tony_ack

Might look into one of these myself. Belt and braces and all that.

I have GOT to resist spending money on the Audi! It's pretty poverty spec (for an Audi), with no climatronic, no driver info in the dash, windy rear windows (as in wind-up; they do not produce wind) and a basic sound system. I keep finding myself drifting onto eBay, then having to stop myself again! The head unit is the original and it is shot - it suffers from a common problem where when you try the volume turn it up or down it goes to max volume, and the LCD is damaged. It's a basic cassette and there's no aux input. I was looking at a direct replacement (£30+ second hand) and a special adaptor to plug in the aux (another £30), but WHY?? I still have a spare headunit sitting in my shed which I got with the Corrado - I can use that instead!! I'd like the driver info panel for the MPG readout amongst other things, and it looks cool, but it's another £80 for the clocks, and £35 for Vag-tacho to get them working... a lot of money for looking cool And then Climatronic....ummm.... no. Cosmetically, it could do with a front bumper - or at the very least a lower grille on the off-side as it's had a bit of a prang there in its past. I may just find a cheap grille and live with the bumper, unless I can find one uber cheap in the same colour. One of the mirrors is red and one is black - again this I may just live with! It is also missing a rear mudflap and a small piece of trim. Other than that, it is cosmetically in very good condition, which is surprising given the price! One thing I did need to spend money on was fixing the boost leak, and a fuel leak - rang VW and it was £25 for a 5cm length of boost pipe, and the fuel piping to the injectors was about £15 per metre!!!! I am still considering where to begin on the Corrado. I think the first job is a good wash and new wax, including all the muck up the arches and rear quarters. I need a sunny day for that so I can leave it outside to dry all day. Also, I want to get the wheels off, and give them a clean on the inside. I want to change the front discs and pads this winter - the ones I used for the 288 upgrade were part-worn, and the discs had pitted a little. I thought they would clean up, but after a month they hadn't improved much. I think the discs will be the last job before getting the car on the road again, as I don't want the new discs rusting away while being stood. Underseal scares me a little. I guess I need to get under the car and see where it's damaged, and poke around to make sure there are no rust holes. I'll save that for a day I'm feeling brave. I know there's a hole on the seam line on the back panel (under the bumper and in the boot), so I'm planning to get the rear bumper off to assess the damage there. There's also the aircon to fit. Now the car is stored I can get the front end off and decide which condenser I can (make) fit.

The 20 year mark will be 2012. Prices are still depressed at the moment, but there are still quite a lot of roadworthy MK2s out there. Tidy ones low mileage ones are starting to go for okay-ish money. I'm certainly not worried about Corrado prices now I have one, but on the other hand I'm glad I got one when I did, as they may have been too expensive in a few years time.

To be honest, the Audi is okay... for £700 with 11 months MOT I'm pretty happy with it! The ride is nice even on the bumpy roads, though I need to remember to slow down a bit in the corners. It was rough when I picked it up, but I spent a full day yesterday tidying it up, including a clay/polish/wax and it's now quite presentable. The biggest problem with it is that it's just so big compared what I'm used to, which makes car parks a bit more daunting. It needs a cambelt sooner rather than later, and there's a split in the boost pipe which I think is causing a loss of power and excessive smoke. Other than that it is mechanically sound. The garage for the Corrado is dry which is the main thing, and pretty clean (the oil patches are from the Audi's service!). I want to give the Corrado a good clean as it still has the last 2 weeks of road dirt on it. Although there a few jobs that need doing to it, I'm loathed to start on them at the moment, because as it stands, the Corrado is still fully drvieable. ---------- Post added at 11:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:15 PM ---------- Speaking of car parks, after the detailing session yesterday, I headed to Halfords for an air freshener and audio cable... it was pretty late so the car park was nearly empty, so I parked in a space with nothing around me. When I came back out a Land Rover Discovery had parked next to me on my passenger side, with very little room between that and the Audi. It is annoying to think that someone with the whole car park to choose from decided to park really close to me. So I got back in my car and started messing around with the air freshener/audio lead. While I was fitting them, the Land Rover owner came back and tried to get in his car. He had left himself almost no space to open his door, so opened it slowly, tried to squeeze in, and when he realised he couldn't he SLAMMED the door against my car and got in. I yelled at him but my windows were closed. I banged on my passenger window but he was already in his car now and didn't hear me. Still oblivious to my presence, he started tucking into a packet of crisps so I got out of the car to get his attention but he was already driving off. I don't think he ever even knew I was in the car. I checked my passenger door and he had chipped the paint. So glad I wasn't in the Corrado, but it's idiots like these who really annoy me.

Well, it's all tucked away now for the winter. It was a sad day. I'm now in my new daily - a diesel Audi A4. It's a bit of a comedown from the Corrado. A whole 90 bhp (when it is running right which this one isn't!). It is big as well. Big and heavy. But it's also economical and it means I can reduce the mileage on the Corrado.

It's okay having all these plans, but just think of all the funds you're diverting away from the Plum! Is the ignition switch really that hard? I did the one in the VR earlier this year and it took about 30 minutes including. I found it easier to destroy the old one rather than trying to remove it one piece. A spare head rebuild would be good just for your own experience more than anything else, but talk about fuel rails and injectors is overkill unless you're having specific problems in these areas. I know that the 16v (k-jet) injectors tend to suffer from spray pattern issues when they get really old, but the PB ones tend to be better. Also, the PB injectors already flow pretty well anyway, and if you want to up the power, you are going to hit a breathing brick wall long before you need bigger injectors. If you do have sleepless nights over the injectors, then clean them before splashing the cash! By the way, I've heard that there is a way to change the lifters without removing the head, though I've never done it myself. I wouldn't worry too much about the bottom end until it starts knocking The rev counter is built into the main circuit board for the cluster, which includes the MFA. Your easiest option is to get a new set of clocks and swap the speedo.

Damn I don't have my B-reg MK2 any more, so I can't check which is the right one! Not too sure why I said #100 - cross-over relays are usually 17 or 18 Think it is in the bottom row of relays, second slot from the left (probably the first relay you come to as the first slot is for front fogs) The relay is responsible for cutting power to most ign. live systems while you crank the starter

In between all of the talk of Tartan fantasies... The electrical problem certainly sounds weird! It could be a dodgy load reduction relay (No 100)? Does the battery light come on with the ignition before you start the car? The Golf alternator won't charge if the dash battery light isn't working.

Well after the non-starting drama last week, the car has behaved impeccably. Since I decided to take it off the road for the winter I have fallen in love with the car again - every minute of driving (even stuck in traffic) has been a pleasure. I came home this evening over the Snake Pass, and the car was simply amazing - when the VR6 turbo guys end up on these sorts of roads they must be s*****g themselves as it was mental with just a Schrick'ed VR6. The insurance runs out on Saturday so I'm enjoying the last few days!

Yep, it was down a week or two ago, but is back up again now. Try clearing your browser cache

£7k for a MK2 GTI??

