Fun day at the garage today!

[TomB]

Those that read my signature will notice the "to do" list is getting shorter! 

I think I finally have something close to 200bhp, after 6 months of engine trouble.  Today we got it stripped down and found that one of the vaccuum lines to the solenoid valve had a hole in it, as did the DV diaphragm.  We change the line, solenoid valve and dump valve and it was better, but it still wasn't right.  We gave it a 60k service and found that the spark plugs for cylinders 1 & 4 were swimming in water, so we blasted the water out, dried the coils and changed the plugs to some NGK Platinums and its definately getting better!  The only thing now is that its a bit flat around 4k, I can't remember if thats how its meant to be as it was such a long time ago!   

Another bit of good news, Wynn's Radiator Stop Leak works wonders!  The damn thing started leaking a couple of months ago and I was really skint so I just bunged some of this in as a temporary measure.  We checked the rad today and its still watertight so I'll leave that job for another time!

We also gave it an MOT, and I was expecting it to fail because I still had my LHD fog light fitted, but it actually failed on an insecure CV boot that VW replaced about 6 weeks ago.  The mechanic forgot to crimp the large clip so its sprayed its grease everywhere again.  I knew something wasn't right a few weeks ago when grease was running down my wheel, but I took it back and they said it was OK, so I'm going to put in a complaint tomorrow morning and demand they fit a joint this time as I'm not prepared to pay them for one in 6 months when it starts knocking.  I actually complained about the poor service I received last time when they ignored my specific instructions not to wash it because of the AutoPerfection detail, and they didn't care.  This time I'll make them pay!  Back to the MOT, I've also got a nice list of advisories, but unfortunately its still at work...I'll publish it tomorrow.  One of those was poor front brakes, but that'll be solved on Saturday when my freshly painted R32 calipers are fitted! 

By the end of the week, the car's going to make me owe Barclaycard over £500, and I still haven't had the cambelt changed, and the v-belt tensioner is shaking away so I'm gonna have to change that soon as well.  Red VW's are moneypits!

[Strat]

oh god!

Sounds like an absolute stinker of a car! Hopefully it'll get sorted soon! shame you haven't been able to spend the dollar on mods instead of bringing up to normal!

[TomB]

Yeah tell me about it!

Ive got a set of coilovers, 18s with tyres and half a Votex kit sat in my dining room but the spraying and fitting money always ends up going on other things.  I swear its cursed, I'm considering calling it Christine!

Its definately getting better though, it wouldnt stop wheelspinning on the way home! 

[Edition30]

Its definately getting better though, it wouldnt stop wheelspinning on the way home! 

Thats more like it, get the tyres worn before you fir the 18's 

[MancBen]

I feel your pain fella.

only had mine 4 months... so far; full service, pads and disks, air flow meter, clutch release bearing (& full clutch kit)... MOT plus tyres later this month.

Could have gone to Stage 2+ for the price of all this.

I suppose the good news is, if you're keeping it long term, you'll know everything is sorted (Well that's how I console myself and my credit card at least)

Cheers
Ben 

[NEWEY]

i have had my fare share of problems with my red GTI too. two flat tyres in 12 months and someone go up the back of it 7 months after picking it up. Then a following 6 months with paint match problems!!! im hoping thats the end of it all now and am treating her to some new wheels tomorrow :)

[Greeners]

Glad to hear things are on the up Tom! 

[TomB]

Its definately getting better though, it wouldnt stop wheelspinning on the way home!  

Thats more like it, get the tyres worn before you fir the 18's  

Believe it or not, its never done wheelspin before, and I bought it in snow week this year!  My 18s are pretty special so they'll only come out a few times a year but I plan on getting a set of Monza IIs or Pescaras ready for Spring  

I feel your pain fella.

only had mine 4 months... so far; full service, pads and disks, air flow meter, clutch release bearing (& full clutch kit)... MOT plus tyres later this month.

Could have gone to Stage 2+ for the price of all this.

