dxg

If it was right in one of the corners, it was me! I have to park it there whenever I'm in the office. Costs a *fortune*. Deek.

I've tried to get further with this today, but no luck. The fuse in the fusebox is fine. My multimeter shows a complete ground circuit from the fuse box to the metal ring round the outside of the socket (remember that the lighter itself won't come out of the socket without power going to it). I made a start on trying to get access to the loom behind. Removed the switches under the heater control and could see a loom heading that way. Couldn't fit my fingers in far enough to feel for an in-line fuse behind the lighter socket. Took the cover plate off the heater controls and removed all the torx bolts I could see, but couldn't work out how to get the plastic frame that sits behind both the buttons and the heater controls out. So, two questions: 1/ How do you get access to the back of the ciggie lighter? - do this involve removing the central console (I fear it does), and if so - how do you do that. The how-to on this board for removing the dashboard just says "remove central console"! 2/ Will there be another fuse in the loom somewhere? I hope you guys can help me out, I'm *really* stuck without the TomTom as I don't know this city at all. Thanks, Deek.

You could crash at my place tomorrow night if you wanted. 15 mins from the meeting point. You'd have to put up with a futton, though (and the company of a stranger... style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":huh:" border="0" alt="huh.gif" />) Deek.

Does that time *exist* on a Sunday? style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blink:" border="0" alt="blink.gif" /> Anyway, I'll see you guys there as I should be able to make it. Looking forward to meeting you all. Deek.

So, have we decided on a meeting time and location? Or are we just trying to find ourselves down there? Deek

Two words: Gaffer. Tape. style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="B)" border="0" alt="cool.gif" /> Although I now have the parts in my posession, I've been handed a huge and urgent task at work that I'll have to work Saturday on - so the car might not even be clean, but it will be there... Deek.

^^ Sorted that out for you. Edinburgh is an awesome place to be a student. Even if you wind up spending first year on the HW campus (which is about eight miles from the city centre but has ample car parking) the Union's decent. Then get a flat in the city as close to the centre as you can afford for the rest of years and it's a great place to be! Deek (Graduated from the Watt in 1995). (Got a PhD from there as well in 2000, but we don't talk about that...)

Mine will have to be at the back of the back up que as I don't think I'll have time to get its spolier back on this Saturday (assuming the new parts turn up). It's currently got gaffer tape covering the holes and a bolt sticking out one side. Definately not show and shine, let alone club stand, material! Deek.

Back again! Okay, so the middle bolt wasn't seized, it was rotating inside the lens housing. The only effect the WD40 had was to remove all the touch-up paint (crayon?) from around the edges of the lens -- this must have been broken for ages as someone's has a serious go at trying to prize the lens off from the outside at one point. At least this will give me a chance to use the paint I've had since the days of the Polo... Anyway after much effort in drilling out that bolt, more pics: This would seem to be the general cause of everything - serious amounts of mould everywhere suggesting that the interior of the spolier must just be a wet place to be. Although you can see the red gasket behind, it doesn't seem to have had much effect. border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> The part number that all this was in aid of finding... border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> And this is the route of my problems - this can't be repaired. Note the absense of one of the prongs. This must have rusted right through so will still be in the socket attached to the loom. Haven't got a clue how I'll get that out without damaging the socket - any suggestions? border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> Cheers for now, Deek.

