Long overdue update

The respray was completed and the Golf came home but was not running at all well. We decided that the fuel distribution box was at fault and tried a couple of other units in the car but there wasn't much success.

It took some investigation to locate someone with the right skills and tools to diagnose the problems correctly. I ended up taking the car to Richards Bros. in Redruth as they still have the Bosch diagnostics equipment available. In the end the whole fuel system from the fuel tank (full of rubbish and a non-functioning low pressure pump) through pipes that needed replacing in sections to the fuel distributor that had to be sent for reconditioning and new injectors was reviewed and rebuilt. Once that was done problems were found with the cold-start and warm-start sensors so they were replaced too.

The car was running superbly from late 2015.

With a driving holiday in France planned there was some frantic scheduling of the new roof being fitted and getting a stereo in place and working. We covered 1000 miles in the week and had a wonderful time with the roof down most days. The car was faultless until the last day when a misfire appeared and we were down on power. We limped home under our own power but I think a trip back to Richards Bros is in the future to diagnose what has happened.

Still remaining on the list to do:

• Refurbish wheels - I now have 8 so need to pick the best 4 and send them off to be soda blasted and then fully renovated
• Repair and renovate interior. Front seats need re-padding, rears just need a good clean
• Suspension
• Engine - still a nagging oil leak here and there so new gaskets needed
• Dash - the mfa seems to have gone AWOL.
• Seats - the runners are not sliding quite right.

Stripped, welded and smoothed

Here we are, stripped of all contents and trim, all rust removed and welded. Sprayed with epoxy and more sanding taking place.

It's time for me to arrange for the wheels to be removed for refurbishing.

Still some parts to buy, we need a new radiator and exhaust will be needed soon after that, certainly if we are to get an MOT.

So far we have had 2 new front wings, 2 rear arches, 2 new doors, 1 new boot lid, arch kit and an aerial.

Catching up

The Golf is in for it's rebuild. I sent it to VolksWeld for the much needed TLC that I have had planned ever since I bought it. They have had it a month or so now and work seems to be progressing well. Check out the updates the VolksWeld team are posting on Facebook here. I looking for parts - bumpers, wheel arch trims, an aerial and other bits and pieces. I need to get the wheels refurbished - hoping to get a local company to do this too.

To Brighton and back

Well, it was a glorious trip we took to Brighton for a work conference. It was a little intimidating driving the motorway part but apart from that it was great. The Golf drove wonderfully and we had a great time with the roof down all the time.

We did not return unscathed however. When we filled up at the petrol station I found a pool of petrol under the car. It appears that the fuel filler pipe has rusted through. This means we have to be very careful when filling the car with fuel. A new part has been ordered but with all the Bank Holidays happening at the minute it's not yet been delivered. I am hoping it will arrive this week so that I can spend the day of the Royal Wedding under the car fixing it and avoid having  to watch any of it on TV!

Driving it home last night however has introduced a new problem - the exhaust is blowing. Badly. Now this is a different situation. The fuel filler pipe is £40, the exhaust, potentially is a whole lot more. I haven't had chance to look underneath yet but I am expecting the worst. I knew it wasn't going to last long but the timing for it to go when then Tax is due is unfortunate, I think it may have to come off the road for a month or two while I get the funds together to cover all of these costs.

I'm hoping for a rainy May.

Sunday, Lovely Sunday

One Sunday earlier this month we had a drive out to Exeter. It was fiercely cold and the heater motor is still not working so there was little warmth to be had. Regardless, we had the  roof down.

What a fantastic experience it was. We chose the old road to Exeter rather that blasting along the boring dual-carriageway so we had very little traffic around us and sweeping corners and impressive views over Dartmoor and Mid Devon on either side. One thing we didn't have to worry about was the engine overheating, thanks to the weather. Last time the car was out it was getting hot if it worked hard or if it was moving under about 50. It is possible that the radiator needs flushing so that's one thing more for the list.

Jump forward another weekend and I have replaced the indicator relay - I asked for one in Halfords in Exeter and got a very blank look from the young boy at the counter. I walked out without one! I went to the local motor factors in the week and got one with no bother. My son actually replaced it, having had to take out 2 or 3 others until he found the one that was for the indicators. The handbook lists the fuses and their circuits but not the relays. We also replaced the lamp in the boot but that is refusing to light so I need to check there is power in that circuit. Next we had a look at the heater fan. Rather misleadingly I had been told it came out from inside, behind the dash. After taking the centre console out and seeing that it wasn't there for the removing I resigned myself to having to take it to a garage. I moved on to taking a look at the full-beam headlight alignment. They've been out of whack, pointing to a piece of road about 20 feet in front of the car, and its just a case of twiddling a couple of screw in the from of the grille for each light and hey presto. Screws twiddled, now I need it to go dark and try out my newly aligned spotlights.

Grin Factor 60

Well, it's finally happened. The car is MOT'd, taxed, insured and the tank is full of petrol.

It's a right squeeze in the garage as I haven't really put the effort into clearing it out since the car left it months ago. Things are just piled higher all around it.

So we took it out, just a small hop along the road towards Moretonhamstead. It was dark, rainy, very windy and cold. My daughter insisted on keeping the roof up as she had just got ready to go out and didn't want to ruin her hair!

The car ran well with a few points that need attention:

• The passenger seat isn't wholly fixed in place by the adjusting lever.
• The blower for the heater doesn't work.
• The radio is missing.
• When the radio is back in place the heater control that is missing will have to be replaced too otherwise you wont be able to reach inside the dashboard to move the levers.
• The dashboard lights need checking, its very dark on the left.

I may get a chance to review some of these over the weekend.

Let's hope so. If the passenger seat gets sorted (and I hope its only a case of judiciously applying some 3in1) then we will certainly go out for a drive.

On the road (briefly)

So this week has seen the MOT passed for the Golf. It now needs a new immobiliser fitted, to be insured and then finally taxed so that we are road legal.

In order to get it from the garage to the immobiliser fitting firm I had to drive it just under 5 miles in to town. It was a real surprise how the clutch was much heavier that my current car. The steering is not power-assisted so that was hard work until the car got moving. I had also forgotten how different a petrol engine is from a diesel, the power curve and rev limit are so different! Really looking forward to getting the car on the road by the end of the month. The immobiliser should be fitted in the next 10 days so then its just paperwork (and writing cheques!) to do.