[Vwdiesel] things that drive me crazy about VWs

[Chris Geiser]

I fully realize that this is not the TDI list... but you guys being smarter,
better looking, and generally VW-wise may have suggestions or at the very
least, enjoy sharing in the frustration...

I have lots of familiarity with IDI diesel Rabbits, Vanagons, and Jettas,
and have stuck to those b/c of my distrust of computers and their ability to
think for me when it comes to controlling my vehicles.  However my wife does
not share the same enthusiasm for troubleshooting problems in old high
mileage cars on the side of the road in -20 weather in the snow, so roughly
2 years ago, we bought her a new TDI Jetta - 2009 model year  (my
justification for such a purchase).

So about now (44K miles), a few minor things start popping up (bulbs and
such).  Today, the heater / AC blower motor stopped working.  I did invest
in a Bentley a month or two ago (it's now hard cover?).  So I pull that out
to check where the fuse for the blower motor fuse is located.  20-30 pages
later, I've figured out what kind of heater system it has (Climatic) and
where the interior fuses are (drivers side of the dashboard - on the side
where I can actually see them!!  VW learns, albeit
slowly!!).   Bentley's clearly states that the fuse for the blower motor is
in the "SC22" slot, is a 40 amp fuse, and even shows a picture of it.  Of
course as you can probably guess, there is no fuse in that slot on my wife's
car...

I don't know that I've ever run into a VW fuse box diagram that is actually
accurate as to where the fuses are physically in the box for any of my
vehicles.  Not as big a deal in the older ones - just follow the wire, and
you can figure it out.  I'm not too excited about following wires in this
one.

Given the mass production process, one would think that it would be harder
to keep scrambling the order of the fuses within each car than to keep them
consistent?  I really think it's some kind of VW assembly line insider joke
- "Hey, guess which slot we put the blower motor fuse in today!!!"

Anyway - I only wanted to stay out there in darkness being bombarded by
mosquitoes for a short time, so I didn't delve any further; I'll carry on
tomorrow... just had to share the joy!!

Chris