The Volkswagen Transporter T5 and T6 are popular vans known for their reliability and versatility. However, like any vehicle, they are not without their common issues. Below are some of the frequently reported problems for these models:

Volkswagen Transporter T5 Common Problems

1. Dual Mass Flywheel (DMF) Issues
   • Symptoms: Clutch judder, vibrations, or rattling noises during gear changes.
   • Cause: Wear and tear on the DMF, common in higher-mileage vehicles or those used for heavy loads.
2. EGR Valve Problems
   • Symptoms: Loss of power, increased fuel consumption, and the engine management light illuminating.
   • Cause: Carbon build-up in the Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve.
3. Turbo Failure
   • Symptoms: Loss of power, black smoke from the exhaust, or a whining noise from the turbo.
   • Cause: Oil contamination or overboosting leading to turbocharger wear.
4. Water Pump and Timing Belt
   • Symptoms: Overheating or visible coolant leaks.
   • Cause: Failure to replace the timing belt and water pump at the recommended intervals can lead to premature failure.
5. Sliding Door Mechanism
   • Symptoms: Doors become difficult to open or close smoothly.
   • Cause: Worn or misaligned rollers and tracks.
6. Rust Issues
   • Symptoms: Visible rust spots, particularly around wheel arches and underbody areas.
   • Cause: Poor paint protection on some models, exacerbated by exposure to road salt.

Volkswagen Transporter T6 Common Problems

1. AdBlue System Faults
   • Symptoms: AdBlue warning light, limp mode activation, or difficulty starting.
   • Cause: Faulty AdBlue injectors or crystallization of AdBlue fluid in the system.
2. DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) Blockage
   • Symptoms: Reduced power, excessive smoke, or the DPF warning light illuminating.
   • Cause: Short journeys preventing the DPF from regenerating properly.
3. Clutch and Gearbox Wear
   • Symptoms: Difficulty selecting gears or slipping clutch.
   • Cause: Heavy usage, towing, or high mileage.
4. Electrical Issues
   • Symptoms: Faulty sensors, central locking issues, or malfunctioning infotainment systems.
   • Cause: Poor connections, software glitches, or worn components.
5. Front Suspension Problems
   • Symptoms: Knocking noises, uneven tyre wear, or poor handling.
   • Cause: Worn suspension bushes or ball joints.
6. Coolant Leaks
   • Symptoms: Low coolant levels or visible puddles under the van.
   • Cause: Faulty water pump or leaking radiator hoses.

General Maintenance Tips

• Regular Servicing: Follow the manufacturer’s service schedule to prevent many of these issues, as with any vehicle!
• Oil Changes: Use the correct grade of oil, especially for engines with turbos or DPFs.
• Timing Belt Replacement: Adhere to intervals for timing belt and water pump replacement to avoid costly repairs.
• DPF Care: If you drive primarily short distances, consider occasional longer trips to allow for DPF regeneration.
• Inspect Sliding Doors and Seals: Regular cleaning and lubrication can prevent sticking or misalignment.

By addressing these issues proactively, you can ensure your T5 or T6 remains reliable and performs optimally over the long term.

Since spring is just around the corner, now is the perfect time to ensure your camper is in top condition for the adventures ahead. After months of winter storage or regular use, your vehicle may need a little attention to keep everything running smoothly.

There’s nothing worse than setting off on a road trip only to be met with unexpected issues—especially when you’re miles away from home or in the middle of nowhere. Avoid the hassle by addressing any minor faults, unusual noises, or general maintenance needs before the season truly begins.

From routine servicing and safety checks to diagnosing knocks, rattles, or electrical gremlins, we’re here to help you get road-trip ready. Rather book in with us today and start the season with confidence!

Why Regular Servicing is Essential for Your VAG Vehicle (and What Happens When You Skip It)

If you’re an Audi, Volkswagen, Skoda, or SEAT owner, you already know that your vehicle isn’t just a car—it’s a high-performance machine that’s built to last. But even the most robust engines require regular upkeep to stay in top shape. Keeping up with your VAG vehicle’s service requirements does more than maintain performance—it protects your investment, keeps you safer, and can save you big money down the line. Here’s what you need to know about why regular servicing is essential and what can happen if you let it slide.

What Are the Key Service Requirements for VAG Vehicles?

