Skimask

Italy is really scary for driving, I think Rome has the highest pedestrian fatalities anywhere and its hardly surprising, I think they are used as target practice. In general all cars look the tatty because they are covered in bumps and scrapes, until you see how they park, and that kinda explains it. As described before, the pizza and coffee are amazing, and the pizza is sold by weight, not size. It's well worth the risk of being run over to get to the roadside cafe. Fortunately, we knew some people there, and over at their apartment being treated to excellent food. To cap it all I saw a Corrado at the roadside, but it had bodykit plastered all over it.

That's spot on Billcor - just looks like the Citroen...he..he the pic of the citroen is a courtesy car a colleague of mine was issued with - he got some ribbing over it! It was a pleasant surprise and going to make the most of it.....turn of the traction control and see what it can do!!!

Hi Folks, OK - after this happened last week: climatronic wiring-Golf from May 01.pdfAccDamage.jpg[/attachment:25c0b] Because its a no fault accident - i.e. my car was parked and a transit van driver misjudged his parking abilities, my insurance company are falling over themselves to give me a courtesy car. I was expecting this as a replacement: HireCar.jpg[/attachment:25c0b] But instead this arrived today: 2.8l 24v Climatronic system.pdfMX5.jpg[/attachment:25c0b] Now, I've been out having a good run about in it....and yes I feel like a total hairdresser...but it's actually quite good. Very twitchy steering, me being used to a 14 year old system. It doesn't go very quickly, but it is enough. The thing is, sods law - I had a spare Corrado just in case the main one was off the road. I just sold it to my mate a couple of weeks ago, who's been asking me for a couple of years to sell it to him! I may ask if I could buy it back!

Yes I know, but there isn't one there - and its at TDC according to the flywheel - if it is the mark between 0 and T.

Hi Folks, Just to confirm the timing marks on a VR6. The flywheel marks are: 0 | T - I gather its the vertical pipe mark that's TDC? Also - I couldn't find a timing mark on the crankshaft pulley (serpentine belt end) - there is an alignment mark on the block, but not on the pulley, is this correct? Cheers

Pretty sure my one has foam padding where it goes through the chassis - could be to stop it chaffing against metal.

A guy I know is a Volvo mechanic - he had a 4Wd one in for a new diff - it was trashed because the owner had used a new tyre and a part worn one on the same axle. The difference in diameter was enough to trash the diff.

Probably residual pressure in the fuel system, the pump may be switched off, but the ignition circuit is still on.

Cheers guys, that is good news Blue_Joe, I really want it repaired! 3corsameal, yes he did admit to it, luckily someone in the unit opposite saw him, so I have a witness if required. I think it also helps that it was his works transit rather than a personal car insurance claim, he would be more inclined to be difficult if he was going to lose some no-claims bonus. I feel better now that it won't be written off - but again we are dealing with insurance companies, and i won't hold my breath on this one!

Hi, I was parked up in an industrial estate today, came out to see this.... AccDamage.jpg[/attachment:a4b41] The headlight is pushed in and upwards, the front wing is pushed in as well as the bonnet. Luckily someone saw the accident and pointed me in the direction of his office. I've tracked him down and have his insurance details. I know it doesn't take much to write a Corrado off, just need to gauge other peoples accidents and if they managed to get the car repaired!

2 words: Chav lottery

Hi Folks, A quick question - I've fitted another Lambda sensor, the battery was disconnected for a few hours. The ECU memory will be reset, and I'm getting an error 537 control limit surpassed. Does this happen because the ECU is reset, and needs to learn the new settings? Or is it time for a new lambda sensor?

From Autodata CD: Stage 1 30Nm Stage 2 90 Degrees. Done that last week - 30 Nm isn't much - but boy the 90 degrees is mental! That is really tight on new bolts - thought the bolt was going to snap. I even doubted the torque wrench and tested the 30Nm setting on a wheel nut - but it was OK!

Put a piston back last week with a standard ring compressor, but it went in OK - you just have to be careful. I might add that it was the old piston and rings - so it would go in easier. If they are new rings, it might be a problem!! As Dic suggests try grinding the bottom of the ring compressor. Probably be easier grinding if it's clamped around an old piston to keep everything tight.

Water is the worst liquid you could put in your system. It's like trying to put a fire out by throwing a gallon of petrol on to the flames.

I don't think the VW garage have thought this one through. the first Engine is goosed - find out what caused the problem, that should be their first port of call. The only porosity they've encountered is in the fitters heads! You'd think after the second one went they would start looking at (a) the ancillaries (common denominator here) or (b) their methods. It's probably something simple like the thermostat is stuck shut - making the engine overheat like crazy. On a new engine with everything tight, it's disastrous!

Gunmetal? They look darker than the pic suggests!

Ted, It's highly unlikely to be your ABS pump that's at fault. The usual problems - and that's in 90% of ABS faults it's the sensors on the wheels, water ingress into the ABS ECU, the relays, or occasionally the pedal sensor. Also clean up the contacts on the ABS multiplugs - there are 2 of them, with one on the end of the pump well hidden. You've found and fixed the brake pedal sensor so that should be OK. Give the wheel sensors a resistance check, its about 1.12K Ohms I think. Any sensor above that reading is suspect. They are easily accessible, check them with a multimeter. The 01276 error does not always mean the pump is screwed, a new pump is over a grand from VW, do the cheapest repairs first. I had the same error, bought a couple of ABS ECU's and swapped them out to no avail. Only when I replaced the relays did the ECU show an error on a rear sensor - replaced that and another error appeared for the front sensor. The ABS ECU doesn't always report the errors!

I wouldn't put silicone based lube anywhere near the intake system. I think silicon destroys the Lambda sensor.

Valverado - You'll probably have to look at the car it's possible, to find out if they are the same. VW would look at the VIN plate to ascertain which part is correct. You may have to do the same. The part numbers below are for front wings, left and right - taken from the online ETKA. Probably the earlier valvers and possibly G60's are up to 396* and changed at 397* onwards. The 035000 VIN numbers onwards probably refer to VR6 models. 1 535821021B wing / F >> 50-M-011 396* / see workshop manual left >>50-L-035000 / (1) 535821021D wing / F 50-M-011 397>>* left / (1) 535821022B wing / F >> 50-M-011 396* / see workshop manual right >>50-L-035000 / (1) 535821022D wing / F 50-M-011 397>>* right / 2 311821143

A-j, I just registered with SVAG a couple of weeks ago. They took 5 days to activate the account, the admin's are probably busy. I didn't receive any confirmation the account was active, I just tried to logon one night and it went through!

I don't think the B3 Passat Moonroof is any better. I bought one from a scrappy and the cable/alloy guide was broken, just like the Corrado ones!

I had to rig up a timer for my ABS light - a wee timer kit from Maplins and an LED bulb. set it so the ABS light came on for 5 secs and went off again every time the ignition was powered. At the time there was no ABS light and no obvious wiring for it. I did eventually track the ABS light wiring from the fusebox - (thanks to a member on here) and bought an ABS light from another member.

I bought the PI coilovers and it is a big mistake. I seem to remember Khurrado asking the same question recently. They are far too stiff and springy - it really limits the speed of the car, I can't go over 100 - they are that bad. The rear end of the car hops about - and it just shakes the hell out of you! Don't waste your money on them you will regret it!

One massive problem is - you go to fix one problem and find about 4 others that need done. Out of the 4 others at least one will be - the stealer supplies the wrong part. One will cause a painful knuckle scrape and get some crapola in your eye. Corrado's should carry a health and wealth warning.