GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: AdamR on 05 October 2010, 09:51
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Hi guys,
My first post, so go easy please! :nerd:
Picked myself up a '96 GTi 16v (84k miles) a few weeks back to use as a weekend/track toy and been tinkering with it over the past few weeks. Finally got chance to nip out for a spin last night and got a few questions if I may...
1. The temperature on the trip computer showed as high as 102 at some points (but was around 92/94 with 'normal' driving), is that anything to worry about? I checked the cooling system and all seems fine with no leaks, all new hoses and correct fluid level.
2. Trying to 'heel and toe' brake seemed impossible! The brake pedal is pretty close to the accelerator and starts at the same height, so once the brake pedal was depressed I couldn't figure out a way to get the outside of my foot anywhere near the accelerator. Any tips other than persevere? I thought about possible 'shimming' the brake pedal out a bit but I'm not sure if this would be a bit offputting...
3. The steering wheel is a big lump and not very comfortable, so a friend gave me a 3-spoke wheel that is the same spline. However, the centre of the wheel is completely different so there's no chance I can get the 'guts' of the old wheel into the new wheel - I'm going to need to relocate the horn. Am I right in saying I can just use a 'push to make' switch, connecting the negative terminal from the horn through the switch and then to earth? Is there any legislation regarding the position of the switch? I have a quick Google and website search but found nothing specific about this... [Edit] - sorted now!
4. Lastly, I was told about a possible problem with this model of car with the gearbox diff rivets shearing. I'm not sure if it's a 'real' problem (eg. only a few people have had it happen but kicked up a fuss), or something I need to get checked out asap.
http://www.yell.com/motoring/blog/gearbox-explosion-riveting-stuff/
http://www.btinternet.com/~a_hutton/VW_Gearbox_Failure.htm
http://www.volkswagenspares.com/page.php?page=Gearboxes
Any help with this one is appreciated, as I'd rather spend a few days and a few quid sorting it than end up needing a new box @ £500 ish!
Thanks in advance for any help, once I have picked up a bit more knowledge hopefully I'll be able to give something back to the forum :smiley:
Cheers again,
Adam
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Welcome to the site.
1) That is oil temp not water temp and is normal.
2) ?
3) Aftermarket steering wheels should use a boss that has a horn push in the center, if yours has a airbag fitted you will need a resistor to keep the warning light off.
4) Yes well known failure, not easy to fix as the box needs to be completely stripped down and the rivets replaced with bolts so expensive to sort.
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Thanks for the quick reply Wayne!
1. Ok great, thanks for confirming :)
3. Sure, that makes sense. Thing is it's a wheel off a MK5 (I think) and doesn't have anything with it other than the bare wheel (no horn push, centre cover or airbag). Thanks for the tip about the airbag too, he did mention that and sounds pretty easy to sort out.
4. Alrighty, thank you for the info there. The car is running around 165bhp and I intend to drive it quite hard, so it sounds like it might be prudent to get it sorted before anything drastic goes belly up!? If so, can anyone recommend a good VW specialist in the North West that would be able to do this, maybe Awesome GTI?
Thanks again,
Adam
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Might be worth checking but I don't think a mk5 wheel will fit, mk3 is the same as a late mk2 in terms of splines.
What mods has it got to get it to 165bhp.
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I tried the wheel and the spline is the same luckily, so it might be a Mk2 wheel actually as you said... my bad, thanks for the info!
The mods are:
Kent cams and pulley
Ported and polished head
Port matched manifold and throttle body
Full Milltek de-cat stainless exhaust with custom 4 branch manifold
Dubpower 8mm HT leads
K&N Filter and modded airbox (search-friendly link: http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=129025.0)
(Other bits are coilovers, upgraded ARBs, strut braces, brake discs, pads and lines if interested)
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We need pics, and we need them now! :grin:
For info, but i'm sure you knew. Just upload to photobucket, then paste the Image Link. :smiley:
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Haha, ok ok... I'll try and get some after work for you :cool: It's not much to look at but goes pretty well, certainly feels stiff in the bends.
