Loud noise from left headlight and aircon regasing every 5 weeks

[David A]

Hi,

I'm living in southern Spain and have a blue 55 GTI that I drove over from England. I do not trust the garages here and desperately need advice.

1) There is a loud clicking noise coming from my left front light unit. It starts when the ignition key is in (half turn) and continues when the engin is running.
    A Spanish garage told me that is it a rectifier. The noise continues whether the lights are on or off.
    Question - Any ideas as to whats wrong? and will it do any damage to keep using the car before its fixed.

2) Every 5 weeks I have to regas my aircon. The garage in Gibraltar can not find any leeks. They have put 2 sealant kits in so far, but t his hasnt helped.
    They have also put in a dye to show where the leaks are comming from, but no luck.
   Question- how should I proceed. I here that the aircon systems in the  55/56 Golfs are not very good.

3) Is it easy to regas at home.

Many thanks Dave

[coolhands]

for 2) you probably need a new compressor. Sanden is a different make from your original one:
http://www.sinspeed.co.uk/store/volkswagen-golf-mk5-air-conditioning-compressor.html

for 1) the headlight - presumably the headlight motor? Perhaps look into disconnecting it? (or maybe there is a fuse you can pull?)

[Saint Steve]

Is your headlight Xenon or Halogen?

[LouCyffer]

One of the headlight levelling motors if Xenons. There's a fuse you can pull to stop it happening, but it's only a stop gap until you can get it fixed.

If the lights are halogen, I can't think what on earth would make that noise.