What have you done to your mk4 (golf/bora) today?

[RubAVeeDubDub]

Dylan can correct me here, and possibly will, but I've not heard of the uncomfortable ride from adapters.. I thought that adapters' only main downside was that they were illegal?! Maybe good branded hubcentric adapters are best for this issue? I know from the 15mm H&R hubcentric spacers I just installed, that there is no ride difference at all.. And the guy at Tempe Tyres where I went to get the bolts from, said I couldn't go more than 5mm spacers on my car because it would create wobble, but then I explained (and showed) him I was using quality hubcentric spacers, and not his ****ty ones that would move about, and he went aah, I see! (and I swear a lightbulb appeared above his head, although it was only about 20w).

My stupid sense of humour has gone astray Lol.

I was making a joke that the wheel bolts shear off the adaptors

How long have you had the adaptors on for?

I like so many 5x112 Factory rims. If my wheels dont stick out from the guards (and I quieten my ridiculously load zhorst), I'll probably get little attention from the police. This car is not popular and not targetted by them.

[RubAVeeDubDub]

Look for pinkish white powder. This is dry coolant. It will help locate the leak. It is common for the junction on the end of the head to crack and leak.
Running just water removes the lubricant that the G12 has. I killed a water pump in about 6 weeks with distilled water.

I'm going to check for that now....once I work out where I can jack the car to stick my head in underneath!

That last part scares me the most. At 200,000kms a broken water pump would also mean a good time to replace the timing chain which is going to be expensive. Will avoid until I need to replace it because it'll be a pretty 4 digit figure.

They just say that, I've personally found that HSY will sell to me fine (I'm only a Photographer/Graphic Designer, not a Mechanic) if I just play it cool and make out I'm a freelance/weekend mechanic (don't lie and say you work somewhere they know). There is also other places like 'IMPARTS' that other people have success with, but personally, they (Rockdale branch) have refused to sell to me on several occasions when I say I'm not working for a mechanic/anyone that has an account there.. The best I can do with them is if I buy 'on behalf' of an account holder, but it still has to be sent to the account holder in question (like the mechanic's place the work is being done at).

Also, give your local VW $tealership a call, they're actually cheap 'enough' on some small things not to go running around elsewhere (I think my very specific door lock bolts were only like $1.60-$2 ea) (the starter motor however was quoted at around $600, and not purchased ).

Seriously, I'd pump some plain water into the car right now to look for the leak.. and with a bit of research, you should have the faulty part number ready to order it on Monday.. then that potential engine killer is a weight off your mind and you can focus on getting the rest sorted for inspection..

I'll have to pull out the line I use for Burson - that I did an apprenticeship for a dealership that doesn't exist anymore
(Burwood or Melton Mitsubishi depending on which side of town I'm on)

I might just run the water with some food colouring in it for a few mins and once I find the leak and buy G12, I'll flush it all out.
How do you usually flush out the bora's/golfs? In all the cars we've had, they all had direct access to the radiator so I just pop'd the hose off and let the water run out. Fill with coolant. Run the car incl. heater for 10 mins. Undo cap to release air and fill again.

[RubAVeeDubDub]

Well many essays, fretting and a quick 10min check later, I think I found the ****er that made me loose all my coolant >.< tucked behind the engine near the firewall - and under the throttle body.

Everyone was right on the money! Give ya shelves a pat on the back...with a shovel. All stupidity asside, thank you all for your quick help. Settled me right down and now I can enjoy my night with some episodes of White Collar.



Sooo... the questions are:
a) What is the part number for this including any necessary hose clamps.
b) Is that hose clamp factory? Should I be looking somewhere else for a leak as well?
c) How many litres do of coolant do I need?

Spanx guys!

[Stan]

is the T piece split or just the hose.

use any hose clamp, autobarn is fine, personally some things just don't need to be OEM

G12 50/50 mix with distilled water, I think the capacity is about 5 to 6 litres all up

Nulon make a g12 coolant, you can get it at Repco - does it really need to be the VW one - I'm willing to bet they are exactly the same...

[kendog]

What have you done to your mk4 (golf/bora) today?

Look for pinkish white powder. This is dry coolant. It will help locate the leak. It is common for the junction on the end of the head to crack and leak.
Running just water removes the lubricant that the G12 has. I killed a water pump in about 6 weeks with distilled water.

^^This! Sorry, I forgot, look for the pinkish white dust first, that's how I found my split connector.

