Help? - MK4 GTI 20V 1.8 (non turbo)

[mak911s]

Hi

newcomber to golf forum, but still a VW fanatic.

Out of VW train for 1.5 years, ie got shot of a 71 1302s bug(?500 1year mot needing desparate respray and 93K 1.0 polo 110K no History but ok).  Last Bug was 4th i've had(worst) from 6 cars i've owned(2 vauxahll - chevette 1st car and 2nd 2.3 VX viva) since passing test.

Now Advanced from the welding era...........

.......to a sh!t image but perfectly running and average milage Xantia and sh!t of a stick 2.5V6 omega(non diy servicing though painfully expensive to keep).

So

Just about to purchase a 1.8gti 20V non turbo(98S 32,000K miles warranted), ie signed papers and list of issues on car and pick-up in few days, with p/ex .. omega.

Car comes with warranty, but I didn't mention at time, that i noticed car engine was missing slightly when i test drove(noticed at standstill), after driven 5 miles from cold.  Is this normal.  Didn't test run much further.  

Did metion....
Car was misssing CD auto changer.  Is the autochanger std on the Mk4 1.8GTi s98 - non turbo.  What type(eg sony??? and ???mode???l)CD Auto changer do i need to buy to suit.

Other issues with car were rusty rear seat belt metal and stitching on rear seats.  Seats were completly burst open as if stitching just not addequate.  

Another issue, drivers door not shutting as well as passengers.  ie needing a harder slam.  No upward/downward movement so hinge ok?

Any advise appreciated as still have option of piling out.


Thanks for any advice.....


Mark.

[rac_gti]

Right .. did u have the car checked out ? bad history of accident damaged etc ..

As for the stereo it should be original gamma stereo! Cos i have mk4 gti 1.8 non turbo 1999 T reg and i don't have auto changer .... i know they in gti turbo version from 2001 but i ain't sure ok
 

[lloydee]

Mark

Car doesn't sound like it's done 32K miles ? and the door problem could mean it's been in an accident ! How does the paint match up and can you see any paint overspray on the rubbers anywhere ?

I've just bought a 99 "S Plate " Non Turbo 20V GTI with 73K on the clock and it is mint all over , solid as a rock , no misfiring , all interior sound and drives very smooth.

The problems you say your car has, sounds like it has been abused , possibly damaged, and from what I have read on this web site is not suffering with common MK4 problems.

The only problem I have sufferred is the old favourite .... electric window regulator plastic clip failure !

I'd walk away if I where you , sounds like you could be buying a heap of trouble and there are many other GTI's out there for sale in good nic if you look hard enough.

The CD changer is not standard fit on 98/99 Non Turbo's , it was a dealer option upgrade but you can get new one's from non VAG ICE suppliers for about ?140 ( Recent Ad in Performance VW ) and they just plug in the socket in the boot.

Good Luck

[kniterider]

got a 99 non turbo 20v and not got any of them probs and mines done 76,000k now, id get an aa or rac inspection if you still want the car, but if it has the miles you said it should be a pearler!, i have three kids who regulary jump about on rear seats and all of my stiching is fine, as for rust??? i can only think previous owner must have had dogs or something!, as for the door they are big heay doors on the mk4 3dr, check door pins arnt worn my drivers door is level etc but occasionally you have to slam it harder to shut it, the misfire sounds like an electrical problem, maf/temp sensor? or maybe plugs and leads, a aa-rac check should confirm any probs,
oh yeah stereo should be a gamma unit, mine had no cd, but i got a sony six dic changer leads and interface from mcs for ?136 only took 30 mins to fit, there was no plug in the boot for my changer i was told this was on later models that is why i had to run the cables etc under the carpet to the dash.

let us know how you get on, like was mentioned earlier theres plenty more out there, so if its a bad one walk away

[mak911s]

Thankx for the advice.

