James.

I feel like that is where I’m at now. I must have blown hours looking for a fuel pump, with zero success.There’s a literally an abundance of 3 bar pumps. Sadly that isn’t the case for 4 bar ones. Anybody ran a 3 bar pump in a VR ?

Since the last time I updated there's not been a lot going on. But this weekend I decided to correct that. The garage I left it at had nothing but issues with the brakes. The replacement ABS controller stopped the screaming, but the light is still on. I'm checking the sensors for continuity (even though their new) this afternoon. Had the brake master diagnosed as faulty, so sent it off to be refurbished by Past parts. Great service and communication. It cost £130 and the turn around was about 3 weeks. The brakes are firm but the clutch was hitting the floor. At that point I think they got too busy and too bored of seeing the car everyday. So I got the car back in September and parked it on the drive (other work going on in the garage). That could now be considered a mistake. As that's where it sat, getting dusty, dirty, mouldy and covered in spiders webs. Pretty deflated and not knowing what to do next, I covered it up and ignored it. Months later, whilst half asleep and in the pitch black of night I backed the other car out of the garage and swiped the drivers door and front wing (Second time I've done it as well). At that point I decided to make an effort to find space for it back in the garage. That was about a month ago. Since then I've decided to throw some weekends and enthusiasm at it again. Knowing the engine now will turn over, I connected a battery. First thing to notice was the secondary water pump was screaming away. Water pipes aren't connected, so is this normal ? (doesn't sound it) unplugged it for the time being. Checking the blowers revealed (that after testing) relay 18 was faulty. I switched it out with a spare, but I think I'l change this as the other is of dubious origins (Looks number 18 is hard to come by so will look at an alternative. VW relay 100 maybe ?). The fuse for the blowers pops as soon as I turn them on. I disconnected the blower motor from the loom and now the fuse doesn't blow. Hopefully I can remove the motor and get it spinning without resistance. Sunroof sticks, which is disappointing as I had it working perfectly ( albeit 12 years ago ! ). Looks like the retracting cover is fouling on the frame. I took all this out years ago and adjusted it perfectly and re-attached the black liner. It looks like it's separated, got a bit baggy and seems to gather in the corner. It's a real awkward job, but thankfully something I've had a lot of practise doing. Brake lights were constantly on. An easy (if a little awkward) fix. Adjusted the servo/pedal connection for the switch to engage at the right point. Went through the other fuses/relays to check their condition. Found the fuel pump relay (167) clicks but couldn't hear the pump priming. Granted there's no fuel at the moment, but would expect to hear some noise. Decided to bench test the unit and try to diagnose the issue. Taking it out and running 12v through it revealed the motor is goosed. I've read the other thread about fuel pumps (this is an early Pierburg 4 bar unit with a Q prefix) and have almost hit the wall with them. To buy, their either 3 bar units (P prefix) mis-advertised as 4 bar (complete), or you can only get the motor and not a float. I'm going to head back into the garage this afternoon and see if I can separate out just the motor. Oh and clean all the rust from the bottom of the tank that it's left behind. When I got the car back, I was surprised to see that the clutch pedal hit the floor. While I was folded up in the footwell fixing the brake light switch I had a look at the master cylinder and found that it had started to leak. I couldn't find a replacement of the quality I wanted, so emailing Past parts this morning, they've just replied asking me to send it off for a rebuild. Apologies for the lack of images, but at the moment it feels like an exercise in collecting problems and their ensuing receipts, rather than driving !

Madness isn’t it. The roof resembled one of those gobstoppers with all the layers melted away. Thanks for the heads up on the slick top conversion. I like to use the sunroof as much as possible (rain or shine). But installed a glass Passat version about five years ago, after the OE one packed up.

Cheers. It’s a great running car (and my favourite factory colour), so would upset me too much for it to be split.

I thought it best to not leave it another six years for a thread update. So here’s some words and pictures of where I’m up to with the 8v. For the last couple of years, the car had become a real steamy beast. Having decided to investigate how bad the rot was, the next step was to remove all the carpets, trim etc. I’d noticed that the drivers footwell was becoming ever more damp as time progressed, and it was at this point I found that the passenger footwell was feeling left out and decided to do the same. Once the carpets, seats and trim were out, it became all too easy to see all the rusty problems that needed repairing: - Rain getting in under the windscreen on the passenger side. - Hole in the rear passenger footwell. - Two big holes on the drivers footwell and one in the rear. - Drivers door hinge had dropped to the point that rain was creeping in below the A post. - Hole in rear passenger side suspension turret. - Hole in drivers side wheel arch. - Entire rear drivers section, up to the fuel tank (behind the bumper). - Most of the passenger side as well. - Front bumper supports (both sides). After I gave it a good going over with various picks to check for more, the next job was to have the windscreen removed. Guess what we found. Yep. More rust. - Windscreen frame rotted out on both sides. Which meant: - Drivers and passenger front sills rotted out. - Bottom of both front wings falling apart. - Rear sills rotted out (both sides , because they all do that eventually !) So seeing as it wasn’t that bad (Ha !) , I thought I’d better carry on. I’ve got basic welding skills, but this was far too much for me to take on. So after getting some advice, the car went over to a nice chap who runs an auto welding workshop (and has a link with Wigan classic car club). That was funny, driving it there in the rain with no screen. That took about two weeks, and once back with me I spent time picking up parts and stripping the paint (some of it was ten layers thick in places). Even had to break out the angle grinder with a 40 grit disc to make an impact on the bonnet. After a bad experience experimenting with two pack paint, I sent it off to someone who knows what they’re doing. And that’s where it is now, with the same lads who painted the Campaign twelve years ago. They’re crazy busy, but it should be back before Christmas. Drop of sherry for santa ? Here’s hoping.