... use any hose clamp, autobarn is fine, personally some things just don't need to be OEM

G12 50/50 mix with distilled water, I think the capacity is about 5 to 6 litres all up

Nulon make a g12 coolant, you can get it at Repco - does it really need to be the VW one - I'm willing to bet they are exactly the same...

Yep, a bit over 5L I think, but that's for our golf 1.8T engines, check with a bora person to be sure. Exactly which engine is it?

Also, coolant brand wise, nulon do make a red one for euro cars, but I don't think it's a 'G12' compatible one. Which means that you can probably only top it up with nulon. Whereas if you go G12 (a type, not a brand), you can put any other brands of G12 coolant in there, and anyone else who touches the car can also automatically assume to top it up with G12, like it is supposed to have in it. G12 coolant is a type made by many euro brands, it's not a VW branded thing. Also, I know that the G12 ones are actually pink/light purple in colour, and the nulon one is more of a cordial red, which also makes me think they are different.

I would (and do) put the manual specific G12 coolants in to have the least chance of any issues. Out of all the possible choices and mods on all the forums around the world, it's one of the few things that doesn't ever seem to be questioned/strayed from/toyed with. If something so cheap and simply avoided can clog up when mixed with others and possibly kill an engine, I say keep it simple and rest easy knowing it's the right one in there. Set and forget.

Update:
The 2 different types I have on hand, different brands, one from HSY, the other from a nice new Euro mechanic I use when I can't get out to Camden GTI, nothing from VW..

[dylan8]

Well Dylan - I've joined your defect boat! ...it's my first time (been pulled up but never given one) and thankfully the cop went easy on me. No fine. Just a minor. And no canary - yay!

Out of all the illegalities on the car (too low load rated front tyres, stretched tyres, too low, too loud and missing 3rd brake light), I got done for the wheels sticking out from the guards and the tailligihts being too dark. Got a month to clear the defect. I suspect being late at night and still having the canberra plates helped with getting less of a paling.

Nonetheless, it's an awful experience. It's why I never illegally modified my last car.

And to finish my night when I got home the engine was billowing out smoke from around the throttle body area (with fluid spitting out), coolant bottle was bone dry empty and my dash was buzzing with a temp guage sign and a (achtung) "STOP" signal. Before the smoke started, the car was vibrating under acceleration from 2000-3500rpm. I first thought it was the exhaust that got loose as the temp gauge did not move from 90C (middle) during the last 2km stretch to home I'm tipping and hoping it's only the throttle body coolant line(s) that have leaked out all my coolant. The STOP warning and the smoke is a concern and I hope no permanent damage has been done to the engine.

What coolant (red/green?) do the Bora 2.8L 4mo's need? I usually do a 50:50 mix with concentrate.

Bummer! I thought those tails were genuine Hellas? If that's the case they aren't too dark

Can anyone tell me what are these wheels?

Yep flat5s as the others have said.
Cool wheel, very oem+ and period correct for the mk4 in my mind

Dylan can correct me here, and possibly will, but I've not heard of the uncomfortable ride from adapters.. I thought that adapters' only main downside was that they were illegal?! Maybe good branded hubcentric adapters are best for this issue? I know from the 15mm H&R hubcentric spacers I just installed, that there is no ride difference at all.. And the guy at Tempe Tyres where I went to get the bolts from, said I couldn't go more than 5mm spacers on my car because it would create wobble, but then I explained (and showed) him I was using quality hubcentric spacers, and not his ****ty ones that would move about, and he went aah, I see! (and I swear a lightbulb appeared above his head, although it was only about 20w).

Nar shouldn't be any issues from spacers and adapters if used correctly.
Wish spuds like these guys wouldn't comment on stuff they clearly know nothing about, they probably shouldn't be around cars too...

[RolfGolf]

Finally got around to connecting my Grom iPod interface to my RNS Unit today - next step is to get Nav directions in dash and the reverse camera hooked up.

[dylan8]

Finally got around to connecting my Grom iPod interface to my RNS Unit today - next step is to get Nav directions in dash and the reverse camera hooked up.

This sounds sweet, keen for more info!

RubAVeeDubDub: two for you from 2+ years back.
Now slightly darker in colour on the RUNVAG skoda, dunno if hes planning on ever selling



Left some of my car at the Sorrento Hotel carpark on the weekend (took plenty of grass and top soil while I was there)
Some form of cover, never noticed it when under the car in the past. I'll get a pic up and hopefully someone can ID where it came from.

