I saw this up for sale, looked a nice car, welcome, there are a few guys around Belfast with MK2's that can help with things.
Cheers mate, she's clean, obvious few things need sorted, I think I got lucky.. a friend's at DSM Autos in Belfast checked it and was really impressed with it 👍 Must try and get in touch with the Belfast guys, any names on here?
1. fix blower motor - could also be the switch 2. Squealing noise randomly at low speeds - most likely PAS or Alternator belt, adjust but ideally replace the V-belts, you might need to clean up the pulleys so there's no rust.
7. Weighted Shift rod ordered - to fit. - a gear selector bush kit is always a good thing to do too, to tighten up the gear change
Thanks for this, I'll check the switch as well, however the connection to resisitor feels loose and when wiggled it can make it work.. I was out with a friend yesterday and had to ge him to move the connection to get it working. It's booked in for a full service with belts next week so will get the pulleys and stuff all checked
Do you have a link for the bush repair kit? I found a full set on VWH parts but includes shift rods
Tried the resistor removal.. will see what it does
Keep the knowledge coming @Eddypeck , I really appreciate it
So tonight was all about getting my boot lock to work. turns out the central locking pin wasnt sliding smoothly so would stick. I Pulled apart and greased it up a good'un. Works like a charm now on the central locking
While I was back there I reattached the rear washer pipe.. I needed to use some ingenuity.. adios tyre foam thing.. the plastic pipe was perfect to make it fit properly on the jet ..
Finally in the engine bay I fitted the weighted shift rod yesterday.. pictures included now
Also replaced the coolant temp sensor, the temperature gauge still doesn't work.. So that needs investigating.. bugger...
Finally I was advised to remove the dim/dip resistor to improve the headlight output.. so done that, thanks @Eddypeck but also have a headlight loom ordered to increase voltage to bulbs
Also fitted a K&N air filter but forgot to take photos again 🤦
they just screw into the panel and cut they're own thread, if they are loose maybe the hole has opened up or they've been over tightened.
seems the hole has 'grown' over 30 years.. took Kenneths advice and found a pan head screw that was a wider diameter.. all screwed in and the handle is now secure.
I finally picked up my 1990 GTI 8v. On Saturday i drove down to Enniskillen, NI and picked up the car i had been waiting all Christmas for (joys of missing V5c and a pandemic in Swansea/The World...)
This is the face of a 31yr old man finally driving his boyhood dream car!
I made the 1.5hr drive home to Belfast, where the car was amazing... didn't miss a beat mechanically.
However, it was in this time i started to take note of things that will need attention.. but I'll share the list later on
Once home, i set about sorting out little things that i had already prepped for from my initial viewing of the car.
1. Changed the weird new style GTI badge to the original one.. (cant work out how someone put it on and stepped back and went - yes that's better than the original.. but hey ho, sorted it now) Before: After: 2. Changed the "leather" gear knob to a golf ball style one 3. Added a button blank to the dash as there was one missing randomly 4. Fitted roof bars and my bike rack for test fitting (sourced from P'Boro and couriered by my Dad in Ely) 5. Finally, my grandfather passed away this year, and when cleaning out his garage (he was car/plane mad) i found his old AA badge - so that went on the grille as a little memory to him
Here's how its sitting now. (excuse the dirt haha)
On the to do list: 1. fix blower motor - the fan stopped on the way home. Removed it and cleaned up the connections on fan to resistor - worked for a bit.. also the connection to resistor seems slack and the fan works on and off if that connection is wiggled, any tips would be great thanks. 2. Squealing noise randomly at low speeds - intermittent again.. thinking something PAS related 3. Air Filter upgrade 4. Digifant tune using the guide. 5. Change the radio to a 90's Panasonic cassette player to get it back to its roots. 6. Fit Immobiliser/Alarm 7. Weighted Shift rod ordered - to fit. 8. Headlight Loom upgrade 9. Suspension drop -30mm with Eibach springs and Bilstein shocks.
But yeh, i'll try to keep this updated - you can also follow me on Instagram on kwp_gti
The forums great, and i'll be asking questions galore
I despise aftermarket alarms, I'd sooner have a simple DIY immobiliser and maybe a tracker, but if you're set on an alarm/immobiliser I'd go Cobra personally.
I'd also fit it yourself, it is incredibly simple and you know it isn't just lashed up then.