Thanks, Honestly, I think if lockdown hadn’t happened, then it would have been re-purposed by now. It’s been a great workhorse, great to drive, super reliable and thankfully recent price rises have made painting it a job I’m not likely to lose my shirt over. That said, eyeing up some lovely speedlines and a lowering kit may make me lose a sleeve or two. I’ll update the thread when I have some more pictures. Thanks for the advice on the tyres all.

Thanks Ben. You may like to hear that they'll be for the 8v (which is currently being restored/repainted). Do you rate them as a year round tyre (apologies if it's your first set) ?

To get this: I used this (but as a half litre tin): https://www.frost.co.uk/eastwood-aluma-blast-paint-340g/ They seem to have changed the recipe since I sprayed mine (maybe because it isn't exactly silver), but I like it all the same. I find it helps break up all the other metallics in the engine bay.

Thanks all. Keyo, I’ll send you a message in a moment.

Sure I remember someone on here having one ? Looking to be educated, or at least pointed in the right direction. Many thanks, James

The way it is at the moment, someone will buy that. And the following day be on the social media all “anyone fix me up with a supercharger ?” Too many people about for the last year, willing/naive/stupid/bored enough to lob their holiday fund/savings into a money pit. But hey, that’s how the classic market has existed for years.

Oh I forgot to say. If it's done a few miles, take the TB off and give it a good clean. Again it'll run like a bag of bones for a week or so (or until the ECU re-calibrates its self) but it helped the throttle response on my 8V no end. Much smoother when going on and off the loud pedal. Start a members thread and bung some pictures up as well. We like pictures.

Check the ventilation and air hoses. The ones on the top of the engine can go soft and collapse. I've had the spring clip pop off the TB and caused rough running as well. May as well start with the cheap options first !

Sure. Fire me some pictures and part number and we’ll take it from there. Thanks.

Is it a VR6 (6 branch) module ? Thanks, he’s kindly emailed it over. I’ve no issue with shelling out for parts, but hells teeth that’s supercar numbers. I thought your wife wanted the garden back ?

Thanks, but really looking for a known working one. It looks like the trouble starts when they’re left off the car for any length of time, and they start to fur up inside. I haven’t. It’s been apart before and as the casings damaged I didn’t want to mess about installing it, only to want to change it further down the line. For something that important, I really would like a refurbed unit. I’ve not forgot about your bits though. I’ll call round soon, if that’s okay ?

Having a real issue with the ABS on the Campaign (6 months worth). Would love a recon unit (or even a known working one) so reached out to a couple of companies (with zero success). BBA never returned my request. Then saw this: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/3424940 What’s this article in the sprinter then ? Worth the entrance fee ? If I wasn’t so busy with work, I may have had more time to look into it.

This.Our VR is suffering the same fate. Got bored with a reliable 8v. So took that apart as well. Is it wrong to want another ? Is it running ?

Superb work on reactivating the Wiki. Can’t help but think that this would be best as a subscriber only section ? Creates a reason for paid subscriptions/redirects from social media etc ???

That and the lack of a handbrake sleeve!

I’ve seen this before (can’t remember where). But the chrome GB badges are a give away. 200k Storm. Interested to see where it goes.

Thanks Hasan. Sorry, crossed wires. It’s the bolt head that stops short of screwing all the way into the upper chain cover. Not the plunger end. I didn’t realise that there’s two types of chain tensioner bolt. And judging by it, neither do Heritage. I have their chain “kit” with the later one (although it’s advertised as fitting all Corrados). Whereas my engine is early. I’ve got an original part on the way, so we’ll see if that makes a difference when it turns up.

That’s a good idea as the weight of the door can make removing a bolt/inserting a washer awkward. I tried the washer and it did help lift the door. Sadly I couldn’t test whether it helped stop the leak, as I’d had the windscreen removed the same week. I don’t plan on installing the carpets till I’m certain though.

Yes. Lower tensioner replaced as well. Along with guides and chains.