vw golf mark 4 problems

jam38 · 20-11-2008, 10:15 PM

hi all,

i have just joined this great forum!

i have a few questions if someone could be so kind to help me out. i have bought a vw golf mk4 1.9 tdi se 90 (x reg, 2000). it is a great drive but has a few problems:

the car is meant to be doing 54 mpg, but it only does around 42-5. why is this?
there is condensation on the inside of the windscreen, how do i eliminate this problem? what has caused this problem?
i want to fit a sat nav (tom tom) in the car. who should i use, and what would be the cost?
the cigarette lighter is not working properly. i have dismantled it and i have to keep the item connected 'pressed' in for it to charge/work, why is this?
the cloth on the gearstick is worn and i want to replace it. how would i do this? where is the best place to get the cloth?
i have fitted my own stereo in, and now there is a gap. where can i get a 'storage cubby holder' from?

thank you for your help in advance.

benjie · 21-11-2008, 12:19 AM

Welcome to the forum
Poor mpg - could be your MAF sensor (measures the volume of air coming into the car and fuels accordingly). Does the car seem sluggish when accellerating? If so, definately the MAF. It's easy to find... From the airbox (back right as you stand at the front of the car looking at the engine), a big pipe goes into the engine. About 5cm from where the big pipe joins the airbox, there's a sensor going into the pipe - that's it.

Condensation - change the pollen filter - remove 4 philips screws from under the passenger side wiper (behind the MAF sensor) and pull the tray out - bugger to get back in mind!) If that doesn't fix it, check if there's any water in the rear passenger side footwell, also, check for dampo in the boot & post again with the details.

Gearstick - the base just pings off and at the top by the knob, it's connected by some plastic clip thing that you need to get off, so pull the gearstick cloth all the way up and inside out to get access to this plastic clip. Lever slightly each of nthe 4 bits of clip till the gearknob comes off. then you're on your own, I've never separated gearknob from the material

Cubby hole - I have one, £20 delivered if you want it!

Anything else you need to know, just ask!

jam38 · 22-11-2008, 03:36 PM

thank you for your help. i will try the above and post back.

jam38 · 04-12-2008, 08:29 PM

benjie,

i have not had a chance to sort out the issues with the car, but hopefully will do this weekend. i just had a quick question. the accelleration of the car is really good, no problems to be honest. but as stated before the mpg return is poor. does the maf sensor still need replacing, or could it be something else?

benjie · 04-12-2008, 10:33 PM

I wouldn't change the maf too quickly - in cold weather, mpg is really buggered and you won't see 47-50mpg unless you have longer journeys. I would leave it for a while. There is a program called VAG-COM (recently changed name to VCDS) which you can take readings of the maf to see if it's performing as it should - I'm not suggesting you buy it just for that as it's expensive, but you could do some research and see if anyone lives close by with it on their laptop who would do a scan for beer tokens or something. It eill scan your car's ECU and find out if there are any errors and you can also scan the readings the maf are giving.

ShakVWGOLF · 19-12-2008, 12:22 AM

Condensation - change the pollen filter - remove 4 philips screws from under the passenger side wiper (behind the MAF sensor) and pull the tray out - bugger to get back in mind!) If that doesn't fix it, check if there's any water in the rear passenger side footwell,

How do i stop water from pooling in the footwell, I can't find where its coming from?

benjie · 19-12-2008, 12:36 AM

Hello, welcome. Which footwell is the water in?
First, check the pollen filter is in and screwed on properly.
Do you have a sunroof? If so, clear the drainage holes for it. Also, look under the scuttle panel (the plastic bit the wiper arms sit in) as it could be full of mud/leaves etc.
There's also something to do with the rear lights. If you take some of the boot tim off, there is a vent or something below the rear lights. Have a look in your boot and see if the carpet or spare tyre well is wet. I don't remember very well, but I'm sure these rear vents can cause water in foorwells.
Someone also told me once that there are little plastic circles pushed into the floor, so if a lot of water gets in there, they can be removed to let it drain. HAve you been through a flood? As he said he'd been through a flood and the pressure from the water underneath the car had forced them up a bit and water had leaked in from below. I have never heard of this since though, so might not be accurate.
Anyway, there's a few ideas, but check the pollen filter is installed correctly and put back properly first.