[RubAVeeDubDub]

is the T piece split or just the hose.

use any hose clamp, autobarn is fine, personally some things just don't need to be OEM

G12 50/50 mix with distilled water, I think the capacity is about 5 to 6 litres all up

Nulon make a g12 coolant, you can get it at Repco - does it really need to be the VW one - I'm willing to bet they are exactly the same...

I think it's actually the hose clamp, but I'll replace the T-piece and the hose for good measure. I think the hose clamp is aftermarket. So it may have been replaced before. I'll remove the hose, t-piece and the clamps and see if I can get a local autostore to match them up.

If the capacity is 6 litres, then I'll need to buy 3L's worth. The trick is finding out where from. I love Nulon and/or Penrite products so I'll see if I can maybe track their version down if its compatible. Quick check on their websites and both have G12 compatible coolant with Penrite having a 6 year OEM G12 version with VW approval.

Yep, a bit over 5L I think, but that's for our golf 1.8T engines, check with a bora person to be sure. Exactly which engine is it?

I have the 2.8L Bora 4mo. I've tried doing some research and found no info on how much coolant it takes. Wasn't sure if the Jetta Mk4 VR6 24v in Murica' has the same engine or not.

I'm pretty assured by the Penrite one esp. with the printed approval from VW on their site.

____

Bummer! I thought those tails were genuine Hellas? If that's the case they aren't too dark

Yep flat5s as the others have said.
Cool wheel, very oem+ and period correct for the mk4 in my mind

Nar shouldn't be any issues from spacers and adapters if used correctly.
Wish spuds like these guys wouldn't comment on stuff they clearly know nothing about, they probably shouldn't be around cars too...

The tails are genuine Hella's but that doesn't make them both ADR approved and make the police happy. I recognise they are dark and do not have any reflectors like ADR ones do. I love them but they are fairly dark. I do think the problem is that the lights are pretty dim in them. If I refit them then I might pick them apart to fit LED's or at the very least fit much stronger bulbs.

RubAVeeDubDub: two for you from 2+ years back.
Now slightly darker in colour on the RUNVAG skoda, dunno if hes planning on ever selling



.

Looks amazing. Perfect tuck as well.
Thanks for the wheel help. Loving the Fat Fives. Trick is now to try and find a 18" 5x100 set!! :/

Where did you get yours from?

[SLAJ]

Those look so freakin sweet Dylan!

[dylan8]

I think the Hellas are adr approved though. Its like the stock mk3 Vr tails.
Can tell ya you won't find these (flat5s) in 5x100, can get fat5s though, but only in 17
Got them from some guy having a cleanout in Melbourne

[RubAVeeDubDub]

I think the Hellas are adr approved though. Its like the stock mk3 Vr tails.
Can tell ya you won't find these (flat5s) in 5x100, can get fat5s though, but only in 17
Got them from some guy having a cleanout in Melbourne

They seem to be made by Hella. Can't find the branding anywhere though. But it does have some markings on the light like adr approved tails do.
As you know in Victoria, if the police officer says it is, then it is. I'd need to go and fight it in court or getting an engineers cert to prove they are legal.

I think that they picked on them because the light is very dim. I've had multiple people tell me that it is hard to see the lights esp during bad weather. I'll fit brighter bulbs at a later stage and that should probably fix that problem - in the meantime I'll be rolling around on pov pack stock wheels and lights I'm so going to miss the wheels :'(

It seems to get what I want, I need to bite the bullet and fit spaces. Really scared of that idea though due to insurance and liability issues.

On a side note, turns out autobarn sell 5L concentrate of Penrite vw approved 6year warranty coolant for only $55! Not bad considering the quantity.

How do you do a full flush of the bora V6 cooling system?

[kendog]

I have Hella 'magic color' tail lights on my golf, and I'm pretty sure I put my original VW/OEM bulbs and whole 'light mounting board' (?) back into the mounting/housing of the new Hella lights. My lights always seem bright enough, even in daylight, only thing I'd like to brighten are the reverse lights, never had any trouble from the boys in blue, touch wood!

Yeah, I'd look at the actual bulbs etc compared to OEM ones, try that first.. If you can't find the info online, maybe pop into a wreckers to check an OEM set of lights/bulbs to see the difference..

[dubster99]

My net optic arrived from the uk! So i have a dilema! To sand down to give the aluminium effect like everyone else seems to go down that path or just recently have found a style called hydro design. It looks like really cool stuff! Google it or give it a look on facebook

[kendog]

I'm half way through stripping back and plasti dipping all those same bits!