HELP: replacing wiring to haldex

[gtiness]

kind of in a pickle, trying to make a decision before the end of today (which means I can't look at the bentley manual first :( )


Cooke's says: the wiring to my car's (an R32) haldex unit is bad, due to corrosion, and needs to be replaced. I took it down there last week because the car was uh...FWD. Anyway, supposed to leave for Quebec in 2 days for a driver's event. The car's been @Cooke's for a week. They haven't gotten to it. The don't know when they'll get to it (in spite of the fact that I had an appt on Monday), and they don't say how long the job will take.

Does anybody have any idea what kind of job this is?? I'm considering picking up the car and doing the work myself...but only if it's feasible.

[VWTUNING]

I would go down there and ask to inspect the damage before any work is done.

Are they doing this under warranty?

[gtiness]

you bet they are. there's definitely something wrong with inconsistent symptoms (indicating intermittent communication at best).

The ESP is enabled and disabled every other start or so...AWD seemingly never works. This just happened one morning last week. I suspected the brake light switch but, the symptoms are not consistent with that.

[boostin20v]

This is the same thing that happened to Jackie's R.....

I would call to other local dealers, or just take the car for the event and drop it back off again when you get back.

[crew219]

looks like you might have to miss your event . . . .

should have taken it to burdick first . . . . cooke is a joke

[gtiness]

yeah, if Cooke's can't find the time to start it today Empire said they could do it tomorrow. I'd just have to bring the parts.

The problem with just taking the car to the event "as is" is, technically, it won't pass tech inspection.

[boostin20v]

how wouldnt it pass tech? a AWD vehicle must be AWD to pass?

[gtiness]

no, the ESP light on the dash...an "alarm" could, technically, cause it to fail inspection.

[gtiness]

Happily, Cooke's came thru this morning and got the car back to me. Leaving for Mt. Tremblant Quebec tomorrow night...

They replaced a connector which sits at the back of the rear diff and the associated wiring. The new connector is gold plated to minimize corrosion. I've confirmed this as best I can, apparently the "A" at the end of the part number indicates a gold plated connector. Sound right to anyone here?

Also, when I get back from Quebec, I was thinking of pulling the connector and putting some grease (not sure what kind yet) in there to help further minimize corrosion. Good idea? Bad idea? Any specific kind I should use with the plated connector?

[customfabvw]

there is a sensor in the top of the trans that goes bad! ive seen it before on a few tt's and a couple of r32's, fairly easy job with a lift!

[FusLit]

gold plated connector? sounds like thier blowing smoke up your ass...

Reminds me of the radio shack 'gold plated' connectors that they charge so much for and work the same as the generic ones. Glad you got it fixed though, and hopefully you didn't have to pay for it...

I'd suspect what Matt said is probably closer to the truth. But that could just be cynical me.

-Todd

[lotar_6]

You should have demanded the platinum connectors!! :icon_biggrin:

I'm not sure if dielectric grease will prevent this issue. I'd saran wrap it or something stoopid like that to help seal it off. :laugh: Not sure if it possible...

Hope it stays working for you!

[BUNNYLOVE]

Gold plated, LOL. I would use silicone dieletric grease on a connector like that that. It keeps the water out which should prevent it from happening.

[VWTUNING]

agreed - dieletric grease is the way to go. if the dealer was 'good' they would have put some on.

[gtiness]

It will be interesting to slap some grease in there...looks like it might be kind of a bear to get to but, definitely worth it. I don't fancy paying for 5.3 hours of labor. It was covered by warranty this time. I'd probably have to fight for it by the time this happened again (assuming it does).

should be able to tell if the leads really are plated or not... ;)