Big Sky Euro

The new beetle is treating me well and for the past few weeks we have had what you folks call winter, is behaving quite nicely. Being from Alaska, not having any money to mount snow tires, and not really needing snow tires, my car likes to float from time to time. Mostly this is not a problem for me except there is a strange 'grinding' noise at low speeds when the wheels are slipping. This only happens for a little bit untill the tires are running at an even speed, and at low rotation (1-9mph). I can take a sharp turn left and right but there is no noise indicating the U-joints... and the grinding can happen when accellerating straight or turning. Any Ideas? could it be the Limited Slip?

Thanks for the help.

Kody
2000 VW Newbeetle

Sounds like EBD to me. Electronic Brake Differential is part of the ASR system, although I don't believe that EBD is defeated when ASR is turned off.
Anyhoo, what EBD does is apply one or the other front brake if one wheel spins, sort of acting like a limited slip differential.

That sort of makes sence since the sound does resemble what the ABS sounds like.. I will pay more attention to the ABS noise next time i choose to slide

Are you sure it's not your ABS activating? Do you have ESP (electronic stabilization program) on that car as well as ASR (anti slip regulation)?

ASR will cut engine power to eliminate the wheel slip. ESP will active the ABS on the wheel that is slipping, and that definitely sounds like a grinding noise, but it's actually the ABS pulsing the brake caliper. Maybe you are hearing the ESP in combination with the ASR.

If it were the LSD or a wheel bearing or anything in the rotating assembly you would hear it all the time.

edit: oh I see Joe's reply

Thanks guys, that helps put my mind to ease.. now if i can get the energy to bother to replace that vaccuum line....

sounds normal.