Author Topic: BUYING GUIDE / COMMON FAULTS  (Read 50655 times)

Offline Steve_PD

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Re: BUYING GUIDE / COMMON FAULTS
« Reply #10 on: 06 January 2012, 14:13 »
Here's a check lists for when buying/viewing a mk4
Thanks to 'The Dave' for supplying this :afro:

MK4 Golf Check List


PAPERWORK and MISC etc

V5 (SA vin numbers not built as well?!)
MOT
Tax
History
Cambelt and waterpump receipts etc
When was it’s last service and what was changed?
HPI clear
Locking wheel nut key?
Spare car keys
What fuels it ran on?


Body checks:

All panels straight
Dents/scratches etc
Rust (should be none)
Door hinges (doors hanging low?)
Door locks not tampered with
Wheels and Tyres
Brake discs and pads
Glass damage


Interior and Electrical checks:

Carpets damp (rear footwells, front footwells, boot floor, tailgate, roof lining etc)
Seat, trim, steering wheel wear
Drivers door module (lights, alarm lights, lock/unlock ok, alarm arm)
Door seals not damaged
All electrics: windows, heated/electric mirrors
Wipers and washers (back one especially)
Lights including fogs
Interior lights
Brake light switch
Rear heated screen
Window regulators (judder and slow means faulty!)
Locks
Central locking and RCL
Alarm (sensors inside too)
Clocks and trip computer etc
Rear wiper and leaks!
Rear boot lock (alarm problems due to it)
Heaters hot, cold etc.
Climate control – Aircon. Turn aircon ON, ECON OFF, car idling, fans should run slow after idling for 2 mins onwards. Fast fans or on/off pulsing all the time means problems.


Engine/Mechanical checks:

Cold start and hot starts ok?
Engine temp ok, fan kicks in ok when hot?
Clutch master cylinder
Release bearing noises
Water pump and cambelt changed ((60k or 4 yrs MAXIMUM!)
Coolant bottle sensor
Coolant temp sensor
Engine temp sensor (right hand side of engine)
Front wishbones
Rear bushes (clonks from these two items on drive)
Brake hoses
MAF sensor (no boost, hesitance, crap after 5k, crap mpg etc)
Coilpacks
VAC pipes
Tie rods (inner and outer joints)
Springs
Top mounts (turn left to right when stationary listen for clonks)
Ticking noise from drivers side of engine is “ok and common”?
Suspension clonks bangs etc, is it soggy?
Bushes (rough ride, noisy, clonky)
Oil level
Coolant level
Clutch and brake level
Leaks
Sludge/Mayo and so on
Fuse box for melting/burns
After run on turbo (secondary water pump?)
Green top air temp sensor is best?
Smoke from exhaust, turbo etc.


Driving checks:

Super unleaded or normal?
Clonks
Noises
Gearbox crunching, feel smooth, defined etc?
Tracking
Turbo boosting ok
Clutch slip and bite
Pedals all feel ok
Brakes ok
Anything which feels weird
Clocks all work fine etc
I often wonder why people never expect sarcastic comments from me - they're the only reason I speak...

Offline grahamh84

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Re: BUYING GUIDE / COMMON FAULTS
« Reply #11 on: 29 April 2014, 13:20 »
Heya

Anyone know where I can get replacement radio FM/AM WIRE /CABLE - MK4 to connect the stereo to the roof antenna as the last owner has screwed up the end and the connector ?

Any links or part numbers ?