I suppose the good news is, if you're keeping it long term, you'll know everything is sorted (Well that's how I console myself and my credit card at least)

Cheers
Ben  

Sounds like our cars were built on the same day!  Sorry to hear of your sh*t luck dude, hope yours improves too.  I was only planning on keeping it 2 years and then getting a Scirocco, but if I'm spending all this money on it I may as well keep it for a few years.  Before this I've had to buy another head unit and iPod adaptor, various bits of trim, a door seal, air con pressure sensor and finally a regas (and a compressors still needed).  Mine's 50 months old, they shouldn't fall apart like this!

i have had my fare share of problems with my red GTI too. two flat tyres in 12 months and someone go up the back of it 7 months after picking it up. Then a following 6 months with paint match problems!!! im hoping thats the end of it all now and am treating her to some new wheels tomorrow :)

Sorry to hear of your issues too Newey, paint match issues are really annoying and I personally can't understand how it happens when there are colour charts in every bodyshop.  I've had to get some paint done on mine after someone in my street decided to scrape the bumper instead of parking properly and luckily the guy matched it perfectly.

Glad to hear things are on the up Tom!  

Cheers dude!  

I can't wait to get the R32 front brakes installed tomorrow, the 312s are truly shocking!  It'll be nice to have some confidence in my brakes again as I felt the girlfriend's Ka could stop better!  I'm not convinced they'll be as good as the AP's on my old Ibiza but I'm sure they'll keep me safe enough.

[vwrascal]

Ruddy hell, you having some bad luck there tom, I remember at the superchips RR day- your car wasn't running full power, hope all is well soon bud!      My TR gti is cursed too, although I have'nt had any running probs (touch wood) I had a chav in a clio reverse into front near side of her causing £1100 damage, still waiting for settlement to this day!!!

The dreaded curse of Tornado Red Mk5's   

[Gene Hunt]

Tom how many miles has it done ?.When you get the cam belt done might be worth getting the small cam chain & tensioner looked at as well.
I got my 05 plate back in may AXX engine code & i was never happy with the sound of it when warm(cam belt,tensioner,water pump & rollers etc were changed as part of the deal) it had a sort of diesel rattle.After a few heated words managed to get it replaced under a warranty i took out with the car.The garage that changed it said the chain & tensioner was so slack they could pull the chain off the drive  wheels hence the rattle.

[TomB]

vwrascal, sorry to hear about your chav issues, I hope the insurance pull their finger out!  My mum smashed up her Ibiza on the October 22nd causing £5k of damage to it, and she gets it back on Monday.  You need to keep chasing them, make yourself known to all the customer service team so they all work to get it sorted/get you off the phone!  

Gene Hunt, mine's done 57k and yes it too sounds like a diesel, the mechanic told me he was concerned about the rattle so you've just saved me a lot of hard work in diagnosing it.  You're a lifesaver there!  Worn cam chains is normally caused by poor/lack of maintenance...I work for Nissan and the older petrol engines are prone to it when the service intervals aren't correct.  That concerns me, as the service history is perfect.  I will check my VW waste of time warranty to see if they actually cover it.

The R32 brakes are getting done as we speak, once they're on I'm going up to Sheffield this weekend.  If anyone sees me on the M1 or around Sheffield, give me a wave! 

[bennylenny88]

you know i prefer cars that have problems with them.. gives you something to do 

like mine haha
first day and it needed a new rad.. body work was horrible, starter motor was sticking, basically needed a good clean out
but once its all fixed im sure you`ll be more then chuffed 

[TomB]

you know i prefer cars that have problems with them

Wanna buy it?

Ugh, Mintex cross references are rubbish, so I was supplied some smaller pads.  Being 3pm on a Saturday I didn't have much choice but to jog 2 miles to the motor factors before they closed and pay £55 for Delphis...genuines were £33+VAT from TPS last week!

[bennylenny88]

in all honesty i would do. but no money and im 21 so insurance would be a killer 

[Gene Hunt]

Tom mine has done 60k & has a full service history.The rattle from these chains points towards early 05 plate's with the AXX engine code ?.Get the chain & tensioner changed & they sound much better.