Mike16v

I'm using a tiny little portable compressor I got from Screwfix. Does the job perfectly and was less than £100 iirc. Was thinking of looking in you buying an inverter from Maplin or somewhere so I could run the compressor from my cars 12v supply. Not sure if it will cope with the load though. I've had a couple of problems where customers can't park close to their house so leccy supply becomes an issue. I've had five customers through the website so far (still my first month) so definitely worth the cost.

Cheers Ant, No I did buy the machine, it's my website that costs me £12 a month. I thought that about the size of the machine as well. The first time i put it in the car all the adapters fell out of the drawers and disappeared inside. I'm down in east Kent near Dover so I'm handicapped a bit by being surrounded mostly by sea and not customers. Would be up for a group service if enough were interested.

I'd be up for a pair of late wings.

Hi Ant, It's going well thanks. I'm finding the website is really helping - had a few customers through that. It's only costing me £12 a month so seems to be well worth it. I have a full time job so It's been a bit tricky fitting people in around that. Spent the last weeks looking at as many different engines as possible just to see how I would connect up. Had a bit a problem with a Jag XKR yesterday because I'd never come across the quick connect fitting. Turned out to be embarrassingly simple really. Lovely car though, and got there in the end. If I get any enquiries from over your way, I can send them in your direction if you want to PM me your contact details. I do charge for travelling but it doesn't really make sense to go too far unless I'm doing more than one car. Have you got the diesel machine as well? Been toying with getting one because I've had to turn quite a few customers away. Need to do a few more petrol engines to be able to afford that one though! Good luck! Mike.

Hi folks, I've recently started a part-time business offering a mobile Terraclean engine de-carbonising service, mainly in Kent. I'm sure most of you will have read something about it by now. I only have the petrol machine at the moment - feel free to have a look at my website - http://www.kent-engine-clean.com. As a Corrado owner myself, I'd like to offer forum members a 10% discount on the total price. There are also bigger discounts available for more than one treatment on the same day at the same location. Thanks for looking, Mike

If anyone is in any doubt about getting one of Dave's short shifters, I fitted mine a couple of weeks ago and it makes the world of difference. With the old mechanism, when I changed in to second, the gear lever travelled so far it hit the surround. Now it's nice and tight and precise and I don't have to dislocate my shoulder to change gear. Only took about an hour and a half to fit as well - and I'm no expert. Well worth the money. Cheers Dave.

Result! Doesn't it make a change for something to be simple. Every time I fix something I just find three other problems.

Started up fine this afternoon. Gave the car a little bit of stick last night and that seems to have cured the problem. I'm hoping just a little bit of an airlock sorted by a little bit of right foot Fingers crossed... Thanks everyone.

So the fuel pump enclosure from a Golf Gti 16v fits fine. I just needed to cut off the plastic clamp for the fuel filter and reuse the old one which clamps to the fuel pump carrier. The only problem is, now the car is reluctant to start. Before it fired up quickly but now after a few seconds of turning over it splutters in to life. Once its running its fine. This only happens when the car has been standing for a while. I thought maybe air is getting in to the fuel system somewhere so tightened all the connections. If that were the case though, surely there would be a leak to indicate a poor connection?

I think the LED ones are polarity specific. Have you tried it the other way round?

Thanks David for all the suggestions. I spoke again to the very helpful chap at Ashford JCD (VW Dealer). He says the Golf GTi unit looks the same except that the fuel filter may be fitted on the other side. I've ordered one anyway, so will see how I get on with it. Apparently my pump, which seems to be fine will fit the casing so that will save me a few quid. The accumulator looks past it but I will try to re-fit it as they're a bit pricey.

Hmm...as always, what I though was going to be a simple job, isn't. I've taken the fuel pump and housing off the car. [ATTACH=CONFIG]69238[/ATTACH] It looks like the source of the leak is a split in the join of the housing the pump sits in. [ATTACH=CONFIG]69239[/ATTACH] Problem is, they are obsolete from VW, and VW Heritage can't help. Didn't really want to fit an old one but looks like I may have no choice. Also, I think I should also replace this: [ATTACH=CONFIG]69240[/ATTACH] I think it's a regulator, but can't find a part number on it as it's so crusty. Anyone got either (or both) of these parts? So annoying, just got everything else sorted and was looking forward to enjoying the car for a bit :bonk:

My 16v started to do the same thing a few weeks before the fuel pump gave up. I think there are different fuel delivery setups for different engines / year. Mine has a lifter pump in the tank and one under the car toward the rear on the drivers side (next to the fuel filter). That's the one that quit on mine.

