VAG COM Transporter T5

**andy8442** · 22-01-2009,10:38 PM

Hi, please help!

I have 2007 2.5 T5 with an intermitent fault that basically VW have given up on. To be fair they have tried and tried ,but the intermitent nature of it means you could run it all week and nothing will happen, then the next day all hell breaks loose in the engine dept.

My "last resort" idea is to buy one of these VAG COM fault code readers and just leave it plugged in as I go about my business and hopefully register a fault, that I can then call the dealership and point them in the right direction.

All I want is something that will record a fault code....so what do you suggest?

**martin1810** · 23-01-2009,08:42 PM

That's not how it works. An intermitent fault once picked up by the ecu will stay until you read and clear it. You don't need to try and capture it. If you haven't found a fault code it's because it hasn't generated one.

**andy8442** · 23-01-2009,09:42 PM

Thanks, but the dealership found a fault code indicating a missfire, so then changed all the injectors,but to no effect. The problem I now have is they aren't prepared to drive the van around until the fault occurs again. So it seems the only solution is for me to drive around and hopefully when the problem occurs again I can look at "a device" and imform the garage of the fault code and hopefully give them something to get their teeth into.

The question I'm asking is what is the best bit of kit to do this?

**kenney** · 23-01-2009,09:59 PM

An intermittent fault,is often,difficult,to repair. A great help to the workshop,is the understanding of the customer,in such circumstances. Speaking with experiance an understanding customer is likely to get more assistance then a customer that is shouting his head off.It is in the interest of most workshops to be able to satisfy the customer, and to find the fault is not your problem andy.Anyway what are the symptoms of your problem andy?

**paul b** · 23-01-2009,10:10 PM

Andy, whether you buy a handheld scanner or laptop based software to record faults, driving around with it plugged in all day doesn't make any difference. It will make the fault code when its ready.

I had a similar problem with my T5 but it wasn't quite like yours. And I was getting a different fault code.

Anyway, I would check the inlet manifold is not loose or missing bolts. If not that, check the inlet manifold gasket is not cracked or missing pieces. I had this problem many years ago when I was working for Toyota, it took so long to find the problem. It was eventually traced to be a loose manifold, causing a very intermittent misfire, sometimes running on 2 cylinders.

Does it give out a lot of black smoke when it misfires?

Paul

**andy8442** · 23-01-2009,10:21 PM

Believe me I am the most patient of customer, but after 2 years and over 60 days in the garage, I am literally on my own now trying to find the fault.

The fault in brief is a vibration of the van as a whole (only when the engine as been running for at least an hour), brought on by either touching the brakes when rolling up to a halt, or that feel you get when you are going too slow for a gear and it feels like its going to stall. But this can happen on the motorway at 70 or driving through town at 40.

I can drive all week without a hitch then from nowhere it appears and then disappears in 10 minutes. Stopping and swithing off and on again seems to stop it.

All the braking system has been checked, all injectors replaced,fly wheel replaced, and switches on the brake and clutch pedal replaced( which had something to do with the engine braking?).

It is frustratingly intermitant, so is it electronic or mechanical, my thinking is if something mechanical is bent/broken whatever, surely it would happen all the time?

The van is still under warranty, so I just need to find the fault and VW will fix it, but that's the problem, finding it.

**andy8442** · 23-01-2009,10:25 PM

Originally Posted by paul b

Andy, whether you buy a handheld scanner or laptop based software to record faults, driving around with it plugged in all day doesn't make any difference. It will make the fault code when its ready.

I had a similar problem with my T5 but it wasn't quite like yours. And I was getting a different fault code.

Anyway, I would check the inlet manifold is not loose or missing bolts. If not that, check the inlet manifold gasket is not cracked or missing pieces. I had this problem many years ago when I was working for Toyota, it took so long to find the problem. It was eventually traced to be a loose manifold, causing a very intermittent misfire, sometimes running on 2 cylinders.

Does it give out a lot of black smoke when it misfires?

Paul

No smoke. I'm not a mechanic so I really don't know what to look at any way.

Thanks

**paul b** · 23-01-2009,10:40 PM

It sounds totally unacceptable. As Kenney says its very important you're patient, but it seems like you've paid VW more than enough visits already.

You've given them multiple chances? How long before they take the van from you and you demand a replacement until its fixed?

Have VW ever mentioned anything regarding the wiring harness that Kenney mentioned? I've heard of those being replaced in the T5 section but have no personal experience of it.

Paul

**kenney** · 23-01-2009,11:06 PM

Hi Found this information,but since the vehicle is still under warranty,this should not be your problem. Misfiring at above 3500 rpm.
Mainly no complaint logged. In isolated cases the complaint “ G28 implausible signal” is logged.Rust on the contact surface of the impulse sender G28 to the engine block. This increases the distance of the impulse sender to the sender wheel and the signal can become inaccurate at high engine speeds.One other thing comes to mind and that there has been problems with the wiring harness for the injectors

**andy8442** · 23-01-2009,11:08 PM

Originally Posted by paul b

It sounds totally unacceptable. As Kenney says its very important you're patient, but it seems like you've paid VW more than enough visits already.

You've given them multiple chances? How long before they take the van from you and you demand a replacement until its fixed?

Have VW ever mentioned anything regarding the wiring harness that Kenney mentioned? I've heard of those being replaced in the T5 section but have no personal experience of it.

Paul

What harness ?

I'm quite up with my legal rights and know I could push VW much further, but none of that would get my van fixed, and at the end of the day thats' what I want. Legal action takes time and money and at best VW only have to give me a comparable replacement. My van is quite individually spec'd, and VW don't have to match it so I would be a couple of grand out of pocket trying to bring another van up to my spec.........So I just want it fixed.