VOLVO IS NO LONGER SWEDEN'S BEST SELLING CAR

VOLVO IS NO LONGER SWEDEN'S BEST SELLING CAR

It was just announced that the Volkswagen  Golf won car of the year in Sweden for year 2016. And yes, it's the  very Scandinavian country where the iconic Volvo brand topped car sales each and every consecutive year for the past 54 years . However, for the very first time in history or Volvo or rather more exactly the same number of  years, the German designed and manufactured VW Golf outsold the Swedish manufactured Volvo in 2016.  Volkswagen Golf's accounted for almost 6% of all new cars sold, whereas the combined sales of Volvo’s V70, S90 and V90 only  constituted a mere 5.7%. But this event of Volkswagen beating Volvo at sales is not entirely unique because it happened once before. Way back in 1962, the humble Volkswagen Beetle knocked Volvo off the top selling spot by outselling Volvo. Be that as it may, Volvo still retains the largest share of the Swedish Car market, sanding at roughly 22 percent, with Volkswagen in a close second position with approximately 16 percent market share.

The smokey Ford Kuga is on fire, literally!

Despite the fallout from its diesel emissions scandal, with its cheating  device, Volkswagen AG as a whole is bouncing back, regaining market confidence after  their pledge to focus on electric power in the coming years. VW Golf is Sweden's top seller and currently their most popular car.  The VW Golf sales are  closely followed by VW Passat as the fifth most popular car, followed by VW Polo as the eight most popular car, followed by the Skoda Octavia as Sweden's tenth most popular car.

Volvo has always been known to be a "very safe car" but the Swedes have lost their national pride when Chinese firm "Zhejiang Geely Holding Group" bought the  iconic Swedish brand —Volvo — in 2010. This is probably the real reason why Volkswagen is gaining ground in Sweden? 

"Talking about safe cars or rather unsafe cars. 

The fiery Ford Kuga and the fiery Ford Everest 

are probably the unsafest cars 

on the roads today".

Ford motor company has contacted all Kuga owners by post, urging them to book their fiery Kuga's into their workshops for a free maintenance check, but not explaining the urgency of the matter. No sooner have they done this, when four more Ford Kuga's burst into flames during the same amount of days. According to Ford, it appears that the issue is limited to their 1.6-litre EcoBoost engine but according to owners somehow their Everest is also affected. About a year ago a Ford Kuga driver was  burnt beyond recognition in Durban,  and to-date as many as 40 Kuga fiery incidents have been reported.


1) Ford Kuga owner leaps from burning vehicle in Durban.
2) A PE family is in shock when their Ford Kuga burst into flames.

3) Husband and wife watched their Kuga burnt out.

A all new Kuga hot-rod in full glory

Kuga with frostbite after bursting into flames

A fiery Ford Kuga making like a Volcano

Peculiarly most of the burnt-out Kugas are white in colour.

If it wasn't for the Original Ford Kuga Mag, this burnt out stack could easily
have been mistaken for a Volkswagen vehicle.

Virtually unrecognizable but is definitely a Kuga

From Ford to ashes and from Ford to dust.

It looks like a volcanic eruption but it's really a Ford Kuga

Ford Kuga front-end totally destroyed

However owner reports say that Fords bursting into flames is not limited to the Ford Kuga  EcoBoost Ambiente but rather prevalent on Ford Everest 3.0 SUV as well.  Ford motor company is facing a huge backlash and a potential class-action lawsuit over Kuga fires because Ford Kuga vehicles owners across South Africa are proressively growing concerned over the spontaneously combustion of their vehicles. Yet Ford Motor Company is still trying to dodge burning issue of recalling their Kuga range. The issue that VW went through during its emission scandal is going to be pale in comparison to what awaits Ford Motor Company because there was loss of life. The pics below are just some of the Ford Kugas that were engulfed in flames.

Ford Kuga making like a chimney

 A completely Toasted Ford Kuga

A Ford Kuga imitating a cable.

Fortunately, and all thanks to God, that Volkswagen vehicles don't burst into flames as often as Ford Kuga's do. Below are some pics of Volkswagen vehicles that suffered the same fate as the cars above.

1) A Volkswagen Polo on fire in Bo-kaap, Cape Town
2) A Volkswagen Polo Vivo caught alight outside the Punjab National Bank in India.
3) A VW Polo hosed down by its owner.

A VW Polo caught alight on the south bound R102 in KwaZulu Natal 

A VW Jetta completely engulfed in flames in Verulam-KwaZulu Natal. 

A VW Polo taking time out.

In a certain sense  every car is a potential  / ticking time bomb, considering it is propelled by highly a inflammable liquid like petrol, or diesel,  or LP gas in the presence of engine oil, and other combustible materials like cloth, foam, pleather, rubber, PVC and paint. With a battery powered high current electrical system capable of igniting electrical fires, through arcing or an electrical short circuits acting as a trigger. And Fuel spillage from a burst pipe on a hot engine presenting another trigger amongst others. This can be equated to storing a box of matches with the gunpowder in the same keg, whiles we rolling on it. 