Thanks for the photobucket heads up too!
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if yours has a airbag fitted you will need a resistor to keep the warning light off.
It does have an airbag and it seems that the correct resistor should be 3.3 Ohms from a bit of searching. If so, it seems that Maplin do them: http://maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=341668. Hopefully be helpful for someone else in future...
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If so, can anyone recommend a good VW specialist in the North West that would be able to do this, maybe Awesome GTI?
Thanks again,
Adam
There used to be a place called Dub Sport in Wigan, a friend used them a while back and was impressed (not sure if it's still around though!). Alternatively there's Kendal VW centre which I have heard good things about: http://kendalvwcentre.com/ (http://kendalvwcentre.com/).
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2. Trying to 'heel and toe' brake seemed impossible! The brake pedal is pretty close to the accelerator and starts at the same height, so once the brake pedal was depressed I couldn't figure out a way to get the outside of my foot anywhere near the accelerator. Any tips other than persevere? I thought about possible 'shimming' the brake pedal out a bit but I'm not sure if this would be a bit offputting...
You don't really need to HT, it's a bit of a throw back from gear boxes without or knackered syncs.
I used to do it all the time back in the day with a my minis, the pedals are perfect for it. I used to do it in a ford escort too that didn't have close peddles by HT the other way around; braking with the heel and blipping the throttle with my toes.
I tried left foot braking as well, you could try this, but be careful, it's surprising how much difference in pressure your left foot is used to pushing with the clutch compared to the right with the brakes and throttle!
I still catch myself blipping when changing down to 2nd sometimes!
I wouldn't add anything to the pedals.
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Thanks for the info guys, I'll try those two places in Kendal and Wigan!
Thanks seyles, I just thought it would be better for clutch life and downshift smoothness. Unless it's fine to 'ride' the clutch for a reasonable amount of time to bring the revs up between shifts without it causing a problem? I do quite like the idea of using the engine to help brake though, as I won't be doing much 'normal' driving in this car.
To add info... I got the horn working today with a 'push to make' switch from Maplins (couple of quid), connected the little copper brush (that normally runs against the ring contact on the back of the wheel) through the switch and back to the main body of the steering wheel. Had some 3-core cable hanging around so stripped that down (used the earth and neutral) and added couple of spade connectors from B&Q (£1.05 I think they were) and it works a treat. Just need to find somewhere else to mount the switch other than zip-tying it to the steering wheel... (Yes, plenty of extra cable there to allow steering lock both ways!).
Next up, VAG-COM to try and diagnose an ABS fault... joy!
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We need pics, and we need them now! :grin:
Better late than never! (That's what she said?)
(http://www.tartybikes.co.uk/media/car/golf1.jpg)
(http://www.tartybikes.co.uk/media/car/golf2.jpg)
My girlfriend getting stuck in relocating the horn...
(http://www.tartybikes.co.uk/media/car/file.jpg)
(http://www.tartybikes.co.uk/media/car/engine.jpg)
(http://www.tartybikes.co.uk/media/car/dash.jpg)
(http://www.tartybikes.co.uk/media/car/back.jpg)
Got ABS sorted (was just a broken cable, looks like it was rubbing on the wheel), just need to check fluid levels throughout in time for Oulton park on Wednesday, can't wait :grin:
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Looks like a nice clean car :afro:
What have you got over your tail pipes though? :huh:
(http://www.tartybikes.co.uk/media/car/golf2.jpg)
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Thanks - apart from the rust in all the usual places :smug: Never mind!
Ahh I bought a sound meter off eBay to check the noise for track day, but it was the wrong weighting so I made something to muffle the sound a bit... turns out I shouldn't have bothered as on the correct scale (A-weighting) it's under the limit! Don't worry that super bodge has been removed already :rolleyes: