Jay23Sx

It would be handy if it was, but there aren't any hoses at the back of the block (except the hoses to the heater matrix and it's not those).

Afternoon All, Just been told by the local garage (who were doing a wheel bearing change) that my coolant leak is coming from the back of the engine block and probably because of a failed head gasket. This kind of explains a lot (including occasional, but very occasional, power issues) and so I think they're probably right. I don't suppose there is any other possibility, or anyone in the Sussex area that could lend a hand in fixing it? Many thanks ! James.

I ended up taking my car back to the garage which did my wheel bearings as the passenger side wheel still had some play in it - turned out it was the hub nut *but* they overcame the problem by tightening the nut as much as possible, rather than to the right spec. Let's just say a few hundred miles later the bolt/shaft sheared off causing me to loose the wheel bearing, wheel bearing housing and driveshaft.

The biggest increases are on TPF&T policies, so if you aren't comprehensive already then this is one instance when getting better cover could actually make your premiums cheaper.

It'd probably be a lot of work, unless you took the rolling parts from a car with a dedicated chasis so you can just lift off the old body shell. Bit like they did when they built Geoff on Topgear.

I did think about changing mine for a slimline fan and matching inline thermoswitch, possibly an adjustable one so I can vary the temp depending on the time of year. Thought it was a blt much though :)

Just to add to this, it could be your fan is only working on stage 2 and not your switch (which is testable). I only say this because I've just replaced my thermoswitch and the fan still only runs on stage 2. New fan next ..

Call your local VW dealer and give them the reg. They'll have it on the computer from when it left the factory.

You could always go for the old fashioned approach - shove a screwdriver through the filter and use that as leverage. Alternatively can you get the end caps that fit over the filters for the VR ? Halfords sell them for the valvers. I use one and in conjunction with a mini T-Bar it comes off nice and smooth.

Self Test system? I did wonder how my 20 year old valver got these readings .. download/file.php?id=77805&mode=view

Sure about that? :) A couple of months ago I had an AVS wheel bearing (can't remember brand) collapse on me with no warning what so ever, and that was without months of howling. Took the wheel bearing housing and driveshaft with it.

No you don't. :) They do charge more if you don't have an account though ...

Hi All, I'd just like to say a big thanks to Tom (TomD) and Shaun (shaung60) for helping keep the interest in my C alive. Had some big problems with a collapsed wheel bearing which also turned out to have caused/been caused by a a sheared bolt on the drive shaft. Because of a busy schedule and problems finding a cheap way to get the car to a garage it was sat outside the house for 3 months with me slowly loosing the love for it. I finally found a great mechanic who, for only a few quid more, would do the work outside my house and thanks to Shaun and Tom's willingness to drop the parts off I'm finally back on the road. Took my first trip in it today to the MOT test station and I'm pleased to say it passed with only £35 of work needed - a simple handbrake adjustment. I was even more surprised to find that I passed the emissions test by miles (0.84% CO out of a possible 3.5 and 79ppm HC out of a max of 1200) considering it had sat on my drive for 3 months. And guess what? I loved every second of the drive home! In fact so much so I'm going to work at the Bluebell Railway tomorrow just so I can take the car on a 45 minute drive.

If you don't mind non-VAG parts about £35-£40 for motor and blades. From VAG it's £180 inc VAT - or at least it was when I got a quote two months ago.

I ended up with new injectors and distriubtor (both genuine VAG parts) before it turned out to be some £30 valve in the vacuum system.