bigbroony

Do any of you fine fellows know of anywhere in the North East that can straighten a bent alloy wheel?It's actually for my wife's Golf GTi.We would like to keep the car standard as it has been since 1990 and getting hold of anew one I feel would be prohibitively expensive.I've spotted acouple of sets and even a single one on Ebay but I try to avoid dealing with them.The wheel in question, in case anyone has one lying about is a 15" 6j cross spoke BBS as fitted to Golfs of that era.

Excellent news. That makes a change.

I asked at my local VW breakers if they had aheadlmp ( £100 new from ECP ) and he said no but you can buy the lens separate from the dealers for about £25. Is this correct?

Thanks. That'll probably do it.I assumed that the white bit was some kind of plastic/nylon sleeve to smooth the action.Iwasn't aware it unscrewed.Boy; you learn something everyday( usually on here )

I've found that my passenger door handle won't open the door.I've had the handle out of the door and the usual bit is not snapped off.However it doesn't seem to act on the door opening cam in the lock.Given the fragile nature of the lock parts, I don't fancy poking about haphazardly.Is there a correct method of checking these working parts or is it tril and error.I've been able to get it to work by applying pressure onthe handle towards the back of the car while pulling it open.

I got a second hand mirror from the local VW dismantlers.He said they were unique to Corrados, but he would wouldn't he when he was trying to squeeze an inordinate amount of cash out of me.

Thanks for that. I guessed as much when windscreen man thought a Passat of similar age looked the same to him.I quizzed him about the Golf and he said he couldn't be sure.Is that unusual or what? Someone who knows all about Corrado screens but not Golf.

I'm about to pick up my car(tomorrow morning actually ) after having had a new screen fitted.The previous mirror had been bodged and stuck on, but of course the new screen has the correct boss on it.Will any other mirror fit as we have a specialist VW dismantlers nearby.ECP don't seem to stock them and I don't want ot pay the stealer's prices.Thanks.

I used to have a Triumph Stag, many moons ago and, as far as windscreens were concerned they were figured to be the Corrado of their day.Something to do with fitting the chrome trim into the seal before attatching it to the new screen, I think.Anyway grown men used to faint when asked to do the job.

I can do better than that, I can threaen him with the wife!!

With regard to servicing, Pitstop on Forth Bank down at the quayside.There seems to be nothing Ken doesn't know about VW's

First, can anyone reccomend a good windscreen replacement service.It's going to be an insurance job( I got a load of Autoglass bumpf with my insurance documents ) but from what I gather there are people who know what they're doing and there are other people who don't.I'm in South Shields, so either Newcastle or Sunderland would be good for me.On atotally unrelated topic, my gear change is becoming notchy and obstructive.Is this an adjustment thing or what and if so is it something a fool like me could handle?Thanks.

Ihad this problem a few months ago.The car had actually died on me.While I was waiting for the airflow meter that the computer diagnostic said it needed I would often try to start the car.It would usually start and run fine for about a minute then die.When I eventually got it sorted out ,it turned out to be the rotor arm.There was nothing visibly wrong with it but on warming up it would track out,hence misfire and engine cut-out.It's got to be worth a couple of quid to rule it out.

If it was going about 48mph that'll have been me alright!

Idon't know what they are, but they're standard fit and thy certainly look like yours.

It's Moonlight Blue Pearl( nearly black in new money) and looks bog standard; even down to those Vauxhall Astra style wheels.However what makes it stand out is that it's been lwered before I got it, by how much I don't know.What I do know is that when I'm washing it I can only just get my feet under the front spoiler.I'm led to believe that it's had the full Eibach/koni treatment.Aquick look under the car reveals that the anti-rool bars are as thick as my arm.Speed bumps can be a problem but it's so good to drive that even at my age I can put up with it.Aquick drive along South Shields coast road gets me some funny looks from the Corsa/ Clio crowd;"A wrinkly in a car that low .I can't believe it"

