GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: j_bailey on 12 March 2011, 21:40
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I'm planning on buying a MK4 soon, more specifically a 1.6 (16v). I know in general what to look for when buying a used car, condition of shocks,springs,tracking,brakes, steering, oil condition and so forth. But are there any problems that are common with the MK4 that i should be looking out for, or anything that i should expect? Thanks
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Dodgy window regulators, door locking modules, leaking rear wipers to name a few :laugh:
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Gearboxes are weak on the 1.6 I believe.
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Gearboxes are weak on the 1.6 I believe.
Yep :wink:
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still wouldnt let it put you off they cheap and easy enough to change yourself
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Im sure at the end of the day it comes down to how u treat it, if u thrash it then ur gearbox wont last as long as it might do. Any car can last a life time if its treated right and looked after. Think its weird how everyone dissess the 1.6 and so on as at the end of the day its not all about performance as not everyone wants to race along the streets or wotever.
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Im sure at the end of the day it comes down to how u treat it, if u thrash it then ur gearbox wont last as long as it might do. Any car can last a life time if its treated right and looked after. Think its weird how everyone dissess the 1.6 and so on as at the end of the day its not all about performance as not everyone wants to race along the streets or wotever.
All very true BUT the 1.4 and 1.6 gearboxes were crap and prone to fail fact :
http://www.btinternet.com/~a_hutton/VW_Gearbox_Failure.htm :smiley:
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Thanks for the heads up about the gear boxes, are they the same gearbox in the 1.4? I would like a 1.8t but too young for expensive insurance and the car itself (even though it's cheap for the power)
It's going to be a daily-runner so not something I'm going to thrash around everyday but i like to have a spirited drive now and again so will the gearbox be up to standards? Or is it just total crap?
And reading the link rich posted, it says gearboxes up to 2001 have problems, is that true because I've been looking at a few 2002 reg?
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Thanks for the heads up about the gear boxes, are they the same gearbox in the 1.4? I would like a 1.8t but too young for expensive insurance and the car itself (even though it's cheap for the power)
It's going to be a daily-runner so not something I'm going to thrash around everyday but i like to have a spirited drive now and again so will the gearbox be up to standards? Or is it just total crap?
1.4 are the same i know as we have a polo 1.4 which uses the same gearbox - it was replaced when we got it for the fault in the link above :smiley:
1.8 NA is a good engine :smiley:
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Well as the link above states tht the 1.4 and 1.6 gearbox isnt the best i have had my 1.4 for the past year n half now at 72k and havent had a problem as yet. It prob does come down to the luck of the pick at the end of the day buying a used car.
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Well as the link above states tht the 1.4 and 1.6 gearbox isnt the best i have had my 1.4 for the past year n half now at 72k and havent had a problem as yet. It prob does come down to the luck of the pick at the end of the day buying a used car.
Have to disagree.
Our polo had a new gearbox when we got it and a friend of mine had a Seat Ibiza 1.4 had his gearbox go, someone else i know had a Seat Cordoba 1.6 same problem.
Even the place that supplied the gearbox to my friend said they all had weak rivets and it was a design fault on all gearboxes between certain years :smiley:
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Thanks for your replies again. Just searching around reviews and articles, come across a few things saying VW do/did a Gearbox repair kit for the 1.4/1.6 costing around £50, that changed the rivets to bolts. Does anyone know if this is still about? And would this fix the problem? Are the rivet problems definitely just between 1998-2001 models?
I've wanted a Mk4 for years, driven them a few times and just loved the basic style and feel. Don't want to wait years until i can get a 1.8t. Thanks for your help.
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Thanks for your replies again. Just searching around reviews and articles, come across a few things saying VW do/did a Gearbox repair kit for the 1.4/1.6 costing around £50, that changed the rivets to bolts. Does anyone know if this is still about? And would this fix the problem? Are the rivet problems definitely just between 1998-2001 models?
Yes the diff rivets are a known failure the problem is the whole gearbox needs stripping to down to fit them, so not cheap or easy to sort.
I've wanted a Mk4 for years, driven them a few times and just loved the basic style and feel. Don't want to wait years until i can get a 1.8t. Thanks for your help.
In that case why not look at a 1.8 non turbo.
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so Rich and Wayne... is it just the early - 2001 models of the 1.4 and 1.6 that were more likely to occur gearbox failure? mines an 03 plate, seems ok so far, never had a problem. Did they change the setup or something?
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so Rich and Wayne... is it just the early - 2001 models of the 1.4 and 1.6 that were more likely to occur gearbox failure? mines an 03 plate, seems ok so far, never had a problem. Did they change the setup or something?
I believe the later ones were a different design.
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I hope so lol, no bad signs as yet.
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First of all . id make sure the engine is not stolen!!! as i was ripped off 2k with this problem last week buying a 1.6, turns out it had a 2.0 stolen engine in it
easyly missed if you dont know what your lookin at, and then by time u realise, and contact seller you get the "sold as seen" bullsh!t lol
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Cant u get him done for stolen goods? wud it come under as that? take it u have contacted ur local police.
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Just tried contacting my local vw dealership and they said they cant even tell me if they can changes rivets on the MK4 without a chassis number, wasn't asking about any specfic MK4 but just the DUU gearbox in general so no help therefore cant get a quote for doing this yet.
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so Rich and Wayne... is it just the early - 2001 models of the 1.4 and 1.6 that were more likely to occur gearbox failure? mines an 03 plate, seems ok so far, never had a problem. Did they change the setup or something?
2003 is is fine :afro: