TheSamba.com :: View topic - New Eurovan owner

Mon May 26, 2025 9:30 am

Hi All!

Just picked up an 02 weekender. Had pretty solid maintenance records and lots of big ticket items taken care of like trans rebuild etc. 226k on her and pretty clean. I come from the B5 S4/c5 allroad 2.7t world, so used to tackling projects. First VR6 for me!
Couple issues it has that I would love any input or suggestions on! I am sure more items will come up as I get into it.

1. Coolant leak seems to be passenger side. There is very little heat a bit sweet smelling, and only when at RPM. Need to sort the leak and bleed system. - This has two heater cores correct? Pretty sure this is the heater core...

2. Rear heater fan is not working. SOLVED. Need to press the rear air button on the manual climate control. Feel like an idiot!

3.Power mirrors not working, and issue with driver door lock system. driver go goes nuts when actuator is plugged in. Going to start looking at driver door wiring where it enters the body. Fuses are good. SOLVED Cleaned up the switch and they work!!

4. For some reason I cannot shift from D into 3, 2 or 1. SOLVED.. I Appear to have no idea how to shift this. Works fine.

5.There are a few plugs plugs that are not connected at the fuse box. not used to seeing that in my Audi's, so not sure if they are supposed to have a matching plug or if VW used more generic wiring for options my MV does not have.

6. Might not have any A/C - need to get gauges. without climatronic, I cannot see the pressures like I could in the B5. I can hear the A/C compressor clicking. either a leak or low pressure. SOLVED, system was low and needed a recharge.

7. Exhaust either needs a really good welding repair or a new kit. SOLVED It looks like Magnaflow has something available for an easy repair. My welding skills are terrible especially on thin metal. I found the BRExhaust from Magnaflow. Replaced the entire Cat back system. Now she is quiet, no longer straight piped past the cat!!

A couple pics!

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Mon May 26, 2025 12:33 pm

Nice first post.

Shifting from D to 3-2-1:

When in D rolling at speed, don't use the button to shift to 3--just pull the shifter aft. Same for 2. Then, when in 2, press the button to get into 1.

If you're going too fast, the trans will not downshift when you manually shift. You have to be rolling below certain speeds for downshift to actually work. This is to keep you from destroying the trans.

kourt

Mon May 26, 2025 3:26 pm

kourt wrote: Nice first post.

Shifting from D to 3-2-1:

When in D rolling at speed, don't use the button to shift to 3--just pull the shifter aft. Same for 2. Then, when in 2, press the button to get into 1.

If you're going too fast, the trans will not downshift when you manually shift. You have to be rolling below certain speeds for downshift to actually work. This is to keep you from destroying the trans.

kourt

Does this mean I cannot just start in 1 2 or 3? I'll try the above next test drive, but cannot shift into 3 2 or 1 at a standstill.

Mon May 26, 2025 3:27 pm

Power mirrors not working is probably due to dried grease gumming up the contacts in the switch assembly. Someone on here did a writeup on how to get it apart and cleaned up.

Mon May 26, 2025 5:58 pm

cu52 wrote: Does this mean I cannot just start in 1 2 or 3? I'll try the above next test drive, but cannot shift into 3 2 or 1 at a standstill.

More explanation please. Foot on brake? Engine running? Did you shift to D, then pull down (no button) to 3 or 2, then press the button and pull down to 1? Cuz you have to do it that way. This van is not like any other car in that regard.

And maybe there is a problem, but you would not be the first to be stumped by the idiosyncrasies of the properly functioning Eurovan automatic shifter. We have to rule out operator error before we dig deeper.

Kourt

Mon May 26, 2025 7:43 pm

kourt wrote: cu52 wrote: Does this mean I cannot just start in 1 2 or 3? I'll try the above next test drive, but cannot shift into 3 2 or 1 at a standstill.

More explanation please. Foot on brake? Engine running? Did you shift to D, then pull down (no button) to 3 or 2, then press the button and pull down to 1? Cuz you have to do it that way. This van is not like any other car in that regard.

And maybe there is a problem, but you would not be the first to be stumped by the idiosyncrasies of the properly functioning Eurovan automatic shifter. We have to rule out operator error before we dig deeper.

Kourt

THANKS.. Clearly I have no idea what I am talking about on this. Shifts just fine... I tried ot use the button to go to 3rd it appears. all good on this issue here!! 100% operator error. Got a good laugh on this "issue".

Mon May 26, 2025 7:47 pm

trunnion wrote: Power mirrors not working is probably due to dried grease gumming up the contacts in the switch assembly. Someone on here did a writeup on how to get it apart and cleaned up.

Will search for this. Thank you!
EDIT: Found it: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=765420

Tue Jun 03, 2025 7:23 am

I need to start focusing on the coolant leak to confirm the heater core. I currently have the heater core bypassed and this seems to have solved most of the smells and pooling, hoping the last bits have been residual. There was never any fluid I found in the vehicle, so must have been a very small leak at the core itself. Now to get prepped for the fun of dash removal. Not excited, as I did this years ago in a b5 S4. It felt like they built the car around the heater core.

Dash out will give better access to assess the wiring in the driver door for the door locks at least.

I have found this post which has some good info, but i am searching for a little better how to. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=761186&highlight=heater+core

Tue Jun 03, 2025 7:26 am

That post is the best reference. I used it to remove my dash, rebuild my HVAC blender box, and fix a few other things.

kourt

Tue Jun 03, 2025 7:28 am

cu52 wrote:
I have found this post which has some good info, but i am searching for a little better how to. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=761186&highlight=heater+core

I hope this link to groups.io works. It's a real treasure trove. There is a folder for heater core & dash removal.

https://groups.io/g/eurovanupdate/files?p=name%2C%2C%2C20%2C1%2C20%2C0&jump=1

Tue Jun 03, 2025 8:54 am

HeyCrutch wrote: cu52 wrote:
I have found this post which has some good info, but i am searching for a little better how to. https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=761186&highlight=heater+core

I hope this link to groups.io works. It's a real treasure trove. There is a folder for heater core & dash removal.

https://groups.io/g/eurovanupdate/files?p=name%2C%2C%2C20%2C1%2C20%2C0&jump=1

Thanks. I joined and will do some searching there also!