VW Golf MK4 R32
Discussion
rottenegg said:
Hurrah, progress made 
R32s really hate decats. Worst thing you can do to them. It totally kills the bottom end torque and you can't remap around it either. Bitter experience
Did it say which variator is over advanced? The exhaust one doesn't do anything other than EGR, but as you say, if the cats have now restored the expected exhaust back pressure, it might be struggling to find its position....if it is the exhaust one. If it's the intake one, that needs looking into it. You can monitor the VVT behaviour with VCDS. I think the adjustment range from memory is +50 degrees on the intake and +22 degrees on the exhaust. Mechanically they can't physically go beyond that, so it sounds like it could be struggling with the cam control for reasons as yet to be established!
Keep at it! Interesting stuff
Yep decats are horrendous. The way the car drives now is what i remember R32's to drive like (i know they weren't particularly fast when they came out 20 years ago never mind now with all turbo stuff we have nowadays) it has plenty low down torque then pulls nicely up to the red line. Plenty torque in 6th gear to overtake without dropping down a gear or two.R32s really hate decats. Worst thing you can do to them. It totally kills the bottom end torque and you can't remap around it either. Bitter experience
Did it say which variator is over advanced? The exhaust one doesn't do anything other than EGR, but as you say, if the cats have now restored the expected exhaust back pressure, it might be struggling to find its position....if it is the exhaust one. If it's the intake one, that needs looking into it. You can monitor the VVT behaviour with VCDS. I think the adjustment range from memory is +50 degrees on the intake and +22 degrees on the exhaust. Mechanically they can't physically go beyond that, so it sounds like it could be struggling with the cam control for reasons as yet to be established!
Keep at it! Interesting stuff
The code popped up for the same bank as the exhaust cam which is making me think there is a weird issue with the variator itself. I'm trying to source a copy of VCDS myself so i can monitor everything as the exhaust cam doesnt have any effect on the power thats whats making me think it could be that.
Ill keep at it and get to the bottom of it eventually. Still intend to have the ECU checked for any strange issues that mightve been hidden/mapped out then will look to whip off the rocker cover again to potentially replace the variator.
PaulMoVR6 said:
Yep decats are horrendous. The way the car drives now is what i remember R32's to drive like (i know they weren't particularly fast when they came out 20 years ago never mind now with all turbo stuff we have nowadays) it has plenty low down torque then pulls nicely up to the red line. Plenty torque in 6th gear to overtake without dropping down a gear or two.
The code popped up for the same bank as the exhaust cam which is making me think there is a weird issue with the variator itself. I'm trying to source a copy of VCDS myself so i can monitor everything as the exhaust cam doesnt have any effect on the power thats whats making me think it could be that.
Ill keep at it and get to the bottom of it eventually. Still intend to have the ECU checked for any strange issues that mightve been hidden/mapped out then will look to whip off the rocker cover again to potentially replace the variator.
Yeah I fondly remember when I picked up my MK4 R32 all those years ago, with a youthful 40K miles on it. Totally standard. The bottom end punch was sublime The code popped up for the same bank as the exhaust cam which is making me think there is a weird issue with the variator itself. I'm trying to source a copy of VCDS myself so i can monitor everything as the exhaust cam doesnt have any effect on the power thats whats making me think it could be that.
Ill keep at it and get to the bottom of it eventually. Still intend to have the ECU checked for any strange issues that mightve been hidden/mapped out then will look to whip off the rocker cover again to potentially replace the variator.
I went through the usual mods and ended up with 260hp with a Stealth Racing remap, cats in place etc. Ocean tail lights, Auxiliary air pump delete etc etc. I then experimented with a cat back exhaust and decats etc and it got progressively worse, so I put all the factory stuff back on. But I welded the exhaust change over flap permanently shut as I hated the drone
I wish I'd kept that car as it was mega mint. It's an appreciating classic now. I even imported the lower Koenig seat covers and foams from the US as they had partitioned leather that didn't wrinkle up like the EU seats did.
Definitely get VCDS as it's a god send with VW/Audi cars.
Have a little watch of this video as dear old Humble Mechanic can explain the R32's timing better than I can, only because I suspect you MAY have a timing issue..... It's critical to get the intermediate shaft/oil pump drive sprocket in the right position as it does throw the timing off if incorrect. A lot of garages think it only drives the oil pump and has no relevance to the cam timing, but that is incorrect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxp7jp4Hqsc
Pics of my old beast. I miss it!