Never realised the Corrado and MK2 shared the rear beam? Makes sense I guess as they are pretty similar rear setups! If you get a bit of spare time, apply the handbrake, take your back wheels off, then release the handbrake, and you should be able to move the spring-loaded handbrake mech on the caliper by hand. If you can't, get plenty of brake cleaner, followed by WD40/Plusgas on it to try to free it, then clean it off and apply some white grease. I guess you don't need telling to protect your discs and pads while you spray lubricant down there (!). Some mechs are simply past it, but with a bit or perseverance you should make an improvement. This may at least sort you out until you can look at the brakes properly. If the cables are so tight that they're stopping the mechs from moving, then the cable is getting stuck in the guides (good luck) If the cables are loose and the guides are free, but the disc still isn't moving, then the caliper piston is seizing (though if it was a stuck piston it would usually free itself off while you are driving). It shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes or so to diagnose and clean once the wheels are off. The reason Dox asked about the earths to the rocker cover is that they are notorious for causing all manner of electrical issues with the Digi, from dodgy clocks to blown ECUs. You could do worse than take them all off, and give the earth mounting a wire brush. Also check that your earth strap on the bonnet is present - these are missing more often than not. The final major earth point is on the gearbox. I got the connectors from the dealership - your best bet is to go on the Vagcat site, or ETKA if you have it, and find the part nos for the connectors you need - it save a lot of ummming and aaahhhing by the guy at the parts desk. I'm quite lucky at the local dealers as the guys look like they've been working there since year Beetle, but at most dealers, sod's law will mean you end up with the spotty work experience guy!

Two sets please!

Ok an update on this... As some of you have probably seen I'm retiring the Corrado as a daily. It's not just because of the insurance costs, but those, along with the cost of fuel are definitely the catalysts. £880 from Brentacre remained my cheapest quote. When I insure the Corrado again next year, I think as long as I keep miles limited to 3000 miles a year, I'll qualify for the classic policies. Does anyone know if insurance companies will mind if the garage I store the car in is NOT at my home address?

Looking at the eBay username, I think I know this guy - I met him at a show earlier this year. He seemed decent and honest enough, wonder what went wrong??

Actually it's not an Avant, as it's not an estate, think it was just some sales BS.

It does most weekends, but I've laid off a bit in the last month or so. I thought at first that I'd be bothered about missing the football on TV. Turns out I didn't miss it at all. Once the VR is stored away for the winter, I'm sure there'll be some more lost weekends.

It's a MK2 Golf part no, so check on the MK2 forums or search under MK2s e-bay. If it is the MK2 one, they're pretty brittle. Some people call them collars if that helps!

Motormeter clocks have a rep on '90 spec models of being more prone to issues that VDO ones. Not sure about pre-90 but VDO are usually the make of choice anyway. If you wanted to be really anal you could buy new connectors from VW as well. They were less than £1 each when I was getting bits together for the Climatronic wiring, though obviously it may depend on the connectors.

Spot on... I'm slightly more fortunate in that I have the lockup to store the Corrado in if a job goes wrong and the missus has the Golf which I can borrow to get to work and back - we can just about get by with one car dor a week or so if the Corrado needs to be holed up but it's not ideal. I have gone and done it today... I have paid a deposit on my daily snotter! It's an Audi A4 Avant TDI, S-plate in flat red. It's very rough around the edges but there's no rust, a long MOT and it runs okay. There's a bit of white smoke out of the back, but it smells diesel-y (no signs of HGF and it's defo not steam) so I think it needs a good clean out/thrash. To be honest, for the price I got it for it would be no disaster if it needed a new turbo seal or head gasket. Think it's the 90bhp version so insurance works out at a shade under £550 fully comp and if I ever wanted a bit more power, uprated injectors should see me to 110 without any alterations to the map. There's no aircon/climatronic in it which would have been nice, but I'm actually not as bothered as I thought I would be. Plus it will mean I appreciate the climatronic in the Corrado more! I collect it on Monday. I will run the Corrado until the insurance runs out on 28th October, then insure the Audi from then. It will give me a chance to check the Audi over before it goes on the road... I'm not sure when the cambelt was last done and it looks fairly easy to do, so that's my first job. It is weird but the thought of putting the Corrado away for the winter has made me appreciate it even more... I gave it an extra long wash/valet today. It was always more than *just* a mode of transport, but now I think it has transcended into something extra special. I enjoyed every second of my journey up the M1 today to view the Audi.

