I have several items that I find of interest or curiosity on my new
(10 days) 96 GTI VR6. I really enjoy it and find it to be a great
value. On to the curiosiities and anomilies:
1. I have found that there is a connector accessable after removing
the ash tray and sliding a panel left into the vacated space. I
suspect that it is the diagnostic connector.
2. The arm rests seem to be unusual. I guess that they are bonded
(glued) to the door. I have heard some creaks and snaps while putting
weight on the left one while parking my butt into the back of the
seat. I wonder if more adhesive would make it stronger. Any comments?
3. Twice out of about 30? times I have triggered the alarm while
opening the hatch with my key. I wonder if there is anything in my
technique that may have caused this.
4. For a while I found that if I approached the locked car and
mistakenly turned the key to the locked position (cw on drivers side)
and then BRIEFLY to the proper ccw unlock position, the passenger side
window (only) would go down by about 2 inches. I think that this has
gone away though I now turn the key the correct way immediately.
5. I think that the beep of the horn to indicate locking is longer
than needed. I would suggest that they make that shorter.
6. I was supprised to find that there is a substantial weight (bigger
than a game-of-golf putter head) that swings when the shift linkage is
operated. This is in the engine compartment on the driver’s side. by
the transmission. I guess that this is to give a smoother action. I
had never heard it being discussed.
7. Will the engine have to be removed to change the alternator? It
looks like it is buried pretty well. I was pleased to find that the
water pump is covered in the 10 year/100000mile powertrain waranty.
8. I looked at the front turn signal light and towing eye access
covers. There is a hinge like construction connecting those two lens
pieces. The outside turn signal light has two plastic pieces that snap
(sort of) to a vertical ~3 inch pin that is held to the towing hook
lens. Are these intended to be removed as a pair? Why are the two
plastic pieces that snap (??) to the pin so different from each other.
The top one seems strange. I thought it was distorted, but found the
same thing on the left side of the car. I found re-attaching the upper
arm to the pin to be difficult.
9. The owner’s manual would imply that the towing eyes are for towing
the car at up to 30 mph. I assume that this is with a tow rope or
chain. This supprised me. That is not legal in Illinois. A tow bar is
required. The book does say to obey local laws. Is towing at 30 MPH
with rope or chain legal in most of the world?
gele…@interaccess.com (Tom Geletka) wrote:
>1. I have found that there is a connector accessable after removing
>the ash tray and sliding a panel left into the vacated space. I
>suspect that it is the diagnostic connector.
On the 95 GTI there seems to be a connector behind one of the panels to the
right of the rear defrost switch.
>2. The arm rests seem to be unusual. I guess that they are bonded
>(glued) to the door. I have heard some creaks and snaps while putting
>weight on the left one while parking my butt into the back of the
>seat. I wonder if more adhesive would make it stronger. Any comments?
My driver side door handle juts out about 1/4" farther than the latch. On the
passenger side, it’s flush. I couldn’t figure out how it was attached, so one
day I just pushed on it with steady pressure until it was flush. It stayed
flush for about three days and then slowly worked its way out again. It’s
strange, but it doesn’t seem loose so I’ll just mark it up as a friendly VW
quirk.
>3. Twice out of about 30? times I have triggered the alarm while
>opening the hatch with my key. I wonder if there is anything in my
>technique that may have caused this.
Worst case: I got in the car once and as I closed the door, heard the BEEP to
tell me that I had just alarmed the door as I closed it. I think I mistakenly
turned the key twice while it was open. There was nothing to do but open the
door, setting of the alarm and then quickly closing and locking the car to
turn it off. Pretty embarrassing. At this point, I would prefer some other
way of securing the car, but I’m definitely glad there’s an alarm built in.
>4. For a while I found that if I approached the locked car and
>mistakenly turned the key to the locked position (cw on drivers side)
>and then BRIEFLY to the proper ccw unlock position, the passenger side
>window (only) would go down by about 2 inches. I think that this has
>gone away though I now turn the key the correct way immediately.
Keep the key turned and you’ll lower the window all the way. It’s a feature,
not a bug, meant for hot summer days. Personally I think it’s useless if the
sunroof doesn’t open as well.
>5. I think that the beep of the horn to indicate locking is longer
>than needed. I would suggest that they make that shorter.
Make it user-configurable!
In other thoughts… had mine up to 100 MPH the other day… ooohhhh…
sweeeet. Smooth as half-melted butter. Still waiting for the right
conditions to push it a little further. Oh baby!
