squeeky/ slightly "rough" steering when cold and a few more (also a quick hello)

[Twelfty]

evening all this is my first time posting and my first time owning a VW and my first gti  a couple of niggles nothing too major i think

first off the power steering seems to be a bit rough and squeeky on start up, is this an indication of anything?

second the rocker cover is leaking is this hard to replace? it looks and seems pretty straight forward but i wouldn't want any dramas if i pull off the rocker cover

third off the in02 thing has come up i saw that this means serious service but the previous owner has definately just serviced it so is this just a default code to come up if its not been reset by a vw dealer? and nothing to do with how the car is actually running

looking forward to getting know you all and thanks in advance for any helpful replies

[Wayne]

In02 is service due and can be reset as per instructions in the handbook.

[rubjonny]

what car is it dude?
squeeky/roughness sounds liek a loose PAS belt, aim for about 5mm of deflection.  rocker cover gasket should be easy, how easy depends which gti it is

[Twelfty]

it's a mk3 i think 1998 today i got home from work noticing a clunking sound and a bit of wobble on the wheels....... turns out the wheel bolts were 2 turns each loose -.- tightened those up nice now


ill check the PAS belt then and yeah ive done one before on a mk3 vaux astra and that was simple enough hopefully this will be just as easy

i dont happen to have the handbook is there anywhere i can find the instructions on here or elsewhere?

after findign the wheels bolts liek that ill be giving it a good service and a general bolt tightness check all over i think lol

[rubjonny]

haynes manual is worth having for general info, rocker cover on an 8v is a piece o wee, 8 nuts and off it comes. some pipes and the isv might need to come off but nothing spectacular to worry about.

[Twelfty]

cool thought so thats all good isv is that an idle stepper valve?

[rubjonny]

duh you have a 98 gti, no isv silly me
as you say later mk3 gti have a stepper motor inside the throttle body which does the idle

[Twelfty]

ok cool, does any one know how much a new clutch would be? i'm pretty sure it's starting to slip and i dont reckon it

[rubjonny]

decent sachs kit will set you back around £80