A few questions that I need answering

[Smoothyworld]

Hello!

My first post.  I've been looking around for a VW Golf GTI forum and this looks like a good one (do like the "The Good Guys" section) so thought I'd join.  I'm a bit of a novice when it comes to cars, hence needing forums like this!

Anyway, I have a Golf 1.8T GTI, 51 plate (Sept 2001)



Took it to the VW Croydon garage in Purley way back in December 2007 for a service and MOT and came back with a recommendation that the throttle valve should be changed (the engine light came on a week before I put it in).  They quoted me £515 for parts and fitting, which is a lot, especially as the service and MOT came to around £300-ish on its own.  Anyway, didn't get it done, the engine light was reset/off and a week later, it came back on (and has stayed on ever since).

Now I'd like to get it done but the price they have quoted is surely insane.  If I looked for a reputable VW specialist garage in or around South East London, what price would I be looking at?

Also, the rear "tail" light (on the left) is non-working (although the brake and other lights are working).  I gather that replacing the bulbs is not easy.  If I got this done at a VW specialist place, what price am I looking at for that?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

[barrett84]

changing the bulb is easy enough, you have to take the nuts out that hold the light unit in (three in total i think) then take the unit out and in there is the bulbs to replace pritty simple.

[Ashmond]

I know a couple of guys who specilise in mk4 golf 1.8t's and vw's in general, a few members (vw bob) have used them and have gone back to them for a few jobs, pm me your number and il get them to give you a ding, they sorted my car out from 17 faults down to nothing.

with regards to your tail lights, the actual bulbs can be replaced within 2 minutes but it may be that your bulb holder has given up the ghost, this happened to me the other week, £10 for the pair, click out the old one, click in the new one and bobs your uncle!

Anymore questions just ask, we are useful here  

[topher]

Bulbs are a doddle, couple of quid from halfords (make sure you pick the right ones, they have to be the slim ones with the bulb glass the same width as the collar).

It would be interesting to get your car on vagcom (diagnostics) to see what it is making the vw 'technicians' want to replace the throttle valve. Usually they just need a bit of a clean, but there are a few fault codes that register as the throttle valve which are other, cheap and simple to fix problems.

[Smoothyworld]

I will check out the bulb thing when I get back as well as deal with the engine light/throttle valve problem, I'm off on Easter Holidays in less than an hour!  Thanks for your comments though.  I'd be happy to get the car checked out by someone other than VW Croydon.

[linz]

mite sound complicated but hey you own a 1.8t 

[Smoothyworld]

Back.  Sorry it's been a while.  I haven't done anything to the car yet.  Anyway, funny thing about the engine light that came on around christmas.  It went off on its own accord last week.  Very strange    Car's been normal before and after this event.

As for the lights, I'll try and tackle it this weekend.  Hopefully it's pretty easy to remove but I'm not the sort of person who tends to get his hands dirty so it may be a struggle, or it could be surprisingly piss-easy LOL

If anyone can devise a good step-by-step guide to taking the bulb out then I'd be massively grateful.  Yes, I really am that clueless!  Unless you lot recommend asking Halfords to do it (I suspect that will get a big negative LOL).  Thanks!