Need Advice Please .. Re T5

[Noddy]

Its Noddy again folks... I'm in need of your help. Thanks everyone on your response to my other post.
Continuing the saga re noise problem in gearbox (maybe ) of new LWB 128kw Auto Transporter. Today I met with Volkswagen Australia rep who after driving the vehicle believes the issue "maybe " TURBO related. So this vehicle with less than 2000ks on the clock is about to undergo a turbo replacement.

I have a couple of questions I would like your advice on please.
The 1st is .... ( and I am completely a non mechanical person - that is why I bought the Volkswagen - believing I would get years of trouble free motoring )

... As I don't know the extent of the turbo problem ...only that ..if it is the turbo.. it has been making a loud rubbing type noise and causing the auto transmission to behave badly...jerking between 1st and 2nd gear and causing noise in other gears..at about the 2000 to 2500 rev mark...The question is..
...Would driving the vehicle todate ..ie 2000ks with a crook turbo ...have caused me other problems ...ie. engine issues...could I expect problems down the track because og the crook turbo.

The second question is related to the roof lining...when I picked up the vehicle I noticed the lining had a bow in it.... it got replaced the other day and blow me down if the new lining ended up with a bow in exactly the same place...( bowing occurs when the lining is attacheh to the roof )..can't just be a co-incidence can it ? Has anyone had any experience with this.Volkswagen are trying to get to the bottom of this one as well.

Other items such as dash rattles, noise in the steering, headlights out of alignment,and missing trim piece appear to be rectified or are in the process of rectification.Paint damage noted at time of delivery is still under resolution.

Sadly what should have been a great experience for me in buying a new Volkswagen is turning into a misery and I am slowly developing poor vibes about the Volkswagen product ...not the folks from Volkswagen endeavouring to assist me...they have been great..just the product.

Please folks ....if you could answer my questions I would be very appreciative.

thanks in advance
Noddy

[Golf Loon]

Its usually complaints about the staff and praises for the product mate.

Update your location details in your Control Panel.

Which piece of the lining is sagging?

[Noddy]

Hi, im in Sydney

the lining is hard masonite and the bow is on passenger side rear cargo area LWB T5
thanks

[phaeton]

Hate to say this Noddy.......

The T5 sounds like a lemon :(

My advice if everything is fixed at no cost to you under warranty and you have no probs after, then extend your warranty for an extra 2 years if nothing happens then keep it.

Otherwise look at a used one maybe ??

I'm not the most knowledgeable mechanical person just plain common sense is my thinking.

[gregozedobe]

From what I've read on the Brickyard there are way too many T5s with various problems. Some people don't have any issues, but you tend not to hear from them. The T5 just doesn't seem a reliable as the previous van (T4) :(

But almost everyone agrees that when they are running right the T5s are great to drive :)

I don't think a turbo problem would cause jerky gear changes and noises in the gearbox, or at least I can't think of a way that it would. Most turbo problems I've heard of (apart from total physical destruction) seem to cause a distinct lack of power (either all the time, or suddenly above approx 2,000rpm).

I haven't noticed any bowing in the rear roof lining of my van. Is it possible your van was built with an attachment point in the wrong place (slightly misaligned, thus causing the bowing) ?

[Noddy]

Thanks lads for your replies......Definitely feeling like it is a lemon. My discussions with Volkswagen earlier today centred around replacing the vehicle with another .... at no cost to me... could be a chance ...but a few more rounds of discussion need to take place.

If noise problem is still there after turbo change then there may be a chance....if noise gone after turbo replacement ...then no chance of replacement....that is why I am asking the question about possible damage done to motor whilst crook turbo still in vehicle.

I take the point about attachment point in wrong place in roof possibly causing bowing....I actually raised it myself with them....just have to see how they rectify the situation.

If I do end up keeping the vehicle I'm sure I will be wondering ...What next ?.
If anyone else out there can shed some light on my turbo and roof questions I would be very grateful.
many thanks
Noddy

[wandaria]

Get everything in writing that is wrong and maybe even tape the conversation if in your place your legally aloud.

Taking on a car company after the fact is very difficult and car companies have a policy of no fix if you don't mention it. IN other words if they think they can get away with a problem until the warranty expires they will.

The mechanics are told not to tell you about issues that are not at that time safety related, even though in 50000 ks or whatever they may be.

You should keep a tally of all your time and quote a rate of about $100.00 per hour, which is what they tend to quote, so that when they try and get you to keep the lemon you have something up your sleeve for later on.

Ask them once thye have supposedly fixed the problems. Will you give me a new car in its place if the problems come back or other ones related to these issues arise and see what their response is. Naturally enough if they say no then you can bet your bottom they expect their to be more problems.

[20vkitcar]

buy a toyota hiace

[BobD]

Noddy,

One out in left field but have a look anyway and see if this is contributing to your noise problem.

My T5 Multivan 128kw just started making a strange noise and I was wondering if there was a turbo or transmission problem causing it. I had a look under the bonnet and noticed that one of the plastic screws that fix the plastic lining to the front of the car was loose. These are the screws you see on top of the front member running across the front of the engine bay above the radiators etc and look pretty harmless. I tightened them all up with a ten cent piece and wonder of wonders, no more noise. It seems that the plastic vibrates at about 2000 to 2500rpm and sounds about as loud as the normal engine noise added on top of the normal noise. Quite strange, but easily fixed.

