[AlexP]

Re: 2003 V8

Turned the key this morning and was rewarded with total silence, not even the starter motor.

Charged the battery for about 3 hours and was relieved when the engine started with no drama. I went for a drive and experienced some horrible issues with the steering, particularly on slow turns - the car was not responding to my steering inputs as expected, it felt like it was moving around of it's own accord. I immediately stopped and checked for a flat tyre; all okay.

I've done some reading here and on the 'net in general and wonder if it's related to the differentials? The behaviour does suggest that the diffs may be locking up, hence scary steering feedback on bends. My car has middle and rear lockable diffs. There were no apparent noises or grinding.

Could the flat battery have somehow upset the software? I've lost all my radio presets/clock. Incidentally the car is going in for the major recall work at the end of the month, so hopefully I can wait until then and that may cure it.

 

[Tregtech]

Hi alex

The recall chould sort most of the problems out. On the V8 and V10 it coult be a huuuuge recall so don't expect the car back to soon. On some V8 tregs the altenator cable needs replaced( engine out ) and on some V10 the turbos needs replaced (engine out ).

That altenator cable might be the cause of your flat battery issues.

Just leave it to your local treg tech :wink:

D

 

[Hipflyguy]

Alex,

While you're car's in getting the enging out treatment get them to replace the cam belt at the same time....

Will save you a few hundred quid since your car is getting on, as is mine... Wish my dealer had been so friendly as to offer this when we had this work done.... I was quoted 888 for the cam belt replacement by one garage, and 500 by another... N8ENS on the other hand got it for 250...

So if you can blag this work at the same time... do it...!!

 

[AlexP]

Thanks chaps.

VW want the car for a week, so it does sound like it' s gonna be pulled to bits. Hope they don't end up with a couple of spare screws left over when they've finished the reassembly. Car is only used at weekends so I can afford to wait until they've done their stuff and see how it handles after that. Went out for a drive again on Sunday and noticed a couple of odd sensations again; feels as though the car is sliding on ice on slow left hand turns...

Great idea about the cambelt work, if the engine's coming out anyway. I will drop them an email. Anything else worth doing a the same time (tensioner, water pump etc)? Car has done 32k miles. How do the suspension bushes fare? I guess they take a pounding due to the weight they have to support.

Cheers.