Oh dear...

[dazlv5]

Well, I know this post is gonna make me mighty unpopular...
But before you judge, I'm not in a very good financial situation right now.
I have LOTS of problems with my car. I'll just start off with what is absolutely vital atm.
So, my car is constantly running out of battery. To start it I have to push start or use a jumpstarter. I can then drive around for hours, park my car for 2 minutes and it will be flat again. Is this sounding like a battery, or alternator problem?
Also, whilst push starting it after work last night, my ABS failed and the car was telling me to STOP. When I got about halfway home, I decided to test if the ABS really had failed. I slammed on the brakes, and unsurprisingly, the ABS wasn't working.
Does this sound expensive?
Oh, and here's the worst bit...

My car is 10,000k's overdue for a service as I had no job for about 6 months and no centrelink support. I'm new to Adelaide and not sure on what sort of service cost I'll be expecting, or where the best place is to have my car seen to. I've been talking to random Volkswagen and Audi drivers I've run into around the place, and most seem to recommend AVW or Solitaire.
So I was wondering if anyone here could kinda give me a heads up on what I'll be expecting to pay for a 120,000k service?
Thankyou, and sorry if I've made any enemies by letting my car get in this state.

p.s. Please don't think of me as some neglectful moronic kid. This car was bought from interstate without an inspection and has been a money pit since it was out of warranty. All up this car has cost over 25k, not including rego, tyres, etc.
But somehow I still love it and couldn't imagine ever selling it. I've never been so emotionally attached to a car before, and if I sold it in this state it'd be a massive loss. I want this car like new again.

[dazlv5]

Ohhh one more thing...
Is it a common problem for the fabric on the pillars to sag?
And for the boot button to stop working?
Thanks. lol

[kaneda]

With the ABS issue try pulling out the fuses on top of the battery and checking them and putting them back in.
Sometimes the fuses arc out over time in the holder giving you an faulty abs pump issue .
The battery sounds like it is dead .........if you have a multimeter you can do a few simple checks to confirm this and to check that the alternator is charging correctly so the replacement battery doesn't have a premature life.

[Manaz]

Well, I know this post is gonna make me mighty unpopular...
But before you judge, I'm not in a very good financial situation right now.

Totally understand, have been unemployed for a few weeks myself, and it's already not a good place to be.

I have LOTS of problems with my car. I'll just start off with what is absolutely vital atm.
So, my car is constantly running out of battery. To start it I have to push start or use a jumpstarter. I can then drive around for hours, park my car for 2 minutes and it will be flat again. Is this sounding like a battery, or alternator problem?

Once the car is running, you don't use the battery much at all, the alternator provides all the current required to run things whilst the engine is running. Based on the fact that the car operates fine when the engine's running, I'd say your battery is most likely cactus, and is refusing to take a charge. Easiest way to tell is to put a multimeter across the terminals when the engine isn't running - it should produce 12v, but I'm willing to bet it's producing only 10v or even 8v (meaning it's dropped a cell or two). You'll need a new battery regardless of whether the alternator's also stuffed, so that would be a good start.

Also, whilst push starting it after work last night, my ABS failed and the car was telling me to STOP. When I got about halfway home, I decided to test if the ABS really had failed. I slammed on the brakes, and unsurprisingly, the ABS wasn't working.
Does this sound expensive?

My guess is that the ABS disabled itself due to there being no battery power available to it as the car started. Get the battery replaced.

Oh, and here's the worst bit...
My car is 10,000k's overdue for a service as I had no job for about 6 months and no centrelink support. I'm new to Adelaide and not sure on what sort of service cost I'll be expecting, or where the best place is to have my car seen to. I've been talking to random Volkswagen and Audi drivers I've run into around the place, and most seem to recommend AVW or Solitaire.
So I was wondering if anyone here could kinda give me a heads up on what I'll be expecting to pay for a 120,000k service?

The easiest way to get an estimate for this is to call a VW dealership service department and ask them. That will give you a worst-case situation. I can't remember if 100,000km or 120,000km is a major service on the Mk4, the service department will know.

Then you can work on finding an independent workshop - talking to fellow SA dubbers will help here, as you'll quickly learn which places have a good reputation and which do not.

Thankyou, and sorry if I've made any enemies by letting my car get in this state.

p.s. Please don't think of me as some neglectful moronic kid. This car was bought from interstate without an inspection and has been a money pit since it was out of warranty. All up this car has cost over 25k, not including rego, tyres, etc.
But somehow I still love it and couldn't imagine ever selling it. I've never been so emotionally attached to a car before, and if I sold it in this state it'd be a massive loss. I want this car like new again.

No enemies here. Given how much you've pumped into the car so far, selling it would just leave you at a terrible loss, so for the sake of what could only be a few hundred dollars, I'd be persisting.

One thing you didn't mention is exactly what vehicle it is?

[Manaz]

Ohhh one more thing...
Is it a common problem for the fabric on the pillars to sag?
And for the boot button to stop working?
Thanks. lol

Lining can start to sag on older cars, yes. It's an unfortunate byproduct of temperature variations over the years weakening the adhesive qualities of the glue they use to hold the lining in place.

Boot button stopping working could well be battery related too.

[RolfGolf]

I'm new to Adelaide and not sure on what sort of service cost I'll be expecting, or where the best place is to have my car seen to. I've been talking to random Volkswagen and Audi drivers I've run into around the place, and most seem to recommend AVW or Solitaire.

Another place to consider would be German Auto at 1 Kegworth Road, Melrose Park. Andrew there is very knowledgable and has always impressed me with his attitude and quality of service.

[dazlv5]

Thankyou everyone, I'll try it all
Oh, I have a 2000 Bora V5
Green with beige leather.
And the boot button has never worked, it makes the mechanical noise, but i have to open it with the key.

[Speed]

Sorry to hear about your probs with the Bora but as has been said, might not be too expensive.

I like Manaz am also out of work atm.

Also like the others have said, start with the battery.

Not sure about V5's re service intervals (minor/major) but would think timing belt would be the most costly think if required.
The felt trim can be retuck using good double sided tape.

Good luck and let us know how you go once you get a new battery.

[ben]

Im pretty sure that 120,000km is a major service, and will likely involve the timing belt if it hasnt been done already.
Hope it goes smoothly for you though and things start looking up.

[thekraut]

Another place to consider would be German Auto at 1 Kegworth Road, Melrose Park. Andrew there is very knowledgable and has always impressed me with his attitude and quality of service.

+ 1 to this. Take mine there too. Always good service and high ethical standards.