Several weeks ago my car ( 2.0l 16v ) died in traffic. I was able to limp home but it wouldn't tick over.I got amobile tuner guy out and he told me that although his screen said the air mass meter was u/s he couldn't see how as the meter is mechanical.Unless it was something to do with the plug-in gizmos on the front of the meter.Anyway, as it had been diagnosed as faulty before Ibit the bullet and ordered one fom ECP.In the intervening THREE WEEKS it took to come I occasionally tried to start the car.Sometimes it would;sometimes not.The new meter arrived and was duely fitted.No bl...y difference.I had the cardragged down to a recommended tuner in Ryhope( near Sunderland ) called HAWKTUNE.He's not specifically VW but he's been in business for thirty years or so and knows an awful lot about fuel injection et al.The following day the car was ready to pick up with it's new......ROTOR ARM!! He said that was what caused the car to die as it was tracking out when warm.When he'd fitted the new one he couldn't understand why the mixture was a mile out till I told him you didn't get a new fuel distributer head for your money when you bought the meter.He said it seemed to him that the mixture had been adjusted in the past to cope with the old meterand needed resetting.He also said the meters could often be repaired ( not something I particularly wanted to hear ).I don't know if he was bulling me or not but the car now goes like stink and the fuel consumption has drastically improved.I try to console myself with this as I gaze at my credit card receipts.I may never know the full story, but, as they say everything turned out right in the end.

Well, Steve and Gavin there's no obvoious sucking sound.Also when the car died initially the plugs were jet black on removal.The following day it wouldn't start and the plugs were wet.Now it'll either start( eventually) but only run at high revs or not start and the plugs are bone dry on inspection.Anyway I've booked it in to be taken away and looked at by a local firm of whom I've heard nothing but good things.He certainly instilled confidence over the phone.I may have another look, given I'm pretty cack-handed and mayhave dislodged something when fitting the airflow meter.

From what I understand its KE- jetronic( Motronic ? ) where they've taken a completely decent, reliable , mechanical fuel injection system and totally botched it up with electronic "enhancement".So now everything is made more complicated and because of the more rare system, expensive!!. By the way we've talked before; I have THE poor mans' Cobra ;;TR7 V8 rules.Sadly I can't get it out of the garage as there is a broken down "poor mans' Porsche" stuck on the drive!

My car( 2.0l 16v ) cut out and died the other week.It would occasionally start but only run at high revs.A diagnostic check indicated a duff airflow meter so I ordered one(ouch) and it came today.After fitting there's no difference.Sometimes it will fire up straight away and others it wont start at all, but it will only run at high revs.I've established that fuel is getting to the metering head, but on the times when it won't start if I remove the plugs they're bone dry.On checking an injector it confirms no fuel getting to the combustion chamber.Any ideas gentlemen, please??

Yes, thats about the third thing I looked at.I'd accidentally disturbed it before when I put a K& N filter in.However I couldn't be so lucky.The thing I'm praying for now is, having payed a squillion pounds for one, and in the process of waiting for it , that the damn thing works when I fit it.

I got a panel filter for my 2.0L 16v from my local Eurocarparts.It's the same as a Porsche 944 and cost about 35 pounds

My car ( 2.0L 16V )died on me in traffic.It eventually started after much cursing but it died on part-throttle.If I got it revving and kept the revs up it was ok but as soon as they dropped it would die again.I pulled the plugs and they were as sooty as a sooty thing.The next morning it wouldn't even attempt to start.Inspection showed there to be a spark at the plugs and the plugs were wet with petrol but no firing.Igot a mobile tuner guy round and as soon as he lifted the bonnet he said he couldn't help as the injection was mechanical and not electronic( I'd told him I suspected the airflow meter. )He consulted his reference books and found that there was indeed a plug-in point.When he did so the screen showed a fault with the airflow meter.He couldn't see how, as he said the meter was mechanical anyway, and left free of charge.Do these symptoms ring any bells with anyone please?

Good afternoon,last year when I had my car( 2.0L 16v) on the computer it came up with a fault on the air mass meter.The car seemed to run ok so I carried on regardless.Yesterday it died on me in traffic.I managed to get it started eventually but it wouldn't take any throttle while driving but could be carefully caught by hand on the throttle body.This morning it won't start at all, and on removing the plugs, they are soaked in petrol.I've got a mobile computer bod coming tomorrow;can I expect the worst or might it be something much simpler( ie cheaper ). Thanks.

The rear bench is flat (well you know what I mean, sort of scooped ) and so is the backrest.