joined the club!!!

[v4jpp]

Hi guys, I'm now the proud owner of '96 manual 300tdi es. done 145k with FSH fires up cold and running fine returning high 20's gr8, however....just a few problems. Any info or advice would be greatly appreciated
* oil leaking from transfer box (been told i can remove plug on the side and top up?)
* handbrake temperamental.
* abs sensor goes on and off, mostly on now!
* when towing caravan recently, temp. gauge went thru the roof,(usually sits half way up) water out of top cap,waited for it to cool and topped up, drove the 100 mies home with the heating on full in baking hot day!!! fine when not towing.?
* air con not working, been re-gassed to no avail.

[Liszt]

• oil leaking from transfer box (been told i can remove plug on the side and top up?)

Leaks are not uncommon. There is a school of thought that if it isn't leaking then it is time to fill up as it is empty.

• handbrake temperamental.

Handbrake works on the rear propshaft as it comes out of the transferbox. It is essentially a drum brake. May need the cable adjusting or shoes replacing.

• abs sensor goes on and off, mostly on now!

Most common casue is a faulty wheel sensor. These are push fit sensors in each wheel hub. A diagnostics reader should tell you what is up with it. If it is a sensor, it is not a difficult fix.

• when towing caravan recently, temp. gauge went thru the roof,(usually sits half way up) water out of top cap,waited for it to cool and topped up, drove the 100 mies home with the heating on full in baking hot day!!! fine when not towing.?

Radiator may need flushing and/or a good clean Any crap on the fins will affect cooling ability. Normally a problem if covered in mud. The fan is a viscous unit it will come on when you start the engine from cold but go off. It should then kick in as necessary. Viscous unit may not be working probably.

• air con not working, been re-gassed to no avail.

If it has been regassed and is pressure tight, which should have been tested at the regass, then it may be the compressor which is a belt driven unit on the top left hand side of the engine when looking from the front. May be the clutch not working properly, try to see if you get a voltage change on the clutch solenoid when you flick the switch in the cabin.

HTH