Help - My mk2 is falling apart!

[peacher]

Hi

I have only owned my Mk2 Golf Gti (8v) for a few months and spent most of the first month getting the basics sorted (cambelt replaced, service, get the car running right etc). I have now started to use it on a daily basis travelling to and from work every day (65 mile round trip) and unfortunately seem to be finding more and more faults with it every day.

A list of the faults I have found are below and I was hoping someone here may be able to offer suggestions on how to fix them and also the likely cost?

- Clutch is slipping badly, think it needs a new one which I reckoned may be about £250?
- Wheel bearing is on its way out - reckon that would be about £60 to replace?
- Unable to put more than half tank of fuel in the car (max I have had is 33 litres and read the tank can take about 55 litres). Thought it may be some sort of blockage but have no idea how to check for this/fix it?
- Possibly related to the above, but the fuel gauge stopped working completely today! Was showing half a tank earlier and now sits as far to the left as possible (well below empty) .Is it a knackered gauge?
- Rattling/misfiring sound when breaking and changing down gears. Not sure if this could be the exhaust loose at the front (the backbox was replaced 2 weeks ago by me so can't be that)?

The list could probably go on and on but these are the main ones I want to get fixed so any advice any has would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Peter

[...joe]

ultimately they are old cars so you have to expect to give them a bit of work.

if the clutch needs doing, then i'm afraid you'll have to go for it. price sounds about right.
wheel bearings are easy with the right tools but if not they aren't to long a job so shouldn't cost much.
when you fill up can you see the fuel at the top of the filler neck? i can get mine almost out the car so if its coming up the filler ans still only reading half a tank i'd say its a problem with the gauge which also would account for it not working. i'd have said its more likely to be an "in tank" problem, rather than a gauge problem.
easiest way to check the ehaust is to either get under it and check it out or block the tailpipe with the engine running breifly, you should be able to hear any leaks. you sure the exhaust isn't leaking from where you replaced the back box?

come rubjonnyanswers please!

[rubjonny]

1 Clutch is pretty straight forward, but tricky if you're on your own.  A trolley jack and a strong mate are required to help really, but it can be done on your own just expect a stuggle
2 You should get it pressed in by a garage, hammering it in at home isn't recommended and usually ends in them failing prematurly
3 Doubt this is a problem with the tank, there isn't really anything that can go wrong with them, see 4
4 Probably a dodgy reading on the gauge thats the cause of all your troubles, lift up the boot carpet and you'll see a black disc.  Take this off and you'll see the top of the lift pump/gauge sender assembly, undo the big plastic nut on top and lift it out.  Somewhere on it you'll see the level float, and connected to this a contact strip. Give this a good clean, switch on the ignition a wiggle the float, the dash gauge should move
5 Check all your zaust heat shields round the downpipe and under the car.  Check all your rubber hangers are OK and not stretched.  If they are, whack a big jubilee clip round em and tighten
Is the engine actually misfiring, or is it just a rattle/knocking noise?

[Mirage-]

- Clutch is slipping badly, think it needs a new one which I reckoned may be about £250?

You can get clutches for next to nothing, depends on what you are after but it's a home-fit diy job so prices starting from £50 for a clutch kit.

- Wheel bearing is on its way out - reckon that would be about £60 to replace?

Which wheel bearing? Front is a single unit and requires a press to push it out but again not much cost involved.  I usually remove the hub and take it down to my local scrap yard who charge £10 to press the old one out and the new one in  

- Unable to put more than half tank of fuel in the car (max I have had is 33 litres and read the tank can take about 55 litres). Thought it may be some sort of blockage but have no idea how to check for this/fix it?

I can't say that I've ever really filled the tank completely so can't even estimate a guess as to what you should be able to fit in there.

- Possibly related to the above, but the fuel gauge stopped working completely today! Was showing half a tank earlier and now sits as far to the left as possible (well below empty) .Is it a knackered gauge?

It's either a loose/disconnected wire to the gauges or a knackered lift pump in the tank.  Open the boot, remove the carpet and you should see a round plastic cover over to the drivers side held in with a couple of screws.  Just remove that and you have access to the lift pump, try shorting the connector (can't remember which pins though as some are 2 pin, others are 3 pin) and check the gauge. If it still doesn't move it's a problem further down the loom and not necessarily related to the lift pump itself.  If it is the pump you'll need a pair of water pump pliers as it's a bit of a job to unscrew the pump without.

- Rattling/misfiring sound when breaking and changing down gears. Not sure if this could be the exhaust loose at the front (the backbox was replaced 2 weeks ago by me so can't be that)?

Leaking exhaust letting air into the system when/where it shouldn't causing a vapour detonation.

Regards

Ian

[psenior1]

I have a nearside front hub with OK bearing in you can have for nowt if you want it...

[peacher]

Thanks for the replies.

Think I will try and have a look at the float at the weekend as it sounds relatively easy to do. The clutch and the wheel bearing will probably have to get done by a garage as I am bit mechanically challenged (need to work out if is the front or rear one on the way out - seems to change depending on if I am cornering or just driving along the motorway).

As for the exhaust don't think there is actually a misfire, just seems to be that I hear the noise when I am breaking and changing down but the more I think about it, it is probably rattling I am hearing. Think I will investigate the exhaust and heat shield when I get a chance too.

Regarding the fuel tank - I can fill up with fuel until I see it at the top of the filler neck but still only seems to take about 30 litres or so. Does any one know what the capacity is for the tank (on a 92 8v) as was sure I read in the handbook that it was supposed to be 55 litres?


Cheers,

Peter

[takethefifth]

Fuel tank - If you can see it at the top of the filler neck it's full, so unless some mobsters have stashed their loot in your petrol tank taking up valuable space its defintaly the sensor reading wrong! Follow those guy's advice and have a look.

[Judderi]

Are you sure your tank is empty when your filling up? If your gauge is reading wrong then you may actually have half a tank left.