least its forth windscreen, the problems I had with Auto Windscreens could keep me ranting for hours - and the Pilkington glass they fitted attracted chips and scratches all the time. The current one was fitted by a local company, they did an excellent job, even got the scuttle trim to fit properly which had defeated me, and it hasn't got a single mark on it in 18 months of driving.

It even has a mini-me in the rear window

[Eyersey1234]

Nice looking Passat there OP

[Spiny Norman]

2 hours ago, bunglebus said:

I thought you'd put a Ford badge on it for a second...

[Lacquer Peel]

They're good cars. Is this a TDI?

[Tamworthbay]

Best car I ever had was my w plate Passat estate. Had it ten years, did 150000 miles and never had even a single problem. Only ever put tyres, brake discs and pads and one battery on it. FiL had it off me and it was still going strong 5 years on.

[bunglebus]

3 hours ago, Lacquer Peel said:

They're good cars. Is this a TDI?

Yep AFN code TDI. Invincible it seems.

 

It has got one odd quirk - the MPG readout seems to think I'm doing way more that I really am, and the average setting can show a positive figure even at a standstill. Odd thing is when we plugged a reader into the ODB port, it seemed to show the correct figures. Doesn't bother me, I find it amusing to get it up to 99 MPG average on a run - actually doing about 56 overall.

[Bren]

I like ours very much but the time has come where we have to either spend on it or bail out.

[bunglebus]

Today I did stuff. I suspected the anti-roll bar links were worn, although there was no play until I undid the driver's side - then the passenger side did this;

 

20190801_114830 by RS, on Flickr

*edit* hmm that's supposed to be a video

Lower front arms both creaked, so both sides now look like this

 

20190801_125816 by RS, on Flickr

 

The driver's side balljoint was nasty, all notchy and stiff. Probably water ingress but as they're genuine parts they're probably original to the car, so I can forgive them.

[bunglebus]

Well I have a weird fault - been getting a really odd sensation when I brake lately, best way I can describe it is like part of the disc is "sticky", there's no juddering but you don't slow down smoothly. Only really noticeable at low speed, stopping at lights etc.  

Fairly convinced in the rear as I think the fronts would be felt more through the steering, this is felt through the car.

Had a look at the discs, I can see lines running out radially in places - zooming in it looks like a high spot or a build up of material. Anyone seen this before?

 

20191028_133533 by RS, on Flickr

20191028_133521 by RS, on Flickr

20191028_133651 by RS, on Flickr

 

(click on the pic and zoom in)

[Floatylight]

Well I have a weird fault - been getting a really odd sensation when I brake lately, best way I can describe it is like part of the disc is "sticky", there's no juddering but you don't slow down smoothly. Only really noticeable at low speed, stopping at lights etc.  
Fairly convinced in the rear as I think the fronts would be felt more through the steering, this is felt through the car.
Had a look at the discs, I can see lines running out radially in places - zooming in it looks like a high spot or a build up of material. Anyone seen this before?
 
20191028_133533 by RS, on Flickr
20191028_133521 by RS, on Flickr
20191028_133651 by RS, on Flickr
 
(click on the pic and zoom in)

We've got similar with Smoll FL's Citroen C3, we've come to the conclusion it's one of the front hubs running out of true but it only causes an issue when not under power but when light braking at low speeds

Sent from my Moto G (5) using Tapatalk

[Bren]

Discs are easy to remove - take them off and clean everything and see if there is an improvement.

[bunglebus]

Pads are getting low anyway so I'll replace pads and discs all around - just never experienced the symptom in 25 years of driving

[MrParody]

Great car these.   Over 15 years I put 460,000 miles on a 1997 ahu engined Passat; suspension component parts replaced at about 100,000 mile intervals, but it had the original engine and clutch.  

[bezzabsa]

been looking at passatts lately....round here they all seem to be lowered and chuck out more black smoke than the Flying Scotsman at full chat!!!!

[bunglebus]

Mine's lowered as I could fit my head between the tyre and the wheelarch beforehand - and it does chuck out a bit of smoke if I really boot it, but that's probably because it spends most of its time doing 60 with the cruise on. Needs a clear out once in a while!

[mrbenn]

Brilliant cars. A friend at school had use of his parent's, identical to this but in the lighter shade of blue they came in. He gave it absolute hell and it steadfastly refused to break.

[Bren]

The engines will go on forever with regular oil changes.

Unfortunately the rest of the car is'nt built as well - rust, water leaks,doors that wont lock/unlock and gearbox issues condemn a lot of them.

A good one is a cheap way of getting about.

[Kiltox]

The water leaks are by far the worst feature - dodgy doors can be fixed easily and cheaply. 

[HMC]

I like these but the windscreen base/scuttle/ pollen filter housing design infuriated me. Father in law (German) picked his up at the Wolfsburg factory where the car was deposited from a giant automated rack. He’s still got the photo VW gave him.

[Cavcraft]

On 7/27/2019 at 10:03 AM, Lacquer Peel said:

They're good cars.

 

[Bren]

At the moment I am pricing up what ours will need to keep it running.

Ours has started to crunch slightly when changing into 3rd - passat gurus have told me a change of oil may help if caught early enough.

It needs a timing belt and water pump. Rear dampers look like rusty nails - those with springs and bump stops comes to £170. Doable myself.

Front dampers were an advisory last MOT. My dad still has a brand new one with spring he never fitted to his - so I only have to buy one. But everybody knows passat front suspension is a PITA to dismantle.

The alternative is another car for £1000-1500. I have been looking at x trails however mot of them have done more miles than our pisshat and have shit loads of advisories, some for corrosion.

What to do?

[bunglebus]

Honestly don't get why people hate on this era Passat, mine is fantastic. 243,000 miles and appears to be on its original everything bar service parts and suspension bits. That front suspension is really not that hard to work on either! It has its niggles like one of the doors occasionally not locking, but has no rust and is utterly reliable. I look after it but I also enjoy a good razz around the lanes too.

[Bren]

The problem with the suspension is when all the bolts have seized.

[bunglebus]

Ah yeah to be fair, one of mine was a right wossname to get out the first time. Lots of copper grease went on it when it was put back.

[Lacquer Peel]

The problem with the suspension is when all the bolts have seized.

Aye.

[bunglebus]

As the 1/4 million mile mark edges ever closer, it's still earning its keep.

 

20200105_151941 by RS, on Flickr

 

Don't worry 'ealth and safety people, it was to move the scaffold boards about 15 houses along the road - these are the floor of the shed I've just acquired.

Having moved the boards it was time for 15 concrete slabs

 

20200105_160437 by RS, on Flickr

 

[xtriple]

Now that is the way you should lower cars, none of this expensive coil overs shit, ust 3 tonne of concrete slabs!   I hate any VAG product but it seems this is earning its keep admirably.

[DoctorRetro]

Hey, how come you didn't get any shit for painting your bonnet? ???