New owner - service & general info required.

[NotMyName]

Not for me - i have an Astra myself (boo hiss you all say). My brother has just picked up an 02 plated 1.9 TDI (100bhp). All things taken into account, he couldn't afford a diesel with more power & wanted a Golf.

QUESTION 1:

would you only buy your service parts from VW (ouch!) or would you be confident with the quality buying from elsewhere? Basically he's after all filters plus the timing belt kit.

QUESTION 2:

With the Astra, if you change the timing belt, you're at the water pump as well so are advised to get it done at the same time. Does this apply for the Golf also?
As well .... how much would it cost for a back street garage to change the timing belt on this?

QUESTION 3:

Correct oil to use for this engine? Also, how many litres of oil does it take when doing a proper service? (he has no haynes or such to see what the figure is).

QUESTION 4:

It could do with some new front pads. My brother was looking at some brembo pads. I bought brembo's for my Astra from nextdaybrakes.com but when looking at pads for his, there's more than 1 sort listed: http://www.nextdaybrakes.com/info-part-finder?make=Volkswagen&model=Golf&Car.x=23&Car.y=26&engine=1.9000&year=2002&search=Part+Number which would be the ones for his (both front & rear)?

QUESTION 5:

Does it cost much to change the thermostat on this engine? It's not getting up to temperature as expected. When i bought my car i had the same issue & it required a new stat.

FINAL QUESTION:

Rear wiper is buggered - it doesn't move, at all. This a common fault? Any idea of the most likely causes?

Sorry if any dafty questions here - not the most mechanically minded you see.

[Steve_PD]

Not for me - i have an Astra myself (boo hiss you all say). My brother has just picked up an 02 plated 1.9 TDI (100bhp). All things taken into account, he couldn't afford a diesel with more power & wanted a Golf.

QUESTION 1:

would you only buy your service parts from VW (ouch!) or would you be confident with the quality buying from elsewhere? Basically he's after all filters plus the timing belt kit.

Dealers or eurpcarparts. If its just a oil change then I go to the dealers as its not that expensive

QUESTION 2:

With the Astra, if you change the timing belt, you're at the water pump as well so are advised to get it done at the same time. Does this apply for the Golf also?
As well .... how much would it cost for a back street garage to change the timing belt on this?

Yes its advised to do the water pump as they fail from time to time. about 3-4 hours labour and £200 in parts (genuine)

QUESTION 3:

Correct oil to use for this engine? Also, how many litres of oil does it take when doing a proper service? (he has no haynes or such to see what the figure is).

I only use VW Quantum I think it 10w40. It takes 4.5 litres of oil.

QUESTION 4:

It could do with some new front pads. My brother was looking at some brembo pads. I bought brembo's for my Astra from nextdaybrakes.com but when looking at pads for his, there's more than 1 sort listed: http://www.nextdaybrakes.com/info-part-finder?make=Volkswagen&model=Golf&Car.x=23&Car.y=26&engine=1.9000&year=2002&search=Part+Number which would be the ones for his (both front & rear)?

Its a TDI 100 so will have the smaller discs and callipers best to buy from the dealers or eurocarparts

QUESTION 5:

Does it cost much to change the thermostat on this engine? It's not getting up to temperature as expected. When i bought my car i had the same issue & it required a new stat.

Symptoms sound like a thermostat. About £40 for parts and an hours work

FINAL QUESTION:

Rear wiper is buggered - it doesn't move, at all. This a common fault? Any idea of the most likely causes?

Common problem on mk4s. The water hose has broken and leaked water into the motor causing it to seize.
http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/p/273229/1796785.aspx#1796785
http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/t/17985.aspx

Sorry if any dafty questions here - not the most mechanically minded you see.

My replys are in bold.
Also worth reading this
Service Guide
and this is a lost of communally asked questions and guides
Buying Guides, Common Faults, A BIG List Of How to's & INFO

[NotMyName]

Cheers steve

Regarding where to buy the parts from, that was asked mainly because of the timing belt & water pump rather than the filters.

Funny you say that about the rear wiper - as we saw an old receipt from 2006 mentioning a broken rear pipe repair.

[NotMyName]

Ahh, there's one i forgot to ask......

He was only given 1 key. It's handy to have 2 for obvious reasons.

I don't know what VW would charge for this. I'm guessing 3 figures ...?

Is there an easier, cheaper way?

We don't have vagcom or anything like that at the moment (probably never will after being told it costs a serious amount for proper vagcom). Do have a laptop if that becomes handy.

[richw911]

Ahh, there's one i forgot to ask......

He was only given 1 key. It's handy to have 2 for obvious reasons.

I don't know what VW would charge for this. I'm guessing 3 figures ...?

Is there an easier, cheaper way?

We don't have vagcom or anything like that at the moment (probably never will after being told it costs a serious amount for proper vagcom). Do have a laptop if that becomes handy.

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=111526.0

[Steve_PD]

Eurocarparts also gives you 25% off all parts with the forum discount code

Rear wipers are crap I replaced mine but its broke again so its staying that way

Regards the key VW will charge £150ish.
You need Vag-com and Vag-tacho to code the key. See if you can find someone in your area who can code it for you.
Key info here
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=111526.0

[NotMyName]

Was just having a look today & there's no fuse for the rear wiper at all. It spits juice out the back, it just doesn't wipe.

Annoyingly it doesn't say what amp fuse needs to be in its place. So, what amp fuse is required for the job?


Getting a bit ahead of ourselves for a split second ... once it's fully serviced & has been running with no issues for a while, he's considering a remap. Quoted figures are +30bhp & i can't remember the torque figures.

Would it be worth it for the money? That should take him faster than my 1.8 Astra which he's happy enough with for now. Or does the 100bhp not handle well to tuning? Would you upgrade any components before tuning? (not talking major increases, just the stated +30bhp).
It also states an increase on MPG but doesn't say what. Any ideas here, as book figures suggest 53mpg as standard.

[EsSeX dAn]

start by putting a 5a fuse in. if it goes try 7.5a if that goes 10a. if that goes theres a fault there. i think his engine will be a pd engine, so make sure to use specific pd oil. with regards to tuning remap will do well, but hell probably want more power afterwhich would mean decat, bigger injectors, bigger turbo aswell. all the pd turbos are interchangable between models. but personally i think the Pd130 turbo is best

[NotMyName]

So if you just go for a standard remap (such as +30bhp as quoted) then you don't need to really upgrade any other components? Only when you start tuning beyond this increase is when you'd upgrade other parts?

I take it you don't know which fuse is for the job then? Lol. Don't think we have any spare at home, will have to look.

[EsSeX dAn]

pretty much not a clue off top of head
itll be fine with just the remap, its just that the remap will be done itll feel fast. then itll be gotten used to. then youll want more n more.....