Just a few questions on the VW passat 1.8 20V 1998>

Just got the car last night there is 112,000miles on the clock.>

Q1: Is it a timing belt or chain its the (ADR engine)

Q2: The air bag light is staying on what could be at fault?

Q3: The passenger air bag has been disabled does this have to go back to the> dealer to be reactivated?? or can this be done via a key etc??

Q4: Where is the diagnostics socket on the car?

Belt. VW say change at 80k miles, I wouldn't leave it more than 60k> miles.>

Whole multitude of things. Quite often a connector under the seat -> there's a sensor to tell the ECU there's someone sat in the seat and> this often plays up.>

The handbook says dealer only, but it can be done via the diagnostic> socket with VAG-COM.>

Under a small rubber mat near the handbrake.>

--> Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'> http://www.italianc­ar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark> Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Passat 1.8 Turbo SE - COSOC KOTL> BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

Thanks for the info Steve,>

So I will book her in and get the belt done to be on the safe side of> things!

Well, that all depends on what the book / invoice says for the last> one..... if it was done by a main dealer on 80k miles, then you've got a> fair bit of life left yet.>

I bought mine with 132k miles on it (1.8T 20V), belt had been done by> the local main dealer on 80k miles - had mine done again on 140k miles,> although technically it would have gone on for longer.>

ISTR the new FSI lumps have a 100k mile change interval. Erk!>

Having said all that, I only paid about Ј180 to have the belt and> tensioners done at my local garage, so you may feel it's worth doing for> peace of mind.> --> Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'> http://www.italianc­ar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark> Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Passat 1.8 Turbo SE - COSOC KOTL> BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

Well, that all depends on what the book / invoice says for the last> one..... if it was done by a main dealer on 80k miles, then you've got a> fair bit of life left yet.>

I bought mine with 132k miles on it (1.8T 20V), belt had been done by> the local main dealer on 80k miles - had mine done again on 140k miles,> although technically it would have gone on for longer.>

ISTR the new FSI lumps have a 100k mile change interval. Erk!>

Having said all that, I only paid about Ј180 to have the belt and> tensioners done at my local garage, so you may feel it's worth doing for> peace of mind.> --> Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'> http://www.italianc­ar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark> Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Passat 1.8 Turbo SE - COSOC KOTL> BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

Steve, can you reset the service light yourself? I also have a VR6 sharan> and I can reset it with the M1 and M2 buttons can the sort of thing be done> with the passat? or is a reset tool required?

From the handbook:>

1. With the ignition switched off, press and hold the trip meter reset> button below the speedometer.>

2. Switch ignition on and release the reset button. One of the services> will appear in the display.>

3. Turn the knob to reset the minutes on the digital clock to the right.> "service ---" appears in the display.>

4. Turn off ignition. The service is now reset.> --> Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'> http://www.italianc­ar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark> Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Passat 1.8 Turbo SE - COSOC KOTL> BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

Steve,>

The airbag light is flashing just once (should flash 6times I think) to let> you no the passenger airbag is turned off.>

Had a look under the seats I can't see any wires etc...>

Any Ideas?

Sorry, can't help with that.>

My handbook says the light should flash for 12 seconds if the passenger> airbag is switched off.>

What exactly is yours doing?>

--> Steve H 'You're not a real petrolhead unless you've owned an Alfa Romeo'> http://www.italianc­ar.co.uk - Honda VFR800 - MZ ETZ300 - Alfa 75 TSpark> Alfa 156 2.0 TSpark Lusso - Passat 1.8 Turbo SE - COSOC KOTL> BoTAFOT #87 - BoTAFOF #18 - MRO # - UKRMSBC #7 - Apostle #2 - YTC #

Thanks for ALL your comments.>

Today (Saturday), I checked the cabling under the seat. When looking I saw> that one of the three wires were broken on the only connecter under the> seat.>

After unclipping the cable from the underside of the seat, I disconnected> the connecter and soldered the broken cable back in place.>

I still have the warning fault, but I guess that the fault needs clearing> from the car's computer.>

I'm going to take the Golf to a different dealer to clear the fault and if> necessary re-diagnose the fault. I took the Golf to my local dealer twice> to have a look at the fault, they so should have noticed the broken wire.>

Kelvin>

"Kelvin Morgan" <km305@tiscali.co.u­k> wrote in message> news:43441dfb$1_3@m­k-nntp-2.news.uk.tis­cali.com...>> My 2000 Golf GTI needs the drivers seat airbag replacing. Its booked in>> to be replaced and was quoted Ј380.>>

Yep - the service book doesn't mention the belt being changed for some>reason. So better safe than sorry and get it changed as you say for peace>of mind.>

Thanks Again>

Martin>

I've got a 1999 Passat 1.8t, I was driving down the highway this

afternoon in the rain (going about 70-75) when the car lost all power

to the wheels. I'm assuming the most likely problem is a CV joint

failure, but I'm not sure - any advice on whether these symptoms

indicate a CV joint problem would be appreciated.

When I put the car in gear and rev it up, there's somewhat of a

grinding noise but the speedometer moves - I would assume that means

the transmission is probably still intact? Is that what would happen

if the joint were roached?

Last year I replaced the right side CV joint (with a used one - I

couldn't get a new one anywhere. For some reason the right side of

the 1999 is different from every other year.) In that case, the joint

was functional but made a lot of noise. Last week my wife noticed a

clicking in the left side (only when she turned right), and I've been

assuming that would need to be replaced as well.

Thanks,

-Mike