If the details are right and it has full history?With the arse ache I'm having with the replacement alarm and even higher petrol prices going on and on and on, time maybe for something a little newer with a lot less miles and a more reliable history.I love the aero, but I can't use the alarm for risk of it going off after between 30 seconds and 5 minutes for no reason, I get sick of being woken at 6AM at the weekend when it there is no one arround. I can live without the alarm apart from the insurance, but I need it imobilised if I park up anywhere and you don't get that using the key.The alarm fitters have1) replaced the ultra sonic controller2) adjusted the ultra sonic controller3) replaced the main alarm4) checked the battery condition/drain/load when armed.And only once did it show the problem with them.As always it might be fine for 3 days, or it might go off 4 times a day.It won't go off when the fan kicks in when the engine is off, and it won't kick in when the fan stops, bit it might go off 5-30 minutes later.They have had it back to the shop 5 times in the last 2 months and each time "fixed it", and this Saturday the head tech from Gemini UK is coming to "fix it" as they don't know what is wrong now.

It's a 14 year old car. Chances are that at some point it will have been neglected. If you just need comfy and reliable then buy something fairly new and cheap. Like a Mondeo at 4 or 5 years old.

Is this overpriced for a trade car?

Jul 16, 2008 125 Replies

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Albert T Cone 17 years ago

Sorry, this has just jogged my memory - my B5 did exactly this. Once I'd figured that it wasn't an actual problem, I just ignored it, and did have any other related problems, so I don't think it's the body computer. Also the B5.5 sport that my dad had *started* to do this sporadically in the month or so before he sold it.

I asked the chap I sold the B5 to, and a year down the line the temp gauge is still operating intermittently, with no other problems having manifested, so I wouldn't worry too much.

I think it may be a genuine TADTS

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Douglas Payne 17 years ago

Temp gauge went funny, dash lights switched on and off sporadically when driving and the windows winding down when parked, in the middle of the night were all (now dispatched) symptoms of wet carpets from leaky rear inner door panels on our B5.

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jackhackettuk 17 years ago

Aye, well... all the time it has warranty on it, it can go back and be fixed FOC.

Not had this with any of the other VAG TDIs I've had, and let's be honest, there have been a few. :-)

-- JackH

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DanB 17 years ago

Aye, well... all the time it has warranty on it, it can go back and be fixed FOC.

Not had this with any of the other VAG TDIs I've had, and let's be honest, there have been a few. :-)

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Obviously, make it known that if it ever does it after the warranty runs out, that it will be treated as the same fault and fixed for free. Dealers do enjoy trying that on. Also, that any parts fitted at subject to a years warranty from when they are fitted - their warranty doesn't end with the cars just because they were fitted under warranty. Heard an awesomely long winded rant about an Alfa dealer pulling that one on someone once heh.

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jackhackettuk 17 years ago

Well... probably won't own it by then, so will cross that bridge when I come to it.

If the temperature sender unit replacement doesn't sort it, I'm going to insist they lift the carpets and clean all the contacts on the multiplug going into the body computer.

-- JackH

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DervMan 17 years ago

Indeed - but it does depend on the machine.

I have a love / hate relationship with the Saab 1.9 TiD. Both the 120 and

150 are great engines for their output and love being worked hard...

...but earlier ones are troublesome. Still.

Hmm. There's the additional complication of the LPG aspect too.

So too can petrol engines though.

Mostly I agree. Driving my 9-3 TiD back to back with the 1.8t, the 1.8t never really seems to get going whereas with the TiD, the pick up is stronger. The 1.8t has quicker acceleration times but doesn't feel quicker on the road.

Part of this is the difference in noise, part of this is the way the 1.8t is deliberately meant to feel weany, to encourage people to buy the 2.0t / 2.0 / 2.8T...

Hmm. Fancy meeting up for a low pressure turbo show down at some point? :-)

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