What are the benefits of upgrading to a Superpro Anti Roll bar on your VAG Vehicle?
As most people should know now, we are a Superpro performance dealer. Therefore, any Superpro bushes, anti-roll bars and control arms, you can purchase through us or our sister company ‘VAG Performance’ https://www.vag-performance.co.uk/
We get a lot of enquiries for Superpro upgrades. However, a lot of people don’t actually know how the parts actually benefit your car. To start with lets find out how the anti-roll bars affect your vehicle!
What does it do?
Anti-roll bars or Sway bars help keep the vehicle structure and contact to the road when turning. The Bar will distribute your vehicle’s weight over all four tires to keep your vehicle as flat as possible through a turn. Sway bars improve a car’s handling around turns and corners by controlling the vehicle’s weight transfer, including body roll. By working to keep the wheels on each side of the car as even as possible, they help keep the car more planted and maintain a strong contact patch between the tires and the ground.
Certain vehicle models struggle more with poor traction and road handling therefore would massively benefit from having an upgraded Super pro anti roll bar. The most common vehicles we fit these too are Golf R’s and Audi S3’s. It reduces under steer in quattro vehicles having the upgraded rear anti roll bar fit.
What are the differences?
So what are the differences between stock anti-rollbars and upgraded ones? Aftermarket bars are often solid rather than hollow stock bars, with wider range of adjustment. They are largely beneficial for performance vehicles or vehicles that carry or tow loads. That being said, anyone can benefit from an upgraded Anti-rollbar as it will give an overall better driving experience.
Common Skoda Fabia issues… what to look for? Following on with our monthly study of a popular vehicle; We thought we’d move onto a slightly more standard daily driver, the Skoda Fabia.
What to look for?
One of the most common issues we come across is with the Windscreen washer pump. The pump itself either packs up or (throughout the winter months) the pipes block up and split. Water then leaks in the passenger footwell. Because of this people usually assume it’s their door seals and the water pump is overlooked.
The next problem they have is with Suspension. The Fabia suspension is known to be quiet stiff and a firmer drive. Due to this, its prone to failure. When buying a Fabia always do the bonnet test. Push hard on the bonnet and if takes more than 1-2 bounces back to get back to normal, have the suspension checked over by a specialist.
Skoda Fabia’s (1.4ltr Petrol engines) have a reputation for being one of the most oil dependent cars out there. If you are looking to purchase a Fabia and the oil is low, we would question the service history. We would also double check the rest of the vehicle. Purely because, if the oil has not been checked regularly, maintenance on the rest of vehicle may have been neglected.
Window regulator issues.
Window regulators are also a common part for failing on a Fabia. If your windows aren’t going up and down properly, sticking or falling to one side; these are all symptoms of your window regular being faulty! There are a couple of tips to try and prevent the regulator from failing. Once the window is up, don’t hold the button as it puts extra pressure on the motor. Also try using rubber care products. This will stop the seals from going hard and will allow the window to go up and down freely.
The Skoda Fabia electric power steering pump is very common to fail on all models. What starts off as intermittent loss of power steering, usually leads to total failure if left to progress.
Common Faults include:
1. Intermittent loss of steering.
2. Steering heavy on idle & on revs.
3. Noisy power steering pump.
4. Blowing fuses.
5. Steering warning light on.
Gearbox issues
Last but not least the DSG gearbox. Certain 7 speed Fabia’s suffered serious issues with the VW manufactured 7 speed gearbox. Most cars with this gearbox were recalled. However, check when buying that the gearbox is nice and smooth and there aren’t any pre-existing issues. You will get also get a fault on the dash come up when selecting gear if there is a fault with the gearbox. This will simply say ‘PRNDS’. If this warning light occurs, we would advise getting a diagnostics test done asap.
You can get in touch with us on 01642 613852 if you are wanting vehicle inspection/diagnostic test. We carry out a full report on the vehicle which you can also keep for your records!