Thanks chaps. I may put the petrol jetwash drive cleaning on hold for now as I'm a bit busy. Had a good look this morning. The fuel is coming from inside the plastic pump housing. All the fuel line unions seem ok (except I think there is one on top I can't see yet, so could still be that one.) The problem is, I cant get the b**tard thing off the car. There are four nuts which hold the pump to the hanger bracket. Got those undone but there doesnt seem to be enough room to get it out without taking one of the hangers off. There is the problem because they seem to have clips which I can't get off because of the bolts going through them from above. Any ideas?

I started my 16v this morning and could hear a hissing noise. Turns out the fuel pump under the car (near the fuel filter) was pi**ing petrol over my drive. Haven't had a proper look yet but I'm assuming It wont be repairable. It's a bit inconvenient, but it has cleaned the block paving a treat. If anyone wants their driveway done, I will do it for the cost of a tank of petrol. Has anyone had to replace their pump? I'm thinking shouldn't be too hard to change - any tips folks? Also, any suggestions for suppliers?

It all makes sense now...somebody had squirted shaving foam all over it as well.

Had to replace my CAT recently. I was dreading the cost but it only cost me about £55. Think the rules about CATs changed after Corados finished production so they haven't got the quantity of the really expensive metals that modern ones have. Think they are stuffed with straw or something... So might not be as bad as you think. Mine sounded like a tin can containing ball bearings was suspended under the car.

I know it's kind of difficult to describe how heavy your steering is but... The steering on my 16v is pretty heavy when moving slowly, almost to the point that it feels like there is no assistance at all when parking. It's the only Corrado I've ever driven so not sure if it's a problem or if it's normal for these cars. It feels fine when driving and I'm not getting any noise from the pump or belt. Should I be looking for a fault or it is it the normal state of affairs?

Jay, I had a very similar problem when I was building my house. We have heavy clay soil like you and a neighbour had a Eucalyptus tree about 6 metres away. They take up massive amounts of water and cause the cause the clay soil to contract as it dries out. Obviously no good for the footings. We came to an arrangement with the neighbour who wasn't overly keen on the tree anyway. I cut it down for him and that solved the problem. You don't say whether the hedge is yours or not. If it is, then get rid of it. If not, you might have to do some grovelling with a neighbour. In my limited experience of one building Inspector, building one house, there wasn't much point arguing. I could negotiate a bit with the chap I had, but with something important like the foundations, you might find they wont change their mind. Hope that helps. Mike

Hi Tom, I'm after some replacement panels for my 1993 16v. Do you know if the bonnet, wings and door would be a straight swap? If so, I'll take the bonnet, drivers side wing, drivers door and front bumper, please. Any rust on those ones mate? Mike.

So it turns out that my 'new' ISV is a duff one. Today I cleaned and refitted the old ISV and the engine ran fine. Might not last long, but at least I know what was at fault. The ISV I bought on ebay was supposedly new but on closer inspection looks decidedly reconditioned. Guess the lesson learned is you get what you pay for. Has anyone managed to take an ISV apart and give it a proper clean? It looks well and truly sealed to me.

You would think Fishwick, but the cable moves freely and the throttle snaps back all the way closed. There was no hint of the throttle sticking open when I had it off the car to clean it. Am I right in thinking the throttle should be completely closed, and the switch kicks in the ISV? The really high idle only happens after driving for a while and switching off. When I restart the engine is revs right up - I just don't understand it. If I disconnect the ISV for a couple of seconds it calms down to 1500. Still too high obviously. I'm thinking more and more that it's an electrical problem rather than a faulty component. Scratching my head though...

Thanks chaps. I've just taken the switch off the throttle body and tested it. There is continuity between the centre pin and the outer on with the spindle turned all the way in on direction. The circuit is broken when turned away from this position. This is pretty much what I was expecting it to do. I think its just an on/off switch on the 16v engine, am I right? At least it look like I don't need a new one - they're £100+new, ouch. I've checked all the hoses for leaks using carb cleaner but not a sausage. I'll check the wiring to the ICV next.

Any help much appreciated... Fixed the sunroof, electric mirrors, spoiler, sunroof - just want to drive it now but I can't :( I've got a 1993 16v and since I bought the car, the engine has idled between 1.5k - 2k revs. Here are the things I've done to try and sort it: New cat and lambda sensor New coolant temperature sensor Throttle body cleaned New Idle control valve Checked throttle cable I changed the ICV today and a strange thing happened. When I started the engine, it still idled at 1500. Checked to make sure the switch on the throttle body was clicking when the throttle was closed, and I could hear it. Took the car for a quick drive to see of things would calm down. There was no change. Later, I started the engine again and it went straight to 5k revs and stayed there. My next step is to change the throttle body switch in case that is duff. Should the odd behaviour after changing the ICV be telling me something? I really don't want to admit defeat and book it in to the garage, but other than the throttle switch, I'm running out of ideas.

Thanks for you very generous offer. I've won a set of wheels on eBay though and I'm off to collect them tomorrow. I'm sure somebody else will be happy to have them. Thanks again.