StuartFZR400

tiny pics along bottom are a great idea... use the runners up from each months vote? - would love to see mine on there 8) (please...) When can we buy them? Consider me down for an order....

225 may rub, all depends on the offset. My 205's currently do not rub, but the 205's on different rims did rub a tiny bit, all on -60mm. I'd say agood chance they'd be ok. Those prices seem normal.

possible veering to one side reasons: - camber on the road - one sized caliper - unbalanced front wheel/tyre - badly worn tyres due to wrong camber/toe setup. 280mm discs + calipers+carriers off a G60 is an easy upgrade option, but costly. black smoke is most likely pads if they are new. Poor brake power can be due to poor fluid or old/split brake-hoses. Did you change the fluid or did the seller say that he had?

did you find some good priced 40 profiles? 205 can look stretched on a 7.5 wide rim. All depends on manufacturer. 215 is correct. However 205/45/16 (my preferred size of tyre on a 7j rim) is closest to the original 205/50/15, or alternatively 215/40/16 is kinda close too but 225/40/16* is closer still to correct RR. All much of a muchness. And although 205/50/16 is a easy tyre size to buy, the calculator says the mph reading will be reasonably different. knowing which tyre brand to buy, there is a sticky topic for that. There you'll see Toyo Proxes, Uniroyal Rainsports, Eagle F1's etc etc getting a good mention. Personally I didnt like the Dunlops in the wet. Be aware that Bridgestone are making leaps and bounds in thier rubber compound - the expensive brands have a better tyre construction, versus the cheaper ones like Falkon, Toyo, Uniroyal. Those cheaper ones that are sticky also wear out very quickly too. be aware of what the 40 profile does to the ride too. There are a couple tyre information links in the Wiki above. Basically the 40 will be a harsher / firmer ride than a 45 profile. I'd prefer to have 45, as thats the reason I'd buy 16"x7 alloys - all IMO. *((225/40 works - £54 for a Toyo is cheap enough))

I take it you're aware that there are different VAGCOM connectors depending on the car. Being a 95 I'd guess yours is the large female-plug, found under the cover that goes over the gear stick. Make sure your fiend/garage has the right one. VAGCOM will give you the answer and save you buying stuff for no reason. Buying a full set of 4 sensors is not cheap - I know. I presume you looked at front and back. And presume the front discs came off - cannot remember if you said. Therefore also check rears are clean. And I presume when you turn the ignition on now that the light still stays on. Putting new front discs on the front will make no difference as if they're like mine, the holey ring for the ABS is not part of the disc-brake. Worth disconnecting the ABS sensors at the front, clean them with contact cleaner and put back together, as dust could've got in there. The rears are sealed up until where they connect under the rear seat/bench. NB: harsh blows to the sensor can knacker them, as they're magnetic. GSF ones are kinda-cheap and easy to install. HTH 8)

Wandee - has anyone mentioned that there is a sticky thread in the Engine Topic area for the VAGCOM. Read through that to see where people locally to you own the system. For clarification; if the light comes on and stays on then yes it is finding a fault. On the later Corrados a funky trick can be done and certain blink codes can be DIY. But VAGCOM is much clearer. Its most likely the sensors are gone - so fingers crossed its a front one and not an expensive rear. Im surprised you can't induce some locking up in this horrible weather we're having; choose a nice quiet, very FLAT, greasy road and jab on the brake with all your force from as little as 20mph. It will either skid or the abs will work and judder through your poor foot. Anyhow, get it fixed , as yu need it for the MOT. 8)

Oppinions appreciated: Seen a car for £2k under the Parkers Trade In Price. Is it a case of too good to be true? Phoned him last Friday to ask about the £10k car - he was very dis-interested; I am sure he also stated he was the second owner, although the advert says 1 owner from new. Was surprised to see it still there Monday. Then Tuesday he put a second advert up, but this time the car had different alloys. Do you recon HPI is sufficient to cover me if it turns out to be stolen at a much later date? Do people really sell a car £2k or 3k under typical asking price of a popular car? . 2nd Oppinion: Anyone here refuse to buy a car simply due to the colour of the interior? I've got a mate who refuses a lovely cream leather; although I'd love that my self. Would you pass up a bargain down to colour?

too true. But what other coups are there? Looked into the 350z and S2000, and was put off by running costs. However prices have massively dropped and therefore money saved on buying might just pay for the running costs/insurance etc... will have to see.

when we were looking, the other half considered Polos too. Seemed you got less for your money, versus the Megan - a Golf sized car. The 1.5 deisel 100bhp gives her about 57mpg and me about 59 or more. Never worth booting the thing, got a power band between 2 and 3k only. Easy to park; low insurance. Tyres about £60 a corner. Picked hers up with 3k miles for crazy money; I'd look for one with 30k miles for about £5k. Drawbacks being concerns on Renault electronics and thier funny key card at £100 a peice; the ultra safety means massive front pillars and obstructed view to those with longer reach. Maybe skodas worth a look?

sorry, not noticed - have you got a VR6 or G60 or 16v or 8v? ..... only that the 16v 2.0 9A has many similar bits to the Passat; hence that Haynes is good, typically £3 on ebay.

