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Volkswagen Golf 1.6 common faults.

1999–2006, estate, petrol, 100 HP.

The fault list covers: AEH, AKL, APF engine, 01M transmission.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

5 fault write-ups. 1 important. 4 recalls.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

1 important faults

expensive1

Rust: wheel arch, sill, jacking point

expensive

The corrosion starts from the inner side of the metal, behind the wheel arch liner: the mud settling there and the absorbent foam seal hold the water against the metal. From outside only blistering paint shows for a long time, while underneath it can already be rusted through. The sill and the jacking point fail the same way: that already fails the roadworthiness test, and it is dangerous when changing a wheel.

What to check

  • Pull the plastic wheel arch liner aside and feel along the metal behind it
  • Press the sill and the jacking points: if it dents or crunches, it is rusted through
  • Check suspect patches with a magnet: under thick filler it does not stick
1 more steps in the write-up

comfort4

Coolant temperature sensor (G62) failure

comfort

The G62 sensor tells the engine control unit how hot the coolant is. If it is faulty, the control unit thinks a warm engine is cold, and runs it rich: hard warm or cold starting, a rough idle, markedly increased fuel consumption, and a dash temperature gauge that jumps around or never reaches its usual reading. The part is cheap and can be replaced in half an hour: the trouble is that many people do not recognise it and replace an injector or a lambda sensor instead. If the fault persists, the rich mixture can destroy the catalytic converter too.

What to check

  • Warm it up and watch the dash temperature gauge: the needle should sit steadily at the middle reading, not jump around
  • Watch a cold start, then a warm start after twenty minutes standing
  • With a code reader look for the 17664 / P1256 code in the engine control unit
2 more steps in the write-up

Electric window regulator: cable and plastic clamp

comfort

The cable of the window regulator jams or tangles, and the holding clamp (originally plastic) breaks, dropping the glass into the door. It is often preceded by a crunching noise. The repair requires removing the door trim; the refurbishment kits come with a metal clamp, precisely because the factory plastic is the weak point.

What to check

  • Run all four windows fully down and up, and listen for crunching
  • Try them while driving too: a binding window behaves differently when warm
  • Check whether the glass moves evenly and does not tilt in the guide
1 more steps in the write-up

IV: front suspension (control arm bushes, anti-roll bar links)

comfort

The control arm bushes wear out, the anti-roll bar links work loose, and along with them the track rod ends and the ball joints wear as well. Symptoms: knocking and rattling on uneven roads, imprecise, "floating" steering, uneven tyre wear. Rarely does only one fail. By the time all of them are done, the bill adds up, and at the roadworthiness test each one is a separate failure point.

What to check

  • On an uneven road, driving slowly with the window open, listen for knocking from the front
  • With the car standing, turning the wheel left and right, listen for clicking or rattling
  • Look at the inner edge of the tyres: uneven wear indicates a suspension fault
2 more steps in the write-up

Secondary air system: pump and combination valve (P0411)

comfort

From the late nineties to around 2006, petrol engines used a secondary air pump to blow fresh air into the exhaust on a cold start, so the catalytic converter reaches operating temperature faster. The impeller of the pump rusts or its bearing seizes, soot clogs the combination valve (N112), and the rubber hoses crack. The control unit then stores the `P0411` code. It barely affects driving, but the engine warning light is on, and the emissions test can fail because of it, and the roadworthiness test with it.

What to check

  • After a cold start watch for 30 to 60 seconds: can you hear the pump droning from the engine bay
  • Check whether the engine warning light is on, and have it read out: P0411 (VAG code 16795) points to this system
  • Ask when the last emissions test was, and whether it passed first time
2 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

Volkswagen Golf 1.6

First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.

Before you buy

Checklist

The printed sheet starts with what you would check on any car. What you tick stays on this device only.

On every car

Ask the owner

Faults of this model

vinkodex.com · Before you buy it, see what can go wrong.

Official recall4 recallsShow

The manufacturer fixes these for free at a franchised dealer. Ask with the VIN whether it was done.

Most recent: 19 April 2005

05V154000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP19 April 2005 · NHTSA (USA)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH GASOLINE ENGINES AND DOUBLE-LAYER FUEL TANKS, TENSION ON THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE TO CRACK WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LEAK.

Risk: LEAKING FUEL, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL SUPPLY LINE FOR TENSION, AND INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP SUPPLY NIPPLE FOR CRACKING. IF NECESSARY THE FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL PUMP WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 25, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

The authority's notice

03V155000EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSEQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS22 April 2003 · NHTSA (USA)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.8L VR6 ENGINES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THE RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE PUBLISHED ON THE LABEL FOR TIRES OF THE SIZE 205/50 R15 86H IS 0.1 BAR (1.45 PSI) TOO LOW. IT SHOULD BE 2.5 BAR (36.3 PSI). THE LABEL RECOMMENDS 2.4 BAR (34.8 PSI = 35 PSI).

Risk: UNDER INFLATED TIRES CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING, AND DRIVING WITH SUBSTANTIALLY UNDER INFLATED TIRES PUTS THE CONSUMER AT RISK FOR A CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED LABELS, OR A DEALER CAN INSTALL THE LABEL IF THE OWNER WISHES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 29, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VW AT 1-800-893-5298.

The authority's notice

99V022000STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERSSTRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS5 February 1999 · NHTSA (USA)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE SOUND ABSORBING MAT ATTACHED TO THE INSIDE OF THE B-PILLAR SIDE TRIM PANEL COULD HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. SURFACE AND EDGES OF THE MAT COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS. IT COULD IGNITE WHEN EXPOSED TO THE EXHAUST GAS OF THE SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER IGNITER IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE FRONT OR SIDE COLLISION.

Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE MATTING MATERIALS FROM INSIDE THE B-PILLAR ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE.

The authority's notice

A12/00851/20Safety recallInjuriesno date · EU Safety Gate

Volkswagen has been informed by its current supplier that driver-airbag gas generators from the original manufacturer Takata (‘NADI’ (non-azide driver inflator) generators) produced during 1997-1999 may be faulty. VW used these gas generators exclusively in vehicles with a wooden steering-wheel rim (at that time an equipment option). Internal investigations have shown that in the event of an accident the restraining effect of the deployed NADI driver airbag might not always be fully guaranteed. Compliance with the statutory requirements in force for protection by an airbag in the event of an accident is thus not ensured.

Remedy: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users Date of entry into force: Unknown

The authority's notice

Engine and transmission

3 engines · 1 transmissions

AEH · 1.6

74 kW (101 HP) · petrol

01M · 4-speed automatic, transverse

automatic · 4 speed

Torque limit200 Nm
MakerVW

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it. More than one engine code is possible. The fault list shows the faults of each.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
—
Body
estate
Fuel
petrol
Transmission
automatic
Engine size
1595 cc
Power
74 kW (101 HP)
Drive
FWD
Production
1999–2006

Factory service interval

The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.

  • Air filter

    • 60,000 km or 4 years

  • Cabin (pollen) filter

    • 30,000 km or 2 years

  • Engine oil and oil filter

    • LongLife30,000 km or 2 years(valid only with LongLife-approved oil)
    • 15,000 km or 1 year

  • Brake fluid change

    • first: 3 years, then 2 years(first change at 3 years, then every two years)

  • Coolant (antifreeze) change

    • first: 193,000 km or 10 years, then 97,000 km or 5 years(G13 / G12++: first change at 120,000 miles or 10 years, then every 60,000 miles or 5 years)

  • Spark plugs, petrol

    • 60,000 km or 6 years
All IV versions

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms