Daily Mk2 Golf GTI

[dubstyle]

Beautiful car, looking forward to seeing your progress on it.

[Brumma]

Just a quick question for more experienced Mk2 owners.
The car has all new belts on it now so it's back up and running. I've set the play correctly on the new belts, but with all this rain around Sydney lately the belts are slipping and squealing all over the place, particularly the alternator belt I think, because the battery light is coming on with each squeal and other times it just glows dimly. If I increase tension on the belts, it will stop the squealing, but then it will be bad for the belt and pulleys/bearings.

Are there any tips or tricks Mk2 drivers have done to stop this problem?

The amount of squealing seems to be proportional to the amount of water on the road, so maybe it is flicking up under the car and getting on the belts or pulleys.

Also, a quick update:
My old battery has been leaking acid all over the battery tray which has rusted it, I've replaced the battery, but next job will be to brush back the rust, treat it and re-paint it.

[ryana89]

Just a quick question for more experienced Mk2 owners.
The car has all new belts on it now so it's back up and running. I've set the play correctly on the new belts, but with all this rain around Sydney lately the belts are slipping and squealing all over the place, particularly the alternator belt I think, because the battery light is coming on with each squeal and other times it just glows dimly. If I increase tension on the belts, it will stop the squealing, but then it will be bad for the belt and pulleys/bearings.

Are there any tips or tricks Mk2 drivers have done to stop this problem?

Do you have 2 plastic covers (splash guards) around the belt area?
The main one looks like this,



And then a smaller one that attaches further forward under the front spoiler.

You'll find its the big V-belt that is slipping as it drive's the WP, A/C and in turn the load of the alternator.

[Brumma]

Do you have 2 plastic covers (splash guards) around the belt area?
The main one looks like this,

snip

And then a smaller one that attaches further forward under the front spoiler.

You'll find its the big V-belt that is slipping as it drive's the WP, A/C and in turn the load of the alternator.

Thanks ryana89, that makes sense.
I don't have any plastic guards covering the belts, so I'll have to try and find some. I do have a small piece of plastic in the back of the car that I can't work out where it goes. It could be the smaller front cover… I'll post a pic up when I get a chance to see if anyone can identify what it is.

[NeuSpeedGTI]

Thanks ryana89, that makes sense.
I don't have any plastic guards covering the belts, so I'll have to try and find some. I do have a small piece of plastic in the back of the car that I can't work out where it goes. It could be the smaller front cover… I'll post a pic up when I get a chance to see if anyone can identify what it is.

Pulled from 'You know you drive a MK2' - check post by benough re:ice cream container

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...n-52513-4.html

[Brumma]

Pulled from 'You know you drive a MK2' - check post by benough re:ice cream container

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...n-52513-4.html

Thanks NeuSpeedGTI! Something to do next time I'm working on the car

I flushed the radiator the other day and re-filled with new coolant. However, I noticed when doing this that the electric fan runs all the time when the car is on. Then when I was driving down the Hume Hwy the other week through Goulburn, it was pretty cold outside (5˚C), the engine oil was running at 86˚C (about 10 degrees less than it used to run before the coolant change, but also remember it was 5 degrees outside, driving at 110km/h). Anyway, every heating option in the car felt like I had the air con on, so I ended up driving the rest of the way wearing a big jacket, wishing I had gloves, and it was almost warmer to wind the window down. Do I have a broken sensor/thermostat somewhere in the engine/cooling system? The heater has worked in the past (although I haven't had it work with the car running so cold before).

Newest plans for the car at the moment, $ permitting:
- New clutch cable
- Finish treating the rust in the battery tray and drill a new hole for the battery clamp
- Tossing up whether to try and get some green Hella Magic Colours tail-lights.
- Buy and install coilovers.

[ozgti]

Bleed the coolant properly. You'd need to massage the pipes to get the air out.

[Brumma]

Thanks ozgti, I had to massage the pipes to get the coolant in, but there is probably still some air in the system so I'll give it another go.

[Jarred]

Also check that you're heater core isn't leaking, or blocked (Water in the passenger footwell)

[robiom]

Put the heater controls on hot with the engine running and fill header tank right to the top for it to bleed well..
There should be 2 valves just before the heater hoses go through the firewall in the negine bay - these were a VW recall to reduce pressure to the heater matrix, they can block up and stop the heater working after many years. I have removed mine to get the heater working....
My belts are a pain in the neck for noises too !
Good luck.