Bushes... Airbag Light and VAG Indep dealers

[glen.r.read]

Hi all thanks for looking...

Well bushes says it all really My left rear bush went a few months back, i have done about a 1000 miles and it has started to squeak again! So i took it to a garage in my area and they got it up on the ramp and had a look, first of all they reckoned the left one had not been fitted straight and the right side had also split. I told them about replacing them with cupra bushes but he hadn't heard of doing this before and would only fit the standard ones. So i kind of bartered with him and said if i get hold of the parts he would fit them!!

Can someone also confirm for me what TCA is???

This post was really useful... can anyone confirm if these are the correct part numbers? And or they have had any problems?? LINK

The garage also had a VAG machine and i asked if he could look at another niggle which was my airbag light stayed on after ignition... I have taken it to the SEAT dealer many times and after 2 weeks it it usually back on! He plugged it in and the error code 01312 popped up! I think it said powertrain data bus? Anyone with had any problems with this before??

My final question is there a list of VAG Indep dealers... I would like to find a decent garage in my area that would be able to do the work. Or if not if anyone knows of one in the suffolk area i would be very grateful.

Thanks again for reading i hope you can help me out!

 

[bukem]

I can help you with a list of Independent VAG Specialists. This is a dump of my browser's bookmarks I have collected over the years from VW/Audi/Skoda/Seat based forums.

Here goes......

VAGCheck - http://www.vagcheck.co.uk/
Inde-Tech - http://www.inde-tech.co.uk
fontain.co.uk - http://www.fontain.co.uk/
APS - http://www.autops.co.uk/
Audi VW Centre - http://www.audivwcentre.com/
Autotechnik - http://www.autotechnikltd.co.uk/
Votex Ltd - http://www.votex.ltd.uk/
JBS Auto Designs - http://www.jbsautodesigns.co.uk/
TTS Roadsport - http://www.ttsroadsport.com/
Monnington Motors - http://www.monnington-motors.co.uk
Performance Driven - http://www.performancedriven.co.uk/default.asp
Euro Performance Ltd - http://europerformanceltd.co.uk/default.aspx
VAGtech - http://www.vagtech.co.uk/
Midland VW - http://www.midlandvw.com/
QRSport - http://www.qrsport.com
TSR Performance - http://www.tsr-performance.com
Central Audi & VW Specialists LTD - http://centralaudivw.co.uk/
JKM Motor Services Ltd - http://www.jkm.org.uk/

 

[RUM4MO]

First, TCA is Track Control Arm - this is the lump of metal that helps keep the front wheels in the correct position. The bush that you will be reffering to is known as the TCA rear bush, but it is actually located on an aluminium console (VAG current generic name for lumps of aluminium mounts I think). The p/n for the bushes starts with 6LL the rest of the number is the same as for all non-Cupra TCA rear bushes - so just go to your local Seat dealer and ask for two front TCA rear bushes for an Ibiza Cupra of round about the same age as your car. The main problem with these original bushes is that they are voided - ie have open sections on them to make them more compliant and to stop transmitting noise. In reality, them fail completely to control the position of the front wheels and into the bargain end up tearing - so the only winner is the garages that get to replace them regularly. These Cupra bushes are more difficult to fit - but by no means impossible to do. So if you end up going to an indep VAG specialist that has a modern alignment jig, then he will probably have fitted a few of them to non-Cupra cars - ie Fabias + Polos + Ibizas - maybe give him a phone first to check up and maybe he will also supply the bushes - that way he will end up taking ownership of the complete task and he will make a few more pence as he will be buying the bushes at trade prices (if he is a proper VAG indep specialist then he will only use genuine VAG parts where appropriate - once again ask first).

On the airbag problem - sorry no good ideas!

On the publishing of good and used VAG indep specialists - now that is a proper idea and all these VAG forums should list by area all the known "full facilty" members used and rated good outfits - as well as helpful main dealers, as the main dealers can't really fit any "non standard" parts to your car - well not officially anyway, so that is where the indep guys score - oh and these indep guys only exist on their good name - not an issue with main dealers!

I obviously did not remember when I posted this that the pin that passes through this bush is hexagonal - so is the centre hole in the bush - and correct orientation in roll is essential.

Oh, and just one other thing, make sure that anyone that fits these Cupra bushes understands that they need fitting in from the opposite end from the original ones - with the stepped or recessed part towards the front of the car and that means the flat section towards the rear. Also, I'm trying to remember is the bush is stiffer at any one or two points - maybe not - so it might not need to be aligned in "roll" in the same way as the voided one - might be that the TCA pin end that passes thro this bush was flats or faces on it - comments on that point anyone?