You can also get in touch via the contact page here: https://www.northeastautotech.com/contact/ or our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/northeastautotech/
We often get asked questions about specific vehicles, their common issues and problems to look out for. Customers get a new vehicle and the first thing they want to do is know exactly what potential issues they could face, and rightly so! If you know what to look out for you can spot problems before they properly develop and potentially cause other issues in the vehicle!
We thought it would be a good idea to blog each month a case study of a different popular vehicle! This way you can easily find information from us regarding specific models within the VAG.
So what am I looking for?
This month’s blog we are going to focus on the Golf R and the Audi S3. Both have the EA888 engine which means they carry the same niggly issues. The most common problem people have is with the Haldex, mainly because people do not know it needs to be serviced. Off the back of the Haldex not being serviced the 4WD becomes non-existent and the vehicle essentially becomes FWD. The rear Diff then could need replacing, which would be a much more costly repair! This could be avoided by just having your Haldex serviced at the correct intervals. We recommend Gen 1&2 every 38,000 miles and Gen 4&5 every 20,000 miles.
The next issue we come across is the IS38 Turbo charger having issues. This turbo employs a ‘zero tolerance’ compressor design. There is virtually no clearance between the compressor wheel and housing. Improving efficiency and contributing to the incredible performance of the turbo. The compressor housing is lined with a Teflon insert, as the compressor wheel meets it in normal operation.
The issue is that batches of the turbo have not been balanced properly. Several turbos have been stripped and examined, only to find the balancing is out by a very large margin on a few turbos. This causes the compressor wheel to move off centre slightly. On a “normal” turbo this would not be an issue, but on the IS38 the compressor wheel is hitting the Teflon insert. Digging in and snapping the shaft instantly. Therefore, we would advise before tuning (if that is a route you would want to go down) having an inspection to try reducing the likelihood of it failing.
Clutch Issues
The Clutches in the manual gearboxes also show some issues. The clutches are weak and show signs of slipping early on in age and miles! You will notice your clutch slipping if you are having trouble changing gears, the clutch pedal sticking, vibrating or appearing to feel spongey or loose; or Momentary loss of acceleration caused by a feeling of a ‘slipping’ clutch. The main problem with the clutches is that they are the same that are used in the Golf GTI’s. It has around 70HP less and is only 2WD. With the added traction of the Golf R and the added horsepower this then massively reduces the lifespan. Anybody tuning their car even at stage 1 level would have to consider replacing the clutch for reliability.
To ensure you get the most out of the vehicle make sure you keep up with your regular servicing intervals and keep an eye on the quality of your driving. Harsh acceleration and lots of start stop driving will do the clutch no favours.
What else?
Other common issues on the EA888 engines include piston and piston ring issues and Water pump issues. Squeaking front suspension arms is another concern. Golf R owners also complain of a defunct battery which needs replacing within the first two years of the vehicle’s life.
Hopefully, this gives you a quick overview of what to look out for if you are a Golf R/Audi S3 owner. Or if you are considering buying one in the future you can look at the pros and the con’s, every car has them! You can get in touch with us on 01642 613852 if you are wanting vehicle inspection. We carry out a full report on the vehicle which you can also keep for your records!
We’ve been having a lot of enquiries recently regarding REVO re-mapping which is great! However, a few customers have been running their petrol vehicles on 95 RON. A low RON petrol shouldn’t be used on high performance vehicles, you should be using a Petrol RON of 97+.
Many people may not know the difference between the Petrol types and what it means by using a higher-grade. RON refers to the octane rating. This is a measure of how easily the fuel will ignite within the engine of a car. The higher the octane rating is, the harder it is for the fuel to ignite because the fuel requires greater compression in order to do so. However, because high octane fuel burns much hotter, it can burn more efficiently, and therefore performs better for higher-performance car engines that require it.
Your vehicle manual will advise you on which grade you should be using, you can also find the information on the inside of your filler cap.
Using a higher RON petrol offers benefits such as:
Improved lubrication throughout the pistons and Higher performance/slightly more power.
When REVO carry out their on the road testing, they actually specify the gains based on 99+ petrol. Therefore, you cant expect the same sort of gains if your not running the right Petrol.
