MOT failure!

[spikenipple]

are you missing this point??

11. O/S rear subframe mounting point excessively corroded

I would look into that first, It may only need a patch but knowing mk3's it could be major!

At least it's easy to get to

Turns out the bloke at the garage wrote points 6&7 wrong. The failures were about the gaiters, not the rack. So far i've secured the coil, fitted new clips on the rack gaiters (they failed on very minor splits where the clips go, said he'll pass it with new clips) and fitted a new clip on the O/S CV boot. Onto the ABS, bearings and rust next! Current MOT runs out on Friday so i'm cracking on

[Gavv8]

are you missing this point??

11. O/S rear subframe mounting point excessively corroded

I would look into that first, It may only need a patch but knowing mk3's it could be major!

I was about to say the same thing until i read your comment, this is far and away the biggest potential ballache, everything else is straightforward.

[spikenipple]

Having had a good look at the rear subframe mounting points, I can safely say that they are not excessively corroded at all. They have some surface rust, yes, but there's no flaking metal, holes or other serious corrosion-related damage.
The furthest offside mount for the rear bumper, on the other hand, is f**ked. Time to get the Mig out.
I'll call the bloke tomorrow and have him describe exactly where the excessive corrosion is.


Edit: Just the ABS, corrosion and rear shocks to do now, everything else is sorted.

[mrsaunders]

I put a nicely cut bit of black insulating tape over an abs light on one of my old mk3's few years ago and it passed MOT 

found a mk3 like this at my local scrapyard, clearly didnt work for them 

[Callum_K]

My ABS unit is playing up and I think it’s the ECU… not sure what I’m going to do about my MOT yet. Its an intermittent fault and have a few choices…
1)   Airbag only light from a CL so no ABS light = no fail
2)   Run the ABS LED off the airbag LED
3)   Just hope it’s cooperating at the time
4)   Get someone to fix my ABS ECU! This is preferable but I’m on holiday for the next few weeks so might not be an option.

[Len]

Perhaps you should clean your car more often spike! 

ABS sensors are cheap (approx £12) but you need to get a Vag Com check to see which one it is. Also a pig to do as I usually end up smashing them out!

[thai-wronghorse]

Every one I've ever done has needed to be smashed out and the hole cleaned out with a burr bit. Quite often iI've had to lightly sand the outer casing of the new sensor as well.

[spikenipple]

Perhaps you should clean your car more often spike! 

ABS sensors are cheap (approx £12) but you need to get a Vag Com check to see which one it is. Also a pig to do as I usually end up smashing them out!

I'll have you know my car is immaculate(ly filthy)   

Just had a look on ECP, it's about £22 for each sensor before the forum discount. I'll get the cable on it later.
The rust failure is a small hole in the front of the driver's side rear wheel arch, within 30cm of the subframe mount so a failable fault. Should be pretty simple to patch up.

[Jasikasisback]

rust is the nail in the coffin for mk3...cheap Russian steel....but it was good enough to win WW2...

[spikenipple]

Had a good old poke about this evening. On first inspection it didn't look too bad, but then I removed the sill trim and some of the waxoyl and starting poking some more and found this...



..then I removed the arch trim and found this...



...and this is what came off of the car...



So I'll cut it back and weld some new steel in there over the next few evenings. Fun.