Topics

1

VW Water Cooled / Golf III Front Upper Suspension Strut Mount

« on: June 13, 2010, 03:03:21 PM »

Recently notified on MOT advisory that my "Nearside front Macpherson strut has slight movement at the upper attachment".

From what I have read, the likely caused of the above is a worn upper suspension strut mount and that replacing this would hopefully rectify the problem. I don't intend to keep the car for anymore than 12-18 months so would rather just replace the upper suspension strut mount (instead of new shocks) to keep costs down.

Before I proceed can anyone just confirm the following for me:

1. Having removed the suspension strut from the car whether I will need to take the suspension strut apart (using spring compressors etc) just to replace the upper mount. I am not sure whether the mount rests on top or is attached to the strut.

2. The minimum replacement parts that I will require are a new upper mount, 1 upper locking nut and 2 lower locking nuts (as per Haynes manual). I don't think I need any new bearings, bump stops etc.

If relevent, my Golf is a late mark 3 (1998) 1.6CL.

Any help before I proceed with the above would be most appreciated.

2

VW Water Cooled / Mk3 Steering Wander

« on: October 23, 2006, 08:56:59 PM »

I am finding that my Mk3 has a tendancy to wander left, towards the kerb, to the extent that I have to hold the steering wheel slightly to the right to keep the car in a straight line.  Also the steering is vague at low speeds and you have to over steer to compensate when approaching say a mini roundabout or junction.

In order to solve the above I initially changed the drive belt and tensioner. This had no effect so I recently got a local garage to look at it who changed the power steering pump. This again had no effect although they did advise that the inside of the front two tyres where badly worn which indicated poor wheel alignment.

Having today got the four wheels computer aligned (the toe in and camber were slightly out) again the problem still remains.

I am at a loss in knowing what to do next as no one seems to be able to identify what is wrong.  I need to replace the two worn front tyres but I don't want to fork out only for them to wear down again if the cause has not been rectified.

Any help or ideas regarding the above would be most appreciated as this is really driving me mad.

3

VW Water Cooled / Mk3 Golf Drivebelt Tensioner

« on: April 22, 2006, 11:49:31 AM »

Can someone please tell me where the "central nut" is located on the auxiliary drivebelt rotary tensioner, which would enable the release of tension from the ribbed drivebelt?  

Is it the 17mm nut in the centre of the pulley wheel?

Also, how do you know whether the tensioner has worn out and what is the procedure for replacing it?

My vehicle is a 1998 Mk3 Golf 1.6CL, engine code AEE, and the tensioner is VW part number 030 145 299C.

Sorry to appear so dumb on this one but I just can't grasp how the rotary tensioner works and the drivebelt change on my old Mk2 was far more straightforward. The Haynes manual offers no diagrams to enable the location of the elusive "central nut" and no explanation at all on how to replace the tensioner.

Any help in respect of the above would be much appreciated.

4

VW Water Cooled / Mk3 Golf Coolant Panic

« on: April 17, 2005, 07:55:18 PM »

Over the weekend I decided to replace the coolant in my 1988 Mk3 Golf 1.6CL (AEE Engine Code).

As coolant gushed out, having removed the thermostat housing to flush the engine, I noticed that the hexagonal protective cap on the transmission housing was open.  I shut the cap as soon as possible but I can't be sure whether any of the coolant went in through the open hole.

I'm not sure of the exact purpose of the hole on the top of the transmission casing however the Haynes manual leads me to believe that it is an inspection hole.

Can anyone confirm the exact purpose of the above hole and also the consequences if any coolant had entered in.

Thank you.

5

VW Water Cooled / Lukewarm Response From Golf Mk2 Heater

« on: September 20, 2004, 08:29:30 PM »

For the last couple of winters, the heater on my Mk2 Golf 1.8GL has been only able to blow out lukewarm air, at best, although having tried the heater a couple of times throughout the summer it appears to be operating normally (hot) which, of course, is of little use.

I fitted a replacement Halfords thermostat about 18 months ago but this appeared to have no effect on the operation of the heater.

Any suggestions regarding the possible cause and remedies to the above would be greatly appreciated.