Dancing Fish

HYE All, Right, basically, just before xmas i swapped my dash speakers from the originals to some Sony custom made jobbies. When i was testing the sound, i had them resting on top of the dash and facing me. With the Sony speakers the bass is less and the treble much better and the bass is provided by the 6x9s on the rear shelf. Sounded great. Much better staging. However, when you put the dash speakers back in their holes the sound gets completed distorted since it bounces of the windscreen before reaching you. Sounds pants. Currently i have no door speakers. I am wondering about getting components speakers for the doors. Ideally, i could put some mounts on the dash to reposition and redirect the dash speakers but this seems a bit of a job, so components seems the other option. Is this the best thing to do? What is the suggestion with the tweeter from the components? Just cut a circle in the door card near the top and pop it in and put the other bit in the door pod? Im still concerned that the sound will be wanky due to the muffled nature of the dash speakers. Is there another way to redirect the sound waves? DF.

It'll be the signal amplifier in the base unit. Its probably got wet, corroded, and makes your signal worse rather than better. Take the base unit off (pull down headlining carefully then undo retaining bolt and unclip wires). Then ease round inside of base unit with knife to pull plastic cone away from metal base - this takes time. Then get red of most of the foam that is inside, cut the signal wire that goes into the corroded amp - which looks like a circuitboard - solder to metal button at top inside of cone, but back together and bobs your mothers brother. note - you can just rip the circuitboard off, but this means the cone is less stable. i simply disconnected, bypassed, filled with polyfiller and put back on. its great having radio - was going through my cd collection like nobodies business. DF. If you need more info PM me.

Basically, Ive got Yokohama A539s all round on my C. I dont think I like them. They seem noisy and not overly grippy. They are 195/45 16. Anyone had any experience of them or just have factual info? Thanks DF.

Ive done pretty much everything I can to my valver. Just needs: This rusty holey bit on drivers front wing sorted. Clear Repeaters (xmas) 3 slat grill (xmas) Get in the boot and sort out the b83937d rattles. New front pads, and hence disks. The main issue is not having to sell the bugger to pay off the debts i accumulated by spending wildly on it. Here's to staying in! DF.

Of course its the fastest one in the UK. Stripes make them go faster, and that is one mofo of a stripe!

Temp solution found. Basically, i tried undoing the striker pins but they were well solid. So, i noticed one of them had a plastic covering which essentially made the pin wider, thus pushing further into the mechanism without moving the pin. I recreated this on the other side using, wait for it.........a modified plastic biro lid! Works brilliantly! Ta DF.

So how can i reduce the play in the rack? What is the play down to? Is there something i can tighten? I heard there was some screw or whatever in a Mk2 for tightening the rack - is there a similar thing in my C? I dont think my shocks are knackered - when you go in a proper dip/hole you can feel them working, just more general up and downy dips that makes me feel like im on a rollercoaster - I aint going slow btw!

Gatwick Airport, south downs, north downs, rest of the industrial estate. clouds. everywhere.

Hi peeps, I think i got some steering wheel play in my C. I can turn it about an inch or so both ways and essentially nothing happens. Conversely, there is sometimes some strange feedback from the steering/wheels as if they are not hooked up a1 - the play working in reverse presumably? Is there anything that can be done about this? BJs and all front and rear bushes are new, as are shocks and springs (and a load of other things too!). ALSO, when i am driving to work down the A23 there are a number of dips etc and when i go through them i feel like the front of the car is bouncing. I put a boge turbo gas suspension kit on it about 6 months ago. I think the shocks are okay, put i think the springs are pants, hence the bouncing - they came in the box with the shocks. I think the top mounts got done too. I dont really want to spend any more money, particularly when i dont know what the problem is and how to fix it, and i have spent a shedload on getting my alignment done twice now. Anybody got any ideas as to the cause and possible cures? When i go through the dips going round corners its bouncing and with the play it aint that fun! Advice would be appreciated. Thanks DF.

Greetings, me again! My right tailgate strut pings if you knock it, and subsequently rattles very annoyingly when driving along. What is the best solution to this? Take it off and have a play, leave it well alone, get a new one etc? If i take it off, will the tail stand just on the one strut for a while, or will it crumple and take my head off? Ta DF.

