tentonhammer

Put my car in the garage over the weekend and they've gone and broken my bonnet release somehow? - the bonnet release leaver is sitting far too high (almost into the fuse bay!) and the bonnet won't close on one side (off side). Weird because the lever still seems to be under tension but is in completely the wrong position. Both bonnet pins seem ok. Haven't had a chance to take a look at it yet but I suspect one of the clips that holds the cable in place has snapped. Anyone got any pointers before I start pulling things off? Cheers,

Just spoke with Tuning Werkes in South Croydon - Lovely bunch and are really keen to sort it out. They seem to know the 9A engine pretty well too which is a bonus. The car's going in tomorrow morning - Result. Funny actually because one of the issues I'm sorting out is my emissions - my local garage said that my emissions were a tad high (not me the car) and so the car failed it's MOT. I explained that if I was to take the car out for a blast and get everything warmed up (which to be honest I should have done before hand but I was in a hurry, the garage is 20 seconds from me can you blame me!) we should see a reduction in my emissions, maybe we could get it through that way I said? The lad said no, sorry. Just spoke to a nice bloke at Tuning Werkes and he's openly said the opposite - warm everything up, it will reduce your emissions! I've been wanting to fit a new Lambda probe (BOSCH type) for a while now anyway to see if I can improve my mpg, so they've agreed to fit this too. It's a straight forward job I just don't have the time to sort at the moment. Just goes to show that a garage is a as good as it's worse mechanic...

Try unplugging the white coolant temperature sensor (lower right side of block under coolant flange) or cold start injector. Your engine may have a thermal timing switch installed (not present on the 9A) which controls the cold start injector (lower right side middle of block under coolant flange) - unplug this too. If it fires with either of these disconnected and idle is corrected there's your problem. Just remember to unplug these one at a time so you can isolate the problem. There are heaps of other things it could be but this is always a good starting point

Hi John - I totally agree, if only all mechanics shared this view! If you can mate that would be great. Tried CVG, they’re awful. Tried the Service Centre up by the station and they don’t want to know. Interested to know what the Surrey Garage is like opposite the pet shop? Worth a punt at least I’ve heard AJ Turners is meant to be a fairly respectable garage actually – problem is, it’s a pain in the ar*e to get back from there once you’ve dropped the car off! Missus doesn’t drive unfortunately so she can’t follow me. I need one of those monkey bikes I think… lol Spoke to Mastertechs in Morden (VW Specialists) and they seem to be pretty clued up, in fact they were the only garage who seem to have worked on Corrados before which is encouraging

Is it just me or are garages and the mechanics that work in them getting worse by the year? Gone are the days where you could drop your vehicle off to get it MOT’ed and if there were any issues whatsoever they would simply sort it out no questions asked at a fair price for you. OR if you needed someone else to take care of something for you because you were just too busy to do it yourself – sure no problem, they would just sort it out. Motorbike mechanics are nowhere near as bad, in fact I’ve never had any issues with them (no surprise though really bikers are generally pretty cool across the board ). Lately though, I’ve found the local garages around me to be really awful, f*cking terrible even. They either don’t want to work on my car or just can’t be arsed, not sure whether this is down to the age of the car or whether they’re just bone idle? If I can get them to work on the car they either break something or give it back to me saying they couldn’t find the fault, or need me to order the parts for them (really?). I’m getting to a point now where I’m forced to expand my search outside of my local area for a friendly professional garage that actually wants the work! I’ve always been one to offer work to the small guy first but now I think I’m better off taking the car to a larger outlet like Kwik-Fit from now on (for MOT's etc) at least they’ll get on with it and not f*ck you about like some of the smaller garages would. I was thinking about it and TBH, I’ve probably shot myself in the foot because the garages my way generally all know I work on my own car, they’ve seen my work and know I’m not stupid when it comes to mechanics. As a result though garages won’t touch my car and / or are reluctant to take it! Sometimes I just don’t have time to do various bits and pieces especially if it involves getting under the car. The fact that it’s in great condition, runs well, and is easy to fix is irrelevant. It’s like they know I’ll go over their work with a fine tooth comb to make sure the job was done correctly, and to be fair – I probably would. I was speaking to one of the lads in my closest garage and he pretty much confirmed this (off the record). You expect these guys to be at the top of their game but in reality, I’m often the one telling them what the problems are and how to remedy them etc. Silly really! Anybody else experienced anything like this?

Not normally an MK2 man but I like this...

That's a clean example you got there. I had this happen to me a couple of times in my 2.0 Valver - I didn't realise at the time but my hall sender was on it's way out. It cut out a 3rd time and after that just wouldn't start again! New distributor fitted (with new hall sender inside) sorted the problem. Worth checking at least.