However, if safety standards are observed to the hilt, accidents will be reduced to an absolute minimum. Case in point, the Samsung S7 with its overheating and self-combusting properties has causes many a house to burn down and likewise many a car has caused its driver severe injuries some of whom burn to death.

VW BLUEMOTION

VW BLUEMOTION VS SIEMENS ELECTRIC

In our modern world with its ever rising energy demand, environmental issues have become everyone's concern, and it's imperative that each and every one of us  do our bit for the environment, companies and corporations included.  With our limited fossil fuel and oil resources, alongside stricter environmental and climate protection regulations we need to rethink our driving habits to achieve greater future sustainability and energy efficiency.  Several large corporations across the globe are slowly becoming more environmentally aware through public pressure and their production of “greenovation”. Volkswagen South Africa is such a company yet there are still numerous other large corporations totally negligent, even unthinking, almost Eco oblivious, hard at the process that is destroying our planet day by day.

Volkswagen launched VW Polo BlueMotion and the “Think Blue” concept in 2005, which is their holistic approach to ecological sustainability and underpins their brand philosophy and their commitment to global environmental responsibility. Some time in  2012, Volkswagen announced its intention or rather its aspiration to become the leading car manufacturer in the world by 2018. By which time, they  intend to reduce energy and water consumption, waste, solvent emissions and CO2  emissions by 25% relative to its 2010 values. Volkswagen’s Uitenhage Plant is already hard at work to become a “Think Blue Factory”  since its new world-class press line consumes an astounding 30% less energy than conventional press lines. Currently Volkswagen's award winning Polo BlueMotion is the most successful environmentally friendly car label, using the most fuel efficient BlueMotion  technologies which has subsequently been extended to Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion, Volkswagen CC BlueMotion, Tiguan  BlueMotion, New Touareg BlueMotion.

VW Polo BlueMotion 1.2L Stop-start technology - 4.4 Litres/100km

Electric vehicles 

BlueMotion technology is really great and suffices as eco-tech for today's car  however, will Volkswagen really  become the leading car manufacturer in the world by 2018 in the presence of Electric vehicles  which can be powered by electricity generated from renewable sources of energy.  German Electronics Company Siemens showcased its "eChopper" electric bike and eRuf roadster at the COP17 in Durban late in 2011. Siemens is not a car manufacturer but with many years of experience in energy, mobility, and IT, is
perfectly positioned to pioneer a new era of sustainable transport.

Way back in 1881, German Electronics Company Siemens  rolled out  the world’s first electric tram in Berlin and by 1905, Siemens built the first “Elektrische Viktoria” (“Electric Victoria”), an  electric car used as elegant hotel taxis or delivery vehicles in Berlin. By the 20th century, Siemens became the leading supplier of electric drives for railways. Today Siemens uses its extensive expertise in energy, mobility, and IT to refine the technology for electric cars and large-scale fleet trials.  Since April 2013, approximately 100 Siemens employees has been test driving electric cars for everyday use and assist to optimize the interaction between the electrics cars and the electricity grid. Just five years ago, this seemed to be a vision for the distant future.

Porsche eRuf Roadster courtesty Siemens

Quiet electric cars  with  zero-emissions are especially ideal for cities and are currently the only means of transport that also enables a clean solution for individual mobility. Electric cars, electric bicycles, and electric scooters are already gaining in popularity for local usage and if  electric cars are to make a real breakthrough, the  automotive and electrical industries need to form joint ventures to setup the necessary infrastructure like charging stations, for electromobility.  Is there a future for Bluemotion technology  if  German car manufacturer Volkswagen  and German Electronics giant Siemens decide to produce our electric VW's of the future? VW has the  e-Co-Motion electric van and the XL1 hybrid. Siemens is currently one of the top automobile electronic module manufacturers. The first images below is VW's  electric concept car and the second is VW's first electric production car called  the  e-Up capable of 150 km per charge.

Volkswagen's single-seater electric concept car called the Nils.

VW's first first eGolf 

VW ERROR CODES

VOLKSWAGEN ERROR CODES

My VW Polo Classic 2.0L Highline has been acting-up  more and more as the date for  her 90 000Km  service approached.   The Volkswagen Auto suddenly became very heavy on fuel and she started to smoke. It wasn't grey smoke, which would imply the VW Polo was burning oil but rather black smoke which is the tell tale sign that the VW Polo is burning gasoline. I normally do about 6 liters per 100kms but with the last tank of fuel I got something like 9 litres per 100km. With the latest high price of fuel in South Africa, I just had to investigate.  The EPC light problem also returned, which was triggered by the ECU that  placed the Polo into "Limp Mode" once again.  