Ok guys, just thougt I would update you on progress - hopefully these piccies will help out people like me who haven't addressed this problem before. It has (mainly) been releatively straight-forward. The spolier is enterly bolted/screwed on. No glue involved luckily (aside from the gaskets). Only slightly difficulty i removing the spolier is realising that it's held on the middle by a plastic spacer inserted into the standard brake light whole insight the tailgate, underneath the spolier. So as well as realising the two bolts either side, you also have to slide the cover off the inside middle of the tailgate and undo the three screws in there (even though they don't appear to do anything, they do). Anyway, some piccies: Location of the bolts under the "hinge" gaskets either side. This is the nearside. Offside is easier as there's no wiring in there. 8mm bolt. border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> Spolier removed. Note the bolts either side as well as the three screw holes through the standard brake light location. A good length of cable will come free if you give it a bit of a tug (I hope it's still plugged in the other end!). border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> This is the source of the problem. Note the rust emerging from the connection and the reflection of the lens in the *puddle of water* lying inside the spolier. border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> With the middle plastic spacer removed you can see 3no 7mm bolts holding the actual brake light assembly onto the spolier. I need to remove this because the last owner has chipped the lens by trying to get it off from the outside using a screwdriver. border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> This is as far as I've got as the middle of those three bolts is completely seized. Just waiting a few hours to see if WD40 will have any effect. No sure how to treat the rust inside the socket still attached to the male connector on the end of the loom though. It looks to be really bad. I guess the only option is to cut off the connect and get a replacement, if there's enough length in the cable. The rust on the light assembly socket will be solved by getting a new assembly. When this goes back together, the connection's getting a good coating of vaseline! HTH, Deek.

Glasgow / Hamilton area.

I'll be there! Not sure about going on track, though. Are we making our own way, or organising a convoy? Deek.

Ah well, that's where it gets interesting. Noticed that socket didn't appear to the working when I plugged in the satnav. So, of course, I plugged in the ciggie lighter itself to confirm this style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" /> So now I'm going to have to take it all appart to get that out anyway. Anyone know how? I've checked the fuse in the box in the lower right dash - 15A / number 49 - and it's fine which makes me think there must be another fuse somewhere, or the socket itself has broken. Deek.

It seems the GTI I recently picked up has a few electrical "issues." Cooling fan wasn't working - but a new temperature sender has solved that (I think as I haven't heard it in a while...). Shortly after the temp sender was fitted, however, one of the 30A fuses on the busbar under the bonnet went style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":blink:" border="0" alt="blink.gif" /> but that's been replaced and I was shown that the fan does come on (at that point in time, at least). Ciggie lighter (into which the navigation that I need to get around a city I'm not familar with plugs) worked fine for a little while, but now it's no joy. It's fuse (#49) in the main fuse box is fine. Replaced with a higher current one just to check and still no power at the lighter. Now sitting with no fuse in that slot at all until I figure this one out. Could the radiator fan and the ciggie lighter not working be related in some way? I don't have a multimeter to check whether all the 30A fuses under the bonnet are still intact and I really don't want to start pulling random ones out. In fact, does anyone know what the fuses under the bonnet are for? Does anyone know if there's a further in-line fuse to the lighter somewhere? Failing that, are there any pointers for how to dissmantle the lower console around the gearstick so I can get in and investigate? If I can't get my head round it, I'll take a (albeit lower amerage) supply to the lighter socket from somewhere else - where would you guys recommend - the back of the stereo? A confused Deek.

I might be interested in this. Meant to meet up with you guys at St Andrews but just flew in from the States the day before and was knackered. If you were to go on track, can you make your mind up there and then or do you book in advance? Are helmets required (I'm guessing yes)? Are passengers allowed (anyone want to take me round!?)? May well just come along anyway. Car won't be clean enough for the stand, though. Deek.

How about: 1. Unscrew aerial from car. 2. Remove end cap from aerial (opposite end to the threaded end). Might need heat to loosen the glue. 3. Hacksaw the aerial to exactly half its original length (no more, no less - it needs to be this length so it will be twice the original division of the wavelength (if you see what I mean)) 4. Replace cap over cut end (glue it maybe?) and screw aerial back onto car. If you made sure that the twisted wire is now exactly half the length it was before, there shouldn't be too much of an effect on reception. The above will keep the OEM look and is free. Alternatively, just go for the next cheapest / least hassle option and get a decent beesting? Deek.