Whether your vehicle is high performance or standard please make sure you are running the correct fuel for your vehicle.
To buy any Performance hardware, go to our sister company: https://www.vag-performance.co.uk/ Here you can find parts from Superpro performance, Racingline, Revo and more. For advise on parts or software call the office on 01642 613852.
Our brake fluid servicing starts at £55 with the option to upgrade to Millers Oils Racing Brake Fluid.
We recommend carrying out a brake fluid service every 2 years, regardless of mileage. This is a preventative measure to ensure the correct running of your vehicle. Brake fluid is hygroscopic, which means it attracts moisture. As you can imagine that does not do your vehicle any favours. With many parts of the braking system being metal. It can lead to corrosion of the metal components if not regularly maintained.
Over time the brake fluid also becomes contaminated with metal particles, reducing the boiling point of the fluid and in turn reducing the braking power of the car.
The upgrade to using Millers Oils is beneficial as the it has a dry boiling point of up to 310 degrees. As opposed to the standard fluid minimum of 230 degrees. This in turn provides exceptional resistance to vapour locking and good compressibility for an improved brake feel. Brake fluids play a key role in driver experience and vehicle feedback. Therefore Millers Oils motorsport brake fluids maintain their viscosity even at high temperature and are robust against water absorption to ensure consistent performance.
We are carrying out many Heater Matrix replacement’s at the minute. I assume with the weather being as cold as it is, customers are noticing the lack of heat from the blowers a lot more. Heater matrix faults are common within the following vehicles: Mk7 Golf, Audi A3, Seat Leon and Skoda Octavia.
They all suffer with a problem where the heater matrix blocks up. The core in the heater matrix is very very thin so any sediment and contaminants in the antifreeze system unfortunately causes the heater matrix to block.
The first problem you will normally notice is the blowers on the passenger side are warm, but the driver’s side are cold. This is because sediment blocks the far end of the heater matrix which blows cold air to the driver’s side of the dashboard. Other signs your hater matrix has gone are;
You’re fogged out…
There’s a sticky sweet smell…
You’re going through a lot of coolant…
Your vehicle has overheated.
Again, a very common problem which we are seeing lots of at the minute. Probably more noticeable now with such cold weather!
As always we replaced with a brand new Genuine Heater Matrix replacement as shown in the pictures on our facebook below!
We have been undertaking plenty of ASNU Classic GDI injector cleaning recently in the workshop. We advise getting your injectors tested and cleaned along with a carbon intake valve clean. These two jobs go hand in hand. When your valves get a build up of carbon, they in turn start to block the tiny holes on the injectors. When the holes on the injectors get blocked up, the spray pattern becomes irregular between each injector which causes the vehicle to misfire/run lumpy along with various other issues.
The ASNU Injector Cleaning system allows the us to visually examine the injectors, on an individual cycle or in sequential mode. We can then compare the injectors performance under a range of simulated Millisecond & RPM driving cycles, already programmed in to the ASNU system.
Injector cleaning machine
Here’s a slow motion video showing the spray pattern on 4 injectors. As you can see the spray pattern is exactly the same on each injector. This shows that the holes on each injector must be clear of dirt particles.
The injectors also get a flow test. To do this, test fluid is pumped through the injectors to make sure they allow the same measurement through. We can safely allow a 10% difference between the least measurement, and the most. As you can see on the picture below, this test has shown each injector is working to exactly the same level.
ASNU Classic GDI Injector Cleaning
Once they come out of the ASNU Classic GDI Injector Cleaning system, they sit in the built in Ultrasonic Cleaning Bath. As a result, this will clean the outside of the injector and pulse through any particles of dirt.
In conclusion this is just one service carried out by ourselves. One of many that our current and future customers may not know about. Find out more on our services page here: https://www.northeastautotech.com/additional-services/
In a recent survey it was found that 70% of consumers use independent garages and the rest still use dealerships. This made us question why some people prefer to use the dealerships. What do they think they are getting, that we can’t provide. The facts are, nothing. So Dealership or Independent -Which one?
