Advice please on a polo i just looked at

neilGTI · Post by **neilGTI** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 11:37 am

I just went to look at a polo gti for the missus and have a few questions i dont know if you guys can help with.

The polo is one of the first production models with the red gti badges and sunroof. W reg.

When we started the car, the engine management light did not come on at all but it does on my polo

There is also a noise coming from the clutch i think ? it sounds like a mechanical whir but only when you lift the clutch up. could this be a thrust bearing in the clutch ?

Other than these couple of problems, the car seems to be ok with a few marks to the paint and the parcel shelf is missing.

He is asking for Â£2500 with 3 months warranty which is why we are interested in it, but dont want to come across problems that are going to cost in the long run.

Any advice please ?

MaxZ · Post by **MaxZ** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 12:10 pm

The whirring is a clutch release wheel bearing, so you will need a new clutch on that to get rid of the noise.

Price sounds very good, but I suppose being a W-reg and probably a high mileage that explains a bit.

The engine management light usually comes on when you put bad petrol in the car, i.e. 95 or cheap supermarket stuff, I've noticed that when I put Tesco stuff in my car.

tegwin · Post by **tegwin** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:21 pm

The engine management light should come on with the igntiion, and then go off once the engine is started...

I know some dealers remove the bulb if they cant find the cause of the light....

You dont have to have a new clutch, a new release bearing would do... (I suspect the release bearing slider will need rpelacing as well)..

But whilst the gearbox is out you would be foolish to not fit a new clutch

Sounds like a good price....go for it

D77 · Post by **D77** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 1:22 pm

A lot of release bearing get noisey but have no affect on how it or the clutch works even when you can hear them 99% of the time they will see it to when the clutch needs changing anyway.

Trottagti · Post by **Trottagti** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 2:19 pm

Defo dont drive it with the bearing being bad, mine went and pooped my box mate, 2200 quid later!

Good price but look around for a minter, u pay for wot u get with gtis really!

Arnoldo · Post by **Arnoldo** » Sat Sep 13, 2008 10:03 pm

My EPC light doesnt come on when I start my car at all. After asking Alex Perkins off the site he was able to tell me not all cars show it on start up.

Post by **alexperkins** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 8:27 am

Engine management light doesnt show on all GTIs when you start them.

I have looked at 5 different GTIs. Only two have the 'check' light on igntion. I think its due to a change of ECU controller in the later models

Tim_GTi · Post by **Tim_GTi** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:04 pm

How many miles has it done mate?

Sound pretty good. I'd say it was your release bearing also, you DONT have to replace the whole clutch, an it DOESNT necessarly bother other components of the clutch, they CAN just be noisey.

But I'd strongly recommend if it's all out, definitely get a new clutch at the same time. A new release bearing costs around 30 quid, and a SACHS clutch kit costs 87 quid, both will cost the same to fit!