This pretty much sums up my sentiments at the moment. I'm probably not going to save in the long run, as the daily will need work doing on it, and so will the Corrado. If I carried on running the Corrado, the worst case scenario would be that I paid the extra fuel/insurance costs, and then I have a major breakdown or winter accident, lose the Corrado (or need to spend £££ fixing it) and still need to buy a new daily in the end. I know this could happen to the daily too, but that's not a problem as if it did I'd just break it and get another daily! Also it allows me to treat the Corrado simply as a hobby rather than an essential means of getting to work. I can choose to drive it/fix it when I can afford to, and not feel I NEED to fix it as it is my primary means of transport The Corrado is a special car but it's also quite old and if I want to enjoy it for years to come, I need to start looking after it more. I have spent loads on keeping it in top shape, but care needs to extend now to reducing the mileage and not exposing it to winter roads. My current insurer IS Admiral - They were £560 this year, and now it's jumped to £860, and that's not including the increase in mileage allowance for the upcoming year. That would see it to over £1000. The increase must be due to the mods... I remember when I rang up to declare the mods... the Schrick added £20 to the premium for the remaining 9 months of the policy, and the lowering and wheels added an extra £120 over 6 remaining months!

Okay, you're right, the decision has pretty much been made. I know if I put it away, I'll miss it and I'll like it even more when I get it out again. I'm now looking at something slightly better as a daily like a cheap audi A4 diesel (time for a family car...), but still not looking to spend over £1000. £860 is a lot, but the cheapest I could get! The car is not standard as you can see from my sig, but not exactly souped up either! I will be 30 (well 29 years 11 months) when the renewal is due, with 5 years no claims. Unfortunately I have one non-fault accident against me which doesn't help, and the car is 16 years old, so classic policies are ruled out unless I stick to 3000 miles per year. 300k miles would be an achievement, and to be honest, with the condition of the engine I think it can do it! The problem is that I don't have the space or equipment for an engine swap, when it all goes bang!

There's a level sender on the coolant tank - the flashing light on the dash is triggered by that... Faulty level senders/wiring are fairly common. The blue temp sender inputs into the ECU (hence why faulty ones cause bad running), the black one ONLY outputs to the temp gauge itself (not the light as far as I'm aware). If your gauge is working then the black one is likely okay! To test the temp gauge in the dash clocks, disconnect the black temp sender and bridge the pins - if the gauge shoots up to maximum then it's okay. You can order the vac lines from VW, I think you order by the metre. I can't remember off hand how much you need, but I do remember that it's all the same diameter on the 8v (there are two different diameters used on a KR apparently). If you want to get the diameter to get more reasonably-priced hoses, then iirc there's a fairly long line that feeds from the FPR (or near there?) back to the airbox... just disconnect, chop a bit off and reconnect, and viola... a x-section! Changing the clocks is relatively straight-forward btw, and you should be able to pick up a second hand set if you really want. You can always swap your speedo over. Just make sure you get pre-90 spec (twin plug) ones, and that you get 8v GTI ones

Cars are poor investments unless you pick exactly the right model before you know whether it is going to be a classic or not. You will never see a return for all the money you pour into your Corrado unless you buy an ultra low miler, lock it in a garage and then don't use it for 10 years. Even then a better way to make money would be to hire out the garage (can an appreciating Corrado match £50 per month in rent??) So as far as 'investing' money into the Corrado goes, I don't see it that way. I pay what I need to to get the car the way I want it. I don't expect to get the money back again.

The Corrado isn't going to be sold, though it's not just financial reasons that I am considering. I don't want to keep piling 10000 miles on per year and I also need to spend some time on the bodywork. I'm also not planning to tax the Corrado through winter, and then insure on a classic policy when I start using in the summer. The fuel saving on using a diesel would be about £70 per month. I do appreciate that repairs may be required on another car, however to be honest the Corrado is no angel here either! I need at least two new (preferably 4 winter/all weather) tyres to get me through the winter and it has an intermittent starting problem which, although I'm investigating (prob crank sensor), has the potential of leaving me stranded until it is fixed.