Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Volkswagen GTI submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
The warning light went on engine oil pressure off. Search manual. Then it wouldn't start. But lights where on so we put a new starter. But it wouldn't turn the engine. So We thought it must be the battery needs a jump start. And then wire from battery to starter caught on fire? I Googled the problem, and found that there had been recalls for that faulty wire before.
AFTER DRIVING MY CAR FOR FIVE MINUTES, I HEARD A LOUD "POP" FROM THE CAR'S RIGHT SIDE. I LOOKED OVER AND OBSERVED THAT MY RIGHT SIDE VIEW MIRROR WAS BLACK BUT STILL INTACT. WHEN I PULLED OVER AND EXITED MY CAR, I FELT THE MIRROR WHICH FELT TO NO LONGER BE FLAT BUT WARPED IN VARIOUS SPOTS. IT IS QUITE APPARENT THE MIRROR OVERHEATED. MY MIRROR FUNCTION NOB WAS NOT IN THE "HEAT" POSITION AND WAS SET TO THE LEFT SIDE MIRROR POSITION. MY CONCERN IS THAT IT COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. *TR
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CITY STREET IN DRY CONDITIONAT A STEADY SPEED THE ESC LIGHT ON MY DASH CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OUT UNTIL I HAD PARKED THE CAR FOR SOME TIME AND RESTARTED IT. THE LIGHT THEN CAME BACK ON AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF DRIVING, THIS TIME IT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WHICH BEGAN TO FLASH ORANGE, THEN WAS SOLID ORANGE AND THEN FLASHED BETWEEN ORANGE AND RED. WHEN THE ELECTRIC STEERING LIGHT IS ORANGE THE STEERING ASSISTANCE IS REDUCED WHEN STRAIGHTENING AFTER CORNERING, HOWEVER WHEN IT IS RED THERE IS NO POWER ASSISTANCE AND THIS CONDITION CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED AND AT ANYTIME WITHOUT WARNING. NOW YESTERDAY(7/14/2019) WHEN DRIVING AT 40MPH IN A STRAIGHT LINE IN THE DRY, THE ENGINE FAIL! WORKSHOP NOW!, ESP,EPC, ELECTRO STEERING, CEL AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON ACCOMPANIED BY A CHIME AND THE SPEEDO WENT FROM 40 TO 0 AND BACK UP AGAIN WHILE IN MOTION. QUITE DISCONCERTING TO HAVE ALL THAT HAPPEN AT ONCE. AFTER ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OUT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE OK UNTIL I ATTEMPTED TO PULL OUT OF A GAS STATION AT WHICH TIME WITH THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE REVS WENT UP BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE UNTIL THE THIRD ATTEMPT. I HAVE READ ON LINE THAT THIS MAYBE A RESULT OF AN ABS MODULE FAILURE BUT MY VIN DOESN'T PULL UP ANY RECALLS AND MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. NOT ONLY DOES THIS SOUND LIKE IT WILL BE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, IT IS ALSO A HUGH SAFETY ISSUE! UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE ANY PICTURES AS IT IS COMPLETELY RANDOM AND NOT SAFE TO TRY AND TAKE PICTURED WHILE DRIVING.
ONE OF THE HID HEADLAMP STOPPED WORKING CAUSING THE BULB FAIL WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH TO BE ILLUMINATED. I WENT TO THE AUTO PARTS STORE AND BOUGHT A NEW BULB. UPON REMOVAL OF THE BULB ACCESS COVER I FOUND THAT ALL THE INSULATION ON ALLOF THE WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHT UNIT TO HAVE DISINTEGRATED CAUSING THE BARE WIRES TO TOUCH AND SHORT OUT. I THEN INSPECTED THE OTHER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE EXACT SAME CONDITION. UPON CONTACTING THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY I WOULD HAVE TO PURCHASE TWO NEW HEADLAMP UNITS AT A COST OF $500 PER UNIT. I THEN CONTACTED VWOFA ( CUSTOMER CARE REF #[XXX]) ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT AGAIN BEING OUT OF WARRANTY IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO INCUR THE REPAIR COSTS. AS THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 60K AND THIS IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY ISSUE BUT POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS AND A MANUFACTURING DEFECT PLEASE INVESTIGATE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON STREET ROADS AND HIGHWAYS THE CAR WILL SHIFT DOWN INTO A UNKNOWN GEAR AND ALL LIGHTS START FLASHING PUTTING THE CAR INTO A NEUTRAL THAT DOESN'T FIX UNTIL IT'S RESTARTED.