Jim, you'd think that'd make prices low, but the rep-space-mile ones are still at full asking price. Only now and then do you get one priced in accordance with Parkers - which I know some people disagree with and say you should pay what you're willing to; in which case Im not paying over 10k for somthing with over 50k miles - would rather find a well kept C. Skinnyman, cannot find the one you mention on your link , but have seen a 3.2 advertised for silly money. Phoned it to get a fax buzz; so the faxed them and still get no reply. Probably sold if its such a bargain!!! I dont know, just fed up of getting prodded by family, friends and now work about running a reliable car. To which I point out that mine has only broken down once due to a split radiator pipe - somthing which can happen to any old-ish car. Or new for that matter, as the Alfa GT man here will vouch for. Looked at RX8's too, much better prices. Not sure how sensitive those engines are compared to old; they used to need perfect care and perfect oil etc ; then the rotor ends still wear out - big engine work no? And its a rear wheel... hmmm. Also peeked at the celica again; and again I concluded its plasticy, in addition to finding the seat was a killer due to the harsh stitching across your back. Then the revvy, noisy 1.8, VVTLi was just odd. The 6200 kick was erm, not that exciting. TT seems a sensible, yet stylish idea. Then once funds allow, buy a C for weekends. Will need to keep a beedy eye out.

I know on the bike its recommended that you brake firmly from 30 at least 3 times, then Hard from 40, then from 50; beds them in nicely. Pads are made very differently these days and dont have the problems of old. Last week when I took out my new pads, I just rubbed them together to ensure no oxidising had taken place - plenty of dust fell off; grippy from the off. You could take yours out and do the same; that way you can see eveything is in place ok too.

Are people sticking with the Quantum Silver at VW, which has now doubled in price, or are people converting to GSF's cheap Fuchs engine oil ?

Yeh, mine were a knacker to get out. As stated, rusted in, or maybe just a tight fit. I took the disc (including caliper and carrier) off and the rear protection plate. Then you're left with the holey ring in the way - dont hit or bend this. Instead I got a hold of the abs sensor and wangled it with adjustable spanner until the back broke off. At this point you have an option of drilling it out from the rear, or I just kept pulling at it with pliers until I was left with the metal outer ring/sheeth only (not the same as the gsf replacement and dont need to keep this old sheeth). Then this hollow sheeth was really stuck in, so deformed it from both sides and slid out. The new one was a very tight fit.

NB: additional topic on page 2 Still looking for a sensible car. So what better than a TT, lol. Last year I looked at the old shape and saw a few gooduns at £16k with say 20k on the clock - a lot of car for the money I thought. Couldn't afford that so hoped that a year later prices would drop and would look for say a 40k mile car (fingers crossed). (with a view to getting another C once funds allow). Firstly Parkers are suggesting at least £12k for an 03 with 40k; but can't find any with those miles - they're all 70,80,90k+ and asking £12 or much more. Madness ! Could be the point that these cars are not selling for the asking price - but who knows. The problems with market forces ... :(

dangerous roads - can be found anywhere. I dont feel safe anywhere anymore. Drove past a girl last week, on a duel-carridgeway, who with one hand was holding her mobile while with the other she was gesticulating to whoever she was talking to - completely in her own world - "look mommy, no hands !"

I dunno, this month gets worse and worse. I go away for a few weeks, car fails its MOT and now I wanna go home right now, so that I can wash my beloved. Rats !

Ahh, got the beautiful G60 front brake upgrade. Pics to follow. (anyone know of a site you can MMS pics to for free?)

I did mine. You dont need the G60 hoses. But new hoses are always a handy idea. Got my calipers off GSF from memory, yu can trade in the old ones I think. Carriers can be very expensive, I had to buy a VW one. New slider pins come with new carriers, but if you get hold of old ones, be sure to buy the pin kit off VW, that simply provides new rubbers and grease, as a corroded pin becomes a stuck pin, which results in broken brakes (usually stuck on).

you say when you bought the car it came with new discs, but are loose on the front - presume one side only. Have you tried to spin each wheel in turn to replicate the sound (once jacked up)? Yes often you can get a stone - I got one recently trapped between my new discs and the rear plate that protects the gubbins behind. However you state it only happens when turning. Although the discs should be held inline with a screw (which yours could easily be drilled out with a much smaller metal drill bit), the wheel bolted on should keep the disc nice and tight. I'd still put a new screw in to see if it helps, because obviously a disc that is allowed to wobble at all with rub against all sorts of things, although the pads (if new) should keep it fairly inline (not the best idea though). Therefore try jacking the car up and spinning the wheels (yes, wheel on), whilst on full lock and listen. If you hear somthing on one side (might need to spin the rears too), then get it onto stands (for safety) and do it again but under the car. The boot could still be split, its not always obvious. Also presume wheels are not rubbing on anything. Most people run non-standard wheels and suspension; check theres no obvious fouling of wheel on arch or suspension. HTH

As stated guys, the Passat Haynes is only any good for the 9A engine coded one. Its good for the engine but also the running gear too somewhat. Better than this stupid otehr manual Ive got that covers all VW's of this age.

cheers Jim that sun on Sunday was scortching.

pipes everywhere ... confused as to the source :? BUMP

Might be time to get the Haynes Passat manual out for my 16v (9A) out, as I seem to have a problem. Smelt petrol on start up about 2 months ago, but the smell has now gone. However, inspecting my Air Filter today, I found that a patch - about half the size of a tax disc - was saturated in petrol. Any idea why petrol is coming through or where from? (the top of the airbox looks rather trick) Cheers :?

my £1.20 +pp book came today. Yep Jim, the brakes appear to be the same as the corrado.