Wrinkly old EU spec seats, which always boggled my OCD!
]
US spec seats. Much better
Edited by rottenegg on Saturday 6th July 15:36
rottenegg said:
PaulMoVR6 said:
Yep decats are horrendous. The way the car drives now is what i remember R32's to drive like (i know they weren't particularly fast when they came out 20 years ago never mind now with all turbo stuff we have nowadays) it has plenty low down torque then pulls nicely up to the red line. Plenty torque in 6th gear to overtake without dropping down a gear or two.
The code popped up for the same bank as the exhaust cam which is making me think there is a weird issue with the variator itself. I'm trying to source a copy of VCDS myself so i can monitor everything as the exhaust cam doesnt have any effect on the power thats whats making me think it could be that.
Ill keep at it and get to the bottom of it eventually. Still intend to have the ECU checked for any strange issues that mightve been hidden/mapped out then will look to whip off the rocker cover again to potentially replace the variator.
Yeah I fondly remember when I picked up my MK4 R32 all those years ago, with a youthful 40K miles on it. Totally standard. The bottom end punch was sublime The code popped up for the same bank as the exhaust cam which is making me think there is a weird issue with the variator itself. I'm trying to source a copy of VCDS myself so i can monitor everything as the exhaust cam doesnt have any effect on the power thats whats making me think it could be that.
Ill keep at it and get to the bottom of it eventually. Still intend to have the ECU checked for any strange issues that mightve been hidden/mapped out then will look to whip off the rocker cover again to potentially replace the variator.
I went through the usual mods and ended up with 260hp with a Stealth Racing remap, cats in place etc. Ocean tail lights, Auxiliary air pump delete etc etc. I then experimented with a cat back exhaust and decats etc and it got progressively worse, so I put all the factory stuff back on. But I welded the exhaust change over flap permanently shut as I hated the drone
I wish I'd kept that car as it was mega mint. It's an appreciating classic now. I even imported the lower Koenig seat covers and foams from the US as they had partitioned leather that didn't wrinkle up like the EU seats did.
Definitely get VCDS as it's a god send with VW/Audi cars.
Have a little watch of this video as dear old Humble Mechanic can explain the R32's timing better than I can, only because I suspect you MAY have a timing issue..... It's critical to get the intermediate shaft/oil pump drive sprocket in the right position as it does throw the timing off if incorrect. A lot of garages think it only drives the oil pump and has no relevance to the cam timing, but that is incorrect.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxp7jp4Hqsc
Pics of my old beast. I miss it!
Wrinkly old EU spec seats, which always boggled my OCD!
]
US spec seats. Much better
Edited by rottenegg on Saturday 6th July 15:36
I’m located in Inverness (Scottish Highlands) so Suffolk is literally the other end of the country. Weirdly I bought the car from Suffolk though (just outside Ipswich).
Yes something is definitely not 100% right with timing but the way it now drives you wouldn’t think so.
Do you have link or advice on what VCDs I could potentially get? I’m just looking for it to read live data and clear codes etc? I had been looking at OBD11 Pro’s I also have a B9.5 A4 TFSi so was thinking VCDs was a better option.
PaulMoVR6 said:
Mine is also silver but not as clean as that haha. Thankfully I have the half leather seats in mine so doesn’t suffer from the bolster sag.
I’m located in Inverness (Scottish Highlands) so Suffolk is literally the other end of the country. Weirdly I bought the car from Suffolk though (just outside Ipswich).
Yes something is definitely not 100% right with timing but the way it now drives you wouldn’t think so.
Do you have link or advice on what VCDs I could potentially get? I’m just looking for it to read live data and clear codes etc? I had been looking at OBD11 Pro’s I also have a B9.5 A4 TFSi so was thinking VCDs was a better option.
Ah nice one, I much preferred the half leather seats but I couldn't find a car with those for love nor money! I liked them in Silver or Black. I wasn't a fan of R blue tbh.I’m located in Inverness (Scottish Highlands) so Suffolk is literally the other end of the country. Weirdly I bought the car from Suffolk though (just outside Ipswich).
Yes something is definitely not 100% right with timing but the way it now drives you wouldn’t think so.