The six speed auto on mine also does strange things at times, as other people have reported. After coasting down hill or slowing down, when you accelerate for the next hill it changes down a couple of gears and revs the engine for a bit, before going back to normal. Quite strange but seems harmless.

[Noddy]

Thanks for your thoughts....I check it out...they still haven't got a turbo to replace the other one yet. This is becoming ridiculous.
Ive been googling info about turbos trying to understand some of the probs associated with present problem. Found a site where the article describes a "whizzing" sound in turbos as a problem...I get this sound along with the clunking sound I have described.....will be interesting to see how it all operates once I get the new one in.
I'm definitely pursuing replacement vehicle and will dog this issue to the end. Have a very supportive salseman on side and now regional manager involved and expressing empathy...need this to become reality and I may get good result.
In the meantime I continue to be without a vehicle and the compensation claim grows...Volkswagen have a least indicated they will compensate me if replacement vehicle doesn't happen.
Please keep thinking about possible reasons for my noise problem.
I am very appreciative of everones help todate.
kindest regards
Noddy

[MultiplexMan]

Noddy,

1. Turbo would be an "unlikely" source for the gearbox problem described. A "loud rubbing noise" from a turbo is usually followed by immediate failure and fire :rolleyes:

If it is a turbo bearing/lubrication problem - this can easily be diagnosed with basic vibration monitoring tools (machinery analyser).

2. No fault codes from the transmission? :?
Something should be evident via VAG-COM if the dealer test drove the vehicle with VAG-COM plugged in and data logging. This should be one of the first things checked.

3. No bowing in my roof either (T5 SWB Kombi Beach). This is a very simple item to fit. A couple reusable plastic screws. Post a photo if you can. Even a dealer should be able to fix this...

I know how disappointing it can be when you make a purchase and things go wrong. Either give it a 'reasonable period" to get sorted or lobby VWA for an exchange...

Good luck, MM

[Noddy]

Thanks MM.
Today a "Damper" was inserted into rubber hose that runs from intercooler to turbo...just after the metal pipe ..same radius as hose....sorry for my lack of mechanical knowledge....this was done at suggestion of VWA Technical.....it is supposed to even out the air flow from turbo to alliviate the whizzing noise that occurs ..apparently ....in some 128kw motors when they rev at about 2500 rpm.......they did this because the VWA rep who drove the vehicle thought the whizzing noise was unacceptable. I have checked a number of new 128kw motors built after Sept 2007..the build date of my motor apparently...but none of them had this fix from the factory...so must only occur in some vehicles and only fixed if complained about..the damper does stop the whizzing noise...only wish it fixed the clunking.
Meanwhile the service manager and workshop controller continue to witness the clunking sound that occurs somewhat regularly when the auto changes from 1st to 2nd.....i was present today when the onboard computer was again tested for errors in gearbox...but nil detected.
There is genuine headscratching going on with VWA. re this problem.
I am in full on negotiation with the dealership for an exchange vehicle now....Don't know where it will get to but not letting up as have spent a packet on a vehicle I have had in my possession for only two of last six weeks.
Everyone I deal with seems genuinely perplexed by the issue and keen to help...hopefully get some idea what they are going to do early next week.
To quote an oft used phrase..."I'm over it"
Will keep you informed
still hoping for someone out there to come up with a possible suggestion of what this problem is.
many thanks and kindest regards
Noddy

ps. they are about to order another roof to try for a fix. for the bowing...the third one........I happened to be at Tysons in Revesby late today..noticed they had some just delivered LWB T5s they are doing up as campers...guess what ...two of them had bows in the roof...interesting....however, they don't worry about it as they cut roof out anyway as they install pop tops.

[gregozedobe]

What a palaver !

I've never heard of a "whizzing" noise in turbos (except for those that had bearing problems), let alone an air "damper" being installed on a 128Kw R5 motor before (and because I've got that motor in my van I've been following any R5 problems fairly closely for nearly 18 months). Did it reduce performance at all, as it sounds like it could inroduce some reduction in air flow to the motor ?

I wonder if VWA would consider letting a transmission specialist have a look at your auto (seeing as VW obviously don't know what is wrong, let alone what to do to fix it).

As far as the roof goes, it brings to mind an old saying: "If you keep on doing what you've always done, you'll keep on getting what you've always got".

I'm sory you've had so many problems with your van, and I'm not surprised you are sick of it.

[Noddy]

Greg, I have not taken possession of the vehicle because they still haven't fixed the problem.
The damper is supposed to even out the airflow. I have no idea about impact on performance....there must be an issue out there re this whizzing noise as the part that was put in looked fairly intricate....as i said,maybe they only fix it if complaints occur. Perhaps most people think it is just a normal turbo noise ..just as the service blokes thought,.
Do you notice any slightly high pitched SCHZZZZZZZ type noise when you are accelerating. How many kilometers do you have on your vehicle. Do you notice any roughness when gears change.
A technical specialist is supposed to be coming out to look at vehicle in next few days...so we continue to wait...
thanks mate

[20vkitcar]

buy a toyota hiace

[phaeton]

Sounds like VWA need to get there hands dirty and actually look at the transmission instead if reading Computer Diagnostics.

I agree with Greg get a Trans. Specialist to take a look if VW are willing to pay for it. (or just phone one see if they have heard of anything like this before)

[20vkitcar]

shake my head