Did a full hpi check on car today and came back all clear, and mileage looks legit, 2 owners so far with 19k recorded at 1st owner change 01/2001 and 31k recorded when car sold at auction to current dealer 10/2003.  Exterior of car is mint apart from 1 ruster of a stone chip on front edge of bonnet that dealer has promised to sort out.
Last owner a lady, so i'm assuming back seat burst as possibly a child seat here, and if anything like mines, likely to put excess pressure on stitched center panel.
Rusty rear belt metal, no idea, car possibly in bottom of a river crossed my mind a few times :'(
Drivers door not shutting, i'm putting this down to possibly the car facing down hill and drivers side sloping towards road, as this is way i remember garage.  Passenger door helped by gravity and all.
Mentioned misfire to dealer today and as we spoke he said plugs were being changed, so hopefully this will sort.
Expecting dealer to argue the point tommorow on the Cambelt.  VW have recommended change it at 4years or 80K miles whichever is 1st.  Car now older than 4(dec98) and not had cambelt done, so i've asked for this also.

Is this the case, ie 4 years or 80K or are VW just being greedy.

Cash now in hand for swap tommorow, assuming everything fixed.

 

[D Owen]

Get the cambelt changed ASAP - I had a (sorry to mention it here in a GTi forum) Renault Clio and after 76k the cambelt went and bent all the valves, and I had to have a new top engine - very costly.

So it is worth getting it done.

Now I have a MK4 99 non turbo 20v and it has done over 100k and the Cambelt has been changed twice.

Tell us how you got on

John

[sijunior]

I have a 20v Turbo on a W/2000, its done 75k and its still in mint condition, apart from the usual plastic clip snaping on the lecky window mechanism.
Rust?there shouldn't be any rust,  VW should have some sort of Ant-corotion waranty stone chip or no stone chip.
And if you really want this car and your buying from a dealer I would insist that they sort out these problems,
If not walk away, you could find a better MK4 with the same 32K on the clock

[Franko180]

It does sound like you know your cars but I'll offer what I know.

I dont have experience of this specific model (just turbo mk4s) but I can tell you what I know about high mileage Mk4s.

My 2nd 1.8t I had from brand new and parted company with it in June this year with just under 100,000 on the clock in 3 years.

The tell tale signs were

a very VERY smooth stearing wheel. New/low mileage ones should have a 'matt' surface, mine ended up like gloss!

I made a nasty hole in the floor mat where my heel (shoes for work every day!) went straight through it in to the carpet/vinyl foot rest thingie(!) - that also had a nasty mark in it.

Obvious stone chips on the bonnet

Engine bay pretty ditched

Alloy wheels seemed very hard to clean properly, lots of pitted in break dust and a general dullness

The only explanation I can think of for the rusted rear seat belt clip must be the driver spilt some fluids in there which also ruined the seats. Or (less likely) the famous leaking rear jet washer leaked towards the seats (i dont think it can!)..

The 100k I put on the car was a lot of motorway mileage, so it took a fair beating a higher speeds, probably why I got the stone chips and tarnished alloys..

[mak911s]

Hi all

Bought the car and pretty happy with everything now apart from the seatbelts issue.

After valeting car this weekend have found more internal corrosion to underside of seats, springs in seats, some structural metal i can see behind dash(warm area due to heater).

Also noticed a wet patch at rear passenger side footwell and best guess is its been an antifreeze spillage from boot area.  Fluid sweet to the taste.
Is it possible for antifreeze vapours to circulate in the car over a period and cause rust/coorosion damage.  Corrosion is worst(but not that noticable) at passenger side.  Rear seat which suffered from burst stitching looks to have been caused by this leak as have now also found foam dissolving beneath coverings. around area of leak.

Or, is this looking like flood damage, what do i check for?

Cars been HPI checked and all clear and would have though flood damage would have shown up in this check.  Thanx for any advice

Cheers

Mark

[kniterider]

right get in your car , have the ignition on and operate your rear wash wipe, yeah, if no water coming out yet tank under bonnet full looks like youve got the common vw golf mk4 fault, the pipes break/disconnect any where from the roof lining to the boot lid,  this inturn causes a rain of screenwash/water any where in your car that it has broken/disconnected!!!!, is your roff lining stained/wet?? if not just follow it, get some one to activate the rear wash whilst you listen for sloshy sloshy noises!!, hope this is of some help as im sure this is your prob!!!