One of the most common reasons customers prefer to go to dealerships is because of their specialist knowledge about the make/model of the vehicle. We regain our custom because not only are we VW/Audi group specialists but customers are able to speak direct to a mechanic if needs be and can pass over information direct. We have a simple structure with our reception being in direct contact with the workshop. Coming to us will also NOT make your warranty invalid, because we use genuine parts therefore your warranty on the vehicle still applies!
Dealerships are perceived to have better knowledge, equipment and ability to fix vehicles. Independent garages like ours are just as qualified and we regularly update our equipment. Our technicians are frequently (When not in a pandemic) attending courses to make sure our knowledge is advancing with the times.
Other reasons are increased likelihood to stock car parts and offer courtesy cars. We use genuine and only OEM rated parts. We also have 4 courtesy cars available free of charge for our customers to use, to make life just that bit easier! So you can go about your day as normal!
We’ve recently had this Audi A1 TSFI in with a Timing Chain fault.
Symptoms for issues with the timing chain will give 1 of 2 faults. The engine will either be rattly from cold start/just generally rattly or you will get an engine management fault code for cam crank coherent.
The issues arise as worn out oil can no longer lubricate the chain and will cause the rollers and links to wear against each other. As the chain runs around the gears of the camshafts and crankshaft, the movement between the rollers and links causes wear and elongation. Timing chain stretch is not the stretching of the timing chain, it is an elongation of the timing chain.This is caused by wear to the chain’s components. The most common cause of timing chain stretch is lack of maintenance and regular oil changes.
As the timing chain wears, this can change the timing of the camshaft and crankshaft. The change in timing is sensed by the camshaft and crankshaft position sensors. This can cause codes that indicate a correlation problem with the engine position sensors.
If the driver ignores the check engine light; Eventually the timing chain will elongate to the point that the engine may have a significant loss of power.
Chains were designed to last the lifetime of the engine. However, due to poor design, the chains stretch, tensioners fail therefore inevitably this causes severe engine damage.
This is a common problem in vehicles with 1.4 TFSI and 2.0 TSI engines.
In conclusion if you have any untoward noises on the engine please seek advise!
A little information on a vehicle that was in for various repair work. Whilst we were there the customer decided to upgrade to the REVO MQB engine mount kit. This was due to the increased power in the vehicle.
We used REVO’s MQB engine mount kit to give stability to the engine. More power results in more movement during aggressive acceleration. The stock engine mounts, designed to favour comfort over performance. Fail to manage axle hop and torque effectively, requiring you to ease off in order to gain traction. Designed to significantly reduce this engine movement. Revo engine mounts use Powerflex polyurethane bushings to minimise noise, vibration and harshness levels (NVH). Whilst drastically improving traction and acceleration.
A little snipped from REVO themselves.
”The primary design goal of the engine and transmission mounts was to provide a management system for engine movement. During vehicle operation with increased power/torque, in order to retain vehicle acceleration and tyre contact during aggressive driving. To accomplish this, the bushing design of past Revo engine mounts were retained in the MQB engine and transmission mounts, allowing Revo engineers to focus their efforts on bushing stiffness/type to accomplish the task.”
You tube clips.
Here’s a link to REVO’s youtube channel which shows you exactly how much movement the engine gives when using significant power with stock mounts compared to the upgraded REVO mounts.
A little information on a vehicle that was in for various repair work. Whilst we were there the customer decided to upgrade to the REVO MQB engine mount kit. This was due to the increased power in the vehicle.
We used REVO’s MQB engine mount kit to give stability to the engine. More power results in more movement during aggressive acceleration. The stock engine mounts, designed to favour comfort over performance. Fail to manage axle hop and torque effectively, requiring you to ease off in order to gain traction. Designed to significantly reduce this engine movement. Revo engine mounts use Powerflex polyurethane bushings to minimise noise, vibration and harshness levels (NVH). Whilst drastically improving traction and acceleration.
