Mk3 16v Problems!

[Len]

Then I would advise you to invest in a fire extinguisher!

If the wiring has been messed around with to the extent you say then some may be dodgy!

[patch900]

If you really want to keep it, garage it and project it. Strip it down and that way you can sort out all the problems, none of them seem major to correct (just time) and you have mechanic friends so it wont cost you and arm and a leg.

Mechanically, by the sounds of it the gearbox will need stripping down, which will cost £2-400 (unless your mates can do it. Handbrake shouldnt be a very expensive problem (cable etc).  Your mates should be able to do the cam belt and all the rest.

At least the engine isnt knackered (I hope), the main problem seems that the electrics have been well and truly screwed around with and need sorting.

If you take it off the road, your mechanic mates can have a good look at it and sort out all the under the bonnet stuff for you while its off the road.

Then you can sort out the body work, hinges etc afterwards when under the bonnet is sound.

Personally, I wouldnt spend anymore cash on the car until your mate gives his honest opinion. Then you can cost it all up and see if its worth it. If your mates will do most of the work for you (cash in hand), then your mainly looking at the cost of bodywork which will be ~£200 / panel.

It always amazes me what condition people can get a car into, I saw some Mk3 before I bought mine that where in a right state. Bubbling on the body is pretty common.

[Len]

He doesnt have a garage!

[Pete Taylor]

When you weigh it up it's not that much hard work I guess. I've already fitted a new side skirt (£15), new crystal fog lights (£50), x2 new wing mirrors (£50 pair), x2 rear door handles off a 5 dr (£12), new window motor (some guy paid £198 for it, i got it off him on ebay for £32 delivered), I had a CAT1 alarm and immobiliser fitted with a stage 2 proximity sensor too (normally 350 with the proxy sensor, got it fitted for 230). Really it's just the bodywork that's the costly bit, i've been quoted £250 for the rear quarter to be done. The thing that made me go for the car is the fact it runs and pulls really well apart from the gearbox (will a VR6 box ffit in?) and I got it for a bargain. I was looking for 3 months specifically for a 3dr 2.0 16v red GTi. I got a grand cash the other day and I get a bonus from work next month so I'm thinking of just buying all the bits now and blitzing it in a day with my mate! Ordered a plug for the back of my ABS airbag unit so i'll wire that back up myself when i get it. I'm going to pop in halfords on the way home and pick up some of the autoglym engine bay cleaner (rang a valeter today to see if he did engine steam cleaning and he said not anymore but recommended that stuff) so i'll get the bay all clear of oil on sunday ready for the new belts! Going to have a flick through the haynes manual and see where and how to get the throttle bodies off and give them a good clean up with the same stuff. Ultimately I wanted to fit in a leather interior and bin the smelly old one once all the leaks were sorted.

My mate won't charge me for fitting the parts at all because i'm forever fixing his PC which is a bonus  I Just wish I had some better pictures of what it looked like when I first picked it up!!

[patch900]

Go for it Pete,

As you say you and your mates can do all the other stuff then all you have to pay for is the body 

Tell us how you get on.

[Pete Taylor]

Anyone know if the VR6 box will slip in? Drove my mates VR6 the other day and the gearbox felt a million times better than mine!

[Pete Taylor]

Result! Having my window motor fitted on wednesday and then loads of work is being done next sunday! I've got my mate ordered loads of parts ready for some guy to fit..

Cam belt with tensioners and pulleys
Power steering belt
Cam oil seal
Rocker cover
Handbrake cable
rear discs, wheel bearings and pads

All being fitted for £150 labour! mwuhaha!

Hopefully the week after its time for new engine and gearbox oil, new oil filter, clean the cone on the induction kit, new fuel filter, new spark plugs and a good cleaning of the throttle bodies which me and my mate will do. Should be running like a dream after that!

[Pete Taylor]

Well I had all my parts fitted yesterday, cost me £190 for it all to be fitted in the end as sureparts gave me the wrong rocker gasket and tensioner and he had to go out himself and get the parts! There was one problem though.. he rang me and told me my rear left caliper had totally seized.. I was thinking this was probably what was causing the abs fault that corner (well, i was hoping!). Sureparts managed to get me a brand new caliper shipped in the same day for £54 which he also fitted. Seems the abs sensor is completely missing though!!! Going to have a busy day on wednesday though.. Doing a full engine and gearbox oil change, oil filter change, fuel filter change, cleaning up my induction filter, fit new spark plugs, fitting 2 new rounded off carrier bolts on my caliper and hopefully fitting a new abs sensor if i get it before wednesday! With the new gates cam belt fitted with tensioner and timed, new power steering belt, working handbrake and new rear brake setup, new rocker gasket stopping oil going into the spark plugs and my throttle bodies cleaned it feels like a new car! Unbelievable difference!!
Hopefully with the full service we're doing wednesday it'll be even better! When that's done it's time to get the bodywork tidied up then source a new interior!

By the way I fitted a new pollen filter as my old one was black with an inch of leaves on top (don't think it's ever been changed) and I would seriously recommend everyone doing it! For the sake of a couple of quid and a couple of minutes work my blowers work a million times better and my screen demists in seconds rather than minutes!

I also flushed out my engine coolant twice with rad flush and filled back up with some lovely pink ready mixed coolant from halfrauds and all that seems to be working pretty well. Happy bunny again now 

[patch900]

Nice one Pete, glad to hear its going well. 

[Len]

Glad its all working out for you Pete.

ABS - maybe and I aint sure about this but on some cars there arent any sensors on the rear wheels! Worth checking.