Do you have link or advice on what VCDs I could potentially get? I’m just looking for it to read live data and clear codes etc? I had been looking at OBD11 Pro’s I also have a B9.5 A4 TFSi so was thinking VCDs was a better option.
Ah bugger, never mind, that is quite the trek, lol! Small world as I live in Ipswich. I probably saw your car driving around here at some point!
This is what I have, which I bought direct from Ross Tech. https://store.ross-tech.com/shop/vchn_10/
You can of course get the more basic cable version but I preferred the wireless option, and at the time I had 5 or 6 VAGs in the family, so the 10 car license limit was fine for me. Ross tech are super helpful and responsive.
OBD11 is cheaper and can do a lot of what VCDS can, but it's nowhere near 'dealer level' that VCDS is for the more in-depth stuff.....plus OBD11 has annoying 'credits' system to unlock certain features etc, so it can be more expensive than if first seems. VCDS is a buy once, you own it job rather than subscriptions and credits.
rottenegg said:
Ah nice one, I much preferred the half leather seats but I couldn't find a car with those for love nor money! I liked them in Silver or Black. I wasn't a fan of R blue tbh.
Ah bugger, never mind, that is quite the trek, lol! Small world as I live in Ipswich. I probably saw your car driving around here at some point!
This is what I have, which I bought direct from Ross Tech. https://store.ross-tech.com/shop/vchn_10/
You can of course get the more basic cable version but I preferred the wireless option, and at the time I had 5 or 6 VAGs in the family, so the 10 car license limit was fine for me. Ross tech are super helpful and responsive.
OBD11 is cheaper and can do a lot of what VCDS can, but it's nowhere near 'dealer level' that VCDS is for the more in-depth stuff.....plus OBD11 has annoying 'credits' system to unlock certain features etc, so it can be more expensive than if first seems. VCDS is a buy once, you own it job rather than subscriptions and credits.
I've had a black MK4 and a blue MK5 previously. I've always liked the silver MK4s though.Ah bugger, never mind, that is quite the trek, lol! Small world as I live in Ipswich. I probably saw your car driving around here at some point!
This is what I have, which I bought direct from Ross Tech. https://store.ross-tech.com/shop/vchn_10/
You can of course get the more basic cable version but I preferred the wireless option, and at the time I had 5 or 6 VAGs in the family, so the 10 car license limit was fine for me. Ross tech are super helpful and responsive.
OBD11 is cheaper and can do a lot of what VCDS can, but it's nowhere near 'dealer level' that VCDS is for the more in-depth stuff.....plus OBD11 has annoying 'credits' system to unlock certain features etc, so it can be more expensive than if first seems. VCDS is a buy once, you own it job rather than subscriptions and credits.
Yeah fair chance you did see it. I think its spent the majority of its life in that area. It had a VW private plate fitted.
Thanks for the link ill get a look and do some more research and get something ordered. I have seen some cheap cables but wasn't overly sure how well they worked or what software i have to download.
I had the car out yesterday at a local cars and coffee meet and still drives really well. Still adamant my speedo underreads though! After going past a few of the 40/30mph speed check signs my speedo shows it reading 3/4mph less than what was flashing up.
Well small update time.
After carrying out some other work on the car (haldex service, new strut top mounts) it also seems the correlation fault has disappeared weirdly! I’ve done now about circa 500 miles since the new chains were fitted. As I’ve said previously the car drives brilliantly especially with the new cat fitted.
The code was always flagging up as soon as the engine was started but it seems to have disappeared for about 40/50 miles now. I dare say it will reappear but for now it’s no longer logged. My plan is to find someone local to me with VCDS to now check the live data to see what reading I’m getting. I’m going to swap out the crank sensor just to eliminate that as it’s still the original one.
After carrying out some other work on the car (haldex service, new strut top mounts) it also seems the correlation fault has disappeared weirdly! I’ve done now about circa 500 miles since the new chains were fitted. As I’ve said previously the car drives brilliantly especially with the new cat fitted.
The code was always flagging up as soon as the engine was started but it seems to have disappeared for about 40/50 miles now. I dare say it will reappear but for now it’s no longer logged. My plan is to find someone local to me with VCDS to now check the live data to see what reading I’m getting. I’m going to swap out the crank sensor just to eliminate that as it’s still the original one.
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