Hi Peeps, My door catch/lock type mechanisms seem a bit stiff and you have to shut the doors pretty hard for them to shut properly. I thought i might take them apart and clean the crap out of them, re-oil them and hopefully they will be better. Is this a bad idea - i.e., am i opening up a bag of worms or will this not work anyway? Help appreciated. DF.

Hola, I have just picked up the part mentioned above from VW. It cost me a whopping 13p! The part number is N 012 327 6. It is known as a lock washer. It is literally just half a washer you push into the little ravine type thing thus keeping the stick to the right. I have no idea yet if it works, but it at least set my mind at ease! It is suggested that this clip, can, if missing, make shifting into 2nd difficult, particularly from third. I was experiencing this problem, but hopefully no longer. Hope this helps, DF.

Hi Peeps, I currently have a 7 slat grille on my 16v and I always thought I wanted to upgrade to a debadged grill. However, last week, i suddenly changed my mind, and think i will instead go for the 4 slat (later) VW grill. The reason - The Corrado to me is a cool car. If someone says VW Corrado to me, i think - Cool 8) Therefore, why would i want to debadge it? Why would i want to strip its identity from it? Answer - I dont. What does everyone else think about the whole debadged grill area? DF.

I've actually just taken delivery of some 16" Superleggeras. May put them on tonight. If so, will throw on pics. I have a Green Pearlescent 16v. As a question, does anyone know if i can just put them straight on without messing up my camber and alignment, else i may wait about a month til i get my Bjs done. I currently have 15" Sebrings on. Incidentally, when i was luggin em off the lorry into my car, they were ridiculously light! Should do the ole sprung/unsprung weight doo doh the power of good. DF.

Hi All, Does anyone know the formula relationship between weight and bhp. Im trying to work out how much my BHP will go up by reducing the weight of my wheels and thus how much it might be worth spending to get really light ones. Where is scrapheap challenge when you need it! DF.

Especially being in sunny Hove! 8)

So........ Given that the metal bit that attaches to the back of the head has broken off and rattles like a batch, it is not worth spending any money at all fixing it? In fact, just pulling it off (!!) would be a good idea. Especially if i dont bin it.

Peeps, Ive just read an article that says cold air is more denser thus the colder the air you get into your engine the more power it generates. Therefore, why do i want the warm air feed into my airbox????? DF.

Hello All, If you actually want to know something about how engines work and why the upgrades you make do or dont make your car better read on........... http://www.tomstickland.co.uk/astra/mk2astra.htm I realise it will not be conclusive, but there are some interesting points, particularly the results on k&n filters. Happy reading DF.

Could be the warm air intake for the air filter from the manifold. Mine has corroded off and just hangs around rattling! Probably should sort that out really! DF

Dont got no remote locking :cry:

I have a question regarding this. I saw this mod done of someones C on here, but there appears to be no keyhole. Do you have to cut your own keyhole or what? I dont understand! Is it only available if you have a remote central locking fob?? I read the mod guidance on the sticky thread and no one mentions the fact you have no lock! DF.

Hi Peeps, The rubber seals all over my car (round the windows etc) are pretty tired. What can I use to give them some new life? How about Autoglym vinyl and rubber care? Or is this pants? Any ideas? Ta DF.

I have a 16v. I am not sure if the various versions of C or indeed each C has slightly different size screens, but I fitted the wipers this morning in 10 mins before work and they fit perfectly. There is a clearance of approximately 1 inch at the top near the roof, and there is no probs on either pillar. I got two drivers side arms and wipers (code: 6X2998406. Cost £40.80 inc VAT the pair). I dont understand the cleaning them point. I had them up when i was fitting them but my bonnet was open. Worst case scenario undo the bolt, take it completely off, clean windscreen, put back on, approx time 2 mins. I have not done big speeds yet so dont know what they are like at high speed, but im pretty sure they is enough room to amend the fitting to counter the problems suggested. And they look cool. And VW is putting them all over their new cars, so there must be a reason to do that right? DF. Additional - Sorry if this seems out of sync - i replied to page 1 not 14!!!! Either way, given the tremendously confusing plethora of codes and opinions, one more wont rock the boat too much. Additional additional - has someone drawn all over the car on the top left. I am sure it didnt look like that yesterday.

Greetings, I literally just bought two of those 6X2998406 efforts. Havent fitted em yet but looked okay. £20.40 each inc VAT. Pretty good considering it was sounding like £70 at one point. Also good to note loads of the new cars at the VW garage had this style of wiper so they should stock em for many years to come. DF