–
Tony Shepps – t…@pond.com – The Cellar electronic community: US 610-539-3043
"Home pages are the pet rock of the 90s. We all have them, we all think
they’re very cute. But in a few years we’re going to look back and be pretty
embarrassed." - me
Tony Shepps (t…@pond.com) wrote:
: gele…@interaccess.com (Tom Geletka) wrote:
: >1. I have found that there is a connector accessable after removing
: >the ash tray and sliding a panel left into the vacated space. I
: >suspect that it is the diagnostic connector.
: On the 95 GTI there seems to be a connector behind one of the panels to the
: right of the rear defrost switch.
You will find such a connector on all A3s (even the ones sold in Europe).
This is the diagnostic connector to which you hook up a VAGnnnn tool
(forgot what the numbers are for the nnnn). It is documented in one of
the TSBs from VW.
-=Alastair=-
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In article <DJCCpA….@news2.new-york.net> sunby…@bc.cybernex.net (Mike Byrne) writes:
>From: sunby…@bc.cybernex.net (Mike Byrne)
>Subject: Re: 95 GTI discoveries and curiosities
>Date: Sun, 10 Dec 1995 01:48:24 GMT
>gele…@interaccess.com (Tom Geletka) wrote:
>>6. I was supprised to find that there is a substantial weight (bigger
>>than a game-of-golf putter head) that swings when the shift linkage is
>>operated. This is in the engine compartment on the driver’s side. by
>>the transmission. I guess that this is to give a smoother action. I
>>had never heard it being discussed.
>Just to answer one question for you. You’re correct in thinking that
>this rod gives the shifter smoother action. Neuspeed sells weighted
>shift rods for the older VW’s, now, finally, VW has incorporated one
>stock. BTW, they cost $45 aftermarket, so be glad your new car came
>with one stock.
>Mike
The original poster said that his car was a VR6. Don’t these have the
cable shift mechanism, and as such, no weighted rod?
Mark.
gele…@interaccess.com (Tom Geletka) wrote:
>6. I was supprised to find that there is a substantial weight (bigger
>than a game-of-golf putter head) that swings when the shift linkage is
>operated. This is in the engine compartment on the driver’s side. by
>the transmission. I guess that this is to give a smoother action. I
>had never heard it being discussed.
Just to answer one question for you. You’re correct in thinking that
this rod gives the shifter smoother action. Neuspeed sells weighted
shift rods for the older VW’s, now, finally, VW has incorporated one
stock. BTW, they cost $45 aftermarket, so be glad your new car came
with one stock.
Mike
gele…@interaccess.com (Tom Geletka) wrote:
>3. Twice out of about 30? times I have triggered the alarm while
>opening the hatch with my key. I wonder if there is anything in my
>technique that may have caused this.
That one I know. I found it out it is technique. If you
move or remove the key too soon upon lifting the hatch,
it will go off. I used to unlock, remove my key, then
open hatch. Big no no. Always triggered the alarm.
Now, I unlock hatch, open it (leave keys in) close it, remove
keys. I don’t think you have to do the same. I think the
key just must be in position while the hatch is
actually opening…
gele…@interaccess.com (Tom Geletka) wrote:
>I have several items that I find of interest or curiosity on my new
>(10 days) 96 GTI VR6. I really enjoy it and find it to be a great
>value. On to the curiosiities and anomilies:
[snip]
>4. For a while I found that if I approached the locked car and
>mistakenly turned the key to the locked position (cw on drivers side)
>and then BRIEFLY to the proper ccw unlock position, the passenger side
>window (only) would go down by about 2 inches. I think that this has
>gone away though I now turn the key the correct way immediately.
I know what you mean by this; my ’95 Passat GLX does the same thing.
I’m sure you know of the feature of lowering the windows by holding
the key ccw, but right after you lock the doors and IMMEDIATELY unlock
them, the windows drop WITH NO DELAY. I don’t know why this is, but
"They All Do It(TM)". I discovered this in the dealer lot while
trying to figure out which ’95 Passats had selective unlocking and
which didn’t. It was a bit aggravating that the windows would always
drop while checking out the system, but it seemed that if you waited
a few seconds before unlocking it was OK.
I’m sure it will cease to be an issue after you become comfortable
with the car (i.e. cw vs. ccw).
Enjoy!
Larry Buchholz
’95 Passat GLX, Tornado Red, 5-speed
Re quick window drop
Probably it uses a capacitator which "fills up" when you have used it to
lock the windows. thus, when you immediatly turn to the opposite
direction it is still is full and responds immediatly. when you wait, the
cap. empties and the delay is re-instituted while it fills up with the
signal again.