Official "Ask a Tech" thread.

[GeorgiaRabbit]

I went out to start my rabbit today. When I turned the key, the car turned on, revved for a second, then died. There was a message on my MFD that said "Immobalizer Active" with the word "safe" in the lower right corner.

WTF is up with that? just curious. A little more info would include that it was my second main key, which I've used only a couple of times before this morning. Do I need to get the key reflashed? When I used my normal key, the car turned on fine, no issues or strange messages. Thanks in advance!

[nitroscope8]

Try your other keys. If they work, then you need to bring ALL your keys to the dealer and have them immobilize all of them. Sometimes they lose adaption for who knows why. If no key works, you need to have it towed. otherwise bring all keys with you, including valet key, and have the dealer immobilize it for ya.

[medic2766]

Is it against dealer policy to swap TPMS sensors from the stock wheels to another set of wheels? I have had 3 dealers in my area refuse to do it.

[Rabbid0281]

Does VW have an overbore set for the 2.5L yet?

[The Dude]

Sorry if this has been covered. I got tired of reading. Two weeks ago, I changed my oil (Castrol 5W40, dealer filter). I had 4300 miles on the engine and had to go one a road trip. I was at my g-dads house (7-8000 Ft above sea level), I got in one morning and started it and noticed that at first it was ideling really rough, then after the idle came down it was fine. Then, yesterday (6/9 at home 4900 Ft, above sea level) it did the same thing but a little worse. I really don't think changing my oil would cause this issue, is this a common issue. I also had the car above 10,000 feet and it still ran like a champ. Thanks

[nitroscope8]

You can change tpms sensors between wheels. Use a new tpms seal kit for each sensor so it doesn't leak.

Make a 3.0 stroker yourself! That's the fun in custom.

Rough idle, especially at altitude or d uring humid weather most times can be related to poor fuel quality. There have been many technical bulletins about this from VW and these engines are VERY picky about the fuel that goes into them. If you are climbing altitude, be sure to nail the gas to the floor every so often. The computer learns barometric pressure when you are at full throttle and it adapts better.

[Rabbid0281]

lol, ok then, can i use the pistons from the V6 or should i have them custom made?

[jhebass]

Hey...

Just picked up my '08 2-dr 5-speed rabbit. Love it, but for the annoying TMPS indicator, which has been on since I took it from the dealership (wished I had noticed it on my pre-purchase test-drive).

The dealer had to put on the Magny-Cours for me as an option. Apparently the car shipped w/ them originally (it's on the window sticker), but they swapped on 15s. Then, some weeks later, I buy the car, thus causing them to put on a new set of Magny Cours.

So, with all this wheel swapping, did something get screwy? I checked the tire pressure, and it's all within spec. I know, I probably need to go to the dealer, but just checking...

Thanks!

[nitroscope8]

Do the new wheels have the sensors in them? The valve stem is METAL if they do and RUBBER if they do not.

[WyldHare]

I've got an 08 rabbit with tmps already installed on the factory rims. I'm getting ready to put my 19 inch R8 rims on it but I've got an extra set of wheel sensors.Can I just go ahead and use the extra set of factory sensors or am I going to have to dismount my factory tires and use the sensors that came with the car ? Thanks for the help

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

what is the et of factory steel 15 inch rim ?

[nitroscope8]

The sensors MUST match what the car calls for. If not, they may not work.

I wanna say the et is 35, but i'm not sure. It will say on the wheel. You can ask a parts guy.

[jhebass]

Well, weirdly the light went off by itself the same day i posted my question.

I've got another, though. Our power windows have pinch protection, right? Is there a reason mine wouldn't work...stuck my arm in there, and it almost cut it off...

[nitroscope8]

Pinch protection only works when the windows have 'basic settings adaption' performed in them. Do each window by itself. Put hte key on and do the left front window: put the window all the way up and hold the button for a second. Then put the window down all the way and hold the button for a second, then back up again and hold it. Do that for each window on your car. Once that is done, be sure the auto up and auto down feature work on each window. Now, pinch protection ONLY works when the key is on.

Take a paper towel roll and put it at the top of the door. Use auto up and watch it strike the towels, then go down. It will not work if you slowly push against the window, only when it hits something firm. If you activate pinch protection more than once, it becomes less sensative. AFter the third time, it turns off and forces it's way up.

[Rabbid0281]

Hey Nitro, does it matter if you skip shift? like 1-2-4 or 1-3-5?

[nitroscope8]

If you can perfectly rev match the shift, no. If you keep your foot down on the clutch waiting for rpms to drop, then the bearings in the engine will have more stress....but probably not enough to matter.

I skip shifts when I get onto the highway. Blast through 1st and 2nd, then go into 5th once up to speed.

[Rabbid0281]

nah i dont ride the clutch. but yur freeway sprint sounds like what i do.

[jhebass]

Thanks so much...you're an excellent resource.

While I'm at it...I've noticed a strange knocking noise coming from the right rear of the car just after a cold-start...if the car's been sitting over night. It doesn't seem to occur for more than a few minutes after the initial start up. Sound like someone rhythmically tapping on the back lightly...frequency changes, however (not pitch...pattern).

Thoughts?

Strange, someone has hacked my brain and told me to use hte search button. Whats really crazy is that I hear a voice saying something about a leak detection pump thingy.

[jananddean]

i want to remove the optional ipod adapter in my 2dr rabbit and install the auxiliary input jack so that i can use my ipod through my stereo but use the ipod controls.

i noticed that inside the armrest underneath the ipod adapter there is a cable with a molded plastic clip that connects it to the head unit.

if i buy the 30$ aux jack from vw will it connect with this same molded plastic clip? or will i need to figure out a way to rewire it?

thanks

[DUSlider]

I was doing an auto-scan with the Vag-com before changing some things and there was a fault in the radio... What does this mean and should I worry about it?

1 Fault Found:
00877 - Treble Speaker Rear Right (R16)
011 - Open Circuit - Intermittent
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 00101011
Fault Priority: 3
Fault Frequency: 1
Reset counter: 184
Mileage: 3037 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2000.00.00
Time: 17:28:28

[nitroscope8]

It only happened once, so I would just clear it. if it keeps coming back, you can go to ouput test mode in the radio and you will get a different tone beep from each speaker...one at a time to test it. Hey, thats what I would do at the dealer lol.