redlorry

Thank you both for your guidance and advice. In the end I bottled it and I've just bypassed the heater matrix. The downside may be that I have no heater in the car but I'm very happy to have the Lupo back on the road again

Unfortunately the heater matrix in my Lupo started dribbling into the passenger footwell last year. The car has been laid up since - awaiting better weather and more time for me to fix it. But now the time has arrived and I'm hoping to start work on it this weekend. I am aware that I will have to remove the dashboard to access and replace the matrix. I did download a Lupo manual online to see if this would help. Unfortunately I can't get this to open up on my computer. Therefore I remain ignorant and I'm not sure where to start and what to look for.... So...... I'm hoping some of you guys may and may be able to offer me some guidance?

The heater matrix on my 2002 Lupo SDI started to leak a few months ago, dribbling coolant into the passenger footwell whilst driving. I stuck some radweld into the coolant in the hope that this would cure it - and it did! But only for a short period.... When it started leaking again, I tried this fix again. And again it worked, but only for a while.... So, sadly, it looks like I can no longer avoid the inevitable need to replace the heater matrix I understand that this is a dashboard out job? In the absence of any repair manual for the Lupo, and given my limited mechanical skills, I am in need of some help! I am wondering if anyone on here has done this job and/or whether a detailed 'how to' is available

Nice one I may well be trying some of those tactics myself....

After patching it up previously, a hole has reappeared in my Lupo's exhaust just next to the cat. Don't think I can patch it again, so will need to replace... Decision is whether to replace with or without the cat - and then where to get the parts.... I've seen various conflicting posts around the web regarding getting through an MoT with a de-cat'd diesel. Anyone got any experience one way or other? And anyone got any recommendations on where to get a reasonably priced replacement part? Cheers

I'm also a bit nervous about sticking pure veg oil straight into my tank.... But when you can pick it up for near half the price of diesel per litre from the likes of Costco it becomes more and more tempting. A mix of diesel + veg oil may be worth a wee trial during this summer

I've been running my Lupo SDI on 100% biodiesel for over a year now without any probs. I had to change the fuel filter after a while when it clogged up, but no probs otherwise I understand that all non-PD diesel VAG engines made before 2004 are fine to run on high proportion biodiesel - so its probably a no-no for the Lupo TDI By the way though, 'normal' diesel bought from mainstream suppliers has between 2% and 5% biodiesel already mixed in... From what I read when researching the subject prior to starting to use 100% biodiesel in my Lupo, the main issues seem to be: 1. Because biodiesel has a greater 'solvent' quality than normal diesel, it can 'corrode' non-compatible fuel pipes and joints (this 'solvent' quality is also the reason it cleans fuel tanks and pipes and, as a result, initially clogs up the fuel filter). 2. High pressure diesel pumps (PD or Common Rail) aren't keen on biodiesel. Not sure if the above is universally applicable - perhaps other, more technically experienced folk on here may be able to advise..... Enjoy your cheap, emissions neutral motoring in your SDI

Good shout, cheers Just to point out that this offer only applies to orders over £300....

Is the front panel (in red) housing the indicators available? If so, how much - posted? Cheers.

My 2002 Lupo SDI has just reached 125k...

Now Sold.

No idea what your red cable is...

Top of the cambelt cover? But anywhere obvious/visible really - just have a look around....

Volkswagen suggest changing the cambelt at 60,000 or 4yr intervals on all models (Lupo SDI included) I think.... If there no confirmation in the service book, have a look on the engine or cambelt cover - sometimes there can be a sticker there confirming date/mileage belt was changed. Failing this, better to err on the side of caution and have it changed. The cost is likely to be approx. £250 upwards, depending where you get the job done.

How much for the plastic SDI engine cover, posted?

Would prefer not to, but better than sending them to the dump....

Front seats now provisionally sold - to be collected this evening. Rear seats and door cards still available. Open to offers.

Any offers?

Typical, eh! Cheers

Front and rear seats from my 2002 VW Lupo E model: - Drivers seat with height adjustment and tilt handle; - Front passenger seat with tilt handle; - 50/50 split rear seat (backrests and squabs); and - Matching 'hoop' headrests, front and rear (front fully adjustable). These seats are in good, albeit used condition. They could do with an easy, light valet to remove the various water marks that appear on each - I just haven't had time - but, importantly, there is very little sign of actual wear with no tears, holes, sagging or cigarette burns When they were removed from my Lupo, they had completed 120,000 miles. The only reason for this sale is that, through vanity, I have replaced these seats with a set of Red/Dark Grey Tim & Tom seats from an earlier Lupo. I now need the space, so need to move these seats on... Although I still have the original light grey door cards fitted, I have also just acquired a dark grey set that go better with the new seats. Therefore, the original light grey door card set may also be advertised separately later - as and when I get round to swapping them round These seats are also listed on eBay - see listing at My link for photos. Price? What say £30

Need to access from below, just between bumper and wheel liner. It can be a bit fiddly....

Hi there, How much for the front grille and red panel (housing indicators) posted? Hopefully less than every breakers yard I contact seem to want for these bits ;-) Cheers.

Assuming that you want a straight swap onto your Lupo's existing 4x100 hubs, as far as I know you are limited to G60 15" steels. Plenty of 14" options though - Golf/Vento mk3, Golf/Jetta mk2, Polo, Passat (to before), Ibiza, etc, etc. Otherwise it's alloys.....

Easy-peasy. Before starting on this task, suggest that you also get yourself a new sump plug nut and washer to replace the old one you'll be removing (available at GSF and any motor factors) plus (possibly) an oil filter removal tool - then you'll be ready to go.... Firstly, run the car for a while to get the oil warm and runny Next, get under the car and find the sump plug nut. Get a pair of gloves on (to stop getting oil all over your hands). Put a reasonable size container under the sump (a cat litter tray does the job) and loosen the nut with a spanner. Let the nut + washer fall into the container - and the old oil will quickly follow! Give it a while to empty - so maybe go make yourself a cup of tea Once the oil has finished flowing out of the sump, screw in your new sump plug (with washer). Then it's time to tackle the oil filter. If you are lucky, the last filter will have been put on by hand and can possibly be twisted off by hand - so give it a check first (remembering to turn it the right way). If the filter won't budge by hand, get your new oil filter removal tool to loosen the filter. If you didn't get an oil filter removal tool, a (messy) alternative is to hammer an old screwdriver through the filter and use this to lever the filter off. Just remember that the old filter will still be full of oil, so keep those gloves on and make sure you catch the inevitable spillage Once the filter has been removed, dab a bit of oil on around the filter's rubber seal and then simply hand screw the new filter on until it is tight. Then, finally, its time to pour that lovely new oil in through the oil filler cap. Pour the oil in a bit at a time, regularly checking the dipstick (having given the oil a moment to work its way down to the sump each time). Once the oil comes up to about halfway between empty and full on the dipstick, put the oil filler cap back on and run the engine for a wee while again. Once it has warmed a bit, switch the engine off and check the dipstick again. Then fill up with more oil until it reaches the full marker on the dipstick. Now you are ready to roll for another while remembering to make a plan to also replace the air filter, spark plugs, fuel filter, brake fluid, coolant and doing all the checks around the car as and when they are needed as well.... Good luck.

What about an SDI, if you aren't in a particular hurry?