I'm sure there are 1 or 2 decent alarm fitters out there, but I've removed countless (honestly, I couldn't even guess at how many) and all it ever is is half assed soldering and cheap electrical tape, and it's Gammon ly the fitters fault as they genuinely think, and are told, that that is the way to do it.
You are as qualified as the majority of them are to fit one and then have a working understanding of your particular install as well.
Agreed bud, I'll definitely be making sure the install is good enough tbh, however the car currently has an old immobiliser system which is no longer in use.. similar to this one in picture
It has a nasty led aswell in an old switch, will be removed, Just want to have some sort of additional security
I know my car sits all tucked up in a garage but there is something not right about that siren box in the engine bay, I had an auto electrician for a toggle switch to the fuel pump in a hidden location which is pretty much all an immobiliser does , could you not then add a tracking device hidden somewhere, lots nowadays include a tamper system which could alert you and let you track the car without all the siren malarkey? Tracking devices can be had for a fraction of your “cobra/viper” and shouldn’t cause some of the problems they seem to generate
I've already said to the missus that a garage will be top 3 in things for the new house when we move haha! I will be dry storing in a lockuo over winter so will disconnect everything etc for that, basically I want the big alarm for my own peace of mind..also the kill switch under the bonnet might be handy... But need to but the bullet and not 'overprotect' where the fun of owning disappears! Ha
then check monthly charges... you can get trackers pretty cheap..its the monthly charges that sting. just add into the loom somewhere, be aware that alarms trackers do add to battery drains... ive got laserline on mk1 sportline and mk2 gti added to dog, and 5 cctv cameras. the quote will be for purchasing £120-200and then £2-300 or so for fitting i guess, not sure what installion time would be or if you want central locking adding to it, moving trims to fit sensors.. depending hourly rate local charges are.. here its £25 to 75 ph so can easily come to 500£ if 4 hrs labour
Thanks for this! Have been speaking to Ghost Installations who quoted me a £375 for a Cat1 Viper alarm install but their website is a bit vague and the email train was a bit ... Vague aswell.. doesn't inspire me with confidence. Also had a local auto electrics quote £400 for Cat1 install, so seems to be right, had heard about Clifford.
Trackers seem interesting! Are they worth the investment for true peace of mind would you say?
So looking at alarm choices to help with keeping my 8v on my driveway and to deter would be thieves. Have been looking at different options and decided to get a Cat1 as the car is a long term investment so want good security.
Ive been looking and the recommended alarm was the Toad ai606 but all the forum posts are from the early 00's lol
I've been quoted £3-400 however no mention of alarm 'brand'
Any advice on a good Cat1 and anything I should be looking out for when getting an install, thanks
You need the parts identified by Ken and comfirmed by Monkey above plus 2 x 1H0412341 (110mm diameter) which are "VR6" top spring plates. Do a search on Google and you will see they have a flat top which the MK3 bearing is securely located. Prices are variable but worth checking the prices at the VW dealers since they don't have the "Gammon " surcharge! Swapping the top mounts over is a fairly quick job but doing this at this when you swap the struts and springs means less hassle.
Thanks so much for this, apologies I've asked 1001 questions, just getting my head round This all, and like it was said, is easier to do all at once. Will get it fitted and get pictures and thoughts up asap
Ah yes. I was forgetting the need to change the top spring plate with one for a MK3. You need the large ones since standard MK3 are too small. I got mine from the VW dealers so they were more than aftermarket ones.
Sorry to be a pain, but if you have these on can you confirm all the parts needed haha Thanks!
Hahaha i gave up looking, but 90% of the time people commenting or answering questions can only see a spread sheet, they dont or never have changed anything on the car in question. Im the same id rather change like for like, unless forum members or people i trust comment on what works for them. In the past week, ive worked on alfa mto, renualt clio, mondeo st220,t4 camper, i dont have any speific knowledge on any of them only can identify issues and change parts. Air leak and service on alfa, faulty alternator(Overcharging), over fuelling renualt but intermittent faults not showing on scanners, sills and arch replacement on t4. camper... I have to ask questions and advice from co workers and google forums the rest. They’re the ones ok. Don’t know why they said it wouldn’t fit.
Completely different, yes, but then that’s the point. They’re a much better design.
Found a thread on the clubgti forum and it says about a threaded bush for the top and a spring plate..
I'm going to just do the suspension first then look at this later on, and see how I get on with the drop and improved handling first 👌
