Mk2 GTI J Plate(Started to clean her up 27/03/09)

As I explained in my neewbie thread not only am I new to the site Im new to VW.

Here is what has brought me to the VW fold.

These two pics were from the for sale thread on Ed38





I got to Chelmsford and had a real good look round it was as he said near on mint.
Rust bubble on the drivers door at the bottom and some near the battery in the engine bay. Ive had a few quotes so both should dissapear soonish.
Mechaniclly all seemed fine im not to bad with a set of spanners so I was confident with my purchase.
I got it home and started to learn more about VW's through Nomads & Ed38.

I realised that The

1. Rear wiper didnt work, Didnt think to try when I bought it.
2. Fog lights didnt work
3. Reverse lights didnt work
4. Handbrake warning light didnt work, I didnt know I was meant to have one.

Quickly sorted all the problems

1. Rear wiper wasnt plugged in
2. Fog lights had no fuse
3. New reverse switch from Euro
4. Replaced the warning light on the dash and it worked spot on. ( I recived this for free through a forum member on Ed38 )

I cleaned it and these are the results.





A dirty engine bay shot for all the buftys. lol (Ive now started the long and boring process of cleaning it all up progress shots to come later.)



Ive added a few things since buying her, some for orginality others because Im quite sad with my cars.

Strut top caps, The rubber bits behind the mirror adjusters,German First Aid Box(From a Merc Bus lol), Momo Steering Wheel, New Plates, Central locking pump & ISV(Mine was making quite a loud clicking noise.
Thanks to Matt I'll also have new rubbers for the pedals & a New VW badge for the rear.

Its had a full & very detailed service by the guys at Motorwerks/Voodoo that threw up a few problems but they've rectified them all, it feels loads better.

New Plates Fitted earlier today







Steering Wheel



Handbrake warning light that works



Thats it for now.

i like!

the black vinyl around the window, we peeled dubsy's off cos is was like yours... my what fun we had lol!

i need a mk2 in my life!

Only thing I'd add is that if it's not gone already, add a blue expansion cap to the order with Fitzy!

Black ones have a habbit of failing and that could lead to blown Rad/Head-gasket/heater matrix

i have one of them spare

Wildchild wrote:

the black vinyl around the window, we peeled dubsy's off cos is was like yours... my what fun we had lol!

Ive looked on here http://www.volkswagenstickers.co.uk/index2.php?cmd=search&cat=8 they sell replacements so that'll be done when the weather is nicer for longer.

vwdeviant wrote:

Only thing I'd add is that if it's not gone already, add a blue expansion cap to the order with Fitzy!

Black ones have a habbit of failing and that could lead to blown Rad/Head-gasket/heater matrix

Ive been told that by a few people.

Spare one you say Wildchild? How much?

you can have it. you going santa pod?

it is just the cap yer, im not being dumb here?

Wildchild wrote:

you can have it. you going santa pod?

it is just the cap yer, im not being dumb here?

No Santa Pod for me as Im working.

Yeah its just the cap that need replacing from what Ive been told, thanks very much.

let me know when your about

Very nice, good buy me thinks.

Scrubs up really well dude! wheels look the tits too, shame you cant make the pod sunday!! will catch up with you at the next meet

nice motor mate

Well heres the only dirty engine bay shot Ive got



I started to clean the bay up today.

Firstly I started with the N/S wing and anything attached to it.
I didnt get any pics of the before Im still not happy with it so I'll hit it agan in a few days.
Best bit though ishow I managed to transform a old very dirt washer bottle from the above pcture to what you see here.



I then did the O/S wing and anything attached, I got some before pics of this.



Bit of Steam Cleaner and Gunk revealed




All refitted



I couldnt spend as long as I wanted to on it as I run out of time and gunk.

I steamed the engine and gearbox and its starting to look better no pics yet as im not happy enough to post them.
You can see the diffrence of the inlet manifold with the first and last shot, still more to do though.
More boring shots to follow over the next few days/weeks

looked really sweet today - u've done a good job!

sorry i couldnt chat more 2day (typical friday!!)


speak 2 u soon matey

Fitzy wrote:

looked really sweet today - u've done a good job!

sorry i couldnt chat more 2day (typical friday!!)


speak 2 u soon matey

Thanks for the bits mate I fitted the clutch pedal in the car park lol.

I know what work can be like I dont get chance to scratch my arse in mine

wow!!!!! top job mate the difference is amazaing, therell be some nice engine bay shots when im next sniffing round with the camera then

Looking good dude, quite a transformation after just a bit of elbow grease.

More cleaning happened yesterday while everyone else was enjoying Santa Pod.
Not exciting but Im putting them up here so I can see in the future just how much of my life I wasted with cars. lol
I spent more time in the engine bay steaming and scrubbing I reckon another afternoon and its going to be as good as its going to get,
no pics yet as Im not happy with it.

I renewed the washer fluid tubing from the water bottle to the jets as the old stuff had black crud in them that I couldnt shift and had turned orange with old age, that was suprisingly difficult as the Halfords stuff was afair bit smaller than VW so the pump was a real ball ache got there in the end.
No pics of that ...... Yet. lol

I also cleaned the door jars/shuts & the same with the tailgate No pics of the tailgate.

Drivers side only the after shot, I forgot the before but it was black, real black & dirty worse than the passangers side x3.



Passanger side before



After



After that I gave it the old TBM, Auto glym SRP, and some plastic treatment.
The light had gone by the end of all that so no pics you'll be happy to read.
(Excuse the pics just taken by phone)

Bazza wrote:

Looking good dude, quite a transformation after just a bit of elbow grease.

Thanks pal, Im real happy with the way its turning out slowly but surely as they say.

Just a few bits of paint I want sorting and I'll be happy as larry.

Pics are fine dude, coming on nice.

love this sh!t!

cant beat a proper clean car!

what you using?

Good cleaning, you are showing me the way...

Wildchild wrote:

love this sh!t!

cant beat a proper clean car!

what you using?

The aim is to have a clean car I also started to steam the underneath but it was taking ages with such a small steamer so I'll do it at work with the bus steam cleaner. muhahaha.

Im using Gunk Degreasent, Toothbrush, Loads of micro fibres, Auto Glym Engine Cleaner, Megs Nex Gen car shampoo, and s*@! loads of elbow grease.

I want to buy a karcher and a foam lance next but not let her in doors find out.

are those steamers good? ive heard about them alot!

cleaning is always loads of elbow grease, gota have the right mindset before you start for sure!

Wildchild wrote:

are those steamers good? ive heard about them alot!

cleaning is always loads of elbow grease, gota have the right mindset before you start for sure!

Yeah the steamer at work is the mutts nuts, it also does the foam lance at steam temp.
I used to use it on my Focus and teh GF's Fiesta it works a treat not a wash mitt in sight.

Problem with the foam is, its meant to clean bus's so cant be good for cars, its auto glym bus wash though lol.

hey the car looks good saw u yesterday by bushey arches when i was on the way 2 GTI festival the car looked sweet =D