VW Sharan
EA827 naturally aspirated engine with 85 kW. Simple and robust base petrol unit. Throttle body, ignition cables, and idle control valve are the common wear items.
NA Engine, No Go
ADY 2.0 8V with 116 hp naturally aspirated in the heavy Sharan I is no fun. Sluggish, noisy, inefficient.
Engine Weaknesses 5
The crankshaft sensor on the ADY 2.0 8V is a notoriously weak point and is hard to access. The sensor sits under the front engine mount. Corrosion on the mounting bolt makes removal risky. A failed sensor causes immediate engine cut-out.
Symptoms: Engine won't start or cuts out while driving, no ignition spark. Often only detectable in fault memory from intermittent failures. Engine runs in limp mode.
Ignition coil and distributor rotor arm are known wear items. Recurring failures occur because the distributor rotor is not replaced at the same time.
Symptoms: Engine misfires, ignition failure, difficult cold start, engine stalls
The 2.0 8V ADY in the Golf 3 GTI tends to a blown head gasket at high mileage. Oil leaks at the junction of cylinder block and head are typical. Coolant loss can occur simultaneously.
Symptoms: Oil leak on right side of engine between head and block, coolant loss, white smoke on cold start possible
Hesitation at 10–40% throttle and increased fuel consumption are often attributable to worn sensors. Intake manifold gaskets can also admit false air.
Symptoms: Hesitation during moderate acceleration, increased fuel consumption, rough idle
Vacuum-controlled EGR valve with potentiometer. Fault code 17852 (EGR pot not plausible) is well known. Replacing the EGR valve is usually sufficient.
Symptoms: Engine warning light, fault code 17852, slight hesitation, possible limp mode
Vehicle Weaknesses 7
The Sharan 7M rusts at sills, wheel arches, and door lower edges through dirt accumulation behind trim. Rust is almost always to be expected on vehicles with over 150,000 km and 10+ years.
The manual and electric sliding doors of the Sharan 7M wear at rollers, rails, and locks. Doors no longer close cleanly or are difficult to move.
Defective actuator motors in door locks and corroded wiring harnesses in door grommets lead to partial or complete central locking malfunction.
The Sharan 7M's AC compressor fails at higher mileages. Common causes are a defective drive plate, control valve, or condenser damaged by stone chips. Compressor replacement €700–1,000.
Control arm bushings and ball joints wear prematurely on the heavy Sharan 7M. Rear axle control arms on older examples are prone to corrosion.
The Sharan 7M weighs over 2 tonnes when fully loaded. Brake discs and pads therefore wear significantly faster than on smaller vehicles.
The Sharan 7M's headlight lenses yellow and become opaque, significantly reducing light output. A common failure at MOT inspections.