well we finally found the source of the weird vibrations in revers. Basically the oil pan shifted forward a bit and rubbed with the corner on the skid plate which transmitted the engine vibrations to the car.

Solution: time to cut a tiny hole into the skid plate were it rubs against the pan and the vibrations should be gone.

done today:

• new transmission oil
• new transmission gaskets
• new transmission plugs
• new transmission seals
• replace PCV valves and pipes

parts: 230$
labor: 120$

but fixie should be happy now and the weird clunking noises from the transmission are gone. It's now all nice and smooth again and I joy to drive it into the high rpms.

transmission oil change

the preparations are running and it looks like it's supposed to be done twice.

• first to drop the pan
• replace fluid and filter
• put back together

and after 1k-5k miles it needs a transmission service to get rid of the stuff which loosened up with the new oil.

Currently ordered

• 130$ transmission oil and filter and gasket
• labor roughly 300$
• special tool: 13$
  

the dreaded cat codes

well my one cat keeps complaining about something, but it passed the smogtest for now and I don't need to retest it for another year, so to get rid of this annoying light and to save money for future diagnostics (80$ eachtime)....

I bought a code reader, which should drive me crazy whenever my fixie throws a new code...

Add to cost of ownership: 144$

Basically the cat complains that the efficiency is below threshold and this seems to be a common software problem with the 2001 Passat's V6. So I just have to get it to a VW dealer and flash the ECU to a newer version. Which cost an hour of labor and so won't be done before needed.

leaking

ok now it's leaking again

• leaking engine oil => looking into the PCV system which should fix it
  
• leaking servo fluid => maybe related to me spilling stuff, we just monitor it for now and maybe some clamps are giving up
  
• leaking transmission fluid => time to buy a new gasket and also do a transmission fuel replacement, it starts to shift weird, which is an indicator for low transmission fluid
  

we are now at 102k miles...

powersterring flush

since these genuineness at Speedees filled up my car with the wrong power steering fluid, I need to flush it and replace it.

Tools 250$

• wrenches to take of the skid plate
• ramps to take of the skid plate
• pliers to take of the messed up nut
  

Liquid:

• 50$ for 2 liter of the special volkswagen liquid

I only did a simple flush in the hope to get enough stuff out and to get the liquid semi clean again, since I did not want to risk that the servo pump runs dry

Done around 101k miles

skid plate

After I did an oilchange I decided to replace the missing skid plate with an aftermarked product

• diselgeek skid plate 250$
• fender liners 100$
• labor 45$

result I'm now protected against roadkill and ice, but the drawback are vibrations while in reverse

Done around 101k miles

Timing belt and Valve Gaskets

Timing Belt and Valve Gaskets:

This was done at 101k miles, shortly after I bought the car

• valve gasket 100$
• timing belt kit 239$
• labor 260$

standard maintenance thing, the pre owner did not like this car...

my passat fixe and what I got it for...

A month back my dogde dakota died on me and so I bought a 2001 Passat GLX without really knowing what I got me into.

This blog is just there to maintain the list of fixes and updates and tools needed for this car.