20-11-2008, 10:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
jam38 Shank's Pony Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3	vw golf mark 4 problems hi all, i have just joined this great forum! i have a few questions if someone could be so kind to help me out. i have bought a vw golf mk4 1.9 tdi se 90 (x reg, 2000). it is a great drive but has a few problems: the car is meant to be doing 54 mpg, but it only does around 42-5. why is this? there is condensation on the inside of the windscreen, how do i eliminate this problem? what has caused this problem? i want to fit a sat nav (tom tom) in the car. who should i use, and what would be the cost? the cigarette lighter is not working properly. i have dismantled it and i have to keep the item connected 'pressed' in for it to charge/work, why is this? the cloth on the gearstick is worn and i want to replace it. how would i do this? where is the best place to get the cloth? i have fitted my own stereo in, and now there is a gap. where can i get a 'storage cubby holder' from? thank you for your help in advance.

21-11-2008, 12:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
benjie Volkswagen Golf GTi Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Swindon area Posts: 612	Welcome to the forum Poor mpg - could be your MAF sensor (measures the volume of air coming into the car and fuels accordingly). Does the car seem sluggish when accellerating? If so, definately the MAF. It's easy to find... From the airbox (back right as you stand at the front of the car looking at the engine), a big pipe goes into the engine. About 5cm from where the big pipe joins the airbox, there's a sensor going into the pipe - that's it. Condensation - change the pollen filter - remove 4 philips screws from under the passenger side wiper (behind the MAF sensor) and pull the tray out - bugger to get back in mind!) If that doesn't fix it, check if there's any water in the rear passenger side footwell, also, check for dampo in the boot & post again with the details. Gearstick - the base just pings off and at the top by the knob, it's connected by some plastic clip thing that you need to get off, so pull the gearstick cloth all the way up and inside out to get access to this plastic clip. Lever slightly each of nthe 4 bits of clip till the gearknob comes off. then you're on your own, I've never separated gearknob from the material Cubby hole - I have one, £20 delivered if you want it! Anything else you need to know, just ask! __________________ B6 A4 130TDI quattro Sport

04-12-2008, 10:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
benjie Volkswagen Golf GTi Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Swindon area Posts: 612	I wouldn't change the maf too quickly - in cold weather, mpg is really buggered and you won't see 47-50mpg unless you have longer journeys. I would leave it for a while. There is a program called VAG-COM (recently changed name to VCDS) which you can take readings of the maf to see if it's performing as it should - I'm not suggesting you buy it just for that as it's expensive, but you could do some research and see if anyone lives close by with it on their laptop who would do a scan for beer tokens or something. It eill scan your car's ECU and find out if there are any errors and you can also scan the readings the maf are giving. __________________ B6 A4 130TDI quattro Sport

19-12-2008, 12:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
ShakVWGOLF Shank's Pony Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1	condensation and water in footwell Condensation - change the pollen filter - remove 4 philips screws from under the passenger side wiper (behind the MAF sensor) and pull the tray out - bugger to get back in mind!) If that doesn't fix it, check if there's any water in the rear passenger side footwell, How do i stop water from pooling in the footwell, I can't find where its coming from?

19-12-2008, 12:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
benjie Volkswagen Golf GTi Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Swindon area Posts: 612	Hello, welcome. Which footwell is the water in? First, check the pollen filter is in and screwed on properly. Do you have a sunroof? If so, clear the drainage holes for it. Also, look under the scuttle panel (the plastic bit the wiper arms sit in) as it could be full of mud/leaves etc. There's also something to do with the rear lights. If you take some of the boot tim off, there is a vent or something below the rear lights. Have a look in your boot and see if the carpet or spare tyre well is wet. I don't remember very well, but I'm sure these rear vents can cause water in foorwells. Someone also told me once that there are little plastic circles pushed into the floor, so if a lot of water gets in there, they can be removed to let it drain. HAve you been through a flood? As he said he'd been through a flood and the pressure from the water underneath the car had forced them up a bit and water had leaked in from below. I have never heard of this since though, so might not be accurate. Anyway, there's a few ideas, but check the pollen filter is installed correctly and put back properly first. __________________ B6 A4 130TDI quattro Sport

22-11-2008, 03:36 PM	#3 (permalink)
jam38 Shank's Pony Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3	thank you for your help. i will try the above and post back.

04-12-2008, 08:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
jam38 Shank's Pony Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 3	benjie, i have not had a chance to sort out the issues with the car, but hopefully will do this weekend. i just had a quick question. the accelleration of the car is really good, no problems to be honest. but as stated before the mpg return is poor. does the maf sensor still need replacing, or could it be something else?