The price of everyday items is on the rise, and so is the cost of running your car. But while we can’t reduce the cost of a jar of Vegemite or a pack of Tim Tams, we can help you slash the cost of keeping your Volkswagen Golf Mk7 on the road.
We’ll keep you a step ahead by telling you what problems you might find. And we’ll be able to give you a good idea of what’s causing that funny noise, as well as helping you to repair it as cheaply as possible. No need for the expense of a garage when you have Haynes by your side. On top of that, we can also show you how to service, maintain and repair your VW Golf Mk7 yourself.
The VW Golf Mk7 (2013-2016) has weaknesses that include water getting into the cabin through the door speakers, creaking from the front suspension, and noisy air-conditioning. All annoying, but all fixable with the help of Haynes.
What recalls has the VW Golf Mk7 been subject to in Australia?
The 2013-2016 Golf has had a few recalls in its time. One affected the DSG seven-speed auto transmission, which is susceptible to conductive deposits forming in the gearbox control units, possibly causing the gearbox fuse to blow. Should this happen, the clutch will fully open due to power supply failure, causing the vehicle to roll to a stop if in motion.
Another recall covered 1223 models where the fuel pump could fail, with the car stalling.
Then more than 2300 cars were recalled to dealers because of child safety locks that could disengage without warning.
VW Golf Mk7 common problems
Some Volkswagen Golf Mk7s have suffered from a faulty cabin blower, while the engine warning light has been keen to illuminate on occasion, such as when a turbo wastegate actuator malfunctions.
The front suspension has also been the source of some problems, and some cars have suffered a noise from under the bonnet when the air-conditioning system has been running.
However, the good news is that these issues are all comparatively easy to repair when you have the Haynes Golf Mk7 manual.
Is water getting into your VW Golf Mk7?
On occasion, water has managed to leak into the cabin of the 2013-2016 VW Golf Mk7.
The cause is a cracked door speaker mounting bracket, which allows water to accumulate in the passenger-side footwell. First, you need to remove and replace the affected speaker, then dry out the carpet in the footwell.
Replacing the door speaker is very easy indeed, and is fully covered in the Haynes Golf Mk7 manual or Autofix.
Service the cooling system in your VW Golf Mk7 with our free video below.
Does the Volkswagen Golf Mk7 have cabin blower problems?
The cabin fan in the Volkswagen Golf Mk7 has been known to fail. If it does, plug in an OBD reader – the fault will generate code B10BE. This means that the issue lies in faulty blower control unit software.
The solution is to renew the blower unit, which is a task that you will be able to accomplish just by following the steps in the Haynes Golf Mk7 manual or Autofix.
Slow Golf Mk7? Could be a turbo problem
If your Golf Mk7 is running a bit rough, is sluggish and has an erratic idle, there’s a good chance that a faulty turbo actuator valve could be the problem. To find out, plug in an OBD reader. The possible fault codes are P2263, P2562, pP2564, P334A, P334B, 11825, P0033 and P0034.
Then check the operation of the turbo actuator rod. If this is the source of the fault, then you can replace the actuator rod fairly easily with recourse to your Haynes Golf Mk7 manual or Autofix.
Why is the VW Golf front suspension squeaking?
Few things are more annoying than a squeak and, unfortunately, the VW Golf Mk7 can suffer squeaks from its front suspension. Not cool when you’re driving along with the window down.
The source of the issue is poorly lubricated bushes in the front control arms, and the repair involves removing the control arms and applying grease, which is a task that is covered in some depth in your Haynes Golf Mk7 manual or Autofix.
Volkswagen Golf Mk7 air-conditioning noise
When it’s warm, there are few finer things than air-conditioning. Indeed, it’s best to run your air-con all the time, to keep it all lubricated and free from bacteria. However, the VW Golf Mk7 can suffer an annoying noise from under the bonnet when you switch on the air-con.
The problem lies with a faulty air-conditioning compressor solenoid valve. The solution is to top up the refrigerant and to replace the air-conditioning compressor, which is a procedure you’ll find in your Haynes Golf Mk7 manual.
Why can’t I get reverse gear in my VW Golf Mk7?
A number of owners have reported an issue where they’re unable to engage reverse gear. The most likely (and cheapest) issue is that the gear selector mechanism has gone out of adjustment. If that’s the case, you can adjust the gearshift mechanism by following the tips in your Haynes Golf manual.
If the problem is more serious, Volkswagen has produced a repair kit for the mechanism (part number: 02T 398 261). So, just follow the same Haynes Golf manual procedure to remove the gear selector and mechanism from the car, fit the repair kit, and put everything back. You’ll be back on the move, and you’ll have saved hundreds in potential labour charges.