Rusty water residue still on the engine cover above the VW logo.

However that's not all. My VW  Polo's interior overhead lights above the rear view mirror and sun visor courtesy lights have all stopped working when I open the doors but works perfectly when switched on manually. The  hooter also just gave up the ghost, but  the click of the micro switch in the steering wheel is very audible when I press it.  One of my VW headlight also seems to be intermittent and it appears that my oil level sensor also does'nt work either. My VW air conditioner stopped working  and my VW left tail bulb fused again and the reverse light is intermittent. I was told that it goes on or flickers whilst I'm driving.   But worst of all my VW Polo overheated whilst driving in peak hour traffic and the fans didn't even come on. When I pulled the bonnet release, the little lead ball at the end of the cable snapped off. Consolation I noticed the steam coming out from under the bonnet before the heat gauge was at 100 degrees. To add insult to injury, normally at approx 20 kph all the doors of VW das auto locks, but lately the front passenger side door unlocks itself mere seconds after it locks. This is a security risk and with all the other problems I've been experiencing, I just had to connect the VW to a diagnostic tester. This turned out to be a weekend job when the following Error Codes popped up.

Chassis Type: 9N3 - VW Polo
Scan: 01,02,03,08,09,15,17,19,37,44,46,56,69

Address 01 -------------------------------------
Controller: 06A 906 032 PB
Component: 2.0l ME7.5.10 0305
Coding: 00071
Shop #: WSC 01120
VIN: AAV ZZZ 9NZ 7Uxxxxxx  / VWZ7Z0G5248478
Readiness: 0000 0000

SOME ERROR CODES:-

VW, Polo Highline, Polo 1.9 TDi, Volkswagen beetles, Jetta, VW Polo cross, Passat, Polo GTi, Bora, Volkswagen bluemotion, Polo Classic,   Polo 1.9 tdi,  VW Polo blue motion,  Cross Polo, VW Golf, Beetle, Audi, VW blue motion,  Skoda, VW Touran, VW Touareg,  VW Tiguan, VW Amrok, VW Rabbit, VW Caddy, VW Phaeton, VW Vento, VW Kombi, VW Transporter, VW Lupo and VW Vivo - Error Codes

VW Error code 16716  P0332 - Knock Sensor 2 (G66): Signal too Low - Intermittent 
VW Error code 17511  P1103 - Oxygen (Lambda) Sensor Heating: B1 S1: Performance too Low
VW Error code 17796  P1388 - Control Module Malfunction - DBW Throttle Monitoring 
VW Error code 18010  P1602 - Power Supply (B+) terminal 30 Low Voltage
VW Error code 18041  P1633 - Accelerator Position Sensor 2 (G185): Signal too Low
VW Error code 18047  P1639 - Accelerator Position Sensor 1/2 (G79/G185): Implausible Signal
VW Error code 18048  P1640 - Internal Control Module: EEPROM Error
VW Error code 18090  P1682 - Powertrain Data Bus: Implausible Message from ABS Controller
VW Error code 18104  P1696 - Powertrain Data Bus: Implausible Message from Steering Column Controller

Turns our that ECU CAN bus edge connectors were corroded which solved P0332, P1682, and P1689. The P1602 is not really considered an error since it will always be present in the ECU if or when the Battery was disconnected. P1388, P1633 and P1639 are related to accelerator pedal sensors and once the pedal is replaced that problem will be solved, other than that, the VW Polo drives perfectly normal. The Internal Control Module, error P1640 however is going to take a bit longer to solve since it appears that several of my VW module's coding values has somehow changed on their own. But most of all I'm glad I solved the black smoke problem. I found that the wire of  the Oxygen sensor was burnt onto the exhaust pipe and shorted out the sensor. So I'm back to 6 litres per 100Km.

Radiator relay controller destined to be replaced since neither of the fans operate.

There were no errors on the ECU for the overheating radiator  and when I removed the bonnet release cable I saw that the bonnet open sensor / switch wire was broken off. I traced the heating problem to the  relay (picture above) and while I was under the engine I noticed that the Air Conditioner compressor wires had frayed and were dangling loose.

Before and after - Air Conditioner Compressor wires frayed and somehow broke off 

Before and after - Bonnet open/close micro-switch/sensor  with wires reattached.

Oil level sensor wires hardened and became brittle resulting in no electrical connection

 I cut off the hardened pieces of wire, tinned them with solder and reconnected the wires to the oil sensor with electrical block connectors since the terminals initially used by VW didn't seem to last very long. The block connector appears to makes a much better connection.

The plastic insulators on the spade terminal couldn't withstand the heat of the cool blue bulbs.

VW VAG - Volkswagen error codes and VW Electronic Module diagnostics will be dealt with in subsequent blogs, starting with Engine Modules for the Polo 9N , then ABS Modules then Airbag Modules.