You gotta do what you gotta do sometimes. Ok so you've got a wife and kids to think about but at the end of the day if they love you they'll follow you, especially if you make them realize the effects work is having on your health. You can still have a beautiful house, just buy a smaller one that will leave you guys financially better off. You can still live in good area, just do your home work before hand and move to a nice area. Once you have done this and you are able to reduce your monthly outgoings - only then can you look for a lower paid job with less responsibility etc. The missus and I are in the same boat at the moment - I'm working my a*se off often doing 6-7 day weeks in a high pressure environment. The missus has been made redundant. We have a mortgage to pay, our mouths to feed (and dog). No other debts just bills and other necessary outgoings including horrendous car insurance costs (approx £1600 + running costs). Problem is our outgoings are more than my salary alone and to make matters worse the money runs out next month. In other words: We're royally f*cked and I wouldn't wish what we're going through on anybody. As a result however, I'm looking to change my job because not only is the job incredibly stressful at times, but more importantly my salary alone won't support a family of 3 (me, missus, and dog) living in a small flat despite the fact I'm on a pretty good salary! The whole thing is mental. Material things have gotta go (maybe even my C, so be it). We have to sell the house before we default. Christmas is a right off, and we haven't been on holiday this year at all. Sorry times we're living in but what the hell can you do... I guess what I'm trying to say is, a little perspective from time to time can help. Appreciate what you got, love the ones you love, and look at the positives.

They look like a studded wire wheel type (deep dish) or studded meshed alloy (made to look like a wire wheel perhaps) but I can't suss em out? Been trying to identify a set of rims like this for a while now that's all

Yes. Yes they are... it seems With photo this time! Original post amended [ATTACH=CONFIG]70510[/ATTACH]

Anyone know what wheels these could be OR what wheels look similar? (Quality of the picture could be higher I know, sorry folks) [ATTACH=CONFIG]70511[/ATTACH] All suggestions welcome, Cheers,

I second that!

Valve cover gasket(s) yes.

Jetta - Did you ever find one of these in your garage? Let me know, still have difficulties finding a replacement :S Cheers, ---------- Post added at 12:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:29 AM ---------- Notes: Vehicles that also share the same BOSCH Thermal Timing Switch 0280130214: OE Number 11911110120 OEManufacturer ALFA ROMEO OE Number 13621362599 OEManufacturer BMW OE Number 4393600 OEManufacturer FIAT OE Number 92860510100 OEManufacturer PORSCHE OE Number 7700682046 OEManufacturer RENAULT OE Number 8357865 OEManufacturer Saab OE Number 043906163A OEManufacturer VOLKSWAGEN

A battered, and very tired looking 1976 beetle bought for £50 for my bro and I to hang out in with mates etc when we were younger. Chap knocks on the window and offers £400 for the wheels - Turns out they were Porsche Cookie Cutter alloys!

I've done a gasket change quite recently as well! No matter, thanks. Removing manifold and rocker cover / replacing gaskets etc is a piece of **** - working out in the street in the fecking cold is another matter! Still, I'll have to heat blast the paint to cure it so looking forward to that part ;) ---------- Post added at 9:59 AM ---------- Previous post was at 9:09 AM ---------- Fiebings Aussie leather conditioner BTW - Basically a saddle conditioner (or saddle soap) designed to keep Aussie horseman's leather soft and supple in the hottest and driest conditions! I use it on all my leather work http://www.chaffinch.com/item.cs4?GS=fieaussie

I'll spare you the 'in hind sight ' comments as you have probably already thought of these. Sounds like the guys is a complete tool TBH and needs a good kicking. However, I would have thought that as no payments have been made (especially as you have gone to the lengths of drafting a written agreement etc before hand) the car still 'legally' belongs to you regardless of whether it's now in his name etc, I'd double check with the Police on this. If the car does legally belong to you then simply report the guy to the Police saying he's nicked your car keys AND your car. If he's sold the car on he may well be liable for handling stolen goods as well. Might be worth telling said tool that you are getting the Police involved anyway. Good luck

Looks frickin' sweet dude, very OEM as well - Awesome job ;) Tell me about it, still mentally preparing myself to strip out the rocker cover + inlet manifold (top AND bottom) for painting... When you don't have a garage to work on stuff like this you just gotta fight the cold brother! bbrbrbrbr it's worth it in the end though

Sounds like a great idea ;)

Seats are wrong ;)

Industrial grade de-odouriser

Way too early in the morning to be looking at uglies like that, Check this one out: [ATTACH=CONFIG]70255[/ATTACH] Make room for yo bitches ;)

defo looking more like a car again ;)

BOSCH part number for this is: 0280130214

It was a standard BOSCH ISV unit pinched off an audi (they share the same ISV). Part Number: 034133455B