This is the road that most of the photos are from: google Oddly, there was an Evo of some kind (one of the recent ones) up there playing yesterday. We waved the second time we passed each other - having both turned round at opposite ends to give it another go! Deek.

It seems that a revised version has been issued that does actually play MP3s. I haven;t been able to track down either a model name or part number, yet, though... Source: http://www.tigerstyle.co.uk/poloforum/viewtopic.php?t=22332 << about halfway down that thread. Deek.

Yup - that was me - that just how long I've been thinking about getting one of these cars. Just been waiting until they came down in price to something I felt like spending. The March 2003 join date is from when I was thinking of buying an ex-demo one from my old dealer down south. Thanks for making me welcome guys. I think it's Faslang - but I'm not really up on my local knowledge yet - I've only been here since late last summer. Deek.

Thanks - just went out and had a look. The drivers side looks doable as there's no wiring in there, but the nearside bolt is obscured by a really tight braded cable (presumably for the heated rear screen). I'll try to get hold of a socket that's long enough to reach in to see if the cable will shift, but poking around just now it didn't look like there's enough slack in that cable to move it out of the way. I'll see how it goes. I need to get it sorted pretty soon as the MOT's not long off. Deek.

Hello everyone, Just thought I'd introduce myself, or more specifically the GTI I collected from Manchester this weekend. "Little Car" as it seems to have been christened (<geek> think "little girl" from the flashback intro to Serenity" </geek>) and I went on a journey this morning to find out more about each other. I think, once we've got a few bumps (rattles, cambelt, rear brake light, servicing, mot, paintwork - nothing much(!)) in our relationship ironed out, it should work out fine. So, off we set, and Little Car was wondering what all these really big hills were... border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> but was mainly happy to enjoy the wide empty roads. Until she came across some smaller stuff, which was all typical tourist/pictureqsue but didn't seem worth the journey... border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> in fact, given the size of some the machinery in this part of the world, she was feeling a little bit too small... border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> but after a little bit further, it all became clear... border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> there was only so much twisting and undulation that she could bare, however, so was pleased to finally get to climb into the hills and meet the (in)famous Glen Fruin Road... border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> after stopping off just to reflect on her good fortune for being brought to this part of the world... border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> she began to ponder just why such a large, fast road would be created and maintained to perfect condition up here in the middle of nowhere... border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> at which point her new owner decided to explain about the all the defense sites in this region... border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> On the way down the other side of the hill, both Little Car and her new owner had a quick look for Nessie... border="0" class="linked-image" /> border="0" alt="" /> but were dissappointed. Ah well. Deek.

Does anyone know how to gain access to the middle, spolier-mounted brake light on the GTI as mine's not working and I need to get it sorted? I had thought it'd be pretty simple, but removing the cover piece above the rear screen on the inside of the hatch leads nowhere - I guess this would lead to the brake light on normal Lupos, but not the GTI due to its spolier? I can't see anything obvious on the lens cover either - is it just glued in (and therefore do I release it with a heatgun?), or does it slide off in some way? It looks like the previous owners have tried to prise the cover off as there's a screwdriver-sized chunk missing, and it seems to be pretty firmly attached. The cover has a bit of movement at either end, so perhaps it's secured in the middle in some way. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated, if anyone's had to do this before. There must be a way - after all, how else do you replace the bulbs in the unit? I've checked the manual and it - of course - just says to take it to a dealer. Cheers, Deek.

Around 4pm, a very shiny red GTI with a missing towing eye cover was making an interesting job of creating its own right hand filter lane outside Holiday Inn trying to turn right onto Cowcaddens Rd. Didn't seem to be appreciated by those around it judging by the horn action. style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

Looks good, but if you left the clay bar as the last stage, then it will be sitting there with its paint exposed directly to the atmosphere. If I were you, I'd be waxing it about now.

Be careful of that unit. Although the literature says it plays MP3s, the few Polo bods with them are finding that they seem to only play WMAs. If you are buying one, do so with the agreement that you can return if it you also encounter this. Deek.