Phase 1 1.6 GTI

[amg_309]

Hey I'm back! A belated happy new year to you all.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=828633667
There's been a new arrival. Bought HTY20 sight unseen off a newly married graduate back home in chch, sans WOF and with a leaky radiator.
A mechanic at work got it a WOF (sticky rear brakes, blades, bulbs etc) and I drove it around for a few weeks terrified of cooking it.
I got the old rad out, completely rotten and leak plugged with broken popsicle sticks, stuck the garden hosein the engine for a bit, put a chinese aluminium rad in, changed the oil, filled it with crap for the student flat and drove it down to Dunedin this afternoon, criminally good fun but it has an issue.

There's a loud vibration rumbly squeaky noise from LHF somewhere, perhaps the driveshaft, accompanied with a vibration in the steering wheel. It only happens when you've been doing 100(ish...) ks for at least 50 minutes and then you drop to the 50-80ks mark. It doesn't seem to matter which gear you're in but as soon as you dip the clutch. Not engine speed related. The first time it did it I'd driven in from the bach for work, 1hr15ish. It did it once I got into the 80km area just before town and continued the whole way to work 50/60kmh. On my way home that afternoon (25 mins) it didn't do it at any speed..

Some background.
I believe it had a new CV before I bought it.
With the radiator out it was evident lots of rusty water has been flying around on the LHS where it leaked and where I continually topped off the coolant. Am thinking this could have upset it.

Anyone ever heard something like this? CV joint or intermediate bearing?

Apart from that I love the car. Yes 3rd and 4th crunch if you're in a hurry but the shouty little engine, the way it handles and yet still soaks up bumps at speed is just so very endearing. Have really enjoyed looking at your rides too. The love of slightly flaky french hatchbacks runs in the family, with Dad reliving his Renault 5 Gordini days through 172 & 197 clios and more recently a 265 megane.

decent pictures to follow chur
Alex

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[Pee Dubbaya]

Welcome back, sounds like a good buy at that price even with a few 'items of character'.
Issue you described could be the clutch perhaps?

[MYRUSH]

Doesnt sound similar to this, does it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukexg142Q6k
Oh god, this sound just haunts me now, had to drive like this for a few months in my 106 before I swapped the halfshaft out.

[amg_309]

Doesnt sound similar to this, does it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukexg142Q6k
Oh god, this sound just haunts me now, had to drive like this for a few months in my 106 before I swapped the halfshaft out.

PRAISE THE LORD that is the exact noise. Disgusting isn't it? Think swapping the bearing/driveshaft is well beyond me. Will keep you posted on progress

Welcome back, sounds like a good buy at that price even with a few 'items of character'.
Issue you described could be the clutch perhaps?

Yeah, I'm really happy with it. I just hope I can keep it in reasonable shape as a student. Got a chest of drawers in the back of it today. Coolant level sensor added to 'items of character' overnight, looks like an easy/common fix though.

Have a good weekend

[Mungous]

Doesnt sound similar to this, does it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ukexg142Q6k
Oh god, this sound just haunts me now, had to drive like this for a few months in my 106 before I swapped the halfshaft out.

PRAISE THE LORD that is the exact noise. Disgusting isn't it? Think swapping the bearing/driveshaft is well beyond me. Will keep you posted on progress

Welcome back, sounds like a good buy at that price even with a few 'items of character'.
Issue you described could be the clutch perhaps?

Yeah, I'm really happy with it. I just hope I can keep it in reasonable shape as a student. Got a chest of drawers in the back of it today. Coolant level sensor added to 'items of character' overnight, looks like an easy/common fix though.

Have a good weekend

I know a guy in Dunedin who can help you. He's a mad frogger from way back. PM me if you want his details.

[puggy21]

nice , good to see more 1.6 's  turning up .. how you getting on with your car?

[amg_309]

Bloody great! It's done 6000 miles since January with only a thermostat, oil & filter and handbrake balance adjusted. Getting new tires and a wheel alignment today, hoping they can stop the front tires wearing on the outside edge. Clutch is getting a little 'high' and I went through the paperwork trying to work out when the cambelt was last changed.. 36,000 miles in 1996, surely it's been changed since then, it's now almost at 120,000??

I'd like to give changing the cambelt a go in November, but don't think I could manage a clutch. Is it the sort of thing you do at the same time?