TRAPPED INSIDE VW POLO
Believe it or not, I got locked inside my VW Polo and couldn't get out. The self lock was activated, and me pulling at the door release lever just had no effect. The locking indicator pin surfaced from hiding put retracted when I released the door lever. For the sake of clarity, let me start at the beginning. In a previous blog, I mentioned that when my VW Polo 2.0 Highline sedan was returned from its 90 000 Km service, it came back with a stripped nut that tightens the earth terminal of the battery. I suspected that it was the cause of intermittent loss of power steering and I was going to get round to replacing it, but I just didn't have the time. Yep, procrastination is an evil that does get the better of all of us at one time or the other.
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| VW Polo 9N Fuse card |
Anyway, getting locked inside my VW Polo on Saturday morning gave me a scare that I immediately went and replaced the entire terminal and not just the stripped nut. The previous evening, whilst driving home from movies, the dashboard lights on my VW Polo stopped working, it kinda just went dark. So when I arrived home, I started fiddling to determine why, and I discovered that the wipers and the indicators weren't working either. Must be a fuse I thought. So I went straight to the fuse box and whipped out the scorecard. Seconds later I identified the fuse responsible for supplying the dashboard with power (marked with yellow arrow and see the powdery substance in fuse holder, it's most probably oxidation from condensation). I got out my multimeter and checked the 5A fuse (fuse 30) and as I suspected, it was open circuit, fused, blown. Oh crap, I didn't have a spare so the following morning, off I went to the auto spare to get a replacement. It was rather hot so I opened my window about 10 cm before I took off. As I pulled away, the self lock engaged at the very moment I realized that I didn't take my wallet. So I stopped, reversed back about the 100 meters I drove, switched off the engine pulled out the key, pulled the door handle and it wouldn’t open. Pulling at the door release lever just raised the locking indicator pin put retracted when I released the door lever. I then reinserted the key, turned on the ignition, pressed the unlock button on the door, heard the door unlock, opened the door, jumped out, ran inside grabbed my wallet, got back into the Polo and off I went once again.
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| VW Polo 9N Fuse holder |
This time, I noticed that the auto lock engaged at about 40km ph. Thinking nothing of it, I arrived at the auto spares, switched off the engine, pulled out the key, pulled the door release lever and like before it wouldn't open. And as before I reinserted the key turned on the ignition, pressed the door release yet nothing happened. I then realized that the ignition wasn’t on. So I attempted to start the engine and nothing happened. The battery terminal wasn't making contact, I came loose once again and the engine wouldn't start. By extension, there was also no power to the door electronics that operated the door. In desperation to get out, I even tried the fob remote unlock button even though I knew that without a battery connection the door electronics cannot open and neither power the motor that rolls down the electric windows. I was stuck inside. I figured if I could get my arm through the 10 cm opening, I could possibly open the door manually with the key. But the opening was too small or my arm too thick. Now it was starting to get hot inside the Polo. My only other option was to ask a passer-by to unlock the door for me. So a few minutes later an elderly gentleman walked by, whom I alerted, and speaking through the window opening, and handing him the key through the window opening, I asked him to unlock the door which he obligingly did.
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| VW Polo 9N Fuse card |
With the door open, my mind was racing, what if the window wasn't slightly open, meaning I wouldn't have been able to pass the key to anyone to open the door. I would have been trapped inside and helpless. The escalating heat would have got the better of me. I probably would have had to kick-in the driver-door window since it's the only door that actually has a key receptacle, so that I could unlock it from the outside. This made me wonder what would happen if the battery gets damaged or destroyed in a collision and I was injured inside and not able to break the window. I know that in the event of a crash when the airbags pop, the on-board software is configured to automatically unlock the doors, but what if the supply voltage to the indicators gets shorted in a crash causing that fuse in question also to blow. Clearly this is a hazard, and I would think a small sealed backup battery like those used for alarm systems fitted inside the cockpit under the dash or the consol would be a good idea. I think the brave among you should try to replicate this problem on your vehicles by removing the 5A fuse in question and disconnect the battery then assess whether or not this is acceptable design or a reason to get into Volkswagen's face about it. They are already going through the pressures of their emissions scandal, and it really isn't nice to kick a dog when it's down.
EXCESSIVE OIL USAGE ON AUDI A4
In a previous blog Audi Oil Pump Problem - Audi A4 Engine Noise, I mentioned the benefits of using VW 503.00 Long Life Engine Oil, but it seems that I was also mislead by the VW propriety oil specification the expanse of which I was unaware. This is probably the reason why my sister's A4 2.0L 2007 engine gave up the ghost. But as they say in the legal circles, "Ignorance of the Law is no excuse". Apparently as long ago as the year 2000 increased requirements compelled vehicle manufacturers globally to reduce exhaust emissions, minimize their carbon footprint, and improve overall fuel economy. Since motor oil plays a crucial role in meeting these requirements, the API's (American Petroleum Institute) old petroleum-based motor oils standards was abandoned by VW in favour of advanced cutting-edge synthetic motor oil formulations. As a result, the technologically advanced Audi engine designs required a very specific motor oil that met with Audi quality specification.
Its newer models fitted with advanced fuel injection systems needs to be lubricated by this very specific motor oil formulations in order to guarantee optimal system reliability and fuel economy. These oil specifications started with VW 500.00 for models prior to year 2000 which has been superceded by VW 502.00. Then there is also VW 503.00, VW 503.01, VW 504.00, VW 505.00, VW 505.01, VW 506.00, VW 506.01, VW 507.00, etc, each applicable to either or both gasoline and diesel Euro standard engines. But certain oil specs are not suitable for certain vehicles. For example RAVENOL WIV III SAE 5W-30 is not suitable for specification VW 506 01. Meaning Audi engines with LongLife Service (QG1): Diesel-Engines (R5-, V10 TDI Pumpe-Düse) with or without Diesel Particulate Filter. As well as Audi engines without LongLife Service: R5-, V10 TDI Pumpe-Düse with or without Diesel Particulate Filter.
Topping up with conventional motor oil that does not meet Audi oil quality standards is therefore risky because the wrong motor oils could cause damage to internal engine components, somewhat increase emissions, reduce fuel mileage, and very likely void applicable vehicle warranties. The vehicle is also bound to use excessive oil and tend to smoke a lot more.
Ravenol HPS 5W-30 oil meets the Audi oil quality standard 502 00 and is recommended for Audi A4 2005/2006 and on Audi A3 models equipped with the 2.0 Liter Turbo engine with FSI. Their fuel pumps are driven directly off the engine camshaft and lubricated with engine motor oil. By not using the approved Audi motor oil these models are subject to premature engine wear which will result in a loud ticking valve noise after the engine has warmed up to its operating temperature.
Ravenol VMP Audi Oil 2010 - meets the Audi 507 00 Oil Spec and is recommended for use on Audi A3 TDI and 2009 - on Audi Q7 TDI models equipped with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). Using non-approved Audi motor oil will results in increased oil consumption oil since it will be burning oil. Any non-approved TDI motor oils will clog the DPF prematurely which is also quite costly to replace.
Since the VW oil specification and oil usage cannot be generalized across the Audi and Porsche ranges and old petroleum-based motor oils are no longer usable, it is no wonder that Audi owners are complaining about excessive oil use. Some Audi owners have driven as little as 600 miles or about 950 kilometers before the engine oil low light goes on and the buzzer drives the m crazy. This is probably because they topped-up with non synthetic oil. Funny enough, Audi stresses the point of not adding petroleum-based motor oil to its synthetic brands.