VAG vehicles come with a manufacturer-recommended service schedule that covers everything from basic oil changes to more intensive maintenance. Here are some of the essential service intervals:

1. Oil Changes and Filter Replacements
   • Interval: Every 10,000–15,000 miles or annually.
   • Why It Matters: High-performance engines require clean oil to lubricate and protect their moving parts. Ignoring this can lead to sludge buildup, which clogs components and causes wear and tear.
2. Brake Checks and Replacements
   • Interval: Typically every 20,000–30,000 miles, depending on use.
   • Why It Matters: Over time, brake pads, discs, and fluid degrade, which compromises braking efficiency. If left unchecked, this can lead to safety issues or even expensive rotor and caliper replacements.
3. Timing Belt Replacement
   • Interval: Every 60,000–100,000 miles, depending on the model.
   • Why It Matters: The timing belt synchronizes your engine’s components. If it fails, you could face serious engine damage that requires costly repairs.
4. Transmission Fluid and Coolant Changes
   • Interval: Transmission fluid every 40,000 miles; coolant every 2–5 years.
   • Why It Matters: These fluids keep your engine and transmission from overheating. Old or low fluids can lead to premature wear, overheating, and expensive repairs.
5. Spark Plug Replacement
   • Interval: Every 30,000–60,000 miles.
   • Why It Matters: Spark plugs affect fuel efficiency and power. Worn plugs can cause rough starts, poor fuel economy, and misfires, which can damage the engine over time.

What Happens if You Skip These Service Intervals?

Skipping routine maintenance may seem like a minor oversight, but neglecting service intervals can have serious consequences for your VAG vehicle’s performance and lifespan.

1. Reduced Performance and Fuel Economy
   • Over time, dirty oil, clogged filters, and worn spark plugs reduce your vehicle’s efficiency. The engine has to work harder to produce the same power, which leads to increased fuel consumption and a sluggish driving experience.
2. Engine Damage and Costly Repairs
   • Neglecting oil changes and timing belt replacements can cause extensive damage to the engine, one of the most expensive components to repair. Engine parts can wear prematurely, and if a timing belt fails, it can cause catastrophic engine damage requiring thousands of pounds to fix.
3. Brake Failure and Safety Risks
   • Worn brakes can reduce stopping power, compromising your safety on the road. In worst-case scenarios, neglecting brake maintenance can lead to brake failure, putting you and other drivers at risk.
4. Transmission Problems
   • Transmission repairs are among the most expensive vehicle repairs. By not changing the transmission fluid, you risk damaging the gearbox and experiencing rough gear shifts, especially in automatic models.
5. Decreased Resale Value
   • When it’s time to sell or trade in your VAG vehicle, a full-service history can increase its resale value. Buyers look for well-maintained vehicles, and a lack of records could make it harder to sell or reduce the price you’re able to get.

The Bottom Line: Protect Your Investment

For VAG vehicle owners, regular servicing isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s an investment in performance, safety, and value. Following the manufacturer-recommended schedule will keep your car running at its best and help you avoid unnecessary repairs and expenses.

Regular servicing doesn’t just benefit your vehicle; it protects your driving experience and keeps you confident behind the wheel. Looking after your VAG vehicle’s service requirements is the best way to ensure it remains reliable, safe, and enjoyable for years to come. To book in your vehicle with us for servicing or repairs, contact us ‘here‘.

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/

Common Skoda Fabia issues

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.

Upgrade to Millers Oils for an extra £25.

Alternatively, you can purchase Millers Oils Racing Brake Fluid direct from our sister company VAG Performance here: https://www.vag-performance.co.uk/product/millers-racing-brake-fluid-300/

In addition to the above, find out what other services we carry out as well as Brake Fluid Servicing. Have a look through our additional services page here: https://www.northeastautotech.com/additional-services/

Haldex generation 5 service on Golf R

Haldex generation 5 service on Golf R, S3 , RS3 should be carried out at 38,000 miles. Our servicing differs from the dealer. How? you may ask. Well, when the oil is changed at the dealership this is only half the job. Here at North East Auto Tech we remove the pump. By doing so we can clean the pump strainer, helping clear through any sludge build up which is the main cause for failure.

Fault codes such as the below are common failure codes.

16670 – All-Wheel Drive
C1113 07 [008] – Mechanical Failure

131599 – Control Module for All Wheel Drive Clutch – Communication Failure