Also, use the internet and have a look on www.briskoda.net as these guys have been needing to carry out this repair for longer than us Polo and Ibiza folk have - and there is a guy on there (Lummox) that has his own (Unit 18) business and fitting these Cupra bushes is easypeasy for him - he is near MK.

 

[glen.r.read]

Cheers for the defintion on the TCA, i always see it ebbriviated and never could actually work out what it meant.

Just thought i would update on the stage i am at with these problems...

I have been to the local SEAT dealer and got my Cupra TCA rear bushes (6LL 407 183) for £16.58 for the pair! The bloke on the counter seemed quite interested in what i was doing, he tried flogging me the standard part initially as he said they had been upgraded as it was a common problem.

He did point out that the standard part had a lip on the outer casing (i assume to stop the bush being pushed too far into the console??) in which the cupra part didn't have this... does this make any difference?

RUM4MO:

I have been reading your numerous posts on this subject across many forums... in a reply to my post on another SEAT forum you asked about the ARB... (abbriviations again) is this the link arm? If so i have had my N/S link arm replaced about a year ago, as i was getting a terrible knocking sound. This was replaced with a genuine SEAT part. Whether it was fitted correctly or not i do not know!! Should this effect anything?

Also on the briskoda DIY guide for the Fabia.. should there be any need for all these tools and M12 bolts? Will this be something i will have to supply to the garage?? And is the fitment tighter than the standard part? I don't want to take it to a garage and they say it doesnt fit!!! Is your friend LUMMOX open on a Saturday as i really am debating driving to Milton Keynes at the moment...

I have found a garage on recommendation about the airbag light... They re-wire the connectors under the seats i have phoned them and he said it shouldn't be a problem but he didn't seem too keen on the bush replacement. He said he would do it but would like more info on how the Cupra bushes fit...

Thanks for all the info so far its been a great help...

I just called a VAG Specialist in Marks Tey, Essex and to fit the bushes £60 per bush + VAT and will investigate the airbag light £50 per hour and £45 per seat + VAT... sounds expensive to me???? But its christmas lol!

 

[Aimez]

This is interesting as I will have this issue next year got my bushes sitting next to my p.c but don't know who to fit them, a forum member told me of a place 25mins away but he's never actually been there. Is there not a list of VAG specialists NOT dealers and their locations anywhere? Was going to get my extended family's garage to do this but have been put off by alot of people on here saying they will not know how to!

 

[muddyboots]

....you asked about the ARB... (abbriviations again) is this the link arm? If so i have had my N/S link arm replaced about a year ago, as i was getting a terrible knocking sound.

The ARB is the anti-roll bar, this is a bar that runs across the car and connects one side of the front suspension to the other.
The link is a small bar (something like 2-4" long) that connects the ends of the ARB to the suspension. The rubber bushes in these can wear/deteriorate and cause knocking.

Is your friend LUMMOX open on a Saturday as i really am debating driving to Milton Keynes at the moment...

Lummox is also on here, but with the username "techie". From what I've read and from speaking to him, he sounds like one of the most knowledgeable & capable techs there is and is very well regarded on here. Think at one point he was a VW master technician, and I remember a post a few months back where he'd got his own unit and was starting to go it alone. I'd have no hesitation at all using him. He's done quite a bit of work for peeps on here.

 

[RUM4MO]

You should contact him directly - see his website for email address etc ie www.unit18.co.uk I'm sure that will be the best way to do things - saves him looking like he's touting for business, as said before, your car will not be the first one he's done this to! I got mine done elsewhere - a bit nearer to home as 1000+miles round trip is a bit much even to get this job done. I can't comment on your dealer charges, but up here near Edinburgh, my VW dealer hits me for £75-£90 per hour - so indep VAG specialists should be picking up a lot of work from "wise" owners.

One thing as you mentioned "modified" bushes - has anyone seen them? I'd guess from what I'd read somewhere else, that they would have four "webs" instead of two - just like I believe the Golf 5 and Leon 2 have - but you were right to just get the Cupra ones as they seem to sort this problem out for once and for all.

 

[glen.r.read]

Just another status update on the problems!!!

The bushes have finally been replaced with thanks to the guys at unit18 and i have no hesitation in recommending them at all, both are very knowladagble!! It was great to actually see what the problem was and how its fixed!! And how every Seat/Skoda/VW/Audi should have been fitted with solid bushes!!! The drive home proved this!!!

The airbag light is a bit more difficult, They kindly ran the diagnostic which came up with the same fault 01312. Its likely to be the wiring from the ECU to the airbag which is causing an intermitant fault. I am starting to think whether it is something to do with the cold weather or wet conditions that causes it to turn on. Unfortunatly when i started it up this evening the light stayed on so it was very short lived.

I think i will probably start a new thread on airbag light issues!!!

Thanks for all your advice!!!