[ad20051]

Hello all,

I have recently bought a MK4 R32. I thought ownership would be easy, I thought it would be relatively cost effective (minus the fuel), I was wrong. A host of problems in the first month and the problems continue to appear. I even considered trading in for something else last night but to be honest I love the car... Anyway...

The rear passenger door has stopped locking. It won't open on command from the key and it will only operate manually. Is this just a fuse or something more sinister? Has anybody else had the same problem?

Also heard a strange, almost knocking, noise coming from the front passenger side. Could be a wheel bearing however very quiet at the moment. I can only really hear it when cornering left with the radio off, any ideas?

Help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[alecmack]

MK4 or Mk5??

 

[Benji26]

MK4 or Mk5??

First line of his post would point to it being a Mk4.

Sent from my ST18i using Tapatalk 2

 

[alecmack]

First line of his post would point to it being a Mk4.

Sent from my ST18i using Tapatalk 2

just noticed that my eyes must be painted on

 

[alecmack]

Try change the battery in the key fob??, The knocking noise could be your top mounts common fault. if it was a wheel bearing it would be more off a rumbling.

 

[Steff]

The knocking noise could be a CV joint if its only making the noise on lock.
I would take the door card off and take a look at the lock.

 

[Gr3aseMonkey]

The door lock issue is most probably the door lock actuator (about £100 from vw) very common on the mk4 platform, the knocking could be a number if things if its only when your on full lock it could be the outer Cv joint, nothing too serious

 

[Joesmif]

Try the wiring from the body to door first. pull back black rubber boot and check for breakages it's common on all cars

 

[Fat Head]

Hello all,

I have recently bought a MK4 R32. I thought ownership would be easy, I thought it would be relatively cost effective (minus the fuel), I was wrong. A host of problems in the first month and the problems continue to appear. I even considered trading in for something else last night but to be honest I love the car... Anyway...

The rear passenger door has stopped locking. It won't open on command from the key and it will only operate manually. Is this just a fuse or something more sinister? Has anybody else had the same problem?

Also heard a strange, almost knocking, noise coming from the front passenger side. Could be a wheel bearing however very quiet at the moment. I can only really hear it when cornering left with the radio off, any ideas?

Help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

If you thought owning an r32 was cost effective you are way off, they arent standard, they are volkswagen racing parts and thus the prices are much much more, and rarer to find, to be honest people shouldnt be worried about fuel nowadays, they should be concerned about part prices, especially when owning VW's flagship model golf
These cars need love and attention and if they arent looked after they will bite back, but anyway i dont know about the lock, but the knocking noise could be cv joint, droplinks, arb bushes, top mounts, or something else but that is where i would start

 

[ad20051]

Update, the knocking was actually a loose wheel! I looked through the history and it had been into Volkswagen a number of years back. My garage informed me that the bolts used looked like they'd come off a car which was a lot older.

It gets worse though. On the drive home, I noticed another noise. A creaking when I turned slowly. That turned out to be the top mounts... Almost at breaking point.

To top it all off, I have the car back again and the steering feels VERY heavy. Feels like either the steering rack is on its way out or the power steering pump could be goosed? Any suggestions are welcome.

Oh and the near side rear passanger door is knackered. Apparently it was a recall a number of years ago but never got changed. I hope I get to the end of this cars problems very soon...

Any suggestions on suspension and general handling upgrades. Been looking for strut braces, coilovers and uprated brakes. Used Eibach struts and EBC brakes on a previous project but value everybodys input.

Cheers

 

[ad20051]

If you thought owning an r32 was cost effective you are way off, they arent standard, they are volkswagen racing parts and thus the prices are much much more, and rarer to find, to be honest people shouldnt be worried about fuel nowadays, they should be concerned about part prices, especially when owning VW's flagship model golf
These cars need love and attention and if they arent looked after they will bite back, but anyway i dont know about the lock, but the knocking noise could be cv joint, droplinks, arb bushes, top mounts, or something else but that is where i would start

I was meaning cost effective as I thought the Golf's were meant to be bullet proof in relation to it's peirs. Fuel doesnt bother me too much (aside from the obvious) and hopefully I'll be giving the car enough love an attention as it deserves. Love the car just not the present troubles.

 

[Fat Head]

I was meaning cost effective as I thought the Golf's were meant to be bullet proof in relation to it's peirs. Fuel doesnt bother me too much (aside from the obvious) and hopefully I'll be giving the car enough love an attention as it deserves. Love the car just not the present troubles.

From what i have experienced, golfs aren't bullet proof, if you read my build thread you will see some of the crap ive had to put up with lol, but saying that nothing major has gone wrong, if they are well looked after which im sure you will do to yours then it will reward you later on.

I have ebc brakes at the moment redstuff pads with turbo groove discs and they seem ok, but i dont know yet because ive been using heavily corroded brake lines lol, they are getting fixed tomorrow so ill pop back and let you know how they really are.

Sorry bud i have no idea about any of your other problems

 

[CorradoR32]

Hang in there AD20051, I'm in my first month's ownership and going through the same stuff. Driver's door module, no fast idle, flickering xenons, erratic auto wipers, misreading fuel gauge, slow speed fans dead, and so on. I should have listened to my mechanic when he said the MK4 electronics weren't built to last and gone for a MK5 instead, but they have issues of their own, so you can't win with cars! I've sunk over a grand into it already, just fixing VW's crap build quality.

I would put a hold on the mods until you've got the car up to scratch in standard form. That way you will appreciate the mods even more.

 

[Fat Head]

Hang in there AD20051, I'm in my first month's ownership and going through the same stuff. Driver's door module, no fast idle, flickering xenons, erratic auto wipers, misreading fuel gauge, slow speed fans dead, and so on. I should have listened to my mechanic when he said the MK4 electronics weren't built to last and gone for a MK5 instead, but they have issues of their own, so you can't win with cars! I've sunk over a grand into it already, just fixing VW's crap build quality.

I would put a hold on the mods until you've got the car up to scratch in standard form. That way you will appreciate the mods even more.

yeah thats what i did, spent a lot of money putting it right before i spent more money making it better, hopefully it will be lots of something and nothings.

 

[cuprabob]

Unfortunately, all MK4 Golfs have a view areas of weakness which are well documented and easily found with a little research.

- Water ingress
- Strut top mounts
- Broken springs
- Coilpacks
- Door modules
- Radiator fan resistors
- Rear washer pipe / Boot lock
- ECT Sensor

You also have to remember that they are 9 - 10 year old cars so there will be issues.

 

[Fat Head]

Unfortunately, all MK4 Golfs have a view areas of weakness which are well documented and easily found with a little research.

- Water ingress
- Strut top mounts
- Broken springs
- Coilpacks
- Door modules
- Radiator fan resistors
- Rear washer pipe / Boot lock
- ECT Sensor

You also have to remember that they are 9 - 10 year old cars so there will be issues.

air con compressors
corrosion underneath
clutch release bearing
belt tensioner
...

 

[cuprabob]

Also, I forgot the clutch slave cylinder.

 

[ad20051]

Thanks for the input gents. Like I said I do love the car it has just been a bit of a low point. Once everything is up to scratch I'll be on here singing it's praises!

Have a good weekend gents

 

[PaulW]

air con compressors
corrosion underneath
clutch release bearing
belt tensioner
...

Yours must of been bad! Did you have all those things wrong?

 

[Fat Head]

Yup, still have the clutch release bearing faulty, its squeaky slightly but till it gets worse im going to leave it for now

I also had the fan issue, rather than do the resistor mod i bought 2nd hand fans for £40

According to vagcom i have a faulty brake switch and something to do with the blower vents but i havent notied anything

All of the problems are now fixed, bar the clutch and the vagcom faults, so im happy ish