Buy a replacement 9N

[rob090881]

Hi all,
After owning her Polo 1.2 12v for 3 or so years, I've decided that the Mrs has killed it. It's been in 3 small incidents with inanimate objects (2 x girders in car parks & our garden wall - the wall won [emoji23])
It also has other issues with ABS, worn tyres, gearbox whine, window switch failure, a few random fault codes, and maybe more. So all in all, a few £100 to fix it!
I've been to see another today. It's a 1. 4 from 2003 again. The issues are:

Rattle from engine over rough ground - I'm guessing top mounts. I can see that I can buy the bearing £10/side, or the complete mount £22/side. What is usually the right fix? I could swap them off my other one, even the front assembly whole?

Fault code 18049, which is something to do with aircon. It apparently worked 4 years ago when she bought the car, but it's stopped working since. Probably ran out of gas and dried up? Any thoughts on this?

Front discs and pads will need doing in a few months. Would the ones of the 1.2 fit, as I fitted them just a few months ago.

The back box on the new one is quite tatty. The one on the old one is just a few months old too! Could that swap over?

The old polo is probably going to a breaker, so im not concerned about making a tired old polo into a worse one [emoji12]

On the plus side, the new one has 4 x new tyres and new rear pads and discs.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

[RUM4MO]

I'd expect that the 1.2 12V had smaller front brakes than the 1.4 16V 75PS, it should have FSIII front callipers and 256mm discs.

Does the 1.2 12V have FS111 front callipers or FS11?

I can't really answer any of the other questions, ran a 2002 1.4 16V 76PS with the BBY petrol engine for 13 years and 105K miles for my wife from new, I felt that its time had come so it was traded in August 2015 for a brand new Polo 1.2TSI 110PS SEL, now that it is a year, almost out of warranty its my turn to service it for the first time! That old 9N 2002 Polo was a money grabbing little sh1t, from about 5 years onwards, when it was traded at 13 years and 105K miles it had a serious amount of work almost needing done!

Edit:- remember that engine should get a new cam belt every 4 years, that is what I did to preserve the engine on my wife's previous 2002 9N Polo, well every 4ish years, so at 4.5 years point, 9.0 years point and took a chance as we were trading it at 13 years - so it due another belt change then.

[rob090881]

I'm told the cambelt was done by previous owner at 55k. This was about 6.5 years ago, going off MOT history. Current owner has no paperwork for it.
It's currently on 86k. So it would seem that it's overdue? Although it was only 30k ago.

I don't know enough about polo's to know the brake sizes. I'm an Audi chap myself.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

[littlepolo]

I'd say that belt needs changing due to time. Also might be worth doing the tensioners, rollers, water pump. It's going to be cheaper than top end work if valves contact pistons (speaking from experience).

As for air con, it gets used occasionally and I've never had a problem with it.

I've had my 9n 2002 for nine years and never changed the back box. When I did the rear brakes recently (discs, pads, calipers) I had a look at the back box. It's definitely getting a bit flaky on the outside so I'm thinking the inside must be in a much worse state. However, it is not blowing or making a noise and should pass the MOT next month. It would be interesting to hear from others on when they've had to change it.

[RUM4MO]

I needed to fit a Jubilee band round that 2002 Polo back box as, as normal, the outer skin goes before the inner skin, same thing on my daughter’s late 2009 Ibiza, I’d reckon if it is not leaking, and the if splitting outer skin is being controlled with a SS band, the MOT tester will be quite happy.

[littlepolo]

I forgot to take a photo. I'd say its scaly rather than splitting. I doubt it was much better last year.

[Matt Brighton]

i was under the impression that 1.2 has a chain... not a belt ?

Am I wrong or do they differ ?

[littlepolo]

It does but the OP is looking at a 1.4.

[rob090881]

If it needs a cambelt doing ASAP, funds are tight to be doing that, so I'll probably just walk away. Thanks for the advice [emoji16]

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

[rob090881]

I'm now looking at a 2006 1.2
Any tips on that? Cambelt was done last August apparently. Are they a belt?


Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

[littlepolo]

If it needs a cambelt doing ASAP, funds are tight to be doing that, so I'll probably just walk away. Thanks for the advice [emoji16]

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

When I bought my Polo it was in the same situation. I drove it for a while then did the belt myself. It's not too difficult. Half a day max and you can get a quality belt kit (e.g. Gates) for around a £100. However, if the belts have not been changed as per schedule I'd be concerned about general neglect. Knowing what I now know I'd also be looking very carefully for evidence of regular oil and filter changes (using the correct specifications).

Otherwise the 1.4 is a great little runabout. I've been five-up and loaded with baggage all over the country.

[LeonSymnz]

If it needs a cambelt doing ASAP, funds are tight to be doing that, so I'll probably just walk away. Thanks for the advice [emoji16]

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

Reading the first post, I was like "walk the fcuk away"

Reading further on, I'd suggest running.

[rob090881]

[emoji23] I have done now.
I have just bought her a fiesta. Its mint.
Couldn't find a good local polo within our tight time frame unfortunately.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk