Faults
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2025 11:11 am
Last week I headed of to Blackburn in the Alpina and got as far as Manchester j21 before the car decided it had had enough and spluttered to a stop. As I always carry my diagnostics the problem turned out to be the crankshaft sensor. AA picked the car up and said they would relay it back to my house over 200 miles and gave me a Ford custom van (all they could find to hire) so I headed home in that. The car actually arrived home the same night at 11pm.
Next day jumped into the x5 and set out again, all went well until the way back, I had done about 400 miles at this point. Suddenly the dash lit up with all the usual suspects but no drop in performance but the steering wheel is off to the left?? Anyway, quick diagnostics tell me the fault is the steering angle sensor. Start up again and all faults gone but steering is still off center. At home I can’t find anything wrong with the suspension or steering nothing loose. Next day I decide to take the front strut out to find the top mount the bit with the 3 nuts that secure the strut to the tower the rubber center piece is completely shot. So I’m assuming that is the problem ATM I’ve put it back together and I await 2 new MEYLE top mount’s arriving this week. BTW I did just short of 600 miles and did 21 mpg also managed to do it all less 47 miles on lpg. Oh 1 other fault the intermittent wipers stopped working. I believe that is a relay problem but that particular relay is over £80. Such a shame you can’t wander around scrap yards anymore.
Next day jumped into the x5 and set out again, all went well until the way back, I had done about 400 miles at this point. Suddenly the dash lit up with all the usual suspects but no drop in performance but the steering wheel is off to the left?? Anyway, quick diagnostics tell me the fault is the steering angle sensor. Start up again and all faults gone but steering is still off center. At home I can’t find anything wrong with the suspension or steering nothing loose. Next day I decide to take the front strut out to find the top mount the bit with the 3 nuts that secure the strut to the tower the rubber center piece is completely shot. So I’m assuming that is the problem ATM I’ve put it back together and I await 2 new MEYLE top mount’s arriving this week. BTW I did just short of 600 miles and did 21 mpg also managed to do it all less 47 miles on lpg. Oh 1 other fault the intermittent wipers stopped working. I believe that is a relay problem but that particular relay is over £80. Such a shame you can’t wander around scrap yards anymore.
My passat is offroad as the motman knocked a big hole in the rear suspension arms the springs sit into with his big hammer. I thought you were not allowed to hammer stuff in the mot but clearly its fine over here in NI.He battered the hell out of them last year too, I could hear it from outside the building but didnt make any holes that time