Via

Absolute bull! That tensioner is not hydraulic and certainly not self adjusting... If it was there would be no need for notches and marks. Hydraulic tensioners are much more obvious, they for starters have a visable hydraulic piston (funnily enough) which holds the tensioner in place, normally more common on serpentine belts where you just lever against the tensioner and slip belt on / off. They are used in cam belts but that is not one. Have included a screen shot, point 26 shows 5mm limit. Also judging by that picture I'd guess that roller is old, wouldn't expect it to be looking like that already and back of belt (thats visible at least) has no sign of damage.

Remove complete unit then main central ring (one T8 screw in middle at bottom and two clips at top) and put to one side. Remove side cover over indicator stalk (3 clips one hidden a bit under plastic, Found easiest to unclip that one first with small screwdriver) don't seem to be totally removable as don't fit over intermittent switch at top just move out of the way. Remove circuit board from wiper stalk first (3 T8 screws) lift up and unplug. You'll then see two slider contacts lift these off they just sit on top remembering orientation. Remove top cover over stalk (2 T8 screws) and lift off. Take note of the cable routing for replacing, there is a slot in plastic it goes through, to remove stalk push stalk slightly towards center and lift up (as if using washers) and should lift straight out. Refit is reversal when putting stalk in ensure the metal bar is sitting in-between main stalk and the plastic tab at bottom. The inside end of stalk is sprung loaded so place that lined up and push stalk in towards center then down on the tab in casing it sits on. Triple check wiring routing and then reassemble. One final thing when reattaching air bag check wiring is pushed down into routing in steering wheel... Mine wasn't and it shifted next to bolt hole for airbag, managed to slice through it and lost all steering controls *DOH* so had to solder that back together yesterday. Happy to say mine still working and would have definitely played up by now.

Guideline is to repeat installation if it goes over 5mm, simple answer is if it is to be done properly then yes would need to come off again and everything aligned and slackened before tensioner reset. I wouldn't trust anything less on these, an older car you could probably get away with just leaning in an readjusting tensioner but more modern cars all the pulleys are spring loaded and have to be set in order otherwise throws timing out.

The arrow should be in line with the notch and no more than 5mm past notch once tightened down. Hard to tell from photo but looks more than 5mm to me.

Super easy... http://www.audienthusiasts.com/ProjectSteeringSwap.html Had to take mine off again this morning as putting the donor one back together in case I ever need more bits from it I was left with a cruise control cover which I forgot to put back on mine after checking if I could swap that off... Including swapping out the stalk I'd say about 45min to an hours work first time. If you're swapping the stalk the only tool extra you need is a T8 bit for small screws on the stalks, this was a bit of a pain as all my mechanic sets only went down to T10 but luckily had one in a mini set I got for phones. If you do want to try that let me know and I'll give you a full write up on that part.

Received replacement I ordered today. first indication is that it seems to be resolved (but being an intermittent fault I cant say 100% but tried a few times from ignition off and worked first time every time, I've not had it work first time in a long while normally have to fiddle with wipers first to get it working if I can) Now first off cruise control is definitely not able to move across, the 3 screws in the block above are just a little cover, everything is molded into plastic and non CC stalks just do not have the necessary molding to put stalk in. That said wiper is swapable albeit a bit fiddly, basically there is a small L shaped circuit board on the back with 2 contact sliders which are for the main functions (up and down, pull in) which mine looked a bit worn compared to replacement one. I may have got away with swapping just that (2 torx screws and a plug would have taken 2 seconds to swap) but have seen a link between the top intermittent adjustment on stalk and the fault so wanted to replace the actual stalk as well, this was a bit more fiddly but is easily doable. So bottom line is it seems to have gone away now for the cost of £25 for a cheap set of stalks on ebay and a bit of time swapping things over. If I wanted to do it without swapping a set of stalks with CC were selling for (~£200) Fingers crossed now it stays working... Will update here in a week or so with long term prognosis.

The stalks are sold as one complete unit (e.g. wipers, indicators & cruise control) that said they do look modular albeit a few torx screws holding them together but not seen the individual stalks (even CC) for sale only the complete units so don't know how mix and match friendly they are...

Yeah does sound the same, and likewise wash / intermittent does seem to be linked, they either both work or don't. I am taking gamble with the stalks first, managed to get cheap set on ebay (without CC) which I am hoping I can either transplant CC from mine into or just take the wiper section out and put into mine. Will keep you updated with how I get on with that.

Funnily enough just joined to ask similar question, are your symptoms same as mine? If so afraid I don't have any answers but interesting if it is as cant find anyone else with similar issues on google

I have a problem with my washers / intermittent wipers which comes and goes, typically as MOT is due in a few weeks it has suddenly got worse...I am 99.9% sure it is due to the stalk, especially the intermittent switch as can get them working again if I fiddle with this at times.Basically when it decides to play up I lose my washers totally and intermittent changes to single wipe position (confirmed with vagcom and in real world situations) when in intermittent they are just classified as off still, if I push stalk down and hold it then it shows as intermittent and instead of continuously wiping it does single wipe and then as it is in intermittent (e.g. if not raining just does not wipe again).Unfortunately do not have codes to hand but from memory I get two, one a intermittent wiper fault and other is incorrect coding (linked to wipers).I can at times get them working again by pushing stalk down and then pulling towards for washers, if the washers then work everything sorts itself out and stalk goes back to being normal.I am guessing no other option but to replace stalks... Is there any difference in stalks? Noticed a few on ebay with last 2 letters different on part number (really dont fancy ripping steering wheel off just to get part number to then have to do it again when I get new ones).I have cruise control, from the pictures of the stalks without it there seems to be a section for this to be added, is this the case? (e.g. if I bought a set without the cruise/control stalk could I just transplant mine?)And finally... with the wheel coming off is there any precautions I need to take with airbag (apart from the obvious) so I don't get an airbag light on? (I have vagcom if this can reset it if needed).