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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!yale!inmet!schooler
From: schooler@inmet.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: VW Rabbit 30,000 mile light
Message-ID: <57500014@inmet.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 9-Oct-85 21:40:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: inmet.57500014
Posted: Wed Oct  9 21:40:00 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 12-Oct-85 06:26:05 EDT
References: <57500013@inmet.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:inmet:57500013:inmet:57500014:000:3242
Nf-From: inmet!schooler    Oct  9 21:40:00 1985


   Thanks for all the response concerning the Rabbit 30,000 mile
OXS light!

		-- Richard Schooler
		Intermetrics, Inc.
		{ihnp4,ima}!inmet!schooler

P.S.  The definitive responses seems to be:

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From ihnp4!ihuxl!dcn Wed Oct  9 05:18:39 1985

There is a similar ocurrance with the oxygen sensor in some other cars.
The company is forced to replace it before it might go bad so that they
will continue to meet emissions standards.  This is probably the case
for the Rabbit as well.

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From ihnp4!nwuxc!pokorny Wed Oct  9 05:19:08 1985

I think you may have misunderstood the shop person slightly.

At 30K, all VWs with three way catalysts and mixture control computers
('81 and later) must have the OXYGEN (or LAMBDA) sensor changed.
Since they wholesale for around $80. , $120 from a dealer is not
"unreasonable".
Reseting the light only takes a bent coat hanger applied to a switch
under the upper left part of the instrument panel (the $15 job w/inspection).
Although VW demands replacement of the sensor, they are probably good for a lot
longer but the 30K change is probably "safe" for VW to insure pollution specs.
NOTE: if you are not in a pollution checking area (yearly inspections), just
have the odo timer reset; HOWEVER, a bad O-sensor can (AND WILL) cause trouble
because it tells the computer what the fuel mixture is so that the computer
can "calibrate" the system for proper operation.

I would recommend the purchase of the Bentley '80-84 Gas Rabbit Service Manual
(~$27 at the dealer) for further reference and questions.

I don't have access to the net directly; that's why I sent this direct.
Post it if you wish.

		    _
		   |_|		 BE A SPORT
		   | |
		  / M \		DRINK MALORT
		 /  A  \
		|   L   |
		|   O  /|	JOE POKORNY
		|   R / |
		|   T/  |  (ihnp4!)nwuxc!pokorny
		---------

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From ihnp4!masscomp!xeroc!peter Wed Oct  9 05:19:45 1985

	The OXS light in my 84 gas rabbit just came on.  The owner's
manual indicates that the light comes on around every 30,000 miles.
The service department at the dealer where I purchased the car told
me it was about $120 dollars to replace the Oxygen Sensor which in
turn shuts off the light.  I called 4 other VW service departments
in the Boston area and got roughly the same price quote.  The quote
includes 1 hour of labor to install the inconviently located part.
One service department told me that when the sensor fails
the car will run extremely rough.  I was concerned that the car would
just die.  Unfortunately, the sensor is only part of the 30,000 mile
checkup.  The checkup includes a tuneup as well.  The total service
bill for the car at 30,000 miles is around $230 according to the
dealer where I bought the car.  One service manager told me that some
of the older rabbits had EGR indicators which were simply reset 
during the service call and did not always need to be replaced.
The OXS in the newer rabbits needs to be replaced every time the 
light comes on.  I suspect the car would not pass the emission
tests with a bad sensor.

	Peter Kapinos @ Masscomp (617)692-6200 x2260