MY GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS (PRNDS) FLASH AND MY CAR EITHER WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO GEAR OR WILL LIMP. IT HAS DONE IT SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT WILL SLAM INTO A LOW GEAR CAUSING RPM TO MAX TO 8000 AND ACTS AS IF I SLAMMED ON THE BREAKS. ALSO THE NUMBER 3 FUSE ON TOP STARTED SMOKING AND MELTED INSIDE THE FUSE BOX. FEARED MY CAR WAS KING TO CATCH FIRE.
I RESEARCHED MY VIN WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND AN INCOMPLETE SAFETY RECALL ON THE ABS MODULE. THAT RECALL NUMBER IS 16V913. BEFORE I COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT THE ABS MODULE FAILED. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON CHARGED ME A DIAGNOSTIC FEE BECAUSE THE MODULE FAILED COMMUNICATION, IN WHICH THEY FOUND THE MODULE DID INDEED FAIL, BUT THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY OR THE RECALL. THEY SUBMITTED A SECONDARY CLAIM TO VW OF AMERICA TO TRY TO HAVE THEM APPROVE THE CLAIM WHICH WAS ALSO DENIED. I AM REACHING OUT TO HOPEFULLY GET HELP WITH GETTING MY VEHICLE FIXED AND ONCE AGAIN SAFE TO DRIVE. ATTACHED WILL BE A COPY OF THE INVOICE FROM THE DEALER AND THEIR FINDINGS.
THE 12 VOLT OUTLETS IN MY CAR AREN'T WORKING. WHEN I WENT TO CHECK THE FUSE, I DISCOVERED THAT THE DIAGRAM OF THE FUSE BOX PROVIDED BY VOLKSWAGON IN MY MANUAL DOES NOT MATCH THE ACTUAL FUSE BOX IN MY CAR. I CAN'T TELL WHICH FUSE TO REPLACE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ON-LINE, MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE COMMENTED THAT THEIR FUSE BOX DIAGRAMS IN THEIR MANUALS ARE WRONG TOO. PLEASE HELP US GET ACCURATE DIAGRAMS OF OUR FUSE BOXES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ABS INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, WHILE MAKING A TURN AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE FUEL GAUGE RANDOMLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL ANCIRA VOLKSWAGEN DEALER LOCATED IN SAN ANTONIO, TX WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE CODES DID NOT MATCH THE FAULTS LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS DENIED THE RECALL REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 81,600.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN GTI. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING INDICATORS FLICKERED ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN STEERING MECHANISM FAILED AND THE STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,120.
TIMING CHAIN FAILURE 60000 MILES; 6 MONTHS LATER ENGINE COILS FAILED.
THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THE WARNING LIGHTS FOR ABS, BRAKE AND THE ESC SYSTEMS ILLUMINATED MAKING A BEEP NOISE, THE GAS INDICATOR SAID THE CAR HAD LESS GAS THAN REALLY HAD. WHILE IN THE ROAD THE CAR LOST POWER. I THINK IT IS RELATED WITH THE ABS AND STABILITY CONTROL RECALL: NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V913000. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAY THEY DO NOT HAVE THE RECALL NUMBER YET.
VEHICLE HAS FAILED ABS MODULE, AS DIAGNOSED BY MECHANIC. ABS LIGHT IS ON AND BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES, AS TO BE EXPECTED. WHILE IN MOTION, ON EITHER CITY STREET OR FREEWAY, VEHICLE RANDOMLY DOWNSHIFTS TO FIRST GEAR AND IS UNABLE TO SWITCH BACK. ONLY WAY TO GET CAR WORKING AGAIN IS TO TURN CAR OFF AND ON, A DANGEROUS PROPOSITION WHEN YOU'RE ON THE FREEWAY. IN ADDITION, POWER STEERING GOES OUT AND ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP! COMES ON AFTER A FEW MINUTES IN MOTION. SPEEDOMETER ALSO RANDOMLY STOPS WORKING WHILE TACHOMETER GOES OUT OF CONTROL. WHAT BEGINS AS A SIMPLE BRAKE PROBLEM IS NOW AN UNDRIVEABLE CAR. HAVE HAD TO PUSH CAR TO SIDE OF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. COMPLETELY UNSAFE CONDITIONS TO DRIVE IN.
2009 75,000 MILES. ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILURE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS MY CAR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY THROW UP THE ABS AND TRACTION LIGHTS BUT THIS WOULD GO AWAY SHORTLY AFTERWARDS. I GET IN MY CAR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND START DRIVING FOR MAYBE 1/16TH OF A MILE AND EVERYTHING JUST FREAKS OUT. SPEEDOMETER IS DROPPING TO ZERO (WHILE IN MOTION DOING ABOUT 15 MPH) AND FLUCTUATES ALL OVER BETWEEN 0 AND 20 MPH. BRAKE LIGHT IS ON. TRACTION LIGHT IS ON. ABS LIGHT IS ON. STEERING LIGHT IS ON. EPC LIGHT IS ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. AND THE MFD IS SAYING "ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP". AS TIME HAS GONE ON IT NOW TENDS TO HAPPEN ATLEAST 15+ TIMES A DAY. *TR
ABS BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL FAILURE, EVERY TIME THE ABS OR STABILITY CONTROL IS ACTIVATED THE SYSTEMS IMMEDIATELY FAIL AND DASH LIGHTS ALL TURN ON WITH THREE LOUD CHIMES. OTHER TIMES THE FAILURE HAPPENS DURING NORMAL DRIVING. POWER CYCLING THE VEHICLE RESETS EVERYTHING BUT THE FAILURE WILL SOON OCCUR AGAIN. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2009 MODELS AND IN MY OPINION IS DANGEROUS -- ABS & STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ARE CRITICAL TO SAFETY DURING EMERGENCY BRAKING. SOME TIME AGO I HAD TO USE THE BRAKES TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, MY WHEELS ALL LOCKED UP AND MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID SIDEWAYS -- NOT WHAT ONE WOULD EXPECT ON A VEHICLE THAT COMES WITH ABS BRAKES. I JUST NOW LEARNED I CAN FILE A COMPLAINT. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR OVER APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS. I REGULARLY TURN THE IGNITION OFF/ON WHILE DRIVING TO POWER CYCLE AND RESET THE ABS MODULE WHEN IT ERROR FAILS - THOUGH I DON'T EXPECT IT TO WORK WHEN NEEDED. *TR
FAILED ABS MODULE WHICH MAKES SPEEDOMETER, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL NOT WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
ABS MODULE FAILURE AT 88K MILES. MULTIPLE FAULT CODES PRESENTS WITH CONSTANT BEEPING AND AN ERROR MESSAGE READING " ENGINE FAULT! WORKSHOP! IN THE HEADS UP DISPLAY (EPC, EMERGENCY BRAKE, ELECTRONIC STEERING ASSIST OFF, TRACTION CONTROL OFF FAULT CODES). THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE FAILURE THAT CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ANTILOCK BRAKING SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY, AND TRACTION CONTROL AT THE SAME TIME. THE FAILURE OF THIS MODULE REPRESENTS A SERIOUS DANGER TO OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE AS THE SAFETY FEATURES ARE DISABLED DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THIS CRUCIAL PART. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED WHILE DRIVING/TURNING.
WHEN DRIVING THE CAR, A LOT OF THE WARNING LIGHTS FLASH OUT OF NOWHERE. THE ABS LIGHT, TRACTION, POWER STEERING, EPC LIGHTS ALL FLASH. I ALSO LOSE POWER STEERING. ON TOP OF THAT, THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT WORK. THIS HAPPENS ABRUPTLY AND SOMETIMES AT HIGH SPEEDS. IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. FROM WHAT I'VE READ, IT IS THE ABS MODULE FAILING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM OF 09 GTIS AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED!
MY ABS PUMP & MODULE WERE DETERMINED TO NEED REPLACEMENT. SEARCHING ONLINE, IT SEEMS A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE 2009 MODEL ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. I WAS QUOTED AT $2200 TO FIX IT. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET TO A RESTAURANT AFTER MY WEDDING AND THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. DAYS LATER THE CAR STARTED TO REV WEIRD AND THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT WORK.
JUST LAST WEEK MY GTI STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND SOON REALIZED MOST 2009 GTIS EVENTUALLY HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR ABS CONTROL MODULES. SOLID ABS, SOLID POWER STEERING LIGHT, SOLID CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, SOLID TRACTION CONTROL, AND FLASHING "BRAKE" LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD OCCASIONALLY UPON TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, ACCOMPANIED BY 3 AUDIBLE BEEPS. THEN, THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, EPC, STEERING, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS BEGAN TO COME ON WHILE DRIVING. ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL STAY ILLUMINATED, WHILE THE EPC, STEERING, CHECK ENGINE, AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, ACCOMPANIED BY 3 AUDIBLE BEEPS. THE MESSAGE "ENGINE FAULT - WORKSHOP!" ALSO SHOWS UP ON THE MESSAGE DISPLAY CENTER IN THE DASH. STEERING FEELS A BIT STIFF. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED AN INTERNAL FAULT IN THE ABS CONTROL MODULE.
FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, SOLID ABS, SOLID TRACTION CONTROL, AND FLASHING "BRAKE" LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD OCCASIONALLY UPON TURNING ON THE VEHICLE, ACCOMPANIED BY 3 AUDIBLE BEEPS. THEN, THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, EPC, STEERING, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS BEGAN TO COME ON WHILE DRIVING. ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL STAY ILLUMINATED, WHILE THE EPC, STEERING, CHECK ENGINE, AND BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, ACCOMPANIED BY 3 AUDIBLE BEEPS. THE MESSAGE "ENGINE FAULT - WORKSHOP!" ALSO SHOWS UP ON THE MESSAGE DISPLAY CENTER IN THE DASH. IN ADDITION, WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, THE SPEEDOMETER WILL REPEATEDLY ALTERNATE BETWEEN THE ACTUAL SPEED READING AND A READING OF 0 MPH. WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER DROPS TO 0 MPH, THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASE. FINALLY, THE CAR SPUTTERS AND BUCKS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY, AND STEERING FEELS A BIT STIFF. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED AN INTERNAL FAULT IN THE ABS CONTROL MODULE.
WHEN BRAKING HARD TODAY (IT WAS RAINING AND I GOT CUT OFF BY A DISTRACTED DRIVER) MY CAR WENT INTO A (BARELY) CONTROLLED SKID. ABS, ESP. STEERING WHEEL LIGHTS ALL FLASHING WITH THREE BEEPS. THE LIGHTS WENT AWAY WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF/ON. MY WIFE IS 7 MONTHS PREGNANT, AND WAS WITH ME IN THE CAR. I'M NOT IMPRESSED WITH WHAT I'M READING ONLINE REGARDING THE SHEER VOLUME OF OTHERS EXPERIENCING COMPLETE ABS FAILURE. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET KILLED IF VW DOESN'T RECALL THE MALFUNCTIONING CONTROL MODULE. I'VE BOOKED MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE NEXT WEEK. I TRULY HOPE VW STEPS UP AND FINALLY ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS LIFE-SAVING REPAIR. PS I'M IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (VICTORIA).
ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH HAD INTERMITTENTLY APPEARED ON SEVERAL OCCASION OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND CONDITIONS. THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON UNTIL I TURNED THE CAR OFF. ONCE RESTARTED THE LIGHTS WOULD BE OFF. ON 12-AUG-15 THE SAME WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. THEY REMAINED ON AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING. THREE WARNING BEEPS WERE THEN HEARD AT SEVERAL MINUTE INTERVALS UNTIL I REACH MY DESTINATION. OTHER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON BRIEFLY THEN WENT OUT. I WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. BASED ON AN INTERNET SEARCH I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 2009 VW GTI.
ABS WARNING LIGHT STARTED COMING ON. THEN A WARNING LIGHT THAT THE RIGHT, REAR TURN SIGNAL HAD FAILED. ONE WEEK LATER THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IS COVERED IN WARNING LIGHTS, INCLUDING A "FAULTY ENGINE WORKSHOP" WARNING LIGHT. IT APPEARS THAT ABS CONTROL MODULE HAS FAILED, LEAVING ME WITH NO ABS BRAKING ON A WELL MAINTAINED, 50K MILE CAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH THE TSI MKV GTI AT THIS MILEAGE. VW OF AMERICA OFFERED ME NO ASSISTANCE. VW SHOULD RECALL THIS PART BEFORE THEY SEE ANY ACCIDENTS LEAD TO SERIOUS INJURIES.
THE ABS MODULE FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED MANY TIMES ONLINE. THE MODULE WILL FAIL CAUSING ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, POWER STEERING, AND ENGINE LIGHTS TO ALL COME ON. MUCH OF THE DASHBOARD IS LIT NOW. THE CAR READS "ENGINE FAULT WORKSHOP" AND THE SPEEDOMETER WILL DROP TO 0 MPH. THE FUEL GAUGE WILL CHANGE FROM EMPTY TO 3/4 TO 1/2 WHILE DRIVING. AUDIBLE BEEPS ARE HEARD FROM DASH.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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