Thanks for the advice - spark plugs are from factory as far as I know. Car has 22,900 miles on the clock and has had 3 services, I'm guessing the plugs would be due to replaced at the enxt service (if I listen to VW under time/distance servicing)
Unless you specifically ask for the plugs to be changed on the 4th service, I doubt they'd replace them.
Don't have a socket (in my set) to check them - is applying copper grease to the thread on the plug good enough when I do replace them?
Copper grease is OK - at push! Trouble with most copper greases is they are fairly shyte - either the copper particles are too large and then become mildly abrasive, or the bonding grease is poor quality and goes 'sticky'. There is only one make of copper grease I'd personally recommend - the orginal Copaslip, made by Molyslip.
[pdf]http://www.cromwell.co.uk/static/publication/778/pages/1268.pdf[/pdf]
I much prefer something called Never-Seez Pure Nickel Special -
http://www.cromwell.co.uk/BST7050702G - which has super tiny nickel particles, and a completely non-sticky bonding grease base.
I just had a check under my bonnet after getting home - I could hear an electrical buzz coming from the alternator area. The car hadn't been switched off all that long but when I tried to trace it it sounded as though it was coming from the alternator (or that area). It sounded like a power adapter I guess, not a 50hz hum but an electrical hum or sorts. Is this normal? I'm going to go out now and check it's still l doing it. Nope noise has now stopped.
You've just heard the after-run electric coolant pump (which reverse flows the coolant through the turbo). It is located low down at the front of the engine, below the oil filter, with two 3/4 inch coolant pipes. It generally runs for anywhere between 90 seconds and 3ish minutes. It should just be a very gentle whirring - if it sounds grindy or is vibrating the coolant pipes - then it is foobared. Mine went at about 28-30k miles - replaced under warranty.
Is this my dump valve on the front of the engine on my ED30? I'm positive my car isn't as fast as it should be and would like to check the diaphragm - I can't hear the turbo at all having come from a MKIV 1.8T I could always hear a whistle from the turbo (although it was mapped).
Yes, next to the corner of the silver bit of your engine cover. Generally, most peeps don't hear the turbo on the Mk5. The only time I've heard mine is with the engine cover removed. The Ed30 engine should pull like a train all the way to 6,500 rpm - if it doesn't, and seems to run out of puff - then the DV is a likely candidate for being foobared. Fairly cheap, and very easy on an Eddy to replace - and the latest OEM valves have been re-designed to a piston type, compared to the earlier diaphragm type.
Sorry loads of questions - I should be writing you a cheque!
Ssssshhhhh - don't say that